tfg's followers are so used to his continual blathering to FOX and on the internet instead of actually working, that they can't understand that Biden doesn't need to be posting every conversation he has in order to be doing his job.
tfg's followers are so used to his continual blathering to FOX and on the internet instead of actually working, that they can't understand that Biden doesn't need to be posting every conversation he has in order to be doing his job.
A lot of space today was devoted to an Iowa poll which said over 60% of repub voters want tfg. And how many repub voters were actually sampled? About 400. Most sane people don’t answer their phones if they don’t know who is calling. Everyone watched the Jan 6 riot live on tv. How can they deny tfg’s role? “We love you” he said, THREE hours into it. Threw paper towels at people who suffered in a storm. Never a kind word for anyone but himself. Republican Party legislators should be ashamed of their silence and lack of humanity. 💩🤡
I have made this math point many times, Nancy. Completely overblown numbers -- when you have small numbers, use percentages. Old journalism trick (I learned it in J School in Iowa, no less!)
Thank you. It's ridiculous how the media love to show us the huge number of Republicans who feel this way or that, but never do the simple math to show how irrelevant they are.
You’re right. I have two lines and don’t answer unknown callers, and have never been asked to participate in a poll. Even in the olden days of three major networks and a landline in my house, before caller ID, so you would almost always answer, even in the middle of whatever you were doing, tethered by a chord, because it might be important. Even back then, I was called to be in a poll. But back then, it seems it would have been a more accurate phone sample than is possible today. For the reasons you mentioned. I think polls are no longer working for the benefit of democracy, as they seldom reflect “we the people”accurately and can easily be distorted into propaganda and disinformation.
At this point I think that it is accurate to say that the GOP is now the KKK. The GOP's policies are the KKK's. There is no such thing as a "conservative" inside today's GOP/KKK. They're all Fascists, Ron DeSantis being one.
"Biden doesn't need to be posting every conversation he has in order to be doing his job."
He does, in fact, need to do just that. Frazzled Americans don't have time for subtlety, they're too busy working three jobs and juggling life. Biden's team needs to shout out every accomplishment of the president, in real time, all the time. If only 10 percent of it seeps though to people, that's 10 percent more than we have now.
And Team Biden needs to play cutthroat with the propagandists on Trump's side, calling them out by name every time, and not politely.
The Left are focused on getting the job done. The Right are focused on appearing to work. Guess which appeals to the short-attention-span audience?
We have serious public relation issues from highlighting accomplishments to the naming of interests. Honestly, who ever thought, "Defunding the Police" would be a great name for "reallocating funds instead of having the police turn certain issues over to those trained for it instead of wasting time, manpower, and funds to attempt being law officials and social workers when they were already overworked?"
It could easily have been, "Reallocate funds to Social Services to save cops."
But nooooo... We got, "Defund the police," and millions of people thinking we want to fire cops.
Do the Left have a single marketing pro on call with an IQ over 60?
That slogan, "Defund the police" is one of the great examples of how naive some on the Left are. Years ago George Lakoff brought this issue to our attention, but we failed to heed it. George Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elep;hant" and more address the issue of how naive we Liberals are.
Exactly. Lakoff identified the problem, but we never leveraged the power of “Framing the Debate”. We never owned the language as precisely as the focused-group-gop have. Why not?!?!?!? THIS is not rocket science. It makes me wonder if “Defund The Police” was a plant.
I'm not proud, I just want to win. I think the Democratic Party should hire the best sloganeers and propagandists the Republicans have and put them to work for us. They'll work for anybody as long as the money's right.
I'd have loved a snappy version of "Reallocate funds to social service to save our cops." But we didn't get that, we got, "Fire our cops." Exactly the wrong message.
"Do the Left have a single marketing pro on call with an IQ over 60?"
I'm sure they're very intelligent. But they lack street smarts. That "Defund the Police!" others brought up here? It will be taught for generations as the wrong way to communicate. It was short, snappy, and memorable, so in those ways as brilliant as MAGA. But it sent the wrong message: "We Liberals are going to get rid of all the cops and hire social workers to talk terrorists into giving up."
No one in their right mind on our side wanted to do that. But that is precisely what most Americans heard in that soundbite, and it wrecked us for a while. People who loved "Defund the Police!" defended it with a long explanation: "It means we will reallocate resources in order to provide the appropriate balance between cops and . . ."
