If the Dems ran a halfway likable candidate November would be a total destruction. But Hillary will manage to keep it way closer than it needs to be.

3/4/2016 11:56:44 AM

https://youtu.be/YBLmh8ck0yk

Trump chooses an interesting way to have people pledge to vote...

3/5/2016 10:23:24 PM

omg trump just got asked about the rubio hands thing and had his golf club manager to stand up and said
"don't i hit it well out there? don't i hit it long and hard?"

3/5/2016 11:16:22 PM

People with any intelligence at all are not voting for this guy right????

3/6/2016 12:11:25 AM

Chris Hedges on point per usual:

Quote :

" College-educated elites, on behalf of corporations, carried out the savage neoliberal assault on the working poor. Now they are being made to pay. Their duplicity—embodied in politicians such as Bill and Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama—succeeded for decades. These elites, many from East Coast Ivy League schools, spoke the language of values—civility, inclusivity, a condemnation of overt racism and bigotry, a concern for the middle class—while thrusting a knife into the back of the underclass for their corporate masters. This game has ended.... ...The Democrats are playing a very dangerous game by anointing Hillary Clinton as their presidential candidate. She epitomizes the double-dealing of the college-educated elites, those who speak the "feel-your-pain" language of ordinary men and women, who hold up the bible of political correctness, while selling out the poor and the working class to corporate power."

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_revenge_of_the_lower_classes_and_the_rise_of_american_fascism_20160302

3/6/2016 2:30:14 AM

Quote :

"These Americans want a kind of freedom—a freedom to hate. They want the freedom to use words like “nigger,” “kike,” “spic,” “chink,” “raghead” and “fag.” They want the freedom to idealize violence and the gun culture. They want the freedom to have enemies, to physically assault Muslims, undocumented workers, African-Americans, homosexuals and anyone who dares criticize their cryptofascism. They want the freedom to celebrate historical movements and figures that the college-educated elites condemn, including the Ku Klux Klan and the Confederacy. They want the freedom to ridicule and dismiss intellectuals, ideas, science and culture. They want the freedom to silence those who have been telling them how to behave. And they want the freedom to revel in hypermasculinity, racism, sexism and white patriarchy. These are the core sentiments of fascism. These sentiments are engendered by the collapse of the liberal state."

The Trump voters don't want this, they just want someone new in Washington. Sanders, Clinton, Cruz, and Rubio have taken their turn and that is fine, but it is time for a change for real and if Trump sucks then we the people can vote him out in 4 years. Hopefully if Trump gets in we do actually build a wall.

3/6/2016 11:12:23 AM

^^

Quote :

"These Americans want a kind of freedom—a freedom to hate. They want the freedom to use words like “nigger,” “kike,” “spic,” “chink,” “raghead” and “fag.” They want the freedom to idealize violence and the gun culture. They want the freedom to have enemies, to physically assault Muslims, undocumented workers, African-Americans, homosexuals and anyone who dares criticize their cryptofascism. They want the freedom to celebrate historical movements and figures that the college-educated elites condemn, including the Ku Klux Klan and the Confederacy. They want the freedom to ridicule and dismiss intellectuals, ideas, science and culture. They want the freedom to silence those who have been telling them how to behave. And they want the freedom to revel in hypermasculinity, racism, sexism and white patriarchy. These are the core sentiments of fascism. These sentiments are engendered by the collapse of the liberal state."

Chris Hedges would be a lot more effective if he didn't resort to this kind of hyperbole, but maybe that was his goal.

That said, I generally agree with his assessment of the rise of Trump; it's a direct response to pent up feelings of helplessness against the hyper-PC left. Trump supporters, in large part, seem to uniformly despise ivory tower liberal elites, and they especially hate anything that might be considered SJWish.

The strategy of the political left - which is to shame their opponents into becoming one of them - has backfired in a spectacular way. Not only did the shaming fail, the shame was transformed into a form of secular, civic national pride by Trump. Even though Hedges would say Obama is a corporate shill, he still utilized the leftist dialect in his communication with the public, and most on the right consider his interactions with other world leaders as prostration.

3/6/2016 11:38:26 AM

i don't think its against PCness, I think it is more of people who have been left behind while the liberal elite focuses on identity politics. It's not the fact that things are PC, it's the fact that their plight as suffering poor or low-middle class whites has been ignored while the liberal elite gives attention to identity politics. Maybe I'm not expressing that clearly, what I'm trying to say that I don't think it is an inherent problem with the "PCness" of identity politics just that it has been the focus while their problems have been ignored.

