A document only morons, er, I mean Republicans (no difference actually) could enjoy and believe.
Watch what they do, not what they say. As of tonight 168 Republicans have signed onto legislation in the house to ban abortion nationwide. Watch what they do, not what they say - today a state judge in Arizona said that the new law limiting ab…
A document only morons, er, I mean Republicans (no difference actually) could enjoy and believe.
Watch what they do, not what they say. As of tonight 168 Republicans have signed onto legislation in the house to ban abortion nationwide. Watch what they do, not what they say - today a state judge in Arizona said that the new law limiting abortion to the first 15 weeks wasn't as good as the 157 year old law written in 1866 when women couldn't vote and had no voice in government, that bans abortion in all instances without exception, was indeed the law in Arizona.
I'm pretty sure that dumbass just cost Kari Lake and Brett Masters and the QMAGAt running for Secretary of State their races, as well as a couple R congressmen.
“It feels rather as if the Republicans recognize that Biden’s policies are popular, and are hoping that voters haven’t noticed that he is actually putting them in place.”
The Repugs have written an Apologia for President Biden! How generous and kind of the weasels!
But here’s the thing, the MAGA base knows nothing about Biden’s successes in moving the country in the direction Democrats fought hard for (against the very Republicans who now see that this is what the public wants). They watch only propaganda. This “Commitment to America “ is new to them and they will attribute it to GOP efforts instead. There is no amount of doublespeak that they won’t accept. “My Party, My Life”
Well we need a list of these goals and under each one another list of the many times everyone of those lying bturds voted against that goal and publish it far and wide. Proves how they lie ALL the time!
Write all the GOTV postcards you can (Turnabout Project is one source) and take time to check out your local Indivisible chapter. Think of yourself as a front line Ukrainian. We are.
With relational campaigning! Talk to your friends. Ask them to talk to their friends.
I have a Republican friend that I think is going to now hold her nose and vote Democrat because the Republicans are doing such crazy stuff and taking away rights.
I also recommend knowing what messaging works. Attend the Messaging to Win - Mondays at 1pm PT/4pm ET:
Paid for ads??? The GOP pays to run their libelous propaganda ads 24/7 here in rural CD2 Maine. From what I have noted in my lifetime folks leave their tvs on constantly. Repeated over and over, even in the background. I’m quite confident it’s what delivered us 6 more years of Suzy Q
Ugh! What a nightmare she is...I call her “the dangling carrot”. That’s what she does when she’s considering a vote. Gets our hopes up and drops us like a lead balloon.
If only there was a way to get everyone to fact check all statements made by all politicians. I know that everything the democratic politicians say is not always spot on, and they do and say things that bug me, but I have this perception that the MAGA base accepts the MAGA kool aide as the HOLY gospel, never questioning some very disturbing statements of supposed “truth”. I hope I’m wrong….but?
The Dems should have a PR campaign of public mockery of the Republican "Commitment to America" making the points in Heather's post above. The MAGA zealots won't be convinced (or even reached) by it, but, as others have pointed out, the undecideds, or, as I like to say, the "reasonable middle", may be convinced. Hoping, of course, that the reasonable middle exists.
Over the years I have witnessed several instances of prominent right wingers angrily denying that they ever said precisely the words they were previously videoed saying, and the two recordings presented together. That sort of contradiction surely penetrates a MAGA skull or two here and there.
To be fair, modern Republicans tell so many, many lies, it must be pretty tough to keep them all straight.
💯💯 #45 has done this repeatedly. Lied on video and then later on video says exactly the opposite and NEVER gets called on it. Some genius could make a video of all these and call it liar, liar, pants on fire!
So true, the cretins have been sending fund-raising crap to me, with the most egregious lies. They sound like many of the Dem fundraisers, sad to say. The republicans have always accused Dems of what they do. And Frank Luntz taught them how to project as well as anything that Orwell could have imagined.
A peeve of mine…agree. It’s way past the time to reduce the reliance on fund raising for politicians. Outlawing all together would be a very helpful reform.
Absolutely correct. I was speaking to my MAGA neighbor about the “Commitment to America” website and was able to speak to each and every “commitment” listed, and point out how Biden was already doing it. The nabe absolutely shut me down and said I was making it up. I could have pulled out my iPhone and showed him actual facts, but we’ve been down this road before. His cognitive dissonance is crippling and he can’t even have a conversation about the differences without a meltdown. They will never believe Trump’s crimes really happened, but if they do somehow believe it, they’re insistent he is above the law.
They realize the policies and practices are popular (I.e. “small d” democratically supported) but, it is essential to note, they have voted against most of them while touting the benefits to their constituents.
An individual responded to me when trying to "inform" those posting on a legislator's page that my efforts dealing with Orcs wasn't going to go anywhere, now they are Orcs they're lost (those familiar with Lord of the Rings no Orcs used to be humans so a very appropriate analogy).
The Use of Language is the subject of this comment.
Today’s Letter addressed language, the language of the Republican Party’s “Commitment to America”.
What does it say versus what does it mean? HCR wrote the following:
‘Covering just a single page, it presents vague aspirations—many of which Biden has already put in place—but focuses on the radical extremes of the MAGA party while trying to make those extremes sound mild.’
‘…the first topic—making the economy strong—is a paraphrase of what the Biden administration has been doing.’ (Letter)
‘This is quite literally the platform of the Democrats, but while the Republicans offer no actual proposals to contribute to these goals, Biden has taken concrete steps to address inflation …’
(Letter)
“A Future That’s Built on Freedom” is a similar sleight of hand, meaning something far from the freedom of the recent past. Here it means giving parents control over their childrens’ education (more book banning and laws that prohibit teaching subjects that make students “uncomfortable”), “defend[ing] fairness by ensuring that only women can compete in women’s sports” (there’s the anti-trans statement), …’ (Letter)
The Letter takes the Republican Party’s ‘Commitment of America’ apart. What does the paper convey versus what it means.
‘In short, the document feels like the doublespeak from George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. To defend the indefensible, Orwell wrote in an essay titled “Politics and the English Language,” “political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness…. The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. (Letter)
Language in divided America is a crucial subject for us to address. It was a crucial subject when Orwell wrote “Politics and the English Language.” First published in 1946.
