Yeah...this day & time a "slower" news day means fewer scandals that in a normal universe would be major, earth-shattering stories. Today really wore me out and I'm turning in too. I most likely will not watch the debates tomorrow night simply because I detest Dear Leader with the white-hot fire of a thousand suns, plus I can't bear to look at him or listen to that voice. I'll wait to see and read summaries of it. I still wouldn't be surprised if Trump refuses to show up at the rest of them. We'll all need strong stomachs tomorrow...
I don't have the stomach to watch him live. I will watch later when the results are no longer a surprise. If anyone thinks I am wimpy, I am. I have the same problem watching basketball. LOL
LOL! Can't say that about basketball, but as an ardent baseball nut, and as a Georgian and lifelong, PASSIONATE Atlanta Braves fan ever since they showed up here in '66, AND with the playoffs starting tomorrow, I'll be a nervous wreck. I almost can't watch, but know I have to. Can't say that about Dear Leader...absolutely can't do it.
I think the more compelling issue is that corporations are paying less in taxes because of the manipulation of the tax code by congress and this administration. Amazon paid nothing. Hundreds of others pay nothing. The oil companies are subsidized by the government and pay little in taxes, if anything, not to mention the vast environmental destruction. The greed of this one man, albeit the President, which has wider implications, reveals a much deeper problem.
Ultimately tRump's presidency may be a good thing (although so wrong that so many COVID "soldiers" are dying for our cause) in revealing the weakness of our government, the gross unfairness of our tax system. and the wickedness of the Conservative Movement/ "Christian" Right. While these wounds are open is the best time to clean, treat and fortify America.
The Kentucky Grand Jurer's call for publication of the proceedings in the Breonna Taylor affaire and calls for clarification of the results of their deliberations suggests that the AG could be doing a "Barr" just as Barr miss-qualified the results of the Meuller "Russian Collusion" report to protect Trump, so the local look-alike might have tried to stop prosecution of the policemen involved for murder for his own political reasons. This is not "the rule of law" but the rule by personal fiat...not for the people, by the people! How many more Republican AGs are doing the same?
With all the attention on his lack of paying taxes, I think not enough is placed on what a huge security risk he and his family are to the nation. Nicolle Wallace on MSNBC had the best explanation from 2 former FBI guys. It’s not just now that he & his family, esp. Jared are risks, but after he leaves office. Our nuclear capability, the security of our electrical grids, etc, but also the location of the WH bunker for a direct hit!!!! That puts Biden and every future president in danger. Terrifying! He and his entire family need to be in maximum security prison.
Absolutely! My husband used to do background checks for security clearances, and he said that large debt was always a red flag for blackmail and other issues. Why doesn’t the president of the United States need a security clearance, and if he does, how the hell did he pass?
We need to take the Senate and get a law passed that every Presidents candidate, before they enter the primaries, has to release ten years of taxes. And, before a VP running mate is announced, they too have to pass security. Remember, Jared was found to be a security risk and was denied clearance, then T overruled them.
Don't forget that shortly after becoming president, Trump hosted the Russian ambassador and his retinue in the Oval Office without any Americans present. Unless the Russians are more incompetent than Trump, that means they have had listening devices hidden in the Oval Office ever since. The entire area Trump has occupied will need an extreme security sweep.
That’s a scary thought. But don’t you think the Secret Service would have swept the rooms, out of an abundance of caution? His phone calls worry me. Don’t they record those, because early on there was something about not releasing transcripts/tapes?
There are supposed to be recordings and transcripts, but I don't know what actually happens. I remember the recording of the call where he extorted the president of Ukraine was put on a server that is supposed to be only for national security secrets.
The Brad Parscale story looks interesting. This is the second person to "blow a fuse" around Trump that we know of in the last few days after I forget who's rant followed by medical "vacation"; pressure is rising fast.
That such people are bullies and cowards and often beat their spouses and terrorize their children I have no doubt. For these people it is "normal". I trust melania has a codicil on violence to her person and her children in her "iron-clad" contract as well as the financial settlements.