This is also the reason why I think Sanders can steal a lot of these votes, his populist economic platform doesn't ignore their needs. I think there is a large bloc of voters who don't give a shit if gay people get married or if people want to protest against the police for BLM, they are just tired of hearing about it constantly when no one cares about their problems.

3/6/2016 12:11:07 PM

Fuck PC and I'm tired of hearing BLM whine and bitch too

3/6/2016 12:26:33 PM

Quote :

"Chris Hedges would be a lot more effective if he didn't resort to this kind of hyperbole, but maybe that was his goal."

He's not resorting to hyperbole. He's simply pointing out that a large portion of Trump supporters were traditionally apathetic toward politics, and that the liberal institutions that were supposed to protect their needs as working class people have sold them out. They're angry. And rightfully so. They've watched their jobs go overseas, unions that were supposed to protect them disappear, public education costs skyrocket out of their reach, and financial institutions gamble and lose with what little money they had. So it comes as no surprise that these people flock toward someone who stokes the flames of hatred. The problem, of course, is that Trump points the finger in exactly the wrong direction, but his supporters can't see that because they're attracted to the language of hate.

They don't trust the Democratic Party, nor should they. Democrats have fully supported neo-liberal economic policies that have screwed working class people for decades. But they still speak in populist language, and the angry Trump supporters can see how deceitful and duplicitous that really is.

Quote :

"The strategy of the political left"

There is no political left. That's Hedge's main point. Democrats still speak the language of social reformers, but they still wheel and deal right of center when it comes to economic policy.

3/6/2016 1:46:18 PM

Ok, I have an important question:

If Hilary drops out tomorrow for health or whatever reasons and Sanders become the Democratic nominee, and Trump is the Republican nominee, who would win the general election?

3/6/2016 5:45:28 PM

if only there were polls for such a scenario

[Edited on March 6, 2016 at 5:57 PM. Reason : sanders +12 vs trump]

3/6/2016 5:57:10 PM

Quote :

"He's not resorting to hyperbole. He's simply pointing out that a large portion of Trump supporters were traditionally apathetic toward politics, and that the liberal institutions that were supposed to protect their needs as working class people have sold them out. They're angry. And rightfully so. They've watched their jobs go overseas, unions that were supposed to protect them disappear, public education costs skyrocket out of their reach, and financial institutions gamble and lose with what little money they had. So it comes as no surprise that these people flock toward someone who stokes the flames of hatred. The problem, of course, is that Trump points the finger in exactly the wrong direction, but his supporters can't see that because they're attracted to the language of hate."

I consider it hyperbole because he's making the worst possible assumptions about Trump supporters. I think his portrayal is probably accurate for the extreme end of the spectrum, but I don't buy that 50+ percent of Trump's massive base are grand wizards and neo-Nazis. As long as that is your starting point, you will fail to understand the big picture of Trump's rise.

Quote :

"There is no political left. That's Hedge's main point. Democrats still speak the language of social reformers, but they still wheel and deal right of center when it comes to economic policy."

Americans don't want left of center economic policy, not the kind you're talking about. They'll want it even less if politicians are honest about the costs up front.

Quote :

"if only there were polls for such a scenario"

Polls are accurate within a few days or a week, not 8 months. I don't think Clinton or Sanders can withstand Trump's psychological domination.

[Edited on March 6, 2016 at 6:00 PM. Reason : ]

3/6/2016 5:59:12 PM

Quote :

"but I don't buy that 50+ percent of Trump's massive base are grand wizards and neo-Nazis."

nobody has or ever will attempt to make that argument

one doesn't have to be a grand wizard or neo-Nazi to be considered a racist

3/6/2016 6:06:15 PM

^^i agree with you on polls 8 months out being crappy predictors, but "Trumps psychological domination"? Seriously?

He's grifting the same rubes the right-wing conservaindustry has depended on for probably a decade (fake gold coins, overpriced survival meals, Real estate tutorials, politicians biographies, etc). I just think people are overselling trump by a long shot. The country that elected a "socialist, Muslim Kenyan" isn't gonna turn around and elect a racist plutocrat.