How do we talk to one another in this divided time? It isn’t only about what they’re saying and writing; What about us? How can we communicate with one another?
How do we talk to one another? Good question. Carefully, politely, using verifiable (and short) statements of facts and by asking uncomplicated questions regarding what should be shared values ie “should the law apply equally to all”?”, “ would you stand in line for ten hours to vote”, “are national secrets important enough to be securely protected?, should the government favor one religion over another?
Do this calmly, no emotion. Do not react offensively to any dumb comment they make in rebuttal You won’t change their minds, but you’ve infected their brains with questions they’ll have wrestle with themselves
Make no enemies, but screw with their heads using facts and logic. Will it work? I don’t know. They’ll probably categorize you as dangerous or formidable
Dave Dalton, I don’t know where you live, but here in Texas, facts are not facts, and logic, well, I really don’t know how to explain it, but it’s not what you think. Some of us here in Texas really believe the stuff put out by Fox, OANN and newsmax. They really sincerely believe that stuff. It’s frightening.
Sigh. It’s true everywhere. This part of our population is quite literally not interested in truth/facts. They are in a cult, happy in the cocoon provided by said cult.
It is not easy, perhaps not even possible, to deal with irrationality that is the product of real, physiological fear, with reason. Facts, logic, and cognitive functions are shut down when chemicals are released into our brains telling us we are in danger. As long as folks are bombarded with fear of the dangers that “others,” be they liberals, socialists, Muslims, Jews, Christians, democrats, republicans, Chinese . . ., they literally cannot hear and act on reason. Calling folks foolish, idiotic, ignorant, or despicable cannot overcome the deep emotions driven by their fears.
I don’t have a magic elixir to soothe the fears that are driving so many of us, but I know that calming those deep, physiological fears has to be a first step to normalizing reason as a civic good and that the fear-based negativity of the Republican Party of today is a major source of our current politics.
I think the evolutionarily older functions of our brain that persist to defend raw survival; fear, hate and greed, and focus on ego, are security flaws in our ability to think rationally and compassionately, and are quite vulnerable to manipulation, as are security flaws in computer systems (very loosely speaking) that allow manipulation by predatory opportunist who seek to control others. We pay far too little attention to this dynamic on a day to day basis.
I think the problem lies in how we misuse those functions. That’s why I strongly advocate for brain health education starting at the earliest ages. Just for example: the brain needs healthy nutrients especially “good lipids” not food dyes. The brain needs a healthy balance of neurotransmitters, not a constant barrage of dopamine from video games The brain makes good neurotransmitter when we connect positively to other beings, so teach prosocial skills. If they’re not getting it at home, teach the skills needed so they can still get what they need to have a healthy brain. We get the brain our environment builds. Give kids a fighting chance to grow up with a healthy one.
I’m born ‘n raised Texan too, and you are absolutely correct. It is like a disease of the brain down here. I’d posit it’s the extreme heat and humidity but not all of us suffer from it!
Absolutely! The Fairness Doctrine must be reinstated to ensure the news is reportedly as truthfully and accurately as possible, not for propaganda, ratings and their bottom line.
I’d like to see Fox Propaganda shut down permanently, and the Murdoch’s imprisoned for the damage they’ve done to this country, thru their greed and power hungry ignorance.
It’s not bad enough Murdoch had to screw up his country, then he had to take his toxicity to the US and UK.
Yes, I understand. It ubiquitous “Facts are dismissed if Fox isn’t the source. Logic is of the Convoluted kind; you know, “ connect these unrelated dots” version. It is frightening. I have found that detailed argument is a waste of energy. No one changes positions or opinion
The best I can do is to use short simple sentences of documented facts, simple questions in a VERY passive aggressive manner to infect their brain with my virus. There is no antidote. They can’t “unhear” it
You've outlined the hard part for us, Dave. It is easy to call 'them' 'morons' and the 'enemy', and self-congratulatory to boot. We've built a high wall between us with our use language. DJT has been a major contributor. This is The WALL, however, on which his name is writ large.
The power of language works when people have a common language, and have a common understanding of events. When a gentle (trust me, I am not always abrasive) suggestion or comment is made and met with a flame of "libtard" or worse, it is hard to establish a conversation. I do not have a common basis for language with these folks; we can use the same words, even in a civil manner (occasionally, mostly with people who know me already) and they do not mean the same things to many of the MAGAts.
My response to accusations like “libtard” is to “not acknowledge” the invective. Just skip right passed it. Continue asking the basic questions of liberty, equality, fairness, rule of law as they grow red-faced ( like their hats)
The wall as been growing for decades and, I'm guessing, got much thicker in the last 7 to 8 years. There is research, which include suggestions about lessening it, some of it published in the last few years. Your experience, Ally, is common. There may be ways forward that we haven't employed. That's what some of us are looking for.
You are right Fern, Trump and the MAGAS have successfully built a metaphorical wall between us.
Between truth and propaganda, between those who believe in the body politic and those who are controlled by fear and hatred.
We need to go over, under and through that wall.
Probably the Dobbs decision gives us more power than we have had in 50 years.
I think the attempted transformation of 1/2 of our people to the legal standing of livestock should be our front line of persuasion. This wall is a powerful illusion but we must reveal it as just that, a lie.
An astute observation, Fern. Dumpster’s Wall of Lies and Bullshit can be seen from space. The final reality flip is that his MAGA faithful, trapped in there, think they’re the ones who understand freedom.
I think denial of climate change is behind some of the fear. As Republicans continue to refuse to say the words and to deny science they become more and more unreachable. After my neighbor told me in all seriousness “God will take care of climate change” (he is a financial advisor), I managed not to do a double take, but recognized that even an intelligent person can be a science denier, so many are even beyond th
Fern, I travel locally in a wheelchair van which is a service I am grateful for. However, the drivers are not the best at parsing politics, and most seem to be watchers of Fox and Football. I often hear them spout the usual. So, recently someone said to challenge them without anger by asking who, when, where, what. It worked the first time I tried it.
