Coronavirus, the Russia bounty scandal, and the upcoming election continue to dominate America’s news. Today, there were 52,788 new reported infections in the country, topping 50,000 for the first time. Right now, the seven-day average of new confirmed cases is the highest it’s ever been, and 45 states have seven-day averages of new infections higher than the previous week. June saw more than 800,000 new cases, bringing the total number of cases in the United States to more than 2.6 million.
Back in March, I remember being very concerned that Trump would be *just* presidential enough to get us through the pandemic; then take full credit for the work of public health experts, front line workers, etc., and declare victory in the "war" against the virus - setting himself up for a strong chance in November.
Obviously I shouldn't have worried. Could this have been botched any worse at the national level than it has been? His glaring ineptitude is on full display, as the hits just keep on coming and he looks like a deer in headlights. The best he's got is still some version of "It's going to disappear" magical thinking and the same tired racist and pandering B.S. he's been pedaling since Day 1. The one bright spot: It seems Americans are starting to figure it out, as he has nearly 60% disapproval rating in a poll out today.
Trump is making 2 basic assumptions that are patently false: firstly that if you scratch any white person hard enough you'll find a racist underneath and, secondly, therefore he's ok as in reality we are all like him underneath but we are afraid to admit it. Well Mr Trump, I've got news for you. No way on both counts and, thank goodness, the polls are confirming it every day. It is a classic symptom of the psychotic personality to assume that they are normal and all others are the ones who are deranged. Of course, any information that they receive that doesn't confirm this basic world-view can not possibly be allowed to either penetrate his conscious nor exist outside of that limited and opaque sphere...... and if it does it is "Fake News" and lies can deal with it.
The Trump Rule, which is based on the principle of Occam's Razor (the simplest explanation of an event or phenomenon is usually correct) is: The explanation that uses stupidity and evil is always the right one with Trump and Trumpers.
The stupidity, the mendacity, the maliciousness, the malevolence, the ignorance, the evil - it's all a feature, not a bug. They do these things because they are these things.
In reading comments from a Washington Post opinion written by Brad Pascale, I came across the perfect name for the president...."Trumpelthinskin." Perfectly describes why his responses to everything are evil and ignorant as they are.
I tell ya, that Trump has a keen eye for hoaxes. He sure called it about these Russia bounties. Hey, what about this corona virus hoax? He called that one in February! Can't wait for it to be exposed, so we can all get back to money making, social inequality, and environmental destruction. Just like usual.
It certainly seems like trump is courting the white nationalists which is not only deplorable but also frightening. These people are Itching for a race war, waiting for the green light to act on their ideology. The arm chair racists (trump’s “silent majority”) may be emboldened enough to join these goose-stepping fools and act on their behalf, on his behalf.
I try not to engage in catastrophic “fortune telling” - even though I’m really good at it - but these times demand some fore thought. Not that we should become paralyzed by fear, but we that we might understand there may be some very dark days ahead and maintaining the resolve necessary to overcome them may be more difficult than we imagine.
HCR and the thoughtful folks in this community remind me that there are plenty of fearless truth-seekers out there. Hope abounds.
Trump's re-election strategy is now clear: promote racism, ignore the pandemic, and do whatever Putin asks of him. Politically, this makes him a dead man walking.
He will implode from the pressures of a now-unstoppable landslide defeat, a depressed economy, the Russian bounty investigation, and looming scandals (taxes and loans, his niece's book, and potentially Ghislaine Maxwell's Epstein revelations).
The only question is when the end will come. I suspect the GOP power brokers are already discussing whether they want Pence or someone else on the November ballot. Not that it matters to the outcome. But could they prevent losing the Senate?
It does seem like the protests against police murders of black people have disappeared from the news. The problem being protested has not gone away. Does anyone reading this know of a good source for ongoing coverage of continuing protests and follow-on actions?
