The last paragraph says it all. President Joe is a good president and a good man and you are a great professor and thank you for everything you do for us to understand this goofy world we live in. We must always be kind and share. Peace everybody.
The last paragraph says it all. President Joe is a good president and a good man and you are a great professor and thank you for everything you do for us to understand this goofy world we live in. We must always be kind and share. Peace everybody.
Despite President Biden being a good man and doing credible work, I believe his communication team should invest in vital communication strategies that really showcased he is a good man and working for the American people before the right-wing media tells voters who he is through misinformation. It is hard to maintain what one has in the face of enemies and it takes effort to do that. In a world that values propaganda and innuendos, no one cares whether Biden is good, but his communication team has to put in the work to show that he is good by not creating uncertainty among his supporters. This sentiment stated that "Pro-Russian accounts promptly began to argue that the Biden administration was ignoring a disaster at home"
The Republican Party, Trump, and his allies understand that they have to use confirmation bias to pin down their supporters and shore up their support. It is a psychological tactic aimed at disseminating information that supports the party and presidential candidate while painting Biden as ignoring domestic affairs. The issue of a disaster is emotive and Trump Co. wanted to make people believe that Biden has neglected them despite a lot of evidence indicating that the president had been sending Federal support to the victims and announced plans to be done in the next few days. However, the pro-Russian accounts took advantage of lack of prompt communication response from the Biden team and capitalized on them to arouse sympathy emotions among its supporters. Thus, Biden should fully invested in strong communication to counter any misinformation spread by the right wing media as they approach elections. When they keep silent for long, though they are doing credible work on the ground, the right-wing media will speak on behalf of them. This is what mostly occurred in 2016 that propelled Trump to White House, with conspiracies taking over political airwaves. I hope Biden team will learn from them and deal with any misinformation fiercely as they approach 2024.
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The problem we have here in America, Edwin, is the media has found the "average" American wants to be entertained not informed. Who the "average" American is, I have no idea, it certainly isn't me. No matter what Joe Biden or the Democratic Party tries to say, if it isn't entertaining it will not be reported on "mainstream media". That's why I disconnected my network TV.
"Who the "average" American is, I have no idea, it certainly isn't me. "
I would guess that you can find the "average American":
1) staring at the TV during "Fox and Friends" in the morning to catch a glimpse up the dress of the fake blonde handing out fake news.
2) staring at the TV during "Survivor" or whatever other seriously dumb "reality TV" is on at night, I have no idea.
3) staring at facebook and X on their phone for hours each day.
4) Buying Cheetos and Beer to eat and drink during Fox and Friends at Fastrac or 7-11 or whatever is the equivalent.
5) Picking up their Social Security check AND their nice retirement check from the job that was outsourced to China that they get BUT don't want anyone else to get so they don't have to pay taxes.
You will NOT find average Joe at the local library checking out the movie "Selma". Or checking out any book at all.
And therein lies the problem with America. Too much average. Average is not good enough to think, read, understand, discern and, moreover, average does not promote community.
Average is? Well, average.
There is another average problem as well. Ivy lets in "average/below average/legacy" but then those "average or below" are treated like Gods upon graduation and they destroy everything when they are in power.
And this leaves us at the Achilles heel of democracy. Those 'average' persons vote, and all too often, elect foes of democracy to office. That's what's wrong with democracy, but as Winston Churchill said, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms." Liberals who give up progressive ideas and become 'neo-cons' eventually recognize this.
Those average Americans are reaching into their pocketsтАФwhich are none too deepтАФto send money to help the people in Maui. Average Americans are helping victims of floods and other wildfires. Yes, average Americans are going to librarIes (IтАЩm a library trustee, so I have some knowledge here). They are building wind turbines and installing solar panels. They are doing the countryтАЩs work.
I went 3 times, for a week at a time, to work on rebuilding after Katrina in 2005 and 2006. We slept on the floor of a church that survived in Ocean Springs. Those folks that came to rebuild were average Americans, many retired but some took their vacation time to help out. Mostly I rewired homes because of my background and experience, (dad was a electrical contractor). My whole point is that average doesn't mean folks don't care.
We would do better to come up with a more appropriate term to describe what we view as the тАЬaverage тАЬperson. I grew up in the 1950тАЩs and 60тАЩs when my тАЬaverage тАЬ parents and neighbors faithfully read local newspapers and on Sunday read larger newspapers like the New York newspapers. It was a community mixed with many ethnic, religious and socioeconomic groups. And they appeared to work together ( at least to this boy) to make a community that benefited most. I keep in touch with several of my childhood friends who could see through the likes of Trump and the mean, petty, selfish and lazy bastards who support him.
The primary problem would seem to be overweight. Fat is a disease (UCLA Medical Bulletin) and too many do sit in front of TVтАЩs eating fat and gaining weight and losing brainpower.
I don't think the word "average" to describe an American is applicable much anymore. As an adjective, it's been used in this context for many many years. Sixty or so years ago and more, America was seemingly a bit more "homogenized". Everybody seemed to conform into a big, boring mass. In the '60s, things really started to unravel and different groups began to rebel against the "norm", the "establishment". The country, IMO, has become too diverse to pin a label "average" on anybody. Statisticians might be able to come up with mean totals for a wide variety of things which might create an idea of "average", but it seems to me to find one person and say, "This person represents the "average American", is not really possible anymore.
The country was always diverse. It's just that most of the people who were not white and male were written out of history and not represented in media. Republicans are trying to do so again with their Anti CRT and anti woke nonsense.
Exactly. Women and minorities were more or less invisible and blended into the fabric. As I said, in the '60s they and others began asserting themselves and standing up for their rights. The diversity became much more mainstream, with the result that the White patriarchal system came under assault. That's still a problem for that demographic, at least I think so down here in the South. White males are feeling threatened -- as they should. They're no longer calling the shots. In this area it is now almost one-third Latino/Hispanic. Spanish is ubiquitous and we have basically become a bi-lingual society here. For these "good ol' boys" that change happened really fast, too fast, and some of them can't deal with it. There was a time, a couple generations ago, when those "good ol' boys" would've probably been considered the "average" American. Not any more, and that's as it SHOULD be!
You are right, Bruce. That was what I had in mind when I wrote that post. What does average mean anymore? "Average income" if you include all the incomes in the USA today is more than at least 70% of us make. "Average education" depends on how much debt you are willing to take on. (Also how wealthy your parents are) To my way of thinking MAGA cultists are not "average joe's" They don't understand how they got in the mess we're all in. They want someone to blame, but they lack the determination to research and find the real reasons. So, when some trickster, like Trump comes along and assures them he will take care of their woes, fraudulently offers some others to "blame" they latch on firmly, lapping up each crumb he throws them. Yes, we need to change the distribution of wealth in this country. Yes, we need to mitigate to the best of our collective ability the ever threatening global warming we have blindly created for the past 200 years. Yes, we need to totally revamp our educational system in this country so every single child is educated to the best of the child's capabilities. But, we're running out of time. At least I am, at 90+ I don't have that long to effect changes.
You make good points Bruce. I also have to wonder when the word average as a descriptor became a pejorative? What's wrong with being average? We can't all be exceptional. Average, in the non-mathematical definition, can mean ordinary or regular or common. Some of us, myself included, fit that description, and I'm fine with it. Being average doesn't equate with lacking in intellectual ability, being poorly or misinformed, being unhealthy, being of a particular race or ethnicity, or of a certain political persuasion. It seems to me the word has been used and misused so often by so many people in so many ways it has lost its meaning. I'll stop now lest I begin to sound like Stuart Smalley.
To me, the "average" American is what the NY Times thinks, that the people who hang out in diners in the midwest and talk about how great life was back in the 1960s are those people. Many Black journalists equate average with white.
1. The elimination of equal time means that the press is under no obligation to give all the facts. Republicans did that.
2. The campaign to do everything possible to hamstring public schools by stealing taxpayer money for private schools and then imposing a testing regimen that punished critical thinking was a Republican endeavor.