So the driver informed me that all the cities with gun control have the highest crime rate.
I said, "How did you learn that?"
"I didn't," he replied. "I just know it." I do believe he trapped himself because he didn't offer more "advice."
I am so glad I am armed with a new tool and that I don't go bonkers over BS.
Love it! My similar experience party with plenty of alcohol, at least ten years ago. A climate denialist was feeling cornered by some science types, and she felt she had to point out she was a good person who donated large sums to charities. I just listened. It was kind of fascinating. When I could get a word in, I said what convinced me was the ice cores from Antarctica with trapped CO2 bubbles from the atmosphere of thousands of years ago. “What convinced me” was the end of the discussion, no more anger, just get something to eat.
Difficult to communicate when half the country would follow a glittering gold pied piper off the face of the earth. I agree communication is everything, but the liars have been winning at that for decades it now appears. Can facts win?
Right! The scary question is has #45 built the cult momentum to the point they’ll follow the glitterless over the edge? Hitler certainly had no glitter but it was a vastly different era. I’m betting on the appearance of glitter being a requirement. Many of them believe in a country where anyone of them can be #45 if only they can lie and steal their way there.
Thanks for the comment Fern. I've read your past comments and that which follows is likely "preaching to the choir." Maybe the following perspective on "how can we communicate with one another" will resonate with all LFAA subscribers...
Dr. HRC's interview with President Biden emphasized the importance of honor and decency in to accomplish the goals of a democracy. It's ALWAYS more honorable and decent to get beyond anger and frustration in communicating/discussing the best possible solutions to address any issue. That said, of course we will all be angry and frustrated at times-none of us are robots. Periodic "venting" in this venue is therefore to be expected. The thing is, there's not going to be much "communicating" with anyone who is stuck in a mindset of anger.
Imagine the possibilities for our democracy if the basic honor and decency in rising above anger in our communication/debate was more common.
Thank you, John. I think the question of 'how we can communicate with one another' opened a dialogue between us on the forum. We'll continue as we share our thoughts, knowledge, feelings and experiences in communicating 'language'. Language, visuals and movements are our means of communication. How can we not give communication the attention it deserves?
The mindset of anger is continually stoked by #45 and his mob of gangsters. Everything I have read of authoritarianism seems to say that is how they gain power, by stoking anger. Therapists spend their life’s work trying to help folks let go of anger. A person has to want to manage their anger. Most of the “mob” won’t even recognize that anger is their fuel.
Do you not see 'anger' and 'hatred' widespread among Americans, including here on the forum? It has become a form of validation. This does not mean tolerating inequality, white supremacy, racism, elitism... It means addressing how we use language with one another.
If this comment is truly intended to be a response to my comment and not an error of some sort, then we have a “communication” problem. I fail to see any connection between my comment and this response and to be frank, I have learned from our history of communicating that I am not interested in trying.
With patience, open ears and kindness. Listen, listen, listen some more…maybe ask a question or two but stay off the soap box…unless, it’s you who is tasked with being on it.
Propaganda has been very effective, particularly with large numbers whose lives have changed as a result of loss of manufacturing and community, technology, inadequate governmental solutions (at best), Black Money, loss of journalistically based local news, social media, white supremacy/racism, and I add - isolation - to the mix. Propaganda requires a great deal of attention. It has been studied in depth and we need to find 'workable' solutions.
Fern, Orwellian is the “ Inflation Reduction Act” and BBB. Biden’s insane spending has directly contributed to staggering inflation and a lowering of our National standard of living by virtue of a collapse in real earnings. Biden’s energy, public safety, foreign policy and open borders immigration policies are not much better. Dystopian and delusional if you think this administration has advanced our security and our economic vitality. Sadly it has not. My guess is we will see this confirmed soon enough at the polls.
OM goodness, David. Everything you have noted surely belongs on the other side of the aisle.
I'd like to see a better energy policy, too, but compromises were made to have anything at all in the way of improved environmental standards.
Surely you are aware of post-pandemic causes of inflation: shipping and supply delays, corporate profiteering, especially in the fossil fuel segments, China's covid chaos, the war in Ukraine, et al.
Surely you are aware of a rapid return to pre-pandemic employment status. Quite an accomplishment. Especially gas prices have lowered quite a bit, due to Pres Biden's managing of fuel reserves.
I would also like to encourage you to reconsider "open borders." That simply is not true. the Biden administration is dealing as compassionately and LEGALLY as possible with immigration. There is no limit on applications for asylum. Thousands of migrants have been returned to their countries who did not fit the qualifications for refuge. The cruelty of the former administration in their immigration policy will define the Republican party for decades. As will the mad man who was President.
There are a multitude of reasons that immigrants and refugees are applying for entry to the US. Compare our nation to the world as a whole in which masses of people are fleeing warfare, destitution, drought and floods. It bears a universal solution far beyond us by ourselves.
I think you are hinting at a "trickle down" economy as ideal, or Reaganomics. That is what has failed. Therein lies the lowered standard of living, including rotting infrastructure and housing shortages, tainted water and poor health care for poor people.
Compassionate. Total BS. It leaves millions of people we have not vetted rampaging around forever as illegal immigrants. Funny how it’s not compassionate when illegal immigrants go willingly to Sanctuary states. Biden’s economic policies are a disaster. Say what you want about Reagan. I had to leave a private college during Carter as a result of financial distress. The Reagan years were pretty darn good having stated in the whole with nothing. The only reason gas prices are coming down is people can’t afford to drive. Joe’s crazed spending lit the flame. I imagine you see his finest hour surrendering in Afghanistan?
I agree BK. David is definitely trolling and/or not making much sense. David, when you throw stuff, check before. Biden left Afghanistan because Trump set a date for withdrawing which the US was obligated to follow. Of course he set the date to occur in the next administration.
I hope you are helping the Afghani refugees settle here. Their lives depend on it.
BK, The beauty of asking real questions is the dialogue that they may produce; elicit the questions we ourselves have; spur our thinking, and promote sharing the knowledge that we have absorbed. Your insight, BK, is true and one for us to employ. You have taken today's letter one more crucial step forward. Thank you. I hope that you will share it again at the start of the forum, so that more subscribers have the opportunity to read it. Salud!