We lost the audience at "It means."
America has the best slogan-writers and marketing pros in the business. Why don't we hire them to put out our message instead of leaving it to the junior varsity?
Don't get me wrong, I hate that he has to resort to "me, me, MEEEEE, and did I mention, me?" But everyday Americans are bombarded from wake till sleep with messaging, advertising, spin, and propaganda. Eventually they tune it out.
Between now and the election, President Biden must drive home his message every minute of every day, in hopes that 10 percent--or even 1 percent--will break through the saturation bombing like a fire axe, to mix a few fine metaphors.
He's Old School in that a gentlemen does not brag about one's accomplishments. But Trump is New School: constant bombardment is constant entertainment and engagement. That's the communications and politics market now: New School. Trump's message is toxic, but that so many people, even those that hate him, can chant MAGA and FAKE NEWS in their sleep tells us he's hitting home.
We win the war with the army we have, not the army we wish. Uncle Joe needs Eisenhower to run his communications army.
I agree.....it's just sad that he needs to be in the media in order to get the word out that he is actually doing a good job. The Democrats in Congress should be doing that but are doing a poor job of boasting of the good works being done. smh
Funny thing is that Biden doesn't even have to push his nose into a camera 24/7. He has hundreds of people on the team who can and should do that for him, so he can look presidential while his team is out kneecapping the righties at every turn. He needs someone to run that part of his campaign as ruthlessly as Eisenhower ran D-Day.
Good observation. I think you are making a good point there. Wondering how best we can offset this kind of distortion. There are some media doing a good job- I'm wondering how I might be able to shine a light on it beyond the choir. My FB presence is pretty minimal. Going to give this more thought.
Harder still when our adversaries - and they are, as they've made themselves so - are and 'have been' weaponizing disinformation; propaganda if you will. They 'are' and they 'have' been for way longer than the average person recognizes. Then, making it all orders of magnitude worse, the broadcast media who aren't in on it all, pick up the misinformation and propagate it, in fact blowing it all out of proportion in some 'race' to be first with "news." We and the country have much work to do. We need serious leaders, not more 'managers.'
And sometimes we need people who are skilled at both, as I think presidents need to be. It seems to me that in a democratic society a leader's primary job is to accurately summarize our relevant circumstances, and provide focus and a vision around which support can gather. "Eyes on the prize" so support will bridge inevitable setbacks. Honest reporting of problems and errors so enthusiasm is reality based. I we are talking about elected leadership, then managerial skills are part of the job, and are helpful any case. Sometimes management sinks into inflexible routines, which do not grow, but management was necessary for Lewis and Clark. Our journey to the moon and back was a masterpiece of innovative management. JFK did a good job of laying out the vision, and others made it so.
Just my humble observation JL, but it seems that rarely are both of those qualities present in 'one' person. Sure, stories, narratives, fables, etc., do magical things, but I hold that stated opinion none the less; rare, very rare.
Yes, this goes back to 2004 when Thomas Frank published "What's the Matter with Kansas?" Frank exposes the process of using the media to broadcast disinformation/misinformation to the masses. It worked and continues to work. Those today who support Trump are really the KKK. They're the same. White Protestantism now, white Protestantism forever.
Thank you Prof Richardson, for your clarifying report. Pres Biden has been crystal clear since the moment he took office.. I will keep praying for him & his family’s safety and well being as our ‘society’ continues along into this marshland of twisted thorny disinforming attacks .
I am sending todays Letter to many friends and acquaintances.
As a Maui resident i agree with Sen. Schatz’s assessment of of a fast impressive Federal response. Although I live in East Maui, an hour and a half from Lahaina. I do have friends that have lost their homes, but no lost lives...yet. I have worked on disaster relief helping small businesses, most recently during Covid.
I have noticed that the President’s visit has brought Maui’s MAGA population out, at least in social media with finger pointing and outrage - while most of the population is still engaged in identifying bodies, helping the traumatized, figuring out housing, getting food and water to those in need. Maui’s MAGAs are not winning friends.