Before we start calling our fellow Americans stupid, maybe we should give consideration to how that happened.
When this was going down in the nineties, I brought my concerns to a good solid liberal professor of mine who assured me that people wouldn't buy into the nonsense.
Too many liberals rested too easily on that belief - and the belief that reason could overcome a false narrative - for too long and here we are.
Traditional media especially right-wing reprogrammes how we view politicians and alter every truth that we know until we cast doubts on our favourite leaders. Logics doesn't sell. Emotions do sell a lot. Negative news often attract a huge base of audience that every politician admires. And in this case, Trump and the entire Republican benefits from it.
Agreed, Edwin. Another problem is, we have allowed all the former media to be purchased lock, stock, and reporters by obscenely wealthy bigots. I hope those of you in Africa can learn from our mistakes of the past 50 years. Stay with your traditions (at least those which aren't harmful to your health) and whatever you do, don't worship wealth.
You, no doubt have actually experienced disinformation campaigns Edwin, assuming you are who you say. Africa has been under nonstop propaganda campaigns for decades now, from every angle.
Opposition in Africa are almost similar to how Republican operates. They buy media headlines to sway voters with misinformation or even create scandals around their opponents. TV news are alloted to those whom they support with more airtime. Truth is scarce and it isn't wanted.
A robust and concentrated effort on accountability...front and center actions folks:
1) Disconnect from sources focusing on the disinformation, Fox#1 , X/Twit, talking head ramblings, networks ...
Their pockets hear quickly, their poll/audience numbers drop ..theyтАЩll catch it quickly, their continued loss in seats and sitting elected positions from town/school boards to state to county to house & senate ...is already quite evident .
2) It is NOT тАШfair coverageтАЩ to give liars press time ...it is a panning to the thrill seeking, soap opera mentality. Stop it!
3) Boycott...stop buying the products from the advertisers on disinformation carriers.
4) pester the Congress ,especially MAGA offices , saturate their lines with objections/complaint/critical discourse, tie up their lines with incessant and mind boggling jamming, and ЁЯЧгя╕Пtell your friends
5) Make the same tactics work for US TOO!
6) post and praise about our President Biden/Harris тАШs daily loving , multiple efforts to shore up/improve and support our society...
7/Work to leave the nay sayers OUT of conversation, no mention, no names or name calling, NO OXYGEN to the losers
8) Support grassroot movements, donate a few bucks to as many Dem candidates who carry equality , inclusion, and solution solving ideas ...as you can!
Togetherness all the way, team 2024...letтАЩs carry this working effective and wholesome message .
Possibly stop the naysayers from taking over the conversation, and putting their beliefs and views out in front of anyone else & being the loudest in the room. As in Trump - DeSantis - MTG - Bobert - Gaetz & others. Bring the actual truth out rather than all this disinformation.
Do I note you think the Dems donтАЩt talk enough? Then IтАЩd have to say ..the good stuff happening doesnтАЩt get even close enough headlines, shouted out, itтАЩs due credit emphasized ...youтАЩre absolutely right! THANKS!
I donтАЩt think thereтАЩs any тАШguessingтАЩ in our message or specifically mine it
doesnтАЩt agree with THEIR thought process. But тАШshutting upтАЩ isnтАЩt even close to тАШin meтАЩ. I just prefer and I think itтАЩs far more decent to have a respectful approach ..though not тАШ pussyтАЩ-foot around . Being truthfilled as to whatтАЩs being DELIVERED while walking through the DEBRIS ... vs whining, criticizing, childish slurs, no solutions, nosuggestions, but screaming alternative facts...I use the word in sarcastic slight.
The тАШfake newsтАЩ is more an act of complicity than news ( IMHO) but we all know the bottom line$ ..which along with attention, garnering a sensationalistic audience, and hopeful for the lobbyistтАЩs rewards thereтАЩs a lot of to be desired , a lot to be expected for the clean up when the BLUES sing .
I believe that's the response network "mainstream" media might listen to; when it hits their bottom line of viewership numbers and Loud protests from us online and social media - a firestorm of viewership protest, as many as possible. Viewership equals dollars for networks from advertisers. They know when we're watching and will know if we don't - tell them why.
I disconnected my network TV 10 years ago, i absolutely can't to watch the MSM any longer. They are way to Fascist leaning for me to watch their garbage.
n the history book These Truths, by Jill Lepore, are┬а the following paragraphs about the first, highly successful political campaign managers, Campaigns, Inc., aka The Lie Factory, founded in 1933. They never lost a campaign. Republicans have mastered their campaign strategy rules:┬а
┬а┬а┬а 'Every campaign needs a theme.┬а Keep it simple.┬а Rhyming is good. Never explain anything. "The more you have to explain,┬а the more difficult it is to win support."┬а Say the same thing over and over again. "We assume we have to get a voter's attention 7 times to make a sale".┬а Subtlety is your enemy.┬а "Words that lean on your mind are no good. They must dent it." Simplify, simplify,┬а simplify. "A wall goes up when you try to make Mr. And Mrs. Average American Citizen work or think."
┬а┬а┬а Make it personal.┬а Candidates are easier to sell than issues. If your position doesn't have an opponent,┬а invent one. Pretend that you are the voice of the people. You can't wage a defensive campaign and win. Never shy from controversy; instead win the controversy. "The average┬а American doesn't want to be educated,┬а he doesn't want to improve his mind; he doesn't want to work,┬а consciously, at being a good citizen. But there are 2 ways you can interest him in a campaign, and only 2 that we have ever found successful." You can put on a fight ("He likes a good battle with no punches pulled"), or you can put on a show ("He likes the movies, he likes mysteries; he likes fireworks and parades). "So, if you can't fight, PUT ON A SHOW! If you put on a good show, Mr. And Mrs. America will turn out to see it.'
I was impressed with the James Carville War Room that immediately struck back at those who spread disinformstion about Bill Clinton in his 1st and successful presidential campaign.
Yes, we can still learn from James Carville now. He is a great Democratic strategist and funny too! He is on the podcast Politics War Room and was recently on Molly Jong FastтАЩs podcast too. Yes, BidenтАЩs team has to hit back hard. Call out the misinformation and IMO name it as Russian when applicable.
There was a funny meme going around that said: тАЬOf three Trumpers, the first is as stupid as the other two!тАЭ Says it all.....thank you Heather for your facts and your calming sanity. Taveras has now flipped on dump. He is really cooked! Yay!
Biden and his communication team have to stop being Nicey Nice, and thinking that if they ignore a problem like malicious lies from the Right and its media, that the problem will go away. Just тАЬsetting a good exampleтАЭ may work in some families but it does not when your opposition is venal and as low as it gets.
If anyone wants to see a corner turned in the bullshit whining by Republicans, Donald Trump must be permanently removed from any and all equations..In as much as I support these prosecutions, it still treats the events leading up to and including Jan 6th 2021 and the illegal documents retention like a bank robbery and a petty theft..These were treasonous acts of war..Trump et al belong in prison cells at Gitmo pending a military tribunal as enemy combatants..On top of the criminal charges that they face..
But, Congress apparently refuses to invoke the Fourteenth amendment disqualifier for Presidential office because Trump is more powerful with Americans than the Constitution, which, almost no American has read.
Like Trump, the тАЬFreedom CaucusтАЭ is the apple of PutinтАЩs eye. If you watch the Republican debate, which I wonтАЩt waste my time with, report back with their creative solutions to reverse the destruction of our environment. (Ha, ha)
Sam I am so enraged at what is going on right in front of us I had to erase my comments. I canтАЩt tolerate the empathy and the pride in being uneducated.
There are so many of us allowing the thugs to be the тАЬ movie of the yearsтАЭ.
Do what Henry David Thoreau did.... stop paying taxes to a government that one cannot in any way depend on to send treasonous criminals to prison so the rest of us can breath clean fresh air! ( meaning тАЬthe truth)тАЭ.