Interesting in what Pascal has said about the use of persuasion in changing a person’s mind. Unfortunately, in my conversations with these individuals, I am talking to the wind. I am a very patient person who chooses her words carefully without losing my mind. I just lose it...after I have talked to these people!! Until Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act actually starts to produce progress, I simply think we are stuck with this stubborn mentality from the right.
Marlene, Language continues to degrade in US, which I think is very much connected to nature of the divide/politization of the country. Language is another lens through which to see ourselves. May another mirror shed more light? I'm very concerned about the future and about whether the ship of state could turn in a more positive direction in the next couple of years -- no predications here. Organization by the people, much more of it, by groups aimed at health, the environment, personal rights... our own lobbies may be a pro-democracy movement on our agenda.
Marlene, I am laughing for the first time today; there were a couple of narrow smiles, earlier. Wouldn't we be funny, the two of us with gigantic megaphones? I'm shrinking in size everyday!
Carol, in CA we can’t. We are paying premium prices for gas at $5.49 a gal for unleaded and $5.99 or in some places, $6.59! We get screwed by the oil industries that are here. Thus, the push for electric vehicles which none of us can find because they have been bought and won’t he on the sellers market for 2-3 years.
Chris, I really like your thoughtful comment today. Your phrase “Treating people as abstractions” is a pivot point for much of wisdom we need to lead us out of this morass we are in, this Tower of Babel, if you will. Propaganda’s greatest feature is it’s ability to shorten the cognitive milliseconds we take to form a contextual judgement/status assessments of a person we are encountering in any given situation. Propaganda is perfected in each technological age to shorten this thinking-time, and replace it with pre-formed, manufactured opinions (which often include the time-honored-fear-based label “Enemy”). Stopping to “treat individuals as human beings and not abstractions” takes milliseconds more time, - and courage. And doing it requires risk and effort. Yet it remains the only way out of the mind-prison of propaganda.
Getting to know some background allows for shared empathy before moving to value examinations; which is really what we are all attempting to convey, “ what ARE your values, in your own words?”
Old Moscow mitch-bitch's scamplan to hijack the supreme court by jamming in a bunch of dumbass greedy maggots backfired SPLAT in his turtled contorted puss giving Democrats a gift that will keep on giving right up to this November 8th ! WHOOOO! HOOOOO!
It would seem that some poor souls out "There" were taught to squeeze their nose real tight and hold their mouth closed even tighter and then try to blow real hard until the wax shoots out of their ears...unfortunately there are way to many Blowhards out "There" that blew some of their brains out also!
Their plan for the country isn't a plan at all. It's a facade of lies. It will persuade no one. The abortion ban and threats to Social Security will not be forgotten.
My college pal Tom Cullen lives in LA, I thought you were he. He is both smart and irreverent like you seem to be. He has a Ph.D but whose counting. Your comment is spot-on !!!!!
A document only morons, er, I mean Republicans (no difference actually) could enjoy and believe.
Watch what they do, not what they say. As of tonight 168 Republicans have signed onto legislation in the house to ban abortion nationwide. Watch what they do, not what they say - today a state judge in Arizona said that the new law limiting abortion to the first 15 weeks wasn't as good as the 157 year old law written in 1866 when women couldn't vote and had no voice in government, that bans abortion in all instances without exception, was indeed the law in Arizona.
I'm pretty sure that dumbass just cost Kari Lake and Brett Masters and the QMAGAt running for Secretary of State their races, as well as a couple R congressmen.
“It feels rather as if the Republicans recognize that Biden’s policies are popular, and are hoping that voters haven’t noticed that he is actually putting them in place.”
The Repugs have written an Apologia for President Biden! How generous and kind of the weasels!
But here’s the thing, the MAGA base knows nothing about Biden’s successes in moving the country in the direction Democrats fought hard for (against the very Republicans who now see that this is what the public wants). They watch only propaganda. This “Commitment to America “ is new to them and they will attribute it to GOP efforts instead. There is no amount of doublespeak that they won’t accept. “My Party, My Life”
Well we need a list of these goals and under each one another list of the many times everyone of those lying bturds voted against that goal and publish it far and wide. Proves how they lie ALL the time!
But how do we reach the MAGAts if all they watch and read are right-wing media?
I don’t think we can reach them; however, we can try to reach all other “ iffy” voters to get out there on 8 Nov! That’s where a list might help!
Right. It is difficult or impossible to deprogram the brainwashed, so we must reach the undecideds.
EXACTLY!!
Write all the GOTV postcards you can (Turnabout Project is one source) and take time to check out your local Indivisible chapter. Think of yourself as a front line Ukrainian. We are.
I believe that they are unreachable. I see that in my cadre of retired law enforcement friends. They just double down on the propaganda.
Ally, do you think any of them could be members of Oath Keepers and that’s why they’re “unreachable”?
Then we must target the undecideds and the kinda-left-leaning R's.
With relational campaigning! Talk to your friends. Ask them to talk to their friends.
I have a Republican friend that I think is going to now hold her nose and vote Democrat because the Republicans are doing such crazy stuff and taking away rights.
I also recommend knowing what messaging works. Attend the Messaging to Win - Mondays at 1pm PT/4pm ET:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z7B2IJ1MQqSW-H0MAjn-Yg?utm_campaign=Movement%20Briefing
Thanks, Cathy. One of my dearest friends has finally said she just can't vote Republican this time. Dobbs put her over the edge.
That 61% of newly registered voters are WOMEN portends which way the wind is blowing.
I hope so!
We can't - so Fox and right-wing Nazi media must be stopped.
Paid for ads??? The GOP pays to run their libelous propaganda ads 24/7 here in rural CD2 Maine. From what I have noted in my lifetime folks leave their tvs on constantly. Repeated over and over, even in the background. I’m quite confident it’s what delivered us 6 more years of Suzy Q
Ugh! What a nightmare she is...I call her “the dangling carrot”. That’s what she does when she’s considering a vote. Gets our hopes up and drops us like a lead balloon.