*this prediction not valid if significant terrorist attack or epic economic slump occur within the next 8 months

3/6/2016 6:37:24 PM

Quote :

"nobody has or ever will attempt to make that argument one doesn't have to be a grand wizard or neo-Nazi to be considered a racist"

Well, Chris Hedges pretty much did.

Quote :

"There are tens of millions of Americans, especially lower-class whites, rightfully enraged at what has been done to them, their families and their communities. They have risen up to reject the neoliberal policies and political correctness imposed on them by college-educated elites from both political parties: Lower-class whites are embracing an American fascism. ... These Americans want a kind of freedom—a freedom to hate. They want the freedom to use words like “nigger,” “kike,” “spic,” “chink,” “raghead” and “fag.”"

So, tens of millions of Americans, who are Trump supporters, want the "freedom" to be racist. And he's not talking about racism-lite, e.g. good people that have conditioned responses to racial identifiers, he's talking about out in the open racists.

What does it take for someone to be considered a racist? The bar is pretty low these days, and it's getting lower every day. Among rich white liberals, it's almost a sport to see who can be the least racist. It's not enough to not be racist yourself. Who can support BLM the most? Who can call the largest group of people racist? This is all a game to see who can establish themselves as the most enlightened, progressive person in the room.

Since the liberal dick measuring contest has become a commonplace occurrence, racism has become a watered down term. I can't say for sure because I don't buy into this horseshit, but I imagine it's a dog whistle of sorts.

Quote :

"^^i agree with you on polls 8 months out being crappy predictors, but "Trumps psychological domination"? Seriously?"

Totally serious. I'm not saying it's an admirable quality, but it's what he has done to Rubio and Cruz. Trump is a different breed that most politicians are used to. They're skilled at grappling with other politicians, all of which more or less have agreed to play by a set of unwritten rules. Trump shows up and simply bullies them into submission.

My guess is that Clinton and Sanders won't be immune to this bullying strategy. I think the Sanders would be better at fighting Trump.

[Edited on March 6, 2016 at 6:46 PM. Reason : ]

3/6/2016 6:42:33 PM

Quote :

"Americans don't want left of center economic policy, not the kind you're talking about. They'll want it even less if politicians are honest about the costs up front."

First of all, you have no way of proving what Americans want in terms of economic policy. You do this every time.

But second of all, and most importantly: That's not the point Hedges is trying to make. If you read his stuff (Death of the Liberal Class, for instance) He's not saying that left of center economic policy is the solution, he's pointing out that Liberal elites and political gatekeepers have purged leftists from their own ranks, and that without actual leftist dissent, there is no natural check against the nations drift to the right. The mere fact that left of center economic policy can't even be discussed on the political stage almost guarantees that our crony-capitalist model continues to cannibalize itself.

Which, as a result, disenfranchises more and more people, who are then easily preyed upon by a "strongman" leader like Trump, who points the finger at the shadowy outsider for the cause of their suffering. This is how fascists movements start (It's why Hedges often compares the US to the Weimar Republic). It's not because a majority of the people are inherently evil and/or bloodthirsty bigots or racists, it's because they've been pushed to the point of despair.

And in that despair, it is easier to embrace fervent nationalism and to blame the "other" for your plight than to fully understand that the capitalist class has been slow-dicking you in the ass for decades.

3/6/2016 7:33:04 PM

What the fuck am I watching?

3/8/2016 9:37:14 PM

paradigm shift?

I just wanna see who he picks as VP now.

3/8/2016 9:42:06 PM

Who is watching this and saying, "yeah, that's my guy."

He sounds like a complete and utter crazy person.

3/8/2016 9:43:52 PM

we've got trump steaks, trump magazine, we've got the best property in the world in virginia, right on the potomac, we have so many jobs in virginia, they love us there, we've got a winery in virginia, best winery on the east coast, we're going to get states they never thought about getting, they love me in new york. i'm the most popular person ever in upstate new york because the people are doing so bad up there. trump steaks are great by the way, you can get one for like 50 dollars each. just kidding.

3/8/2016 9:47:30 PM

Combining a press conference with cheering supporters is both genius and idiocracy rolled into one.

3/8/2016 10:11:25 PM

http://www.npr.org/2016/03/09/469775355/trump-doesnt-own-most-of-the-products-he-pitched-last-night

^ Not to mention he was lying or misleading people on 100% of the products he had out. I don't understand how his interviews get past the "you're completely full of shit stage" and he gets treated like a credible person.