I'm betting that, until the Tik-Tok hiccough, Parscale thought he was home and dry, protected in all he did and could see significant light ahead for himself...if not for his family. Then Trump withdrew his protection and all hell let loose; no certitude anymore , just dangerous waters in which he was exposed and alone. There are doubtless financial and other storms ahead for this expendable pawn in the coming Trump Titanic: a useful lesson for any who think that Trump will take care of them.
Wasn't the other one Mike Caputo? But he reportedly has a brain tumor, so they say that's his excuse. Gee, I don't remember Ted Kennedy or John McCain doing so. Maybe I'm too cynical............
So my question is there actually more to the story to the Brad Parscale’s suicide scare, as the news tonight dropped that the 2016 Trump campaign targeted suppression of black votes through Facebook ads using Cambridge Analytics... a directly link back to Parscale. And then there is his demotion just last month from campaign manager back to social-media-jockey because of the Trump rally tiktok false ticket sales fiasco I'm guessing.
Is he being used as a scapegoat? Is he being blackmailed? Did he leek something? Is there more to this story?
Brad Parscale did digital media work for trump since 2012 and was named the trump campaign's digital director in 2016. He embedded Facebook, Twitter, and Google employees on his staff. He hired Cambridge Analytica for microtargeting ads. (Steve Bannon was a vice president of Cambridge Analytica.) Today (9-28-20) the UK's Channel 4 reported the 2016 trump campaign data leak exposing that Parscale's "Project Alamo" labeled 3.5 million Black votes as "Deterrence" and targeted them with ads to deter them from voting. On 60 Minutes in 2018, Parscale had flat out denied that they microtargeted by race. Of course the campaign focused on swing states. (Sources all over Twitter)
The extent to which this successful super-racist tactic is being utilized in trump's 2020 campaign is something Parscale would know. And puts 3.5 million targets on his back in addition to those already placed by nice Democrats feeling robbed of an election?
And the U.S. election in 2016 was not the only one. Cambridge Analytica used this same tactic of microtargeting ads on Facebook to assist a number of authoritarian regimes the world over, including the Philippines, who has the highest per capita usage of Facebook. (Documentaries "The Great Hack" and "A Thousand Cuts")
As a Fight for the Future tweet noted, "Cambridge Analytica is the reminder that surveillance capitalism isn't just about monitoring you, it's about manipulating you."
Yes, all those cutesy surveys that Facebook friends share feed into a database about which we can make no safe presumptions. Social media needs to be regulated.
There’s also more to be learned about the Russian connection.
So much to read. Two Cambridge Analytica whistleblowers:
Completely anecdotal, but when registering voters two weeks ago, there were a number of black people who said they don't vote because their vote wouldn't count.
I completely agree that Parscale is deeper in this Administration that I had originally thought and more so in a nefarious way, but when I read he beat his wife was all I needed to know about this scumbag.
Something in the back of my mind says he made statements denying any racial consideration in micro-targeting ads to Congressional inquirers while under oath. He probably lost his get out of jail free card after the Tulsa k-pop stans fiasco.
He came to the realization that he has blown nearly $800 million campaign dollars and got very little in return, and that the campaign was on the brink of running out of money. In short, Parscale was a gigantic failure. In addition to that, it appears he's likely an alcoholic, he likely beats his wife, and he appears to be seriously obsesses with owning lots and lots of firearms and ammunition, which he's apparently willing to use on his wife, perhaps himself, and who knows whom else?
News of the wildfires seems to have dropped from headlines, when in fact, they should be up front every day. I guess when there's so much other "news" wildfires are considered old news, even though they continue to rage. I had no idea the death toll was up to 26. So sad for those who lost loved ones or their homes.
It is interesting that another tRumpster, Brad Parscale, has fallen prey to psychological stress like Mike Caputo. That's what "loyalty" does to those who follow the leader of the pack. Michael Cohen has shown us the depths that (mostly) men will go to be allowed into the inner circle. While I am finding Cohen a VERY unlikeable man, he has very adeptly shown how tRump sucks people in and then holds them captive. Wonder who will be the next of his thugs to flip out.
I'll try to watch tonight, but am not sure how far I'll get. As soon as tRump goes after Biden or his family, I'll have to shut it down.....and that could be in the first minute.