Here is the recording of the Sept. 19th Messaging to Win webinar: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lLXWMLhZK3WzfAKkvVpKJ31Z41iOBzcO/view
The next webinar is Oct 3rd.
A black and white list for facts vs. the reality might be a good idea! At least one could hope…
If only there was a way to get everyone to fact check all statements made by all politicians. I know that everything the democratic politicians say is not always spot on, and they do and say things that bug me, but I have this perception that the MAGA base accepts the MAGA kool aide as the HOLY gospel, never questioning some very disturbing statements of supposed “truth”. I hope I’m wrong….but?
The Dems should have a PR campaign of public mockery of the Republican "Commitment to America" making the points in Heather's post above. The MAGA zealots won't be convinced (or even reached) by it, but, as others have pointed out, the undecideds, or, as I like to say, the "reasonable middle", may be convinced. Hoping, of course, that the reasonable middle exists.
Over the years I have witnessed several instances of prominent right wingers angrily denying that they ever said precisely the words they were previously videoed saying, and the two recordings presented together. That sort of contradiction surely penetrates a MAGA skull or two here and there.
To be fair, modern Republicans tell so many, many lies, it must be pretty tough to keep them all straight.
💯💯 #45 has done this repeatedly. Lied on video and then later on video says exactly the opposite and NEVER gets called on it. Some genius could make a video of all these and call it liar, liar, pants on fire!
LOL Wikipedia, magazines, books all detail his lies. Maybe we need public education on the harm lying causes? Keep it simple?https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veracity_of_statements_by_Donald_Trump
So true, the cretins have been sending fund-raising crap to me, with the most egregious lies. They sound like many of the Dem fundraisers, sad to say. The republicans have always accused Dems of what they do. And Frank Luntz taught them how to project as well as anything that Orwell could have imagined.
A peeve of mine…agree. It’s way past the time to reduce the reliance on fund raising for politicians. Outlawing all together would be a very helpful reform.
I saw Frank Luntz on MSNBC last week. He is a very worried man, and said so.
The fact that Frank Luntz was on MSNBC says it all about the depth of his guilt for helping Republicans do this to political speech.
Absolutely correct. I was speaking to my MAGA neighbor about the “Commitment to America” website and was able to speak to each and every “commitment” listed, and point out how Biden was already doing it. The nabe absolutely shut me down and said I was making it up. I could have pulled out my iPhone and showed him actual facts, but we’ve been down this road before. His cognitive dissonance is crippling and he can’t even have a conversation about the differences without a meltdown. They will never believe Trump’s crimes really happened, but if they do somehow believe it, they’re insistent he is above the law.
You tried, thank you. Dunce caps for all the MAGAts!
And as an aside, the neighbor has an eighth grade education (he’s 40). It really does speak to Trump’s comment “I love the uneducated”.
"There is no amount of doublespeak" sums it ALL up!!
"My Party, My Lie." (oops, my finger slipped).
They realize the policies and practices are popular (I.e. “small d” democratically supported) but, it is essential to note, they have voted against most of them while touting the benefits to their constituents.
Weasels is too kind a word, maggots and cockroaches are more like it.
You demean maggots and cockroaches since these creatures actually provide useful services.
An individual responded to me when trying to "inform" those posting on a legislator's page that my efforts dealing with Orcs wasn't going to go anywhere, now they are Orcs they're lost (those familiar with Lord of the Rings no Orcs used to be humans so a very appropriate analogy).
The Use of Language is the subject of this comment.
Today’s Letter addressed language, the language of the Republican Party’s “Commitment to America”.
What does it say versus what does it mean? HCR wrote the following:
‘Covering just a single page, it presents vague aspirations—many of which Biden has already put in place—but focuses on the radical extremes of the MAGA party while trying to make those extremes sound mild.’
‘…the first topic—making the economy strong—is a paraphrase of what the Biden administration has been doing.’ (Letter)
‘This is quite literally the platform of the Democrats, but while the Republicans offer no actual proposals to contribute to these goals, Biden has taken concrete steps to address inflation …’
(Letter)
“A Future That’s Built on Freedom” is a similar sleight of hand, meaning something far from the freedom of the recent past. Here it means giving parents control over their childrens’ education (more book banning and laws that prohibit teaching subjects that make students “uncomfortable”), “defend[ing] fairness by ensuring that only women can compete in women’s sports” (there’s the anti-trans statement), …’ (Letter)
The Letter takes the Republican Party’s ‘Commitment of America’ apart. What does the paper convey versus what it means.
‘In short, the document feels like the doublespeak from George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. To defend the indefensible, Orwell wrote in an essay titled “Politics and the English Language,” “political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness…. The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. (Letter)
Language in divided America is a crucial subject for us to address. It was a crucial subject when Orwell wrote “Politics and the English Language.” First published in 1946.
How do we talk to one another in this divided time? It isn’t only about what they’re saying and writing; What about us? How can we communicate with one another?
How do we talk to one another? Good question. Carefully, politely, using verifiable (and short) statements of facts and by asking uncomplicated questions regarding what should be shared values ie “should the law apply equally to all”?”, “ would you stand in line for ten hours to vote”, “are national secrets important enough to be securely protected?, should the government favor one religion over another?
Do this calmly, no emotion. Do not react offensively to any dumb comment they make in rebuttal You won’t change their minds, but you’ve infected their brains with questions they’ll have wrestle with themselves
Make no enemies, but screw with their heads using facts and logic. Will it work? I don’t know. They’ll probably categorize you as dangerous or formidable
I can live with that
Dave Dalton, I don’t know where you live, but here in Texas, facts are not facts, and logic, well, I really don’t know how to explain it, but it’s not what you think. Some of us here in Texas really believe the stuff put out by Fox, OANN and newsmax. They really sincerely believe that stuff. It’s frightening.
Sigh. It’s true everywhere. This part of our population is quite literally not interested in truth/facts. They are in a cult, happy in the cocoon provided by said cult.