Until this country gets the message that most of us want тАЬunder the lawтАЭ to mean something for everyone, we must not fund this insanity.
There are of course those of us who feel this in not the course to take. Part of being a proud American was that paying each personтАЩs fair tax was meant to be patriotic. Well, I am confused as to what it takes to get our employees ( Congress) to do the right thing!
You nail it perfectly. Agree, although I get really tired of your constant trolling for subscribers. Dems have not been effective messagers since FDRтАЩs fireside chats. RupertтАЩs megaphone is the dominate right propaganda machine. Reagan set that up and we have not yet figured out how to counter it effectively.
Jeri, I believe it was Roger Ailles and Gordon Norquist who understood the linguistic concept of framing (NOT messaing). But since FDR, perhaps, there has been a segment of America that feels private interests ought to govern society, not a public sector. This scourge of the earth, imho, is called Libertarianism.
David Koch was the Libertarian Party's vice-presidential candidate in 1980, running on a platform of abolishing Social Security, the FBI, the CIA, and public schools. (wikipedia page). The late David Koch and his surviving brother Charles now bascially run the entire cosnervative movement with their think tanks Cato, Freedom Foundation, Americans for Prosperity and the Heritage Foundation.
In essence, anything left of right in America demands, unconsciously, "good governance" --- but liberals/progressives/dems have no idea this is at the core of our philosophy. THIS is political framing
THIS is the at the heart, or the core, of or political frame
You have been paying attention, don't forget Frank Luntz., and it was Grover Norquist, as I recall. These cretins were busy long before Dems were even aware that they needed to fight back. Their "think tanks" were described to me by a friend as propaganda, before Rupert was invited in. In 1985, Lewis Lehman described the goals of the repub party in ways that allowed the tentacles to reach far and wide. We are so far behind the curve...
Sorry, Jeri, but canтАЩt blame Rupert anymore. Most people 40&under donтАЩt watch cable news or rely on just one paper for info. These people rely on SM(social media).IтАЩm 57 and тАЬwith itтАЭ so I get my news from SM. I can hear from my favorite editors and journalists from the NYT, ATLANTIC, WSJ, etc plus many independent journalists/writers. I also can hear up-to-the-minute info from the press secretary and politicians themselves. Unfortunately, Edwin is correct. The Whitehouse &DEMs CONSISTENTLY drop the ball with communication. With SM, we can get it straight from the тАЬhorseтАЩs mouth,тАЭ but that horse is more often than not, mute. The DEMs have zero offense.
So true, but donтАЩt tell Rupert that his influence has waned significantly. Might cause a heart attack. Well, go ahead. The cult remains old and evil and the Machiavellian manipulations are world class.
Well said. The Fascist-oligarchical arm of the Republican Party for decades have honed their expertise at disinformation and misdirection messaging. The Republican MAGA base is nothing more than KKK. We need to recognize that and in that regard Timothy Egan's book, "A Fever in the Heartland" is an eye-opener. Nailing it is the study published in Critical Sociology by two Univ. of Kansas professors, David Norman Smith and Eric Hanley entitled "The Anger Games: Who Voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 Election and Why." Not to be a spoiler, but the three primary reasons are racism, misogyny and xenophobia. Throw in a dash of homophobia.
Richard-thanks for sharing info about this study. Unfortunately the three reasons you highlight are not the issues that people want to focus on to solve our problems.
These issues have been with us from the start. It is madness for us to fight over skin color, gender and immigration.
If we really want to stop fascism and bring our country together these issues have to be in the forefront-not Hunter BidenтАЩs laptop or Trump and his minionsтАЩ despicable rhetoric and conduct.
I totally agree that the Dems have not been proactive or responsive when it comes to communications. The media only wants to play ratings games.
Gina, the problem is: those are the issues that the MAGA Republicans focus on, to the point that they would destroy our democracy in order to preserve their "white superiority." These folks are not rational in the ordinary sense. The point is made in "The Anger Games" that trying to reason with them is fruitless. We really are dealing with a group that wants to topple our constitutional democratic system. And, some of them hold government positions - Ted Cruz, Jim Jordan, Josh Hawley, Kevin McCarthy, MTG and more.
Gina, Hunter's laptop and TFG's behavior are stand-ins to divert our attention away from the three issues that the extreme right are using to stir the base up, while using things like Hunter's laptop ("...but her emails...") to divert the lazy part of the media from covering the real issues. So we need to find ways to redirect the conversation by continually returning it to those underlying issues.
One way is to persistently call the media out when they mess up. Not with vitriolic judgement, but by reiterating what journalism's responsibility is, and by pointing them toward sources of valid information. Over and over again.
Writing to the editor is a time-honored American tradition, and it works- but express concerns, not threats. Subscribers can stress their connection to the paper or station or column, and use that as a lever. Threatening to unsubscribe is not a good opening for a dialogue. It can be effective when the publication has clearly abrogated journalistic responsibilies, and is not making attempts to improve. Also I suggest writing directly to authors of articles and opinion pieces, not with vitriol, but with reasonable questions about their intent, pointing out the things that trouble you and why. I lean on concerns about truth and ethics, again countering their errors with reliable sources, and asking them to think about the impact what their writing has.
I need to remind that there's no point in wasting time on pubs or writers who are clearly leaning right: they know what they are doing, and it's a waste of time to try to change them. Threatening to unsubscribe is likely either to blow up or dismissed with these folks.
The people to focus on are those writers and pubs who seem to be trying and need either some nudging, or just maybe, some appreciation for what they get right and encouragement to reach further. We forget about this part too often. Many journalists are struggling with morale right now, because they are criticized by somebody no matter what they do. Many get real threats. Think about how much difference a kind letter of appreciation can make to someone in that position.
We keep going in circles in our conversations instead of forefronting the underlying issues. Here is one simple thing we can do to help change that. I am tired of reading the same complaints over and over again. I'd love to hear about what other kinds of things people are doing to help media people do a good job.
The biggest obstacle the forces of democracy face is the truth. They are bound by it. The fascists are not. They are free to make up any story, and the wilder the better, because it will grab attention. ThereтАЩs a saying that the lie gets halfway around the world before the truth gets its shoes on. But truth wins out in the end, because it is, you know, true.
Bidens communications team need to speak to peoples emotions. ItтАЩs difficult to use facts when people have confirmation bias, there is a level of willful blindness among the Republicans and their followers. They create an alternative universe. ItтАЩs very Orwellian. people believe that the chocolate ration is going up from 6 g to 2 g hooray for big brother. I think the Biden team needs to тАЬflood the zoneтАЬ to take a page from the evil Bannon.
Whatever these idiots think or canтАЩt comprehend, our country is full of intelligent, educated, thoughtful people who care about this democracy. We must get everyone we know, and everyone we donтАЩt know, to vote BLUE in 2024. Pennsylvania just defeated a congressional dumpster(special election in August, the pugs thought no one would vote!) and a man named Lamb won. Heavily gerrymandered district. No Democrat on the ballot in the last two elections and this guy WON! Twenty points won! Never give up on We The People!
Their alternative universe is hundreds of fake news sites. So if they even try to double check for accuracy, they easily find other web sites that confirm the misinformation.
Well said Edwin. You fleshed in more, and it's factual. The party must do all that response work though and that's a problem. A problem made worse by our media crisis / issues.
Even mainstream media plays up the idea that nothing is being done. As a society and culture, we have to get beyond the reality TV and instant gratification syndromes.
What I find interesting is that since Reagan, Dems know that framing the message is crucial. But we always play at being back footed. Why? Framing is a technique. Why are we not as forcefully -or MORE forcefully- using it?
Democrats are doing lots of good things from legislations to WH spurring economic growth through building back better, Inflation Reduction Act, no tax break for the rich, low manufacturing costs, and other developments. But, this is not enough. Democrats haven't communicated constantly to their base. They now have to appeal to the emotions of their supporters by constantly reinforcing their progress they have made so far so people themselves can know and dismiss any misinformation from the right-wing media. Through this, misinformation will not have a chance to thrive when people are informed regularly.