Good point, about the wildfires. I wonder, if the news were not dominated by the election, the Supreme Court, Covid19 and the President's financial picture, what would be the front page stories. You know, they haven't gone away: the "war' between Russia and Ukraine, ISIS, the Taliban and Afghanistan, the Israeli-Palestinian impass, nuclear weapons in North Korea and eventually in Iran, rising dictatorships in Europe, the Kashoggi murder, unsolved problems caused by poverty the world over, deterioration of public school education in the U.S. and changes becoming necessary due to climate change. Oh, and there's more, which don't make page one because space is needed to report that a Trump aide cracked up. And speaking of "page one," we can't ignore the continuing decline of newspaper and other print media as disseminators of news and opinion. That's a problem that doesn't get enough attention either.
I'd like to think the silence of the Republicans is due to their personal shock at the facts of this. That, of course, would require them to be decent people with integrity. "Decent with integrity" are not terms one uses to describe the Pseudo-Conservatives and Southern Traitors that currently populate the Confederate White People's Treason Party.
I'm in France (but an American), and we have a British TV box. Last night, BBC4 aired a short documentary on how in 2016, the Trump campaign, through digital referencing had information on (mostly) black voters in key states, Wisconsin for one, and determined they were able to be dissuaded from voting. Disenfranchised. Ads were run targeting them and in keys states like Wisconsin, PA, Georgia, numbers were significantly down among those voters. Cannot argue that it was CNBC, that people say is slanted left; this was a different country. We are an international joke. The Brits are relieved that Trump is worse than Johnson, although they are similarly unqualified. Johnson was fired from two jobs for lying and became PM. I'm sure he's not the outright cheating corrupt wastrel Trump is though.
For what it's worth Johnson has a better command of Shakespeare etc, but that is not saying a great deal, and his intentions are not malignant, I think...just hopelessly confused. Like Trump, he is there because he wanted to be there....and the competition for the job was "ordinary" to say the least ....and distinctly boring if you look at her predecessor....and indeed Clinton. Other than perhaps riding the Brexit bandwagon untill something else distracted him, I don't think that he had any other idea of what to do ....other than burnishing his own Brand. He thought Cummings would handle all of that sort of thing.
In France we had Chirac who was very similar....but not a clown! Now we have Macron who thought he could impose his Commerce School thesis on the French and manage real people as if France was a "start-up". It hasn't worked, the people are getting distinctly grumpy about the incompetent government are panicking and are trying to "control" the irresponsible people.....sounds like Johnson and England.
What I find so interesting about ALL this news is that it somehow seems quite old. As you indicated, we've been waiting for his tax returns since 2016, and there's never really been any doubt that they would show financial distress and tax fraud. The news all feels like an echo.
I feel the same. Although we have more tax and spending details, the fraudulent application of his "real estate development" and tax schemes are broadly known. I also think owing $420 million is negligible amount to him given the value of his properties. Whether they are failing or not, they are invaluable assets. The depth of his avarice and greed will be revealed for years, but I think his destruction of governmental, judicial, social and cultural norms is, in my book, much, much, much worse.
I feel, though, that the other shoe has finally dropped, and tRump, like Al Capone, can be indicted for state tax fraud now. Looking forward to his arrest on November 4th.
Thank you, Professor Richardson – looking forward to the debate and learning your take on it.
I had a thought, probably not practical, but wouldn’t it be fun to watch the debate with the folks in this forum?
There are so many thoughtful people here, I think it would be interesting to “read” the debate live before the media and the spinmeisters of the respective campaigns start framing the results.
I don’t know if Substack is able to handle the volume … FB maybe?
Mr. Dooley, for ages I have resisted Twitter for a host of reasons...but, yesterday I relented. I'm still learning my way around it, but I do like that it is instantaneous and if you want to see things as they're happening it's da bomb. I mainly joined because of author Dan Alexander, whose research on Trump's finances was incredibly thorough and interesting. It's cool that I can follow him and maybe even interact with him live. And then there are the hordes of other people I want to follow--I have a LONG list! I just sucked it up and figured I'd spend even more time on the damned computer. I'm retired with not much else to do...what I like about it is similar to Facebook: you can tailor it to what you want to use it for.