It is not easy, perhaps not even possible, to deal with irrationality that is the product of real, physiological fear, with reason. Facts, logic, and cognitive functions are shut down when chemicals are released into our brains telling us we are in danger. As long as folks are bombarded with fear of the dangers that “others,” be they liberals, socialists, Muslims, Jews, Christians, democrats, republicans, Chinese . . ., they literally cannot hear and act on reason. Calling folks foolish, idiotic, ignorant, or despicable cannot overcome the deep emotions driven by their fears.
I don’t have a magic elixir to soothe the fears that are driving so many of us, but I know that calming those deep, physiological fears has to be a first step to normalizing reason as a civic good and that the fear-based negativity of the Republican Party of today is a major source of our current politics.
Well said. Based on my experiences, that seems to be both the driving force, and the stumbling block to any kind of rational, thoughtful conversation.
I think the evolutionarily older functions of our brain that persist to defend raw survival; fear, hate and greed, and focus on ego, are security flaws in our ability to think rationally and compassionately, and are quite vulnerable to manipulation, as are security flaws in computer systems (very loosely speaking) that allow manipulation by predatory opportunist who seek to control others. We pay far too little attention to this dynamic on a day to day basis.
I think the problem lies in how we misuse those functions. That’s why I strongly advocate for brain health education starting at the earliest ages. Just for example: the brain needs healthy nutrients especially “good lipids” not food dyes. The brain needs a healthy balance of neurotransmitters, not a constant barrage of dopamine from video games The brain makes good neurotransmitter when we connect positively to other beings, so teach prosocial skills. If they’re not getting it at home, teach the skills needed so they can still get what they need to have a healthy brain. We get the brain our environment builds. Give kids a fighting chance to grow up with a healthy one.
💯💯 and from where I sit the view tells me that Dems are busting balls trying to do this
Agreed, and I think Biden is leading the way.
So well said! Thank you. Allows room for compassion, which I have very little of towards extremists.
I’m born ‘n raised Texan too, and you are absolutely correct. It is like a disease of the brain down here. I’d posit it’s the extreme heat and humidity but not all of us suffer from it!
Attempted like
The evil oozes in places hard to imagine
Propaganda Works! To save democracy we must shut down Fox news, QAnon and all their ill ilk.
Absolutely! The Fairness Doctrine must be reinstated to ensure the news is reportedly as truthfully and accurately as possible, not for propaganda, ratings and their bottom line.
I’d like to see Fox Propaganda shut down permanently, and the Murdoch’s imprisoned for the damage they’ve done to this country, thru their greed and power hungry ignorance.
It’s not bad enough Murdoch had to screw up his country, then he had to take his toxicity to the US and UK.
The Fairness Doctrine does not apply to cable tv. It only applies to public airwaves. Cable channel owners like Fox or HBO “own” their content.
Yes, I understand. It ubiquitous “Facts are dismissed if Fox isn’t the source. Logic is of the Convoluted kind; you know, “ connect these unrelated dots” version. It is frightening. I have found that detailed argument is a waste of energy. No one changes positions or opinion
The best I can do is to use short simple sentences of documented facts, simple questions in a VERY passive aggressive manner to infect their brain with my virus. There is no antidote. They can’t “unhear” it
I agree. Short and sharp. Like an inoculation.
Propaganda works. Goebbels proved that in the 1930s.
I keep wondering why Rupert Murdoch wants to destroy the US, after trying in Britain and Australia. I understood Roger Ailes; I don’t Rupert Murdoch.
They love Big Brother.
You've outlined the hard part for us, Dave. It is easy to call 'them' 'morons' and the 'enemy', and self-congratulatory to boot. We've built a high wall between us with our use language. DJT has been a major contributor. This is The WALL, however, on which his name is writ large.
The power of language works when people have a common language, and have a common understanding of events. When a gentle (trust me, I am not always abrasive) suggestion or comment is made and met with a flame of "libtard" or worse, it is hard to establish a conversation. I do not have a common basis for language with these folks; we can use the same words, even in a civil manner (occasionally, mostly with people who know me already) and they do not mean the same things to many of the MAGAts.
My response to accusations like “libtard” is to “not acknowledge” the invective. Just skip right passed it. Continue asking the basic questions of liberty, equality, fairness, rule of law as they grow red-faced ( like their hats)
A deep breath and slow exhale is empowering
The wall as been growing for decades and, I'm guessing, got much thicker in the last 7 to 8 years. There is research, which include suggestions about lessening it, some of it published in the last few years. Your experience, Ally, is common. There may be ways forward that we haven't employed. That's what some of us are looking for.
You are right Fern, Trump and the MAGAS have successfully built a metaphorical wall between us.
Between truth and propaganda, between those who believe in the body politic and those who are controlled by fear and hatred.
We need to go over, under and through that wall.
Probably the Dobbs decision gives us more power than we have had in 50 years.
I think the attempted transformation of 1/2 of our people to the legal standing of livestock should be our front line of persuasion. This wall is a powerful illusion but we must reveal it as just that, a lie.
An astute observation, Fern. Dumpster’s Wall of Lies and Bullshit can be seen from space. The final reality flip is that his MAGA faithful, trapped in there, think they’re the ones who understand freedom.
I think denial of climate change is behind some of the fear. As Republicans continue to refuse to say the words and to deny science they become more and more unreachable. After my neighbor told me in all seriousness “God will take care of climate change” (he is a financial advisor), I managed not to do a double take, but recognized that even an intelligent person can be a science denier, so many are even beyond th
the reach of the education system.
Click on the three little dots and you can edit your post.
Very similar to what works in a family. Set clear boundaries. Maintain them firmly, fairly and consistently without emotion.
Fern, I travel locally in a wheelchair van which is a service I am grateful for. However, the drivers are not the best at parsing politics, and most seem to be watchers of Fox and Football. I often hear them spout the usual. So, recently someone said to challenge them without anger by asking who, when, where, what. It worked the first time I tried it.
So the driver informed me that all the cities with gun control have the highest crime rate.
I said, "How did you learn that?"
"I didn't," he replied. "I just know it." I do believe he trapped himself because he didn't offer more "advice."
I am so glad I am armed with a new tool and that I don't go bonkers over BS.