When Microsoft turned on the Tay AI, I was not surprised that it didn't take long for it to become racist. I believe the majority of humanity is naturally and blindly inclined towards prejudices of all kinds, while a minority of moderates and well informed elders try to manage everyone in hopes we can learn to accept each other. Doesn't matter what country. Most countries have majorites that are prejudiced about something, though I do believe the majority of humanity wants to do the right thing and be good, especially after our brains fully develop. That's why it's so important to provide accurate information. Thankfully, I believe the last few months have been a global wake-up call. A continuation of what started decades or even centuries ago. However, I have seen an uptick of hate and misinformation across all popular social media sites, from Tumbler to Reddit, in the past decade. Whether facilitated by domestic or foreign agents, I believe the ability to disproportionately apply hate and misinformation online, had contributed to the rise of Trump, his contemporaries around the world, and obviously Tay's views. All social media platforms need to be moderated further. Younger gens can see it because we grew up with social media and are deep are deep its evironments. It's frustrating that we are having to persuade the older well-meaning moderates that social media companies need more moderation. The sooner that's done the better off we will all be. Otherwise, the few who are aware that the fickle majority can be easily manipulated for their gain using social media will continue to do so on a massive scale. https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/artificial-intelligence/machine-learning/in-2016-microsofts-racist-chatbot-revealed-the-dangers-of-online-conversation
This is what you get when complex political views are reduced to an antiquated two party system. I am tired of catering to the RNC and the DNC to execute the will of the public. Obviously these organizations work only to protect their interests and help create this "reality presidency" as long as it provides power.
In 1955, my family moved from inner city St. Louis to one of those “white suburbs.” My schools were integrated, but IDK where the black kids lived, but there weren’t any in St. Ann. A black family moved in and their house mysteriously burned down. It was assumed arson.
My last observance of racism in housing was in Hialeah in 1977, when a black friend of my partner Jim and I wanted to take over our apt when we left for India. The naive Cuban landlord actually told us he couldn’t rent to her because she was black. (Most Cubans here at that time were white & off the boat from segregated 1959 Cuba).
But, even with all the advances in racial integration in the 1970s, there were still racists who thot segregation in housing was more profitable for “white neighborhoods,” like Fred & Donald Trump in New York, being sued in 1973 for systematic discrimination against black ppl.
But last night Trump went after it altogether in a clear appeal to the white suburban voters he has been losing, and whose support he so badly needs in 2020...
Lets not pretend that he is using a dog whistle any more. Lets grow some cotton
It occurs to me that if Trump were handling the Coronavirus pandemic even halfway competently, and bringing down the infection rates like other countries seem to be figuring out, he would greatly improve his chances at re-election. Which raises an uncomfortable question. Is it worth the suffering and death if it rids our country of the curse of this president? Could the Coronavirus be a type of national chemotherapy?
One of the saddest things to me about all of this is that icons like the New York Times have been "discredited" through propaganda, probably to the point of no return. Even if things go as well as possible in November, it's going to take decades to attempt to right that ship, if it's possible at all.
Herman Cain is now being treated for Covid-19 after attending Comrade 45's Tulsa rally without a mask and visiting Arizona afterward, also presumably without a mask.
Back in March, I remember being very concerned that Trump would be *just* presidential enough to get us through the pandemic; then take full credit for the work of public health experts, front line workers, etc., and declare victory in the "war" against the virus - setting himself up for a strong chance in November.
Obviously I shouldn't have worried. Could this have been botched any worse at the national level than it has been? His glaring ineptitude is on full display, as the hits just keep on coming and he looks like a deer in headlights. The best he's got is still some version of "It's going to disappear" magical thinking and the same tired racist and pandering B.S. he's been pedaling since Day 1. The one bright spot: It seems Americans are starting to figure it out, as he has nearly 60% disapproval rating in a poll out today.
Please let this nightmare end soon.
Trump is making 2 basic assumptions that are patently false: firstly that if you scratch any white person hard enough you'll find a racist underneath and, secondly, therefore he's ok as in reality we are all like him underneath but we are afraid to admit it. Well Mr Trump, I've got news for you. No way on both counts and, thank goodness, the polls are confirming it every day. It is a classic symptom of the psychotic personality to assume that they are normal and all others are the ones who are deranged. Of course, any information that they receive that doesn't confirm this basic world-view can not possibly be allowed to either penetrate his conscious nor exist outside of that limited and opaque sphere...... and if it does it is "Fake News" and lies can deal with it.
The Trump Rule, which is based on the principle of Occam's Razor (the simplest explanation of an event or phenomenon is usually correct) is: The explanation that uses stupidity and evil is always the right one with Trump and Trumpers.
The stupidity, the mendacity, the maliciousness, the malevolence, the ignorance, the evil - it's all a feature, not a bug. They do these things because they are these things.
In reading comments from a Washington Post opinion written by Brad Pascale, I came across the perfect name for the president...."Trumpelthinskin." Perfectly describes why his responses to everything are evil and ignorant as they are.
I tell ya, that Trump has a keen eye for hoaxes. He sure called it about these Russia bounties. Hey, what about this corona virus hoax? He called that one in February! Can't wait for it to be exposed, so we can all get back to money making, social inequality, and environmental destruction. Just like usual.
