Friday Talking Points -- Is Trump Trying To Lose?
It seems that it is now time to ask a very strange question: Is Donald Trump actually trying to lose the election?
As astounding a question that is, there are really only two answers to it: yes or no. Either Trump is intentionally torpedoing his chances of re-election, or he is just trying to re-run his 2016 playbook in the hopes that it'll produce the same miraculous victory for him. But either way, what is becoming more and move evident is that President Donald Trump is currently losing. Bigly.
The reason the question is a valid one at this point is that Trump seems to be bending over backward to do everything possible to lose. He emerged from the hospital and could have easily said a few empathetic things about the dangers of getting COVID-19, which likely would have won him back some votes. He didn't. Instead, he told America that the virus was no big deal, and nobody should let it "dominate their lives." He even released a video where he expressed his view that getting COVID-19 was "a blessing from God." Trump uttered not a single sympathetic word about the 210,000 deaths from people who instead got dominated by the virus.
Then Trump announced he was pulling out of the dealmaking with Nancy Pelosi over an increasingly-necessary pandemic relief bill, which could have put another $1,200 in most voters' pockets, right before the election. Confirming a Supreme Court justice was far more important than helping Americans out, Trump explained. And when the debate commission announced next week's debate will be conducted virtually and remotely, Trump immediately pulled out.
At every fork in the road, Trump has consistently been taking the stupidest and least-popular route. This was even blatantly admitted by Republican operative Ed Rollins (co-chair of the pro-Trump super PAC Great America), who was not happy about Trump's various responses to getting sick: "There was a panic before this started, but now we're sort of the stupid party." Which is what prompts our title question, really.
Meanwhile, Trump is desperately cranking out what can really only be called "Soviet-era propaganda" films, first by going on a little carriage ride that put two Secret Service officers at risk of infection, just so he could wave at his supporters on the sidewalk (which provoked this anonymous quote from an active Secret Service agent afterwards: "He's not even pretending to care now"). But the propaganda highlight of the week was Trump climbing some White House stairs to a balcony and dramatically whipping off his mask, to signal his return from the hospital. Some are comparing this to Mussolini, while others prefer the Evita theme (the Lincoln Group put out a hilarious "Covita" ad in response, naturally). Either way, it's not exactly a good look for an American president. And, strangest of all, Trump seems to now have the delusion that he's still running against Hillary Clinton, because he is absolutely obsessed with exposing her emails and possibly having his attorney general lock up Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and (of course) Hillary before the election happens.
Again, he could be just having a steroid-induced flashback to 2016, when the subject of Hillary's emails became the October surprise (thank you, James Comey). Hey, Trump figures, it put him over the top before, so maybe it'll work this time too?
Republicans, of course, are aiding and abetting this delusion. A Senate committee has devoted itself to amplifying Russian dirty-tricks propaganda, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo just announced he was getting right on releasing all of Hillary's emails the State Department might have lying around (after Trump personally castigated Pompeo for not doing so fast enough), and the attorney general is apparently mad at his hand-picked prosecutor whose "Russia-Clinton" probe will apparently not be released before the election. Bill Barr's mad because Trump is mad at him for not delivering the goods on time.
Lost in all of this down-the-rabbit-hole nonsense is the hard cold fact that Hillary Clinton is no longer running for president. And that nobody really cares about her emails anymore, either. But to Trump, if it won him an election once, it surely will do the trick this time around too.
So Trump's decided to make his closing argument against Hillary Clinton, he refuses to negotiate with Nancy Pelosi over a bill that could indeed win him a lot of votes if it passed, he's running 10 points behind Joe Biden in the polls but he has backed out of the next debate (which could be a game-changer for him), and he's telling Americans to just tough it out and learn to live with the coronavirus. Oh, Trump also tried to blame his own sickness on (at various times): cops and/or military people who got too close to him, or Gold Star families who met with him and wanted to "kiss and hug" him. Not exactly "supporting the troops," is it?
You can see why: "Is he trying to lose?" is becoming a valid subject for conversation. As is Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque Of The Red Death," which has some rather amusing parallels to Trump's White House right now. But maybe the best cultural reference of the week was to wonder if Jeff Goldblum is going to do a cameo on Saturday Night Live this week to reprise his role in the remake of The Fly (after a fly stole the show at the vice-presidential debate by landing on Mike Pence's hair and not moving for a solid two minutes). That's the buzz, at any rate.
OK, we apologize for that last pun, but hey, it's been that kind of week, once again.
Let's see, what other campaign news was there this week? The veep debate took place, and Pence "mansplained" all over both the female moderator and Senator Kamala Harris, in less bombastic fashion than Trump had in his debate -- but just as annoyingly. Not exactly reaching out to suburban women by forcing your opponent to keep reminding you: "I'm speaking. I'm speaking." Trump reacted to the debate by calling Harris "a monster" several times, the next morning. Again, how's that outreach to women voters going?