Love it! My similar experience party with plenty of alcohol, at least ten years ago. A climate denialist was feeling cornered by some science types, and she felt she had to point out she was a good person who donated large sums to charities. I just listened. It was kind of fascinating. When I could get a word in, I said what convinced me was the ice cores from Antarctica with trapped CO2 bubbles from the atmosphere of thousands of years ago. “What convinced me” was the end of the discussion, no more anger, just get something to eat.
Attempted like
The likes are certainly sluggish today. (Enemy action? or just mechanical fatigue?)
Difficult to communicate when half the country would follow a glittering gold pied piper off the face of the earth. I agree communication is everything, but the liars have been winning at that for decades it now appears. Can facts win?
De Santis doesn't have much glitter...
Right! The scary question is has #45 built the cult momentum to the point they’ll follow the glitterless over the edge? Hitler certainly had no glitter but it was a vastly different era. I’m betting on the appearance of glitter being a requirement. Many of them believe in a country where anyone of them can be #45 if only they can lie and steal their way there.
Thanks for the comment Fern. I've read your past comments and that which follows is likely "preaching to the choir." Maybe the following perspective on "how can we communicate with one another" will resonate with all LFAA subscribers...
Dr. HRC's interview with President Biden emphasized the importance of honor and decency in to accomplish the goals of a democracy. It's ALWAYS more honorable and decent to get beyond anger and frustration in communicating/discussing the best possible solutions to address any issue. That said, of course we will all be angry and frustrated at times-none of us are robots. Periodic "venting" in this venue is therefore to be expected. The thing is, there's not going to be much "communicating" with anyone who is stuck in a mindset of anger.
Imagine the possibilities for our democracy if the basic honor and decency in rising above anger in our communication/debate was more common.
Thank you, John. I think the question of 'how we can communicate with one another' opened a dialogue between us on the forum. We'll continue as we share our thoughts, knowledge, feelings and experiences in communicating 'language'. Language, visuals and movements are our means of communication. How can we not give communication the attention it deserves?
A great start would be mental health 101 in preK. Actually the Nurse Family Partnership or Parents are Teachers too would be even in better
The mindset of anger is continually stoked by #45 and his mob of gangsters. Everything I have read of authoritarianism seems to say that is how they gain power, by stoking anger. Therapists spend their life’s work trying to help folks let go of anger. A person has to want to manage their anger. Most of the “mob” won’t even recognize that anger is their fuel.
Do you not see 'anger' and 'hatred' widespread among Americans, including here on the forum? It has become a form of validation. This does not mean tolerating inequality, white supremacy, racism, elitism... It means addressing how we use language with one another.
Attempted like
That heart is for you, Citzen60.
If this comment is truly intended to be a response to my comment and not an error of some sort, then we have a “communication” problem. I fail to see any connection between my comment and this response and to be frank, I have learned from our history of communicating that I am not interested in trying.
We can communicate with each other if some authority shuts down Big Brother's Fox news.
Nothing stifles debate like constant noise.
With patience, open ears and kindness. Listen, listen, listen some more…maybe ask a question or two but stay off the soap box…unless, it’s you who is tasked with being on it.
Propaganda rules
Propaganda has been very effective, particularly with large numbers whose lives have changed as a result of loss of manufacturing and community, technology, inadequate governmental solutions (at best), Black Money, loss of journalistically based local news, social media, white supremacy/racism, and I add - isolation - to the mix. Propaganda requires a great deal of attention. It has been studied in depth and we need to find 'workable' solutions.
On the origins and multiple applications of propaganda (very interesting): https://csmt.uchicago.edu/glossary2004/propaganda.htm
Fern, Orwellian is the “ Inflation Reduction Act” and BBB. Biden’s insane spending has directly contributed to staggering inflation and a lowering of our National standard of living by virtue of a collapse in real earnings. Biden’s energy, public safety, foreign policy and open borders immigration policies are not much better. Dystopian and delusional if you think this administration has advanced our security and our economic vitality. Sadly it has not. My guess is we will see this confirmed soon enough at the polls.
Are these the ravings of a troll?
Yes, Alan. DC is a resident troll. You can report his comment by clicking “…” under it.
OM goodness, David. Everything you have noted surely belongs on the other side of the aisle.
I'd like to see a better energy policy, too, but compromises were made to have anything at all in the way of improved environmental standards.
Surely you are aware of post-pandemic causes of inflation: shipping and supply delays, corporate profiteering, especially in the fossil fuel segments, China's covid chaos, the war in Ukraine, et al.
Surely you are aware of a rapid return to pre-pandemic employment status. Quite an accomplishment. Especially gas prices have lowered quite a bit, due to Pres Biden's managing of fuel reserves.
I would also like to encourage you to reconsider "open borders." That simply is not true. the Biden administration is dealing as compassionately and LEGALLY as possible with immigration. There is no limit on applications for asylum. Thousands of migrants have been returned to their countries who did not fit the qualifications for refuge. The cruelty of the former administration in their immigration policy will define the Republican party for decades. As will the mad man who was President.
There are a multitude of reasons that immigrants and refugees are applying for entry to the US. Compare our nation to the world as a whole in which masses of people are fleeing warfare, destitution, drought and floods. It bears a universal solution far beyond us by ourselves.
I think you are hinting at a "trickle down" economy as ideal, or Reaganomics. That is what has failed. Therein lies the lowered standard of living, including rotting infrastructure and housing shortages, tainted water and poor health care for poor people.
Hope, he’s a resident troll. One can report his comment by clicking “…” under it.
Thanks Ashley. I have to remind myself that trolling is pretty pathological. What a small universe trolls live in.
Compassionate. Total BS. It leaves millions of people we have not vetted rampaging around forever as illegal immigrants. Funny how it’s not compassionate when illegal immigrants go willingly to Sanctuary states. Biden’s economic policies are a disaster. Say what you want about Reagan. I had to leave a private college during Carter as a result of financial distress. The Reagan years were pretty darn good having stated in the whole with nothing. The only reason gas prices are coming down is people can’t afford to drive. Joe’s crazed spending lit the flame. I imagine you see his finest hour surrendering in Afghanistan?