As for engagement, Twitter has the same level of emotional reactivity as Facebook, which I personally avoid—much prefer the thoughtful and respectful discourse here.
I think Facebook CAN be very useful depending largely on the things one likes or follows, and the friends/family in one's circle. I know this can vary with folks, though! I have some wonderfully thoughtful and fun people as friends, some famous within my field, and sprinkled in there are some writers, actors, teachers, and poets. Fortunately, most are like-minded as I had to purge my friends list of a couple of "difficulties", which I hate doing...BUT. We frequently do discuss things deeply and my friends all tend to be very thoughtful and respectful. I do have several news sources for my news, which I get both through Facebook and by following or subscribing. Yes, there can be a lot of "noise" on occasion, but I've gotten good at scrolling on by and keeping track of what doesn't interest me. I am VERY much on my guard if I feel like I'm being manipulated. We have to be vigilant.
Twitter is how HCR monitors breaking news. You can sidestep all the noisy tweets about sports and entertainment. Downside is all we are learning about how our Likes can be mined from someone’s unregulated database.
I used up all my words yesterday. So, I'll be in strength and endurance training all day as prep for "Debate 1: Descent into Trump's Cesspool." Don't. See. It. Alone!
Just a thought but Trump made more out of "The Apprentice" fantasy/reality tv show than Disney made out of their film, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" made in 2010. Disney only racked up $215.3 million on their feeble attempt. Somehow I prefer Disney's original, made in 1940, called "Fantasia". The sorcerer's apprentice was played by Mickey Mouse....that would seem more appropriate to our current predicament.
Sleep well, Heather. I have been tossing and turning since midnight, finally gave up. We've all heard the 'bull in a china shop' analogy regarding Trump. But I looked at it slightly differently a bit ago and thought, "yes, he is a bull in a china shop - a raging bull - and he's done an astounding amount of damage just incidentally. Imagine if he really were a 'stable genius' and had set out with a plan to wreck the entire nation!
As to the thundering silence of the GOP, maybe that's an even worse scandal than the jerk in the White House - allegedly, many of them are fairly bright and for sure should know better, so what's THEIR excuse?
They are probably hoping that they are not next on NYT and IRS's tax-fraud hit list......And if they are not actually using the same tax scams as their "Dear Leader", then they truly hope that they will be able to steal enough money from the American people in one way or another both to warrant participation in such complicated, and often extremely legally doubtful, tax avoidance schemes and to be able to afford the expert assistance necessary for their creation.
Yes, the news of wildfires, their cause and effects, have been eclipsed by the tsunami of other events. Climate is, front and center, the single most pressing issue that humanity must address. I offer up a little video that is posted on YouTube that might be useful in opening the conversation with those who are blind and deaf to this existential threat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhBElM6fBac
Yeah...this day & time a "slower" news day means fewer scandals that in a normal universe would be major, earth-shattering stories. Today really wore me out and I'm turning in too. I most likely will not watch the debates tomorrow night simply because I detest Dear Leader with the white-hot fire of a thousand suns, plus I can't bear to look at him or listen to that voice. I'll wait to see and read summaries of it. I still wouldn't be surprised if Trump refuses to show up at the rest of them. We'll all need strong stomachs tomorrow...
I don't have the stomach to watch him live. I will watch later when the results are no longer a surprise. If anyone thinks I am wimpy, I am. I have the same problem watching basketball. LOL
LOL! Can't say that about basketball, but as an ardent baseball nut, and as a Georgian and lifelong, PASSIONATE Atlanta Braves fan ever since they showed up here in '66, AND with the playoffs starting tomorrow, I'll be a nervous wreck. I almost can't watch, but know I have to. Can't say that about Dear Leader...absolutely can't do it.
“With the white-hot fire of a thousand suns” describes my anger and disgust perfectly. Thank you.
I think the more compelling issue is that corporations are paying less in taxes because of the manipulation of the tax code by congress and this administration. Amazon paid nothing. Hundreds of others pay nothing. The oil companies are subsidized by the government and pay little in taxes, if anything, not to mention the vast environmental destruction. The greed of this one man, albeit the President, which has wider implications, reveals a much deeper problem.