Dems and liberals do not speak from a moral imperative, such as
"Liberty and Justice for all" - and this is just THE starting point for all specifics to follow.
People do NOT follow the laundry list of policies the liberals put forth. Bernie had the longest list of proposals ever, and he got labelled a "socialist" and that was the end of Bernie. He needed to get out FRONT and begin every policy statement from a values base, such as, "In a Demcracy ..., becasue this ensures liberty and freedom that we all support
Fore more than 20 years I have consulted with liberal leaders, and politicians, and they feel entitled because they are successful in their narrow, focussed world. Meanwhile, the right has coalesced around a moral imperative - culture war, or freedom. Small government. Their language FITS everything we do. Now, they control the South, and the courts, and many state governments, and the media terrain. While we are myopic in or policies ....
Herein, Planned Parenthood competes with Sierra Club and with Voter Rights Project - but they ALL are in the same domain of demanding a just and democratic society for everyone ....
This is all simple linguistics. But it takes years for this essence to be adopted in one's brain. We may win an election, such as 2024, but we loose the communications war, because linguistics informs us the way the brain processes input
As someone once said, "trump sucks the air out of the room." Biden's team needs to get some of that air and use it for Biden and not let trump take it all for himself.
All the rock throwing and hate from the Republican Party can never over shadow the basic facts that they are supporting a man that alertered female rights, support gun laws that allow 18 year olds to buy high capacity magazine assault weapons yet canтАЩt buy alcohol because they are not responsible enough AND attempted to destroy our democracy because he could not stand that he legally lost in an election.
Biden will go down as one of the best presidents ever for not only all he has done, but for throwing out one of the most dangerous president ever.
HCR makes the sickening statement that "Supporting Ukraine in its battle against PutinтАЩs authoritarianism has been a key aspect of BidenтАЩs attempt to protect democracy at home and around the world."
Biden and HCR support Ukraine's oppressive, anti-democratic far-right thug regime, where all the opposition parties have been suppressed after Zelensky capitulated to neo-Nazi war-mongers and reneged on his campaign promise to bring peace to the Donbass region.
Zelensky initially moved toward fulfilling the Minsk Agreements that had "frozen" the civil war in the Donbass, but then he capitulated to the Neo-Nazis (who controlled Ukraine's Interior Ministry, in charge of the police stations) and eventually re-ignited the frozen war, precipitating the Russian invasion. We are being lied to.
Recently, after U.S. Secretary of State Blinken announced more aid for Ukraine, Zelensky posted a video showing him with Ukraine's most prominent Neo-Nazi Andriy Biletsky:
See also (from 2019) "Neo-Nazis and the Far Right Are On the March in Ukraine":
"Five years ago, UkraineтАЩs Maidan uprising ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, to the cheers and support of the West. Politicians and analysts in the United States and Europe not only celebrated the uprising as a triumph of democracy, but denied reports of MaidanтАЩs ultranationalism, smearing those who warned about the dark side of the uprising as Moscow puppets and useful idiots. Freedom was on the march in Ukraine.
"Today, increasing reports of far-right violence, ultranationalism, and erosion of basic freedoms are giving the lie to the WestтАЩs initial euphoria. There are neo-Nazi pogroms against the Roma, rampant attacks on feminists and LGBT groups, book bans, and state-sponsored glorification of Nazi collaborators.
"These stories of UkraineтАЩs dark nationalism arenтАЩt coming out of Moscow; theyтАЩre being filed by Western media, including US-funded Radio Free Europe (RFE); Jewish organizations such as the World Jewish Congress and the Simon Wiesenthal Center; and watchdogs like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Freedom House, which issued a joint report warning that Kiev is losing the monopoly on the use of force in the country as far-right gangs operate with impunity."
Please keep the discourse civil. You donтАЩt encourage dialogue when you insult commenters. I didnтАЩt insult you. I hear you but disagree with your facts and view what you say as opinions thank you.
Don't know if you understand that I'm laughing at you spending $50 to come on here and spout your BS.
In fact, I laugh at you magas who are so brained washed that you think you have points to make.
Your orange messiah will never be in the WH again. There's more sane people who understand that he is nothing but a lying, grifting, whiny man baby who doesn't give two f*cks about anyone, especially you magas except for you to send the supposed billionaire all your money to pay his legal fees.
Go ahead and pretend you don't like him, but you and I know it's all a show because why else would you spend $50 to be laughed at.
In fact, I was angry at his supporters like you but then learned that you are to be either pittied or laughed at.
So I'm laughing at you spending $50 to post your bs.
Beth Cobb, you parade your state of denial regarding Ukraine's oppressive far-right thug regime, pointedly ignore my five sources and change the subject to dishonestly mock me. (By the way, I didn't spend $50.)
Actually, IтАЩm sure there are neo-Nazis pushing for attention in Ukraine. They are all over Europe and in the US. White Supremacy is an idea that never dies.
However, Zelenskyy is not a white nationalist and he is doing everything he can to keep Ukraine independent and free. Putin, like Stalin, has no compunctions about genocide.
Oldandintheway, you join the "state of denial" parade around here, ignoring my five sources, especially my quote from that article from "The Nation." Perhaps you aren't familiar with the history of "The Nation"?
Yes, Mike. I believe the original download to the human mind from our Creator goes something like thisтАжтАЭWe are all in this together. There is enough to go around.тАЭ
The second thought has been corrupted by greed and the opposite of that thought fuels the fear that turns people toward an authoritarian, greedy stance against the first thought. Thus, keep oneтАЩs foot on the neck of the one below you.
What to do? Believe that there is no opposite to Love. Simple yet profound. Will correct the compass and stay our path with Light.
The last paragraph says it all. President Joe is a good president and a good man and you are a great professor and thank you for everything you do for us to understand this goofy world we live in. We must always be kind and share. Peace everybody.
Despite President Biden being a good man and doing credible work, I believe his communication team should invest in vital communication strategies that really showcased he is a good man and working for the American people before the right-wing media tells voters who he is through misinformation. It is hard to maintain what one has in the face of enemies and it takes effort to do that. In a world that values propaganda and innuendos, no one cares whether Biden is good, but his communication team has to put in the work to show that he is good by not creating uncertainty among his supporters. This sentiment stated that "Pro-Russian accounts promptly began to argue that the Biden administration was ignoring a disaster at home"
The Republican Party, Trump, and his allies understand that they have to use confirmation bias to pin down their supporters and shore up their support. It is a psychological tactic aimed at disseminating information that supports the party and presidential candidate while painting Biden as ignoring domestic affairs. The issue of a disaster is emotive and Trump Co. wanted to make people believe that Biden has neglected them despite a lot of evidence indicating that the president had been sending Federal support to the victims and announced plans to be done in the next few days. However, the pro-Russian accounts took advantage of lack of prompt communication response from the Biden team and capitalized on them to arouse sympathy emotions among its supporters. Thus, Biden should fully invested in strong communication to counter any misinformation spread by the right wing media as they approach elections. When they keep silent for long, though they are doing credible work on the ground, the right-wing media will speak on behalf of them. This is what mostly occurred in 2016 that propelled Trump to White House, with conspiracies taking over political airwaves. I hope Biden team will learn from them and deal with any misinformation fiercely as they approach 2024.
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The problem we have here in America, Edwin, is the media has found the "average" American wants to be entertained not informed. Who the "average" American is, I have no idea, it certainly isn't me. No matter what Joe Biden or the Democratic Party tries to say, if it isn't entertaining it will not be reported on "mainstream media". That's why I disconnected my network TV.
"Who the "average" American is, I have no idea, it certainly isn't me. "
I would guess that you can find the "average American":
1) staring at the TV during "Fox and Friends" in the morning to catch a glimpse up the dress of the fake blonde handing out fake news.
2) staring at the TV during "Survivor" or whatever other seriously dumb "reality TV" is on at night, I have no idea.
3) staring at facebook and X on their phone for hours each day.