One early impulsive message for visitors “to stay away” was clearly an error. Maui’s economy is visitor base. Most people did not lose their homes, but now they are in danger of losing their jobs. So come!!! Some of the visitors who are here now are serving as volunteers. I am sure their trip will be enriched by making friends and helping others.
Everybody here appreciates the aloha and care demonstrated from around the world. I particularly was tickled when all the burly LA Rams and LV Raiders were wearing “Malama Maui” on their jerseys Sat night (I don’t normally watch football). (“Malama” = “to take care of”)
There will be time to examine the causes of the fire, responses (good and bad) and how to prevent future fires and improve responses. Right now healing and aloha is needed on Maui and for the most part what we have.
Not sure if and how this translates to our national situation - although maybe this day it is President Biden.
In a news story this morning, a local resident - perhaps one of Maui's MAGAs - called the $700 emergency relief payments a "slap in the face" as if that was the only federal assistance being provided. *eye roll* Oh, and guess what, lady, you're going to get help no matter what your political affiliation!
I only wish we could send today's Letter to everyone in the United States, there are many here in the USA that are so uninformed at what is going on in the political scene now.
John, from what I've read about the ability to think critically, trying to get through to the MAGA/KKK Republicans with facts is as hopeless as trying to engage a committed Christian into giving some thought that Jesus never existed. It's beyond their critical thinking capabilities. So, the takeaway? We must out-vote them. There is virtually no space for common ground.
I'd have to agree with you. But I'm still going to try... starting my conversation with "Can you imagine T**** giving the speech Biden just spoke at the Banyan tree in Lahaina?" and waiting while their heads explode.
Yes. i agree it is a hopeless cause trying to get through to these brainwashed, gullible, ignorant, uneducated fools. I honestly believe if Donald TUMP took a dump and ordered these brainwashed morons to eat his excrement, that they would actually do it. They are that dedicated and beholden to worst living thing on this earth named Donald J TUMP. Like you said at the end of your comment, We must have to outvote these would be, '' insane asylum inmates'' and have the largest voter turnout in the history of the United States.
I am speculating that it is possible that Biden coordinated his trip with the Hawaii leaders, and chose to wait before coming in order to avoid the disruption that inevitably occurs from a Presidential visit.
No need to speculate. He actually said in a very early interview on the Maui fires that he would certainly visit, but he knew how chaotic things were, at the very beginning of any natural disaster event, and how a presidential appearance only contributes to chaos. He was VERY specific that he would wait until the emergency experts could assure him that his visit would be helpful, not a hindrance.
I do, however, forget the exact source - I believe I heard him announce it on PBS..
Yes, heard it too. The problem is US lives in a political snakepit, screaming rhetoric isn't exactly a Democrat talent, and for that more of us should be grateful. Despite the WAPO's pickup on Republican esp driven criticism of the Maui response, there was a lot of counterplay to the contrary in the article. Whatever the shortcomings, of which we hear endlessly, this was a catastrophe which overwhelmed everyone, a series of circumstances which resulted in a whole town burning to the ground in a few short hours, with an untold death toll which may never be determined.
Thanks. Plus, i think it’s simply the way JB operates. A Trumper could argue that he will say things like this to try to get himself out of a pickle or he is just trying to sound humble, but even if there were tinges of this, it is good decision making and shines the light on the amazing rescuer workers than on himself, which we all know is what 45 not only thrives on, but MUST HAVE in order to exist.
Absolutely. Additionally, my guess is that he chose to not steal center stage with the news media with such a difficult tragedy. We already have suffered a "leader" who never let a tragedy pass by without making the news reflect on him and his imagined strength and wisdom. Biden is not interested in that level of trash. He is doing the "work", not of grabbing the "photo op", but that of real problem solving. He has refused to turn tragedy into a political circus. Shame on those who choose otherwise. I felt that WAPO did report on the work that has been done...AFTER they gave a good deal of space to "Republicans say". Were I to edit that piece, I would have chosen to put the successes before the opposition attacks. While it is a disappointment that it was done that way, does it really merit disgust with the paper's editorial intent?
Morning, Lynell! Yes, I am reasonably certain that there was "before" communication regarding the timing of a presidential visit. Now, if he'd just thrown paper towels...