Ultimately tRump's presidency may be a good thing (although so wrong that so many COVID "soldiers" are dying for our cause) in revealing the weakness of our government, the gross unfairness of our tax system. and the wickedness of the Conservative Movement/ "Christian" Right. While these wounds are open is the best time to clean, treat and fortify America.
Personally, I'm stockpiling canned soup.
Yup
thank you. that's a lot of not-much.
The Kentucky Grand Jurer's call for publication of the proceedings in the Breonna Taylor affaire and calls for clarification of the results of their deliberations suggests that the AG could be doing a "Barr" just as Barr miss-qualified the results of the Meuller "Russian Collusion" report to protect Trump, so the local look-alike might have tried to stop prosecution of the policemen involved for murder for his own political reasons. This is not "the rule of law" but the rule by personal fiat...not for the people, by the people! How many more Republican AGs are doing the same?
With all the attention on his lack of paying taxes, I think not enough is placed on what a huge security risk he and his family are to the nation. Nicolle Wallace on MSNBC had the best explanation from 2 former FBI guys. It’s not just now that he & his family, esp. Jared are risks, but after he leaves office. Our nuclear capability, the security of our electrical grids, etc, but also the location of the WH bunker for a direct hit!!!! That puts Biden and every future president in danger. Terrifying! He and his entire family need to be in maximum security prison.
Absolutely! My husband used to do background checks for security clearances, and he said that large debt was always a red flag for blackmail and other issues. Why doesn’t the president of the United States need a security clearance, and if he does, how the hell did he pass?
We need to take the Senate and get a law passed that every Presidents candidate, before they enter the primaries, has to release ten years of taxes. And, before a VP running mate is announced, they too have to pass security. Remember, Jared was found to be a security risk and was denied clearance, then T overruled them.
Don't forget that shortly after becoming president, Trump hosted the Russian ambassador and his retinue in the Oval Office without any Americans present. Unless the Russians are more incompetent than Trump, that means they have had listening devices hidden in the Oval Office ever since. The entire area Trump has occupied will need an extreme security sweep.
That’s a scary thought. But don’t you think the Secret Service would have swept the rooms, out of an abundance of caution? His phone calls worry me. Don’t they record those, because early on there was something about not releasing transcripts/tapes?
There are supposed to be recordings and transcripts, but I don't know what actually happens. I remember the recording of the call where he extorted the president of Ukraine was put on a server that is supposed to be only for national security secrets.
yes, they hid it away. I wonder if the next administration will hear any of the recordings, or will they be destroyed?
I have been thinking the same thing, very extreme, maybe twice or thrice.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-taxes-national-security-compromise/2020/09/28/3116b096-01b5-11eb-897d-3a6201d6643f_story.html
The Brad Parscale story looks interesting. This is the second person to "blow a fuse" around Trump that we know of in the last few days after I forget who's rant followed by medical "vacation"; pressure is rising fast.
That such people are bullies and cowards and often beat their spouses and terrorize their children I have no doubt. For these people it is "normal". I trust melania has a codicil on violence to her person and her children in her "iron-clad" contract as well as the financial settlements.
I'm betting that, until the Tik-Tok hiccough, Parscale thought he was home and dry, protected in all he did and could see significant light ahead for himself...if not for his family. Then Trump withdrew his protection and all hell let loose; no certitude anymore , just dangerous waters in which he was exposed and alone. There are doubtless financial and other storms ahead for this expendable pawn in the coming Trump Titanic: a useful lesson for any who think that Trump will take care of them.
Wasn't the other one Mike Caputo? But he reportedly has a brain tumor, so they say that's his excuse. Gee, I don't remember Ted Kennedy or John McCain doing so. Maybe I'm too cynical............
So my question is there actually more to the story to the Brad Parscale’s suicide scare, as the news tonight dropped that the 2016 Trump campaign targeted suppression of black votes through Facebook ads using Cambridge Analytics... a directly link back to Parscale. And then there is his demotion just last month from campaign manager back to social-media-jockey because of the Trump rally tiktok false ticket sales fiasco I'm guessing.