4) Buying Cheetos and Beer to eat and drink during Fox and Friends at Fastrac or 7-11 or whatever is the equivalent.
5) Picking up their Social Security check AND their nice retirement check from the job that was outsourced to China that they get BUT don't want anyone else to get so they don't have to pay taxes.
You will NOT find average Joe at the local library checking out the movie "Selma". Or checking out any book at all.
And therein lies the problem with America. Too much average. Average is not good enough to think, read, understand, discern and, moreover, average does not promote community.
Average is? Well, average.
There is another average problem as well. Ivy lets in "average/below average/legacy" but then those "average or below" are treated like Gods upon graduation and they destroy everything when they are in power.
тАЬThink of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.тАЭ
тАХ George Carlin
Just SayinтАЩ
And this leaves us at the Achilles heel of democracy. Those 'average' persons vote, and all too often, elect foes of democracy to office. That's what's wrong with democracy, but as Winston Churchill said, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms." Liberals who give up progressive ideas and become 'neo-cons' eventually recognize this.
George knew. Miss him....
тАЬThey all it the American Dream, because you gotta be asleep to believe it.тАЭ I miss him dreadfully. ЁЯШв
Barbara (NJ) - "George knew. Miss him...."
Yes, he did. Yes, I do.
(I know Facebook is not very welcome here but one misses so much without it.)
https://www.facebook.com/reel/652071236867528
That's what average means.
Funny, but, one hopes, an exaggeration.
Those average Americans are reaching into their pocketsтАФwhich are none too deepтАФto send money to help the people in Maui. Average Americans are helping victims of floods and other wildfires. Yes, average Americans are going to librarIes (IтАЩm a library trustee, so I have some knowledge here). They are building wind turbines and installing solar panels. They are doing the countryтАЩs work.
Back in the 1960s, the great Tom Paxton wrote:
My face may not be pretty,
And my clothes are not the best,
And there ainтАЩt no bigshots in my family tree.
But if you want to know
Who made this country great,
You donтАЩt have to look no further,
It was me.
I went 3 times, for a week at a time, to work on rebuilding after Katrina in 2005 and 2006. We slept on the floor of a church that survived in Ocean Springs. Those folks that came to rebuild were average Americans, many retired but some took their vacation time to help out. Mostly I rewired homes because of my background and experience, (dad was a electrical contractor). My whole point is that average doesn't mean folks don't care.
We would do better to come up with a more appropriate term to describe what we view as the тАЬaverage тАЬperson. I grew up in the 1950тАЩs and 60тАЩs when my тАЬaverage тАЬ parents and neighbors faithfully read local newspapers and on Sunday read larger newspapers like the New York newspapers. It was a community mixed with many ethnic, religious and socioeconomic groups. And they appeared to work together ( at least to this boy) to make a community that benefited most. I keep in touch with several of my childhood friends who could see through the likes of Trump and the mean, petty, selfish and lazy bastards who support him.
The primary problem would seem to be overweight. Fat is a disease (UCLA Medical Bulletin) and too many do sit in front of TVтАЩs eating fat and gaining weight and losing brainpower.
Thank you Jon Margolis
Thank you, Jon.
I don't think the word "average" to describe an American is applicable much anymore. As an adjective, it's been used in this context for many many years. Sixty or so years ago and more, America was seemingly a bit more "homogenized". Everybody seemed to conform into a big, boring mass. In the '60s, things really started to unravel and different groups began to rebel against the "norm", the "establishment". The country, IMO, has become too diverse to pin a label "average" on anybody. Statisticians might be able to come up with mean totals for a wide variety of things which might create an idea of "average", but it seems to me to find one person and say, "This person represents the "average American", is not really possible anymore.
The country was always diverse. It's just that most of the people who were not white and male were written out of history and not represented in media. Republicans are trying to do so again with their Anti CRT and anti woke nonsense.
Exactly. Women and minorities were more or less invisible and blended into the fabric. As I said, in the '60s they and others began asserting themselves and standing up for their rights. The diversity became much more mainstream, with the result that the White patriarchal system came under assault. That's still a problem for that demographic, at least I think so down here in the South. White males are feeling threatened -- as they should. They're no longer calling the shots. In this area it is now almost one-third Latino/Hispanic. Spanish is ubiquitous and we have basically become a bi-lingual society here. For these "good ol' boys" that change happened really fast, too fast, and some of them can't deal with it. There was a time, a couple generations ago, when those "good ol' boys" would've probably been considered the "average" American. Not any more, and that's as it SHOULD be!
You are right, Bruce. That was what I had in mind when I wrote that post. What does average mean anymore? "Average income" if you include all the incomes in the USA today is more than at least 70% of us make. "Average education" depends on how much debt you are willing to take on. (Also how wealthy your parents are) To my way of thinking MAGA cultists are not "average joe's" They don't understand how they got in the mess we're all in. They want someone to blame, but they lack the determination to research and find the real reasons. So, when some trickster, like Trump comes along and assures them he will take care of their woes, fraudulently offers some others to "blame" they latch on firmly, lapping up each crumb he throws them. Yes, we need to change the distribution of wealth in this country. Yes, we need to mitigate to the best of our collective ability the ever threatening global warming we have blindly created for the past 200 years. Yes, we need to totally revamp our educational system in this country so every single child is educated to the best of the child's capabilities. But, we're running out of time. At least I am, at 90+ I don't have that long to effect changes.
You make good points Bruce. I also have to wonder when the word average as a descriptor became a pejorative? What's wrong with being average? We can't all be exceptional. Average, in the non-mathematical definition, can mean ordinary or regular or common. Some of us, myself included, fit that description, and I'm fine with it. Being average doesn't equate with lacking in intellectual ability, being poorly or misinformed, being unhealthy, being of a particular race or ethnicity, or of a certain political persuasion. It seems to me the word has been used and misused so often by so many people in so many ways it has lost its meaning. I'll stop now lest I begin to sound like Stuart Smalley.
To me, the "average" American is what the NY Times thinks, that the people who hang out in diners in the midwest and talk about how great life was back in the 1960s are those people. Many Black journalists equate average with white.
See my response to Barbara S above . . . you're exactly right.
We're forgetting a few important things.
1. The elimination of equal time means that the press is under no obligation to give all the facts. Republicans did that.
2. The campaign to do everything possible to hamstring public schools by stealing taxpayer money for private schools and then imposing a testing regimen that punished critical thinking was a Republican endeavor.
Before we start calling our fellow Americans stupid, maybe we should give consideration to how that happened.
When this was going down in the nineties, I brought my concerns to a good solid liberal professor of mine who assured me that people wouldn't buy into the nonsense.
Too many liberals rested too easily on that belief - and the belief that reason could overcome a false narrative - for too long and here we are.
Wow so well put.
Traditional media especially right-wing reprogrammes how we view politicians and alter every truth that we know until we cast doubts on our favourite leaders. Logics doesn't sell. Emotions do sell a lot. Negative news often attract a huge base of audience that every politician admires. And in this case, Trump and the entire Republican benefits from it.
Agreed, Edwin. Another problem is, we have allowed all the former media to be purchased lock, stock, and reporters by obscenely wealthy bigots. I hope those of you in Africa can learn from our mistakes of the past 50 years. Stay with your traditions (at least those which aren't harmful to your health) and whatever you do, don't worship wealth.
And they are also not Americans, although I donтАЩt think it matters so much as the тАШobscenely wealthy тАЬ part does.
Nailed it.
Perfect.
You, no doubt have actually experienced disinformation campaigns Edwin, assuming you are who you say. Africa has been under nonstop propaganda campaigns for decades now, from every angle.
Opposition in Africa are almost similar to how Republican operates. They buy media headlines to sway voters with misinformation or even create scandals around their opponents. TV news are alloted to those whom they support with more airtime. Truth is scarce and it isn't wanted.
Yes, very similar. Your last line is powerful, Edwin: the kind of thing that feels like a gut punch, it is so on mark.