Haha - throwing paper towels like the orange monster did in Puerto Rico in 2017? It's an abomination that Biden's considerately planned, caring trip is once again used by ONE person to discredit his daily efforts and the latter being widely printed instead of the first few paragraphs of Heather's detailed account of Biden's compassionate activities. Yes, shame on all those who belittle or ignore Biden's work!
UPDATE: Craig posted it below (first link). I suggest all of us who subscribe to WAPO and are dissatisfied with this misinformation write to WAPO’s editor (second link).
'These 11 Republican Voters Can’t Say Who Will Win in 2024, but They Know Who Will Lose' (excerpt)
'What's keeping Republican voters feeling good about Donald Trump's presidential prospects in 2024? How can other G.O.P. candidates peel voters away from Mr. Trump? Those were two of the questions that prompted us to organize our latest Times Opinion focus group, with 11 Republican voters from Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, the four states that will go first in the G.O.P. presidential nominating process starting in January. We wanted to hear their views in the aftermath of the latest indictment against Mr. Trump and ahead of this Wednesday's first debate among the leading 2024 Republican candidates. Mr. Trump has said he plans to skip the debate.'
'In all of the focus groups we've done — this is our 41st — Mr. Trump has never come across so well positioned as compared with his rivals as he did in this one. It's still early in the race, and a lot could change. But most of these Republicans, at least, seemed skeptical that another candidate could catch fire or appear stronger or more qualified than the former president. While not every respondent was enamored of Mr. Trump, there was appreciation of the strength of the economy during his presidency, a sense that he was achieving some of his goals or standing up for the country.'
'The indictments were the most divisive issue: About half of these Republicans said they would be more likely to vote for him because of the charges, and about half said they would be less likely. If they had no other option, most in the group were inclined toward him.'
'As for the debate, there was little appetite for criticism of him from the other Republican candidates. Assuming Mr. Trump skips the debate as planned, he might not really pay any price: Many of our respondents felt his strong performance entitled him to a “first-round bye.” Many in the group were skeptical and even critical of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a far cry from some of our focus groups this year. Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott and Nikki Haley all got relatively good reviews when prompted, but their names never ever came up organically.'
'Perhaps the answer that will stick with us the longest came with the very last question. No participant thought that President Biden would lose to the eventual Republican nominee, regardless of who it is. The fear that “if we nominate Trump, Biden wins again” was not present, a fact that clarifies why contenders like Mr. DeSantis haven’t gained traction from electability arguments.' (NYTimes) See link below. Sorry that I cannot provide a gifted link.
I was awake at 3 this morning and while flipping channels hit Fox with Steve Scalise being interviewed. He was denying climate change, called it fake science. Claimed trump did more to reduce emissions than any other president. Attacked the Paris Accords was worthless. Claimed renewable energy was hurting the economy and causing an energy crisis.
They still have their heads totally up their rears. How can anyone vote for them?
tfg's followers are so used to his continual blathering to FOX and on the internet instead of actually working, that they can't understand that Biden doesn't need to be posting every conversation he has in order to be doing his job.
A lot of space today was devoted to an Iowa poll which said over 60% of repub voters want tfg. And how many repub voters were actually sampled? About 400. Most sane people don’t answer their phones if they don’t know who is calling. Everyone watched the Jan 6 riot live on tv. How can they deny tfg’s role? “We love you” he said, THREE hours into it. Threw paper towels at people who suffered in a storm. Never a kind word for anyone but himself. Republican Party legislators should be ashamed of their silence and lack of humanity. 💩🤡
Trump's tossing of towels seemed like an absurd, grotesque insult given the gravity of the situation. Thanks for underlining the contrast.
Yes, and aren’t the republicans about 25% of eligible voters? So 60% of 25% is like 15%?
I have made this math point many times, Nancy. Completely overblown numbers -- when you have small numbers, use percentages. Old journalism trick (I learned it in J School in Iowa, no less!)
Thank you. It's ridiculous how the media love to show us the huge number of Republicans who feel this way or that, but never do the simple math to show how irrelevant they are.
'They' call it "winning." 💩
I call it whining.
That’s all chump ever does, besides promote violence from the cult
Hatred and fear motivate folks.
Brings out the reptile.
They count on it
So good at the boo hoo crocodile tears. 😩😥🤑
Crock of something.