Is he being used as a scapegoat? Is he being blackmailed? Did he leek something? Is there more to this story?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/28/trump-2016-campaign-targeted-35m-black-americans-to-deter-them-from-voting
I agree with you there's more to be revealed.
Brad Parscale did digital media work for trump since 2012 and was named the trump campaign's digital director in 2016. He embedded Facebook, Twitter, and Google employees on his staff. He hired Cambridge Analytica for microtargeting ads. (Steve Bannon was a vice president of Cambridge Analytica.) Today (9-28-20) the UK's Channel 4 reported the 2016 trump campaign data leak exposing that Parscale's "Project Alamo" labeled 3.5 million Black votes as "Deterrence" and targeted them with ads to deter them from voting. On 60 Minutes in 2018, Parscale had flat out denied that they microtargeted by race. Of course the campaign focused on swing states. (Sources all over Twitter)
The extent to which this successful super-racist tactic is being utilized in trump's 2020 campaign is something Parscale would know. And puts 3.5 million targets on his back in addition to those already placed by nice Democrats feeling robbed of an election?
And the U.S. election in 2016 was not the only one. Cambridge Analytica used this same tactic of microtargeting ads on Facebook to assist a number of authoritarian regimes the world over, including the Philippines, who has the highest per capita usage of Facebook. (Documentaries "The Great Hack" and "A Thousand Cuts")
As a Fight for the Future tweet noted, "Cambridge Analytica is the reminder that surveillance capitalism isn't just about monitoring you, it's about manipulating you."
This interview was eye-opening and frightening as hell. The successful manipulation by Cambridge Analytica haunts me. Social media can make us fish in a barrel. https://www.npr.org/2019/10/08/768216311/whistleblower-explains-how-cambridge-analytica-helped-fuel-u-s-insurgency
Yes, all those cutesy surveys that Facebook friends share feed into a database about which we can make no safe presumptions. Social media needs to be regulated.
There’s also more to be learned about the Russian connection.
So much to read. Two Cambridge Analytica whistleblowers:
Christopher Wylie (from the NPR interview) https://www.amazon.com/Mindf-Cambridge-Analytica-Break-America-ebook/dp/B07VP1T786
Brittany Kaiser (from “The Great Hack”) https://www.amazon.com/Targeted-Cambridge-Analytica-Whistleblowers-Democracy-ebook/dp/B07R6MNPGH
(Amazon links not to encourage purchase, but for citation, it’s so damn convenient.)
Completely anecdotal, but when registering voters two weeks ago, there were a number of black people who said they don't vote because their vote wouldn't count.
We’re you able to convince them otherwise?
Unfortunately, not all.
It won't count if they don't vote!
I completely agree that Parscale is deeper in this Administration that I had originally thought and more so in a nefarious way, but when I read he beat his wife was all I needed to know about this scumbag.
Plus he made a fortune and spent it lavishly. I presume that’s threatened too.
Is he going haywire because he embezzled, got caught and is afraid?
Parscale is likely coming to the realization that his goose is about to be cooked.
https://www.channel4.com/news/revealed-trump-campaign-strategy-to-deter-millions-of-black-americans-from-voting-in-2016
Something in the back of my mind says he made statements denying any racial consideration in micro-targeting ads to Congressional inquirers while under oath. He probably lost his get out of jail free card after the Tulsa k-pop stans fiasco.
Agree, the link I posted is about same racial targeting from the guardian.
hmmm enquiring minds want to know....
He came to the realization that he has blown nearly $800 million campaign dollars and got very little in return, and that the campaign was on the brink of running out of money. In short, Parscale was a gigantic failure. In addition to that, it appears he's likely an alcoholic, he likely beats his wife, and he appears to be seriously obsesses with owning lots and lots of firearms and ammunition, which he's apparently willing to use on his wife, perhaps himself, and who knows whom else?
Domestic abuse.
News of the wildfires seems to have dropped from headlines, when in fact, they should be up front every day. I guess when there's so much other "news" wildfires are considered old news, even though they continue to rage. I had no idea the death toll was up to 26. So sad for those who lost loved ones or their homes.