Thanks , Fay
A robust and concentrated effort on accountability...front and center actions folks:
1) Disconnect from sources focusing on the disinformation, Fox#1 , X/Twit, talking head ramblings, networks ...
Their pockets hear quickly, their poll/audience numbers drop ..theyтАЩll catch it quickly, their continued loss in seats and sitting elected positions from town/school boards to state to county to house & senate ...is already quite evident .
2) It is NOT тАШfair coverageтАЩ to give liars press time ...it is a panning to the thrill seeking, soap opera mentality. Stop it!
3) Boycott...stop buying the products from the advertisers on disinformation carriers.
4) pester the Congress ,especially MAGA offices , saturate their lines with objections/complaint/critical discourse, tie up their lines with incessant and mind boggling jamming, and ЁЯЧгя╕Пtell your friends
5) Make the same tactics work for US TOO!
6) post and praise about our President Biden/Harris тАШs daily loving , multiple efforts to shore up/improve and support our society...
7/Work to leave the nay sayers OUT of conversation, no mention, no names or name calling, NO OXYGEN to the losers
8) Support grassroot movements, donate a few bucks to as many Dem candidates who carry equality , inclusion, and solution solving ideas ...as you can!
Togetherness all the way, team 2024...letтАЩs carry this working effective and wholesome message .
TEAMWORK ЁЯЩМ
ЁЯТЩЁЯТЩVOTEЁЯТЩЁЯТЩ
"7/Work to leave the nay sayers OUT of conversation, no mention, no names or name calling, NO OXYGEN to the losers"
I guess if you don't share the same views, you should keep your mouth shut. How democratic.
Possibly stop the naysayers from taking over the conversation, and putting their beliefs and views out in front of anyone else & being the loudest in the room. As in Trump - DeSantis - MTG - Bobert - Gaetz & others. Bring the actual truth out rather than all this disinformation.
Make the truth come out louder and more enthusiastically than the right wing lies. And do it before the liars have a chance to be heard first.
Do I note you think the Dems donтАЩt talk enough? Then IтАЩd have to say ..the good stuff happening doesnтАЩt get even close enough headlines, shouted out, itтАЩs due credit emphasized ...youтАЩre absolutely right! THANKS!
I donтАЩt think thereтАЩs any тАШguessingтАЩ in our message or specifically mine it
doesnтАЩt agree with THEIR thought process. But тАШshutting upтАЩ isnтАЩt even close to тАШin meтАЩ. I just prefer and I think itтАЩs far more decent to have a respectful approach ..though not тАШ pussyтАЩ-foot around . Being truthfilled as to whatтАЩs being DELIVERED while walking through the DEBRIS ... vs whining, criticizing, childish slurs, no solutions, nosuggestions, but screaming alternative facts...I use the word in sarcastic slight.
The тАШfake newsтАЩ is more an act of complicity than news ( IMHO) but we all know the bottom line$ ..which along with attention, garnering a sensationalistic audience, and hopeful for the lobbyistтАЩs rewards thereтАЩs a lot of to be desired , a lot to be expected for the clean up when the BLUES sing .
The Team here is worthy, informed, and capable.
LetтАЩs get to it!
ЁЯТЩЁЯТЩVOTE
I believe that's the response network "mainstream" media might listen to; when it hits their bottom line of viewership numbers and Loud protests from us online and social media - a firestorm of viewership protest, as many as possible. Viewership equals dollars for networks from advertisers. They know when we're watching and will know if we don't - tell them why.
I disconnected my network TV 10 years ago, i absolutely can't to watch the MSM any longer. They are way to Fascist leaning for me to watch their garbage.
Good for you, John. I think the only reason I kept mine was I had grandchildren livi9ng with me then and they all watched TV.
n the history book These Truths, by Jill Lepore, are┬а the following paragraphs about the first, highly successful political campaign managers, Campaigns, Inc., aka The Lie Factory, founded in 1933. They never lost a campaign. Republicans have mastered their campaign strategy rules:┬а
┬а┬а┬а 'Every campaign needs a theme.┬а Keep it simple.┬а Rhyming is good. Never explain anything. "The more you have to explain,┬а the more difficult it is to win support."┬а Say the same thing over and over again. "We assume we have to get a voter's attention 7 times to make a sale".┬а Subtlety is your enemy.┬а "Words that lean on your mind are no good. They must dent it." Simplify, simplify,┬а simplify. "A wall goes up when you try to make Mr. And Mrs. Average American Citizen work or think."
┬а┬а┬а Make it personal.┬а Candidates are easier to sell than issues. If your position doesn't have an opponent,┬а invent one. Pretend that you are the voice of the people. You can't wage a defensive campaign and win. Never shy from controversy; instead win the controversy. "The average┬а American doesn't want to be educated,┬а he doesn't want to improve his mind; he doesn't want to work,┬а consciously, at being a good citizen. But there are 2 ways you can interest him in a campaign, and only 2 that we have ever found successful." You can put on a fight ("He likes a good battle with no punches pulled"), or you can put on a show ("He likes the movies, he likes mysteries; he likes fireworks and parades). "So, if you can't fight, PUT ON A SHOW! If you put on a good show, Mr. And Mrs. America will turn out to see it.'
I was impressed with the James Carville War Room that immediately struck back at those who spread disinformstion about Bill Clinton in his 1st and successful presidential campaign.
Yes, we can still learn from James Carville now. He is a great Democratic strategist and funny too! He is on the podcast Politics War Room and was recently on Molly Jong FastтАЩs podcast too. Yes, BidenтАЩs team has to hit back hard. Call out the misinformation and IMO name it as Russian when applicable.
There was a funny meme going around that said: тАЬOf three Trumpers, the first is as stupid as the other two!тАЭ Says it all.....thank you Heather for your facts and your calming sanity. Taveras has now flipped on dump. He is really cooked! Yay!
Biden and his communication team have to stop being Nicey Nice, and thinking that if they ignore a problem like malicious lies from the Right and its media, that the problem will go away. Just тАЬsetting a good exampleтАЭ may work in some families but it does not when your opposition is venal and as low as it gets.
If anyone wants to see a corner turned in the bullshit whining by Republicans, Donald Trump must be permanently removed from any and all equations..In as much as I support these prosecutions, it still treats the events leading up to and including Jan 6th 2021 and the illegal documents retention like a bank robbery and a petty theft..These were treasonous acts of war..Trump et al belong in prison cells at Gitmo pending a military tribunal as enemy combatants..On top of the criminal charges that they face..
Sam,
Correct.
But, Congress apparently refuses to invoke the Fourteenth amendment disqualifier for Presidential office because Trump is more powerful with Americans than the Constitution, which, almost no American has read.
Like Trump, the тАЬFreedom CaucusтАЭ is the apple of PutinтАЩs eye. If you watch the Republican debate, which I wonтАЩt waste my time with, report back with their creative solutions to reverse the destruction of our environment. (Ha, ha)
Sam I am so enraged at what is going on right in front of us I had to erase my comments. I canтАЩt tolerate the empathy and the pride in being uneducated.
There are so many of us allowing the thugs to be the тАЬ movie of the yearsтАЭ.
Do what Henry David Thoreau did.... stop paying taxes to a government that one cannot in any way depend on to send treasonous criminals to prison so the rest of us can breath clean fresh air! ( meaning тАЬthe truth)тАЭ.
Until this country gets the message that most of us want тАЬunder the lawтАЭ to mean something for everyone, we must not fund this insanity.
There are of course those of us who feel this in not the course to take. Part of being a proud American was that paying each personтАЩs fair tax was meant to be patriotic. Well, I am confused as to what it takes to get our employees ( Congress) to do the right thing!
Yes - the fact that they ARE our employees appears to escape their little minds, doesnt it?
Their PACS get money from the rich guys whom they really work for.
You nail it perfectly. Agree, although I get really tired of your constant trolling for subscribers. Dems have not been effective messagers since FDRтАЩs fireside chats. RupertтАЩs megaphone is the dominate right propaganda machine. Reagan set that up and we have not yet figured out how to counter it effectively.