You’re right. I have two lines and don’t answer unknown callers, and have never been asked to participate in a poll. Even in the olden days of three major networks and a landline in my house, before caller ID, so you would almost always answer, even in the middle of whatever you were doing, tethered by a chord, because it might be important. Even back then, I was called to be in a poll. But back then, it seems it would have been a more accurate phone sample than is possible today. For the reasons you mentioned. I think polls are no longer working for the benefit of democracy, as they seldom reflect “we the people”accurately and can easily be distorted into propaganda and disinformation.
Also how many Republicans have left the party?
Not enough, should have left in droves. Still think they are the GOP. Boy, has that ship sailed…
At this point I think that it is accurate to say that the GOP is now the KKK. The GOP's policies are the KKK's. There is no such thing as a "conservative" inside today's GOP/KKK. They're all Fascists, Ron DeSantis being one.
From GOP to KKK, exactly. Boy, are so many spinning in their graves, in addition to those of us having to breath the same air.
Totally agree.
"Biden doesn't need to be posting every conversation he has in order to be doing his job."
He does, in fact, need to do just that. Frazzled Americans don't have time for subtlety, they're too busy working three jobs and juggling life. Biden's team needs to shout out every accomplishment of the president, in real time, all the time. If only 10 percent of it seeps though to people, that's 10 percent more than we have now.
And Team Biden needs to play cutthroat with the propagandists on Trump's side, calling them out by name every time, and not politely.
Shane, I think you are right.
The Left are focused on getting the job done. The Right are focused on appearing to work. Guess which appeals to the short-attention-span audience?
We have serious public relation issues from highlighting accomplishments to the naming of interests. Honestly, who ever thought, "Defunding the Police" would be a great name for "reallocating funds instead of having the police turn certain issues over to those trained for it instead of wasting time, manpower, and funds to attempt being law officials and social workers when they were already overworked?"
It could easily have been, "Reallocate funds to Social Services to save cops."
But nooooo... We got, "Defund the police," and millions of people thinking we want to fire cops.
Do the Left have a single marketing pro on call with an IQ over 60?
You both are right (not cult right)
Thanks, Jeri, particularly for Not Cult!
That slogan, "Defund the police" is one of the great examples of how naive some on the Left are. Years ago George Lakoff brought this issue to our attention, but we failed to heed it. George Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elep;hant" and more address the issue of how naive we Liberals are.
Exactly. Lakoff identified the problem, but we never leveraged the power of “Framing the Debate”. We never owned the language as precisely as the focused-group-gop have. Why not?!?!?!? THIS is not rocket science. It makes me wonder if “Defund The Police” was a plant.
I'm not proud, I just want to win. I think the Democratic Party should hire the best sloganeers and propagandists the Republicans have and put them to work for us. They'll work for anybody as long as the money's right.
I'm not familiar with Lakoff, so reading I must do.
I'd have loved a snappy version of "Reallocate funds to social service to save our cops." But we didn't get that, we got, "Fire our cops." Exactly the wrong message.
"Do the Left have a single marketing pro on call with an IQ over 60?"
I'm sure they're very intelligent. But they lack street smarts. That "Defund the Police!" others brought up here? It will be taught for generations as the wrong way to communicate. It was short, snappy, and memorable, so in those ways as brilliant as MAGA. But it sent the wrong message: "We Liberals are going to get rid of all the cops and hire social workers to talk terrorists into giving up."
No one in their right mind on our side wanted to do that. But that is precisely what most Americans heard in that soundbite, and it wrecked us for a while. People who loved "Defund the Police!" defended it with a long explanation: "It means we will reallocate resources in order to provide the appropriate balance between cops and . . ."
We lost the audience at "It means."
America has the best slogan-writers and marketing pros in the business. Why don't we hire them to put out our message instead of leaving it to the junior varsity?
Great comment. And great idea. That would be a big advantage for our side of politics.
Thanks, John. Saturation bombing of the correct messaging when it matters will help the cause a lot. Why let the right-wing fill the vacuum?
Don't get me wrong, I hate that he has to resort to "me, me, MEEEEE, and did I mention, me?" But everyday Americans are bombarded from wake till sleep with messaging, advertising, spin, and propaganda. Eventually they tune it out.