3/10/2016 1:44:05 AM

Trump line of oils?

[Edited on March 10, 2016 at 7:55 AM. Reason : G]

3/10/2016 7:55:05 AM

his interview with anderson cooper on CNN last night before the debates was just scary. he was advocating torture. he believes that the US military should stoop to the level of ISIL because he views beheadings and mass drownings as a tool to be used to get what you want. he thinks the generals should have the ability to write the laws for the military. the way he spoke of ISIL was borderline praising them for how they torture and kill to get what they wany

there was plenty of other ridiculousness (like he'd solve our problems with china because he sells Chinese people apartments in his buildings), but his desire for unfettered access to torture was appaling

[Edited on March 10, 2016 at 9:59 AM. Reason : .]

3/10/2016 9:58:42 AM

Maybe he realizes president is a really hard job with lots of actual responsibility, and you cant bankrupt your way out, and is pushing the limits to see where voters will bail out on him...

3/10/2016 11:37:30 AM

[Edited on March 10, 2016 at 1:44 PM. Reason : 1]

3/10/2016 1:43:35 PM

Time to see if Breitbart has any integrity whatsoever.

3/10/2016 2:19:23 PM

it'll be the shock of the century if Trump supporters decide to blame the victim

3/10/2016 2:25:07 PM

His campaign already has so no surprise there

3/10/2016 2:39:22 PM

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/trumps-rough-handling-of-rally-dissenters-stirs-questions/2016/03/10/5decc18c-e73e-11e5-a9ce-681055c7a05f_story.html

It doesn't seem like "it's a private venue" applies in this situation does it? It's an event open to the public at a place that's not a membership only establishment, at a presidential rally... Seems like free speech laws would apply, especially in the case where the guy wasn't causing a disruption, they just didn't like the way he looked. But ianal.

3/11/2016 1:28:30 AM

Are you under the impression that "free speech laws" allow you to be as disruptive as you want without any repercussions? Like, I can go to a basketball game or football game and start making a scene and no one should be allowed to ask me to leave because "free speech laws?"

It's shirty that they escorted them out, and they deserve all the criticism for that, but making them leave does not violate "free speech laws" (you would have a better argument that cops tackling and detaining him violates his rights)

3/11/2016 6:55:43 AM

^ presidential rallies are not baskeball games. Note too that I referenced the guy who was just standing quietly and was removed from the rally, not being physically disruptive.


---


http://www.mediaite.com/tv/caitlyn-jenner-trump-would-be-very-good-for-women-what-has-hack-hillary-ever-done/

3/11/2016 12:53:43 PM

then it still doesn't violate "free speech laws" but might violate Title II of the CRA if they were removed because of race, color, religion, or national origin. If they were removed because they were liberals or because they supported some cause then I am not aware of that being in violation of anything.

3/11/2016 1:06:40 PM

I really hope democrats will be willing to work with him when he becomes president, rather than completely stone wall him like they are indicating now. We really don't need more gridlock, like the democratic presidency has provided the past 8 years.

3/11/2016 1:38:48 PM

That post is chock-full of dumb.

3/11/2016 1:52:28 PM

I would assume that post is sarcasm

3/11/2016 1:54:06 PM

His username is way too close to HUR's

3/11/2016 1:58:18 PM

Quote :

"Are you under the impression that "free speech laws" allow you to be as disruptive as you want without any repercussions? Like, I can go to a basketball game or football game and start making a scene and no one should be allowed to ask me to leave because "free speech laws?""

Not to condone trump or trump fans but if I went to a Oakland Raiders game with Broncos gear on
and started making a scene, I would probably get my ass kicked too....

Quote :

" We really don't need more gridlock, like the democratic presidency has provided the past 8 years"

I would argue it is the GOP legislature that is causing the deadlock by disagreeing and fighting
literally everything Obama does. For fuck sake, some even blame Obama for Donald Trump....

3/11/2016 2:32:03 PM

So if the Democrats disagree and fight literally everything President Trump ( ) does, I am sure everyone on here will be just as upset.

3/11/2016 3:16:31 PM

are you... are you being serious?

3/11/2016 3:17:17 PM

Ugly, ugly, ugly... from both sides.

Trump's rhetoric will cost lives at some point..