It is interesting that another tRumpster, Brad Parscale, has fallen prey to psychological stress like Mike Caputo. That's what "loyalty" does to those who follow the leader of the pack. Michael Cohen has shown us the depths that (mostly) men will go to be allowed into the inner circle. While I am finding Cohen a VERY unlikeable man, he has very adeptly shown how tRump sucks people in and then holds them captive. Wonder who will be the next of his thugs to flip out.
I'll try to watch tonight, but am not sure how far I'll get. As soon as tRump goes after Biden or his family, I'll have to shut it down.....and that could be in the first minute.
Good point, about the wildfires. I wonder, if the news were not dominated by the election, the Supreme Court, Covid19 and the President's financial picture, what would be the front page stories. You know, they haven't gone away: the "war' between Russia and Ukraine, ISIS, the Taliban and Afghanistan, the Israeli-Palestinian impass, nuclear weapons in North Korea and eventually in Iran, rising dictatorships in Europe, the Kashoggi murder, unsolved problems caused by poverty the world over, deterioration of public school education in the U.S. and changes becoming necessary due to climate change. Oh, and there's more, which don't make page one because space is needed to report that a Trump aide cracked up. And speaking of "page one," we can't ignore the continuing decline of newspaper and other print media as disseminators of news and opinion. That's a problem that doesn't get enough attention either.
Just use the mute button when you need to. And if you imbibe, I’d suggest a large glass!
Prison in a mental health facility is cushy compared to a jail.
Kelly Ann certainly had a valid reason to walk away, but me wonders if there was a big PHEW!
I'd like to think the silence of the Republicans is due to their personal shock at the facts of this. That, of course, would require them to be decent people with integrity. "Decent with integrity" are not terms one uses to describe the Pseudo-Conservatives and Southern Traitors that currently populate the Confederate White People's Treason Party.
And I’d like to think I’ve picked the winning numbers in the lottery.
I'm in France (but an American), and we have a British TV box. Last night, BBC4 aired a short documentary on how in 2016, the Trump campaign, through digital referencing had information on (mostly) black voters in key states, Wisconsin for one, and determined they were able to be dissuaded from voting. Disenfranchised. Ads were run targeting them and in keys states like Wisconsin, PA, Georgia, numbers were significantly down among those voters. Cannot argue that it was CNBC, that people say is slanted left; this was a different country. We are an international joke. The Brits are relieved that Trump is worse than Johnson, although they are similarly unqualified. Johnson was fired from two jobs for lying and became PM. I'm sure he's not the outright cheating corrupt wastrel Trump is though.
For what it's worth Johnson has a better command of Shakespeare etc, but that is not saying a great deal, and his intentions are not malignant, I think...just hopelessly confused. Like Trump, he is there because he wanted to be there....and the competition for the job was "ordinary" to say the least ....and distinctly boring if you look at her predecessor....and indeed Clinton. Other than perhaps riding the Brexit bandwagon untill something else distracted him, I don't think that he had any other idea of what to do ....other than burnishing his own Brand. He thought Cummings would handle all of that sort of thing.
In France we had Chirac who was very similar....but not a clown! Now we have Macron who thought he could impose his Commerce School thesis on the French and manage real people as if France was a "start-up". It hasn't worked, the people are getting distinctly grumpy about the incompetent government are panicking and are trying to "control" the irresponsible people.....sounds like Johnson and England.
I think that would be MSNBC.
What I find so interesting about ALL this news is that it somehow seems quite old. As you indicated, we've been waiting for his tax returns since 2016, and there's never really been any doubt that they would show financial distress and tax fraud. The news all feels like an echo.
I feel the same. Although we have more tax and spending details, the fraudulent application of his "real estate development" and tax schemes are broadly known. I also think owing $420 million is negligible amount to him given the value of his properties. Whether they are failing or not, they are invaluable assets. The depth of his avarice and greed will be revealed for years, but I think his destruction of governmental, judicial, social and cultural norms is, in my book, much, much, much worse.
I feel, though, that the other shoe has finally dropped, and tRump, like Al Capone, can be indicted for state tax fraud now. Looking forward to his arrest on November 4th.
Thank you, Professor Richardson – looking forward to the debate and learning your take on it.
I had a thought, probably not practical, but wouldn’t it be fun to watch the debate with the folks in this forum?