Between now and the election, President Biden must drive home his message every minute of every day, in hopes that 10 percent--or even 1 percent--will break through the saturation bombing like a fire axe, to mix a few fine metaphors.
He's Old School in that a gentlemen does not brag about one's accomplishments. But Trump is New School: constant bombardment is constant entertainment and engagement. That's the communications and politics market now: New School. Trump's message is toxic, but that so many people, even those that hate him, can chant MAGA and FAKE NEWS in their sleep tells us he's hitting home.
We win the war with the army we have, not the army we wish. Uncle Joe needs Eisenhower to run his communications army.
I agree.....it's just sad that he needs to be in the media in order to get the word out that he is actually doing a good job. The Democrats in Congress should be doing that but are doing a poor job of boasting of the good works being done. smh
Funny thing is that Biden doesn't even have to push his nose into a camera 24/7. He has hundreds of people on the team who can and should do that for him, so he can look presidential while his team is out kneecapping the righties at every turn. He needs someone to run that part of his campaign as ruthlessly as Eisenhower ran D-Day.
Good observation. I think you are making a good point there. Wondering how best we can offset this kind of distortion. There are some media doing a good job- I'm wondering how I might be able to shine a light on it beyond the choir. My FB presence is pretty minimal. Going to give this more thought.
Harder still when our adversaries - and they are, as they've made themselves so - are and 'have been' weaponizing disinformation; propaganda if you will. They 'are' and they 'have' been for way longer than the average person recognizes. Then, making it all orders of magnitude worse, the broadcast media who aren't in on it all, pick up the misinformation and propagate it, in fact blowing it all out of proportion in some 'race' to be first with "news." We and the country have much work to do. We need serious leaders, not more 'managers.'
And sometimes we need people who are skilled at both, as I think presidents need to be. It seems to me that in a democratic society a leader's primary job is to accurately summarize our relevant circumstances, and provide focus and a vision around which support can gather. "Eyes on the prize" so support will bridge inevitable setbacks. Honest reporting of problems and errors so enthusiasm is reality based. I we are talking about elected leadership, then managerial skills are part of the job, and are helpful any case. Sometimes management sinks into inflexible routines, which do not grow, but management was necessary for Lewis and Clark. Our journey to the moon and back was a masterpiece of innovative management. JFK did a good job of laying out the vision, and others made it so.
Just my humble observation JL, but it seems that rarely are both of those qualities present in 'one' person. Sure, stories, narratives, fables, etc., do magical things, but I hold that stated opinion none the less; rare, very rare.
No leader is as perfect as some like to pretend, but some tick both boxes well enough. Should it not be the rare bird that gets the vote?
absolutely
Yes, this goes back to 2004 when Thomas Frank published "What's the Matter with Kansas?" Frank exposes the process of using the media to broadcast disinformation/misinformation to the masses. It worked and continues to work. Those today who support Trump are really the KKK. They're the same. White Protestantism now, white Protestantism forever.
Catholics are now in the authoritarian group, especially in controlling women.
Let us know what you come up with!
Thank you Prof Richardson, for your clarifying report. Pres Biden has been crystal clear since the moment he took office.. I will keep praying for him & his family’s safety and well being as our ‘society’ continues along into this marshland of twisted thorny disinforming attacks .
I am sending todays Letter to many friends and acquaintances.
The last sentence is gold. Senator Schatz is well-named (look it up - German).
As a Maui resident i agree with Sen. Schatz’s assessment of of a fast impressive Federal response. Although I live in East Maui, an hour and a half from Lahaina. I do have friends that have lost their homes, but no lost lives...yet. I have worked on disaster relief helping small businesses, most recently during Covid.
I have noticed that the President’s visit has brought Maui’s MAGA population out, at least in social media with finger pointing and outrage - while most of the population is still engaged in identifying bodies, helping the traumatized, figuring out housing, getting food and water to those in need. Maui’s MAGAs are not winning friends.
One early impulsive message for visitors “to stay away” was clearly an error. Maui’s economy is visitor base. Most people did not lose their homes, but now they are in danger of losing their jobs. So come!!! Some of the visitors who are here now are serving as volunteers. I am sure their trip will be enriched by making friends and helping others.