3/11/2016 8:13:48 PM

Quote :

"Not to condone trump or trump fans but if I went to a Oakland Raiders game with Broncos gear on and started making a scene, I would probably get my ass kicked too...."

Exactly! Physically fighting is stupid no matter who starts it, but I don't get why people who don't support a certain candidate have to go to their rallies and make a scene. I don't support Sanders. I want Clinton vs Trump for the presidency, but I'm not going to go to the Sanders, or Cruz rallies and make a scene. I'll just leave them and their supporters alone and hope for primary wins by Trump and Clinton.

3/11/2016 8:35:58 PM

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/Trump-Supporters-Thousands-Expected-to-Protest-Rally-371791082.html

So.... trump has to cancel his rally because he has gotten his supporters too riled up and violent and angry.

I honestly never thought we'd get to this point as a country... the #2 presidential candidate being this way.


[Edited on March 11, 2016 at 9:22 PM. Reason : ]

3/11/2016 9:09:26 PM

I can just see the trumpkins watching fox news. I'M GONNA VOTE fer TRUMP FOUR TIMES NOW! THEM NIGGERZ AIN GONNA TAKE MAH TRUMP AWAY!

3/11/2016 9:46:53 PM

Quote :

"So.... trump has to cancel his rally because he has gotten his supporters too riled up and violent and angry."

Look, I think people who support Trump are largely dumbshits (best predictor of Trump support... not having a college education), but dial back the rhetoric for a second.

Anytime you have thousands of people pro someone and another group showing up to protest that same person there's the possibility of violence.

It's less to do with Trump supporters, more to do with mob psychology. Not surprisingly, fights are breaking out all over and around the arena, protesters are doing things like laying down in front of parking garage exits, surrounding people trying to leave, etc. That kind of thing is always a recipe for violence no matter which group is which. Depending on the media outlet you choose to watch once side or the other will be painted as the instigators.

3/11/2016 9:53:50 PM

oh jesus christ, you idiots can't even face reality

3/11/2016 9:58:42 PM

^^ that's complete bullshit.

No one else has this problem at their rallies. This is 100% a result of Trump, ever since he first started campaigning, subtly and blatantly endorsing violence. From calling people who beat a homeless immigrant "spirited" to saying that maybe the protestor needing "roughing up" to literally telling his crowd to "knock the crap out of" protestors, to not disavowing the guy who punched the protestor in the face in Fayetteville. This is what Trump wants. He wants violent, angry masses, he's forged an emotional connection with these people, and this will not dissolve easily.

Youre looking at Trump like he's a normal politician, he's not. What's going on now is very different than normal politics. Trump still is highly unfavorable, but he's blown through every expectation of his campaign so far, because he's not a normal politician, he's never held elected office, he's never worked for the public good, he's established a persona where he can say crass things, say contradictory things, and people cheer him for it.

3/11/2016 10:09:47 PM

Protesters Just Shut Down the Donald Trump Rally for a Full 10 Minutes

Quote :

"Trump tells the audience,"These are not good people folks, just so you understand. These are not good people. And I heard this was going to happen, and they said, ‘Mr. Trump, would you like to cancel?’ I said, ‘absolutely not.’ These are not good people. These are not the people that made our country great, but we’re going to make it great again. But these are not good people. These are the people that are destroying our country." ... The protest, a coordinated effort involving an estimated 40-50 activists, began with the coordinated drop of a large banner from the balcony of the Opera House. One said, "Caution, racism lives here" and the other said "Stop the hate." The protest also included about 10-15 people on the lower level ripping off their shirts to reveal T-shirts they'd been wearing underneath with anti-Trump slogans. Others had signs denigrating the Republican presidential frontrunner, including ones comparing Trump to the KKK. "

http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2016/03/11/protesters-just-shut-down-the-donald-trump-rally-for-a-full-10-minutes

This was this morning in Missouri.

In line at the polling place today too, i had the unfortunate experience of being in front of a group of Trump supporters, and in line, they couldn't help not saying racist things about blacks regarding diversity of k-12 schools. If/when Trump loses, i can't imagine these people will take their views quietly back to the dark recesses of their brains.

[Edited on March 11, 2016 at 10:32 PM. Reason : ]

3/11/2016 10:27:53 PM

Cool so we can add Kurtis to the "dumb as B4C" category.

3/12/2016 12:16:51 AM