Can we call it тАЬRupertтАЩs MAGAPhone?тАЭ
Yep, always has been, by design. Thanks, Ronnie
Jeri, I believe it was Roger Ailles and Gordon Norquist who understood the linguistic concept of framing (NOT messaing). But since FDR, perhaps, there has been a segment of America that feels private interests ought to govern society, not a public sector. This scourge of the earth, imho, is called Libertarianism.
David Koch was the Libertarian Party's vice-presidential candidate in 1980, running on a platform of abolishing Social Security, the FBI, the CIA, and public schools. (wikipedia page). The late David Koch and his surviving brother Charles now bascially run the entire cosnervative movement with their think tanks Cato, Freedom Foundation, Americans for Prosperity and the Heritage Foundation.
In essence, anything left of right in America demands, unconsciously, "good governance" --- but liberals/progressives/dems have no idea this is at the core of our philosophy. THIS is political framing
THIS is the at the heart, or the core, of or political frame
You have been paying attention, don't forget Frank Luntz., and it was Grover Norquist, as I recall. These cretins were busy long before Dems were even aware that they needed to fight back. Their "think tanks" were described to me by a friend as propaganda, before Rupert was invited in. In 1985, Lewis Lehman described the goals of the repub party in ways that allowed the tentacles to reach far and wide. We are so far behind the curve...
Excellently said. Add ALEC and private bribe money to their PACs. The works for SCOTUS, too. How do they become millionaires?
ЁЯСНAmen, well written
Sorry, Jeri, but canтАЩt blame Rupert anymore. Most people 40&under donтАЩt watch cable news or rely on just one paper for info. These people rely on SM(social media).IтАЩm 57 and тАЬwith itтАЭ so I get my news from SM. I can hear from my favorite editors and journalists from the NYT, ATLANTIC, WSJ, etc plus many independent journalists/writers. I also can hear up-to-the-minute info from the press secretary and politicians themselves. Unfortunately, Edwin is correct. The Whitehouse &DEMs CONSISTENTLY drop the ball with communication. With SM, we can get it straight from the тАЬhorseтАЩs mouth,тАЭ but that horse is more often than not, mute. The DEMs have zero offense.
So true, but donтАЩt tell Rupert that his influence has waned significantly. Might cause a heart attack. Well, go ahead. The cult remains old and evil and the Machiavellian manipulations are world class.
I think Steve Schmidt does a upstanding job..kinda ironic , huh?
Very astute Jeri.
Well said. The Fascist-oligarchical arm of the Republican Party for decades have honed their expertise at disinformation and misdirection messaging. The Republican MAGA base is nothing more than KKK. We need to recognize that and in that regard Timothy Egan's book, "A Fever in the Heartland" is an eye-opener. Nailing it is the study published in Critical Sociology by two Univ. of Kansas professors, David Norman Smith and Eric Hanley entitled "The Anger Games: Who Voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 Election and Why." Not to be a spoiler, but the three primary reasons are racism, misogyny and xenophobia. Throw in a dash of homophobia.
Richard-thanks for sharing info about this study. Unfortunately the three reasons you highlight are not the issues that people want to focus on to solve our problems.
These issues have been with us from the start. It is madness for us to fight over skin color, gender and immigration.
If we really want to stop fascism and bring our country together these issues have to be in the forefront-not Hunter BidenтАЩs laptop or Trump and his minionsтАЩ despicable rhetoric and conduct.
I totally agree that the Dems have not been proactive or responsive when it comes to communications. The media only wants to play ratings games.
Gina, the problem is: those are the issues that the MAGA Republicans focus on, to the point that they would destroy our democracy in order to preserve their "white superiority." These folks are not rational in the ordinary sense. The point is made in "The Anger Games" that trying to reason with them is fruitless. We really are dealing with a group that wants to topple our constitutional democratic system. And, some of them hold government positions - Ted Cruz, Jim Jordan, Josh Hawley, Kevin McCarthy, MTG and more.
Gina, Hunter's laptop and TFG's behavior are stand-ins to divert our attention away from the three issues that the extreme right are using to stir the base up, while using things like Hunter's laptop ("...but her emails...") to divert the lazy part of the media from covering the real issues. So we need to find ways to redirect the conversation by continually returning it to those underlying issues.
One way is to persistently call the media out when they mess up. Not with vitriolic judgement, but by reiterating what journalism's responsibility is, and by pointing them toward sources of valid information. Over and over again.
Writing to the editor is a time-honored American tradition, and it works- but express concerns, not threats. Subscribers can stress their connection to the paper or station or column, and use that as a lever. Threatening to unsubscribe is not a good opening for a dialogue. It can be effective when the publication has clearly abrogated journalistic responsibilies, and is not making attempts to improve. Also I suggest writing directly to authors of articles and opinion pieces, not with vitriol, but with reasonable questions about their intent, pointing out the things that trouble you and why. I lean on concerns about truth and ethics, again countering their errors with reliable sources, and asking them to think about the impact what their writing has.
I need to remind that there's no point in wasting time on pubs or writers who are clearly leaning right: they know what they are doing, and it's a waste of time to try to change them. Threatening to unsubscribe is likely either to blow up or dismissed with these folks.
The people to focus on are those writers and pubs who seem to be trying and need either some nudging, or just maybe, some appreciation for what they get right and encouragement to reach further. We forget about this part too often. Many journalists are struggling with morale right now, because they are criticized by somebody no matter what they do. Many get real threats. Think about how much difference a kind letter of appreciation can make to someone in that position.
We keep going in circles in our conversations instead of forefronting the underlying issues. Here is one simple thing we can do to help change that. I am tired of reading the same complaints over and over again. I'd love to hear about what other kinds of things people are doing to help media people do a good job.
The biggest obstacle the forces of democracy face is the truth. They are bound by it. The fascists are not. They are free to make up any story, and the wilder the better, because it will grab attention. ThereтАЩs a saying that the lie gets halfway around the world before the truth gets its shoes on. But truth wins out in the end, because it is, you know, true.
Bidens communications team need to speak to peoples emotions. ItтАЩs difficult to use facts when people have confirmation bias, there is a level of willful blindness among the Republicans and their followers. They create an alternative universe. ItтАЩs very Orwellian. people believe that the chocolate ration is going up from 6 g to 2 g hooray for big brother. I think the Biden team needs to тАЬflood the zoneтАЬ to take a page from the evil Bannon.
Whatever these idiots think or canтАЩt comprehend, our country is full of intelligent, educated, thoughtful people who care about this democracy. We must get everyone we know, and everyone we donтАЩt know, to vote BLUE in 2024. Pennsylvania just defeated a congressional dumpster(special election in August, the pugs thought no one would vote!) and a man named Lamb won. Heavily gerrymandered district. No Democrat on the ballot in the last two elections and this guy WON! Twenty points won! Never give up on We The People!
Their alternative universe is hundreds of fake news sites. So if they even try to double check for accuracy, they easily find other web sites that confirm the misinformation.
Well said Edwin. You fleshed in more, and it's factual. The party must do all that response work though and that's a problem. A problem made worse by our media crisis / issues.
Sure. There is a vacuum of facts that is filled with misinformation from the right-wing media.
Even mainstream media plays up the idea that nothing is being done. As a society and culture, we have to get beyond the reality TV and instant gratification syndromes.
Confirmation bias. Haters need to have their hate confirmed, facts/truth are just propaganda from the other-side.
What I find interesting is that since Reagan, Dems know that framing the message is crucial. But we always play at being back footed. Why? Framing is a technique. Why are we not as forcefully -or MORE forcefully- using it?
What is stopping the Democrats from getting ahead of the right strategy ?
Democrats are doing lots of good things from legislations to WH spurring economic growth through building back better, Inflation Reduction Act, no tax break for the rich, low manufacturing costs, and other developments. But, this is not enough. Democrats haven't communicated constantly to their base. They now have to appeal to the emotions of their supporters by constantly reinforcing their progress they have made so far so people themselves can know and dismiss any misinformation from the right-wing media. Through this, misinformation will not have a chance to thrive when people are informed regularly.