The White House is now a viral cesspool of infection, with (as of this writing) 35 people who associated with Trump having tested positive. Oh, and there's no plan in place for how to react, either:
The Washington Post reports that even though the White House is clearly the site of a major COVID cluster, officials there didn't bother to issue instructions to the staff until Sunday night -- and even then, all they said was that staffers should stay home and call their health care provider if they feel sick. By all accounts, people are still working at the White House without masks and the CDC hasn't started any official contact tracing. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump told people who had tested positive to keep it quiet and even his campaign manager, Bill Stepien, was kept in the dark as the virus ran unchecked through the White House. Stepien has since tested positive and is quarantining at home.
And:
Several White House staffers and administration officials expressed anger and bewilderment that the White House had not undertaken a more robust contact-tracing effort sooner. They said many people -- including White House residence staff who do not have the stature of a lawmaker or a top political aide -- had not been contacted despite possible exposures, putting them and others at risk in a still-growing outbreak.
[Interlude:]
Today's column is brought to you by the legal term "reckless endangerment." Can you say "reckless endangerment," kids? Here's one legal definition:
Reckless endangerment is a crime consisting of acts that create a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person. The accused person isn't required to intend the resulting or potential harm, but must have acted in a way that showed a disregard for the foreseeable consequences of the actions.
Ahem. Where were we?
The prestigious New England Journal Of Medicine joined Scientific American in publishing its first-ever presidential endorsement editorial, against Donald Trump:
On Wednesday, alongside its usual peer-reviewed scientific studies and analysis, the journal published a blistering editorial taking President Trump and his administration to task over their handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The respected journal broke the nonpartisan position it has held since 1812 with an editorial titled, "Dying in a Leadership Vacuum," which urged voters to oust Trump over his administration's failures.
Even Mitch McConnell had to express his displeasure, in a rare rebuke to Trump's White House:
I haven't actually been to the White House since August the sixth, because my impression was their approach to how to handle this was different from mine and what I insisted that we do in the Senate, which is to wear a mask and practice social distancing.... Now, you've heard of other places that have had a different view, and they are, you know, paying the price for it.
McConnell's not the only one backing away from Trump, either:
The president's unpredictable behavior has long been a feature of the Trump presidency, but eight GOP sources -- from Capitol Hill to the Trump campaign to the White House -- tell Power Up this week has spooked them and they are now bracing for the electoral worst. A handful of them say they are already scrambling to line up new jobs; some say they know their peers are starting the search. While several acknowledge there's still another 25 days for the race to tighten, they're worried about this being the final message as polls after Trump's debate performance and diagnosis show Biden's lead widening and the Democrat's team shatters fundraising records.
Far-right domestic terrorism was back in the news, with the arrest of a group of "militia" members in Michigan for plotting to kidnap their state's governor. So they could put her on "trial" for "treason." In related news:
The Justice Department won't fully explain why it's opposed to a bill that would enhance its ability to combat white supremacist violence, adding to concerns that the agency under President Donald Trump is continuing to downplay or ignore the threat of far-right terror.
Senate Republicans prevented a vote on the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act late last week. The bill, which passed the House unanimously, would establish offices in the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI dedicated to combating the rising threat of far-right extremist violence.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) on Friday blocked an attempt by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the bill's sponsor, to advance the measure by unanimous consent. Speaking on the Senate floor, Johnson claimed the DOJ told him the bill would "seriously impede their ability to work in the domestic terrorism space."
A spokesman for Johnson -- a close Trump ally who, like the president, recently tested positive for COVID-19 -- would not elaborate on how specifically the bill would impede the Justice Department's work.
"We have technical concerns with the legislation and are reviewing it closely after its passage in the House," Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi told HuffPost. "We appreciate Senator Johnson's willingness to step in and object and relay those concerns. That being said, we always welcome Congress's interest in our fight against domestic terrorism."
Raimondi would not elaborate on what "technical concerns" the Justice Department had about the legislation.
To put it another way, Trump's Justice Department told Congress to "stand back and stand by" on any legislation to combat right-wing domestic terrorism. Just when a plot to kidnap a governor was uncovered.
But let's get back to the presidential race, shall we? First, how about a look at the recent polling:
Public polling in recent days has painted a long uphill climb for reelection, including a CNN/SSRS poll released Tuesday showing [President Donald] Trump falling to 16 points behind [Joe] Biden, who leads 57 to 41 percent.
A GOP group working to elect Senate Republicans conducted polling over the weekend in four states -- Colorado, Georgia, Montana and North Carolina -- as Trump was hospitalized. The president's numbers dropped "significantly" in every state, falling by about five points in all four.