There are so many thoughtful people here, I think it would be interesting to “read” the debate live before the media and the spinmeisters of the respective campaigns start framing the results.
I don’t know if Substack is able to handle the volume … FB maybe?
Any thoughts?
Twitter
That's a good idea ...
I'm not on Twitter ... always had an aversion to it. What has been your experience?
Mr. Dooley, for ages I have resisted Twitter for a host of reasons...but, yesterday I relented. I'm still learning my way around it, but I do like that it is instantaneous and if you want to see things as they're happening it's da bomb. I mainly joined because of author Dan Alexander, whose research on Trump's finances was incredibly thorough and interesting. It's cool that I can follow him and maybe even interact with him live. And then there are the hordes of other people I want to follow--I have a LONG list! I just sucked it up and figured I'd spend even more time on the damned computer. I'm retired with not much else to do...what I like about it is similar to Facebook: you can tailor it to what you want to use it for.
I can’t figure it out. I just know it can (or at one time could) track group participation with #... As something to follow I find it a bit “noisy.”
As for engagement, Twitter has the same level of emotional reactivity as Facebook, which I personally avoid—much prefer the thoughtful and respectful discourse here.
I think Facebook CAN be very useful depending largely on the things one likes or follows, and the friends/family in one's circle. I know this can vary with folks, though! I have some wonderfully thoughtful and fun people as friends, some famous within my field, and sprinkled in there are some writers, actors, teachers, and poets. Fortunately, most are like-minded as I had to purge my friends list of a couple of "difficulties", which I hate doing...BUT. We frequently do discuss things deeply and my friends all tend to be very thoughtful and respectful. I do have several news sources for my news, which I get both through Facebook and by following or subscribing. Yes, there can be a lot of "noise" on occasion, but I've gotten good at scrolling on by and keeping track of what doesn't interest me. I am VERY much on my guard if I feel like I'm being manipulated. We have to be vigilant.
Twitter is how HCR monitors breaking news. You can sidestep all the noisy tweets about sports and entertainment. Downside is all we are learning about how our Likes can be mined from someone’s unregulated database.
Thank you ...
Do periodically check who’s following you and block as necessary.
Love that thought!!!
Would love that, it not sure how we could pull it off.
That might be the only way I could get through it!!!
I used up all my words yesterday. So, I'll be in strength and endurance training all day as prep for "Debate 1: Descent into Trump's Cesspool." Don't. See. It. Alone!
Or, as in my case: Don’t. See. It. Period! Perhaps...news clips(?).
Yes. We're finally there with you. Happened about an hour ago. Netflix night.
Just a thought but Trump made more out of "The Apprentice" fantasy/reality tv show than Disney made out of their film, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" made in 2010. Disney only racked up $215.3 million on their feeble attempt. Somehow I prefer Disney's original, made in 1940, called "Fantasia". The sorcerer's apprentice was played by Mickey Mouse....that would seem more appropriate to our current predicament.
Sleep well, Heather. I have been tossing and turning since midnight, finally gave up. We've all heard the 'bull in a china shop' analogy regarding Trump. But I looked at it slightly differently a bit ago and thought, "yes, he is a bull in a china shop - a raging bull - and he's done an astounding amount of damage just incidentally. Imagine if he really were a 'stable genius' and had set out with a plan to wreck the entire nation!
As to the thundering silence of the GOP, maybe that's an even worse scandal than the jerk in the White House - allegedly, many of them are fairly bright and for sure should know better, so what's THEIR excuse?
They are probably hoping that they are not next on NYT and IRS's tax-fraud hit list......And if they are not actually using the same tax scams as their "Dear Leader", then they truly hope that they will be able to steal enough money from the American people in one way or another both to warrant participation in such complicated, and often extremely legally doubtful, tax avoidance schemes and to be able to afford the expert assistance necessary for their creation.
Yes, the news of wildfires, their cause and effects, have been eclipsed by the tsunami of other events. Climate is, front and center, the single most pressing issue that humanity must address. I offer up a little video that is posted on YouTube that might be useful in opening the conversation with those who are blind and deaf to this existential threat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhBElM6fBac
Would love to learn if the video works (is meaningful) for you?