I agree BK. David is definitely trolling and/or not making much sense. David, when you throw stuff, check before. Biden left Afghanistan because Trump set a date for withdrawing which the US was obligated to follow. Of course he set the date to occur in the next administration.
I hope you are helping the Afghani refugees settle here. Their lives depend on it.
BK,
DC is a resident troll. One can report his comment by clicking “…” under it.
Heart.
FERN
Yeah!
Use SHORT statements
Of original conceptualizations instead of ALWAYS poaching others comments that we have already studied, Eh!?
BK, The beauty of asking real questions is the dialogue that they may produce; elicit the questions we ourselves have; spur our thinking, and promote sharing the knowledge that we have absorbed. Your insight, BK, is true and one for us to employ. You have taken today's letter one more crucial step forward. Thank you. I hope that you will share it again at the start of the forum, so that more subscribers have the opportunity to read it. Salud!
Hello, BK. I think it is too late to repost your comment today, but there will be more opportunities in the future to share your insights. Cheers!
Interesting in what Pascal has said about the use of persuasion in changing a person’s mind. Unfortunately, in my conversations with these individuals, I am talking to the wind. I am a very patient person who chooses her words carefully without losing my mind. I just lose it...after I have talked to these people!! Until Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act actually starts to produce progress, I simply think we are stuck with this stubborn mentality from the right.
Marlene, Language continues to degrade in US, which I think is very much connected to nature of the divide/politization of the country. Language is another lens through which to see ourselves. May another mirror shed more light? I'm very concerned about the future and about whether the ship of state could turn in a more positive direction in the next couple of years -- no predications here. Organization by the people, much more of it, by groups aimed at health, the environment, personal rights... our own lobbies may be a pro-democracy movement on our agenda.
That is my hope and thinking, as well, Fern. We must acquire a big megaphone.
Marlene, I am laughing for the first time today; there were a couple of narrow smiles, earlier. Wouldn't we be funny, the two of us with gigantic megaphones? I'm shrinking in size everyday!
I wonder if the hardcore people can actually admit that gas prices have been falling.
Carol, in CA we can’t. We are paying premium prices for gas at $5.49 a gal for unleaded and $5.99 or in some places, $6.59! We get screwed by the oil industries that are here. Thus, the push for electric vehicles which none of us can find because they have been bought and won’t he on the sellers market for 2-3 years.
I live in CA too. Ours have come down only a little compared to the rest of the country. It was people in red states that I was thinking of.
Thanks, BK for the link to Pascal. The word “trick” in the title seemed like clickbait, but the article itself was quite useful.
Chris, I really like your thoughtful comment today. Your phrase “Treating people as abstractions” is a pivot point for much of wisdom we need to lead us out of this morass we are in, this Tower of Babel, if you will. Propaganda’s greatest feature is it’s ability to shorten the cognitive milliseconds we take to form a contextual judgement/status assessments of a person we are encountering in any given situation. Propaganda is perfected in each technological age to shorten this thinking-time, and replace it with pre-formed, manufactured opinions (which often include the time-honored-fear-based label “Enemy”). Stopping to “treat individuals as human beings and not abstractions” takes milliseconds more time, - and courage. And doing it requires risk and effort. Yet it remains the only way out of the mind-prison of propaganda.
Attempted like
Same here. But I have faith (that my attempt will succeed in a few minutes).
Yes, thank you for that
Getting to know some background allows for shared empathy before moving to value examinations; which is really what we are all attempting to convey, “ what ARE your values, in your own words?”
TCinLA
Moronic Minions, Eh!?
And
Old Moscow mitch-bitch's scamplan to hijack the supreme court by jamming in a bunch of dumbass greedy maggots backfired SPLAT in his turtled contorted puss giving Democrats a gift that will keep on giving right up to this November 8th ! WHOOOO! HOOOOO!
Your joy is contagious
Jeri Chilcutt
Thank you for answering my daily prayer!
🤣🤣you have quite the way with words! Love the early morning giggles! 🤣🤣
We hope, so must vote!
Virginia Witmer
Aha!
A snappy little ditty, EH!?
Let ‘er rip!
Let’s hope and pray that it is definitely the case that he helped them to lose!! 🥳
Agreed
Was hoping Masters et al would have lost anyway.
Oh, TC we hope that those regressive republicans will lose their races! Defeat to the far right fascists!
You would think this costs them their races, but there are apparently enough morons in this country who don't have a freaking clue.
Are there enough people with ears connected to a brain that has not been “MAGAfied?” Those around me seem stupefied. May the concrete crack…
Jeri Chilcutt
It would seem that some poor souls out "There" were taught to squeeze their nose real tight and hold their mouth closed even tighter and then try to blow real hard until the wax shoots out of their ears...unfortunately there are way to many Blowhards out "There" that blew some of their brains out also!
Your keyboard to G*d’s ear, TC!
SLWeston (PA)
That would be to the ear of our FATHER in Heaven, Eh!?
For Christians, yes. All kinds of names for God, Mr. Dobbs.
SLWeston (PA)
Gee...
Thanks for the heads up Mr. SL Weston.
Sure hope you're right, TC, about AZ elections.
Pam Peterson (West MA)
Hope is good...
Prayer is infallible with request for the Grace of discernment to hear HIS answer instead of your answer.....Eh!?
Their plan for the country isn't a plan at all. It's a facade of lies. It will persuade no one. The abortion ban and threats to Social Security will not be forgotten.
May we hope you are correct. After all, you have correctly noted that R's aren't all that bright.
🤞
You are assuming the RepubliCONs are literate....
My college pal Tom Cullen lives in LA, I thought you were he. He is both smart and irreverent like you seem to be. He has a Ph.D but whose counting. Your comment is spot-on !!!!!
Different TC, but in LA. :-)
Worth some thought and consideration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fo-ELYK2Pg&list=PLQDS8YKa2B0kkdfbs6x8dMPdm6u-XxWs6&index=2
Isn’t Justin King, a.k.a. Beau of the Fifth Column, the BEST?! So much wisdom, experience, common sense, wry wit. The best.