It certainly seems like trump is courting the white nationalists which is not only deplorable but also frightening. These people are Itching for a race war, waiting for the green light to act on their ideology. The arm chair racists (trump’s “silent majority”) may be emboldened enough to join these goose-stepping fools and act on their behalf, on his behalf.
I try not to engage in catastrophic “fortune telling” - even though I’m really good at it - but these times demand some fore thought. Not that we should become paralyzed by fear, but we that we might understand there may be some very dark days ahead and maintaining the resolve necessary to overcome them may be more difficult than we imagine.
HCR and the thoughtful folks in this community remind me that there are plenty of fearless truth-seekers out there. Hope abounds.
Trump's re-election strategy is now clear: promote racism, ignore the pandemic, and do whatever Putin asks of him. Politically, this makes him a dead man walking.
He will implode from the pressures of a now-unstoppable landslide defeat, a depressed economy, the Russian bounty investigation, and looming scandals (taxes and loans, his niece's book, and potentially Ghislaine Maxwell's Epstein revelations).
The only question is when the end will come. I suspect the GOP power brokers are already discussing whether they want Pence or someone else on the November ballot. Not that it matters to the outcome. But could they prevent losing the Senate?
It does seem like the protests against police murders of black people have disappeared from the news. The problem being protested has not gone away. Does anyone reading this know of a good source for ongoing coverage of continuing protests and follow-on actions?
When Microsoft turned on the Tay AI, I was not surprised that it didn't take long for it to become racist. I believe the majority of humanity is naturally and blindly inclined towards prejudices of all kinds, while a minority of moderates and well informed elders try to manage everyone in hopes we can learn to accept each other. Doesn't matter what country. Most countries have majorites that are prejudiced about something, though I do believe the majority of humanity wants to do the right thing and be good, especially after our brains fully develop. That's why it's so important to provide accurate information. Thankfully, I believe the last few months have been a global wake-up call. A continuation of what started decades or even centuries ago. However, I have seen an uptick of hate and misinformation across all popular social media sites, from Tumbler to Reddit, in the past decade. Whether facilitated by domestic or foreign agents, I believe the ability to disproportionately apply hate and misinformation online, had contributed to the rise of Trump, his contemporaries around the world, and obviously Tay's views. All social media platforms need to be moderated further. Younger gens can see it because we grew up with social media and are deep are deep its evironments. It's frustrating that we are having to persuade the older well-meaning moderates that social media companies need more moderation. The sooner that's done the better off we will all be. Otherwise, the few who are aware that the fickle majority can be easily manipulated for their gain using social media will continue to do so on a massive scale. https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/artificial-intelligence/machine-learning/in-2016-microsofts-racist-chatbot-revealed-the-dangers-of-online-conversation
This is what you get when complex political views are reduced to an antiquated two party system. I am tired of catering to the RNC and the DNC to execute the will of the public. Obviously these organizations work only to protect their interests and help create this "reality presidency" as long as it provides power.
In 1955, my family moved from inner city St. Louis to one of those “white suburbs.” My schools were integrated, but IDK where the black kids lived, but there weren’t any in St. Ann. A black family moved in and their house mysteriously burned down. It was assumed arson.
My last observance of racism in housing was in Hialeah in 1977, when a black friend of my partner Jim and I wanted to take over our apt when we left for India. The naive Cuban landlord actually told us he couldn’t rent to her because she was black. (Most Cubans here at that time were white & off the boat from segregated 1959 Cuba).
But, even with all the advances in racial integration in the 1970s, there were still racists who thot segregation in housing was more profitable for “white neighborhoods,” like Fred & Donald Trump in New York, being sued in 1973 for systematic discrimination against black ppl.
Great episode of the election whisper! Gives me hope! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-FR_7ivu_k
But last night Trump went after it altogether in a clear appeal to the white suburban voters he has been losing, and whose support he so badly needs in 2020...
Lets not pretend that he is using a dog whistle any more. Lets grow some cotton
It occurs to me that if Trump were handling the Coronavirus pandemic even halfway competently, and bringing down the infection rates like other countries seem to be figuring out, he would greatly improve his chances at re-election. Which raises an uncomfortable question. Is it worth the suffering and death if it rids our country of the curse of this president? Could the Coronavirus be a type of national chemotherapy?
One of the saddest things to me about all of this is that icons like the New York Times have been "discredited" through propaganda, probably to the point of no return. Even if things go as well as possible in November, it's going to take decades to attempt to right that ship, if it's possible at all.
Herman Cain is now being treated for Covid-19 after attending Comrade 45's Tulsa rally without a mask and visiting Arizona afterward, also presumably without a mask.
https://time.com/5862608/herman-cain-coronavirus-positive/