Recent example is right-wingers criticizing BidenтАЩs тАЬinactionтАЭ in Hawaii.
And certain of the media falling for it. And readers and viewers not bothering to check further to see what other sources are saying.
Dems and liberals do not speak from a moral imperative, such as
"Liberty and Justice for all" - and this is just THE starting point for all specifics to follow.
People do NOT follow the laundry list of policies the liberals put forth. Bernie had the longest list of proposals ever, and he got labelled a "socialist" and that was the end of Bernie. He needed to get out FRONT and begin every policy statement from a values base, such as, "In a Demcracy ..., becasue this ensures liberty and freedom that we all support
Fore more than 20 years I have consulted with liberal leaders, and politicians, and they feel entitled because they are successful in their narrow, focussed world. Meanwhile, the right has coalesced around a moral imperative - culture war, or freedom. Small government. Their language FITS everything we do. Now, they control the South, and the courts, and many state governments, and the media terrain. While we are myopic in or policies ....
Herein, Planned Parenthood competes with Sierra Club and with Voter Rights Project - but they ALL are in the same domain of demanding a just and democratic society for everyone ....
This is all simple linguistics. But it takes years for this essence to be adopted in one's brain. We may win an election, such as 2024, but we loose the communications war, because linguistics informs us the way the brain processes input
As someone once said, "trump sucks the air out of the room." Biden's team needs to get some of that air and use it for Biden and not let trump take it all for himself.
Edwin, you should be working in the WH. In the meantime I will subscribe.
Thank you for subscribing. I hope President Joe Biden will receive my call ЁЯУЮ. ЁЯдк
Agreed Mike,
All the rock throwing and hate from the Republican Party can never over shadow the basic facts that they are supporting a man that alertered female rights, support gun laws that allow 18 year olds to buy high capacity magazine assault weapons yet canтАЩt buy alcohol because they are not responsible enough AND attempted to destroy our democracy because he could not stand that he legally lost in an election.
Biden will go down as one of the best presidents ever for not only all he has done, but for throwing out one of the most dangerous president ever.
Peace,
JB
HCR makes the sickening statement that "Supporting Ukraine in its battle against PutinтАЩs authoritarianism has been a key aspect of BidenтАЩs attempt to protect democracy at home and around the world."
Biden and HCR support Ukraine's oppressive, anti-democratic far-right thug regime, where all the opposition parties have been suppressed after Zelensky capitulated to neo-Nazi war-mongers and reneged on his campaign promise to bring peace to the Donbass region.
Zelensky initially moved toward fulfilling the Minsk Agreements that had "frozen" the civil war in the Donbass, but then he capitulated to the Neo-Nazis (who controlled Ukraine's Interior Ministry, in charge of the police stations) and eventually re-ignited the frozen war, precipitating the Russian invasion. We are being lied to.
Recently, after U.S. Secretary of State Blinken announced more aid for Ukraine, Zelensky posted a video showing him with Ukraine's most prominent Neo-Nazi Andriy Biletsky:
https://mronline.org/2023/08/21/zelensky-holds-court-with-ukraines-most-notorious-neo-nazi/
See also "Ukraine is Brutally Repressing the Left, Criminalizing Socialist Parties, Imprisoning Activists"
https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/03/21/ukraine-repressing-left-criminalizing-socialist-parties/
See also "How Zelensky Made Peace with Neo-Nazis"
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/04/how-zelensky-made-peace-with-neo-nazis/
See also "How One Ukrainian Billionaire Funded Hunter Biden, President Volodymyr Zelensky, And Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion"
https://greatgameindia.com/hunter-biden-zelensky-neo-nazi/
See also (from 2019) "Neo-Nazis and the Far Right Are On the March in Ukraine":
"Five years ago, UkraineтАЩs Maidan uprising ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, to the cheers and support of the West. Politicians and analysts in the United States and Europe not only celebrated the uprising as a triumph of democracy, but denied reports of MaidanтАЩs ultranationalism, smearing those who warned about the dark side of the uprising as Moscow puppets and useful idiots. Freedom was on the march in Ukraine.
"Today, increasing reports of far-right violence, ultranationalism, and erosion of basic freedoms are giving the lie to the WestтАЩs initial euphoria. There are neo-Nazi pogroms against the Roma, rampant attacks on feminists and LGBT groups, book bans, and state-sponsored glorification of Nazi collaborators.
"These stories of UkraineтАЩs dark nationalism arenтАЩt coming out of Moscow; theyтАЩre being filed by Western media, including US-funded Radio Free Europe (RFE); Jewish organizations such as the World Jewish Congress and the Simon Wiesenthal Center; and watchdogs like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Freedom House, which issued a joint report warning that Kiev is losing the monopoly on the use of force in the country as far-right gangs operate with impunity."
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/neo-nazis-far-right-ukraine/
Huh? YouтАЩre entitled to your own opinions, but youтАЩre not entitled to create facts that arenтАЩt true.
I hope you're not the kind of guy who has a swastika tattooed on his forehead.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=u0vrq_kQ6g8&feature=share9
Please keep the discourse civil. You donтАЩt encourage dialogue when you insult commenters. I didnтАЩt insult you. I hear you but disagree with your facts and view what you say as opinions thank you.
HeтАЩs probably a Russian troll.
I hope you're just in a state of denial, and not a Nazi-loving moral pervert.
Please stop apologizing for Ukraine's oppressive far-right thug regime, you filthy liar.
Big troll
Hey troll, yes you.
Don't know if you understand that I'm laughing at you spending $50 to come on here and spout your BS.
In fact, I laugh at you magas who are so brained washed that you think you have points to make.
Your orange messiah will never be in the WH again. There's more sane people who understand that he is nothing but a lying, grifting, whiny man baby who doesn't give two f*cks about anyone, especially you magas except for you to send the supposed billionaire all your money to pay his legal fees.
Go ahead and pretend you don't like him, but you and I know it's all a show because why else would you spend $50 to be laughed at.
In fact, I was angry at his supporters like you but then learned that you are to be either pittied or laughed at.
So I'm laughing at you spending $50 to post your bs.
Laughing is so much better and easier than anger.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
$50!
I always knew he's being paid by someone
Beth Cobb, you parade your state of denial regarding Ukraine's oppressive far-right thug regime, pointedly ignore my five sources and change the subject to dishonestly mock me. (By the way, I didn't spend $50.)
Actually, IтАЩm sure there are neo-Nazis pushing for attention in Ukraine. They are all over Europe and in the US. White Supremacy is an idea that never dies.
However, Zelenskyy is not a white nationalist and he is doing everything he can to keep Ukraine independent and free. Putin, like Stalin, has no compunctions about genocide.
Oldandintheway, you join the "state of denial" parade around here, ignoring my five sources, especially my quote from that article from "The Nation." Perhaps you aren't familiar with the history of "The Nation"?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nation
Comments are for paid subscribers.
Yes they are.
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"It's Cowboy X!"
https://youtube.com/watch?v=SRj0oub2TLY&feature=share9
AI bot.
??
How's the weather in Murmansk, John?
I bring up the issue of Biden's support of a nakedly fascist regime, and you sneer at me.
I do.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tW3HN_pvbE4&feature=share9
Seymour Hersh on Biden's incompetent foreign policy:
https://scheerpost.com/2023/08/19/seymour-hersh-summer-of-the-hawks/
Yes, Mike. I believe the original download to the human mind from our Creator goes something like thisтАжтАЭWe are all in this together. There is enough to go around.тАЭ
The second thought has been corrupted by greed and the opposite of that thought fuels the fear that turns people toward an authoritarian, greedy stance against the first thought. Thus, keep oneтАЩs foot on the neck of the one below you.
What to do? Believe that there is no opposite to Love. Simple yet profound. Will correct the compass and stay our path with Light.
Salud!
ЁЯЧ╜