Everybody here appreciates the aloha and care demonstrated from around the world. I particularly was tickled when all the burly LA Rams and LV Raiders were wearing “Malama Maui” on their jerseys Sat night (I don’t normally watch football). (“Malama” = “to take care of”)
There will be time to examine the causes of the fire, responses (good and bad) and how to prevent future fires and improve responses. Right now healing and aloha is needed on Maui and for the most part what we have.
Not sure if and how this translates to our national situation - although maybe this day it is President Biden.
In a news story this morning, a local resident - perhaps one of Maui's MAGAs - called the $700 emergency relief payments a "slap in the face" as if that was the only federal assistance being provided. *eye roll* Oh, and guess what, lady, you're going to get help no matter what your political affiliation!
That lady may find a way to get three or four payments.
I only wish we could send today's Letter to everyone in the United States, there are many here in the USA that are so uninformed at what is going on in the political scene now.
John, from what I've read about the ability to think critically, trying to get through to the MAGA/KKK Republicans with facts is as hopeless as trying to engage a committed Christian into giving some thought that Jesus never existed. It's beyond their critical thinking capabilities. So, the takeaway? We must out-vote them. There is virtually no space for common ground.
I'd have to agree with you. But I'm still going to try... starting my conversation with "Can you imagine T**** giving the speech Biden just spoke at the Banyan tree in Lahaina?" and waiting while their heads explode.
Richard, your assessment is 100% accurate. There is no longer space for common ground.
Yes. i agree it is a hopeless cause trying to get through to these brainwashed, gullible, ignorant, uneducated fools. I honestly believe if Donald TUMP took a dump and ordered these brainwashed morons to eat his excrement, that they would actually do it. They are that dedicated and beholden to worst living thing on this earth named Donald J TUMP. Like you said at the end of your comment, We must have to outvote these would be, '' insane asylum inmates'' and have the largest voter turnout in the history of the United States.
I am speculating that it is possible that Biden coordinated his trip with the Hawaii leaders, and chose to wait before coming in order to avoid the disruption that inevitably occurs from a Presidential visit.
No need to speculate. He actually said in a very early interview on the Maui fires that he would certainly visit, but he knew how chaotic things were, at the very beginning of any natural disaster event, and how a presidential appearance only contributes to chaos. He was VERY specific that he would wait until the emergency experts could assure him that his visit would be helpful, not a hindrance.
I do, however, forget the exact source - I believe I heard him announce it on PBS..
Yes, heard it too. The problem is US lives in a political snakepit, screaming rhetoric isn't exactly a Democrat talent, and for that more of us should be grateful. Despite the WAPO's pickup on Republican esp driven criticism of the Maui response, there was a lot of counterplay to the contrary in the article. Whatever the shortcomings, of which we hear endlessly, this was a catastrophe which overwhelmed everyone, a series of circumstances which resulted in a whole town burning to the ground in a few short hours, with an untold death toll which may never be determined.
Thanks, Anne. I did not have a source, and to be honest, was too lazy to look for it. But I just knew this is how our president operates.
Thanks. Plus, i think it’s simply the way JB operates. A Trumper could argue that he will say things like this to try to get himself out of a pickle or he is just trying to sound humble, but even if there were tinges of this, it is good decision making and shines the light on the amazing rescuer workers than on himself, which we all know is what 45 not only thrives on, but MUST HAVE in order to exist.
I’m sure, but never a day should go by without some Dem shouting out the message
Maybe we should resurrect the town cryer
Absolutely. Additionally, my guess is that he chose to not steal center stage with the news media with such a difficult tragedy. We already have suffered a "leader" who never let a tragedy pass by without making the news reflect on him and his imagined strength and wisdom. Biden is not interested in that level of trash. He is doing the "work", not of grabbing the "photo op", but that of real problem solving. He has refused to turn tragedy into a political circus. Shame on those who choose otherwise. I felt that WAPO did report on the work that has been done...AFTER they gave a good deal of space to "Republicans say". Were I to edit that piece, I would have chosen to put the successes before the opposition attacks. While it is a disappointment that it was done that way, does it really merit disgust with the paper's editorial intent?
Morning, Lynell! Yes, I am reasonably certain that there was "before" communication regarding the timing of a presidential visit. Now, if he'd just thrown paper towels...
Haha - throwing paper towels like the orange monster did in Puerto Rico in 2017? It's an abomination that Biden's considerately planned, caring trip is once again used by ONE person to discredit his daily efforts and the latter being widely printed instead of the first few paragraphs of Heather's detailed account of Biden's compassionate activities. Yes, shame on all those who belittle or ignore Biden's work!
Morning, Ally! No Biden paper towels? No wonder he gets such negative press!😕
Unfortunately it’s not just Fox. WAPO had an article that was along these lines.
Yep, the MSM has followed Rupert’s propaganda model to a scary extent.
Sheri, do you have a link?
UPDATE: Craig posted it below (first link). I suggest all of us who subscribe to WAPO and are dissatisfied with this misinformation write to WAPO’s editor (second link).
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/20/biden-hawaii-wildfires/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjkyNTA0MDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjkzODg2Mzk5LCJpYXQiOjE2OTI1MDQwMDAsImp0aSI6Ijc1ODg4OTg5LTg0NmYtNDBjMS1iOGMyLTRjMjUzOTlkMTU0OCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDIzLzA4LzIwL2JpZGVuLWhhd2FpaS13aWxkZmlyZXMvIn0.CT5zB1ghmAPhjMCLc9_kQ9nytZK8rjdcJlm9Iqh71LA&fbclid=IwAR27kTkEBLfxy3V7iPInsMFP1myhPTpNbMy9HZVJuCnHHriyAqHGwwYVJ5M
Link to email WAPO’s Editor:
https://helpcenter.washingtonpost.com/hc/en-us/articles/236004788-Send-a-letter-to-the-editor
Gotta' be first; can't be slow at "news" reporting...
Fools rush in...
'These 11 Republican Voters Can’t Say Who Will Win in 2024, but They Know Who Will Lose' (excerpt)
'What's keeping Republican voters feeling good about Donald Trump's presidential prospects in 2024? How can other G.O.P. candidates peel voters away from Mr. Trump? Those were two of the questions that prompted us to organize our latest Times Opinion focus group, with 11 Republican voters from Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, the four states that will go first in the G.O.P. presidential nominating process starting in January. We wanted to hear their views in the aftermath of the latest indictment against Mr. Trump and ahead of this Wednesday's first debate among the leading 2024 Republican candidates. Mr. Trump has said he plans to skip the debate.'
'In all of the focus groups we've done — this is our 41st — Mr. Trump has never come across so well positioned as compared with his rivals as he did in this one. It's still early in the race, and a lot could change. But most of these Republicans, at least, seemed skeptical that another candidate could catch fire or appear stronger or more qualified than the former president. While not every respondent was enamored of Mr. Trump, there was appreciation of the strength of the economy during his presidency, a sense that he was achieving some of his goals or standing up for the country.'
'The indictments were the most divisive issue: About half of these Republicans said they would be more likely to vote for him because of the charges, and about half said they would be less likely. If they had no other option, most in the group were inclined toward him.'
'As for the debate, there was little appetite for criticism of him from the other Republican candidates. Assuming Mr. Trump skips the debate as planned, he might not really pay any price: Many of our respondents felt his strong performance entitled him to a “first-round bye.” Many in the group were skeptical and even critical of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a far cry from some of our focus groups this year. Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott and Nikki Haley all got relatively good reviews when prompted, but their names never ever came up organically.'
'Perhaps the answer that will stick with us the longest came with the very last question. No participant thought that President Biden would lose to the eventual Republican nominee, regardless of who it is. The fear that “if we nominate Trump, Biden wins again” was not present, a fact that clarifies why contenders like Mr. DeSantis haven’t gained traction from electability arguments.' (NYTimes) See link below. Sorry that I cannot provide a gifted link.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/22/opinion/republican-debate-focus-group.html
Exactly right On M’s Wilcox . Thank you.
I was awake at 3 this morning and while flipping channels hit Fox with Steve Scalise being interviewed. He was denying climate change, called it fake science. Claimed trump did more to reduce emissions than any other president. Attacked the Paris Accords was worthless. Claimed renewable energy was hurting the economy and causing an energy crisis.
They still have their heads totally up their rears. How can anyone vote for them?
Watching anything on FOX is like fingernails on a chalkboard. :(