"The president is in real trouble," said one of the group's operatives, who is also close to the White House.
Many of Trump's allies and advisers see his response to his own illness as a missed opportunity. Some had hoped that he would emerge from his hospital stay slightly humbled, with a newfound display of seriousness and empathy, and would receive a boost of public sympathy.
But so far, that has not happened. Internal Republican polling has consistently shown that the coronavirus -- and not taking it seriously enough -- remains the president's electoral albatross. They believe it has caused the president to lose support among senior citizens and suburban women, both key voting blocs.
Polling on Trump's handling of his own sickness shows anywhere from 60 percent to over 70 percent of the public thinks Trump didn't do enough to protect himself, and that he handled his sickness badly.
The experts were horrified, too:
"Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential 'drive-by' just now has to be quarantined for 14 days," tweeted James P. Phillips, who is also a professor at George Washington University. "They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity."
And:
"The White House really isn't doing anything you're supposed to be doing in these situations," said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist on the faculty of Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health.
Rasmussen added that while she agreed with Trump's call not succumb to fear, "we also shouldn't not take the virus seriously just because President Trump says he feels better and is flying around on Marine One and standing on the balcony like Evita."
But getting back to the most astonishing poll yet, that CNN poll is indeed the largest lead anyone's reported (16 points!), but Biden's polling average right now is almost ten full points ahead of Trump, which is nothing to sneeze at. Team Biden is feeling so confident right now that they're expanding their advertising efforts into some unusual places, while Trump is forced to cut back on his:
In a move that would have been far-fetched even a few months ago, Joe Biden is set to spend $6.2 million on ads in [Texas] over the next month -- attempting to put the state in play for the first time in decades. The latest polling averages show President Donald Trump leading by only 2 to 3 points in Texas, and Biden's push there illustrates both how much the state has changed and how much the political environment is tilting against Trump less than a month from the Election Day.
Perhaps even more astounding: Trump doesn't have the money to counter the cash-flush Biden on TV.
Over the past two weeks, Biden had the airwaves to himself in Iowa, Ohio, Texas and New Hampshire, while Trump went dark, according to Advertising Analytics, a TV tracking firm. This week, Trump isn't airing any ads in Nebraska, where both campaigns are competing for the lone Electoral College vote out of the Omaha-based congressional district, while Biden is dropping just under $500,000.
The spending disparity isn't limited to Democratic "reach" states. Biden and his allies are also racking up ad advantages in the core battlegrounds that put Trump in the White House in 2016. Biden is out-advertising Trump in 72 out of 83 media markets where the campaigns are spending this week, including dozens of places that played a critical role in deciding the last election, like Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania and Milwaukee and Green Bay in Wisconsin.
All of which leads us to wonder, once again: "Is Trump actively trying to lose?" If that truly is his objective, he's certainly doing a bang-up job of it, from where we sit.
Joe Biden had a pretty good week all around. He appeared at an NBC townhall event in Miami (which we also reviewed earlier in the week) that was downright heartening.
Kamala Harris also had a pretty good week, more than holding her own against Mike Pence in their only debate. We didn't get the full text of her best answer in this debate performance when we wrote about it that night, so we're going to paste it in here. Harris was addressing the fact that the Trump administration is suing in court to totally overturn Obamacare, which -- despite false denials from Trump and Pence -- would mean insurance companies could once again deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Harris stared straight into the camera and explained exactly what this would mean:
If you have a pre-existing condition, heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, they're coming for you. If you love someone who has a pre-existing condition, they're coming for you. If you are under the age of 26 on your parents' coverage, they're coming for you.
Nevertheless, we're only going to give both candidates an Honorable Mention this week, because we were so amused by what can only be seen as an effort to taunt Donald Trump after his disastrous antics after contracting the coronavirus. Here's the story:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has thrown her support behind legislation that would establish a panel of experts and former executive branch officials to determine whether a president lacks the mental or physical capacity to carry out the job.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), would shore up a process established under the 25th Amendment by which the vice president can assume control of the presidency if the president becomes incapacitated or is unable to perform the duties of the office. It's highly unlikely the measure will become law.
. . .
Under the 25th Amendment, the process of supplanting an ill or incapacitated president currently falls to the vice president, in consultation with the president's Cabinet. If they determine that the president is unable to fulfill the duties of the office, they can determine collectively to elevate the vice president. The amendment itself, passed in 1967, is a vestige of the nuclear era, when Washington and the world were gripped by concerns about potential war between the United States and the Soviet Union.
A lesser-known aspect of the 25th Amendment permits Congress to establish an alternative body, rather than the Cabinet, to consult with the vice president. But such a body has never been created. Raskin's bill would change that.
Under his proposal, the newly created "Commission on Presidential Capacity" would consist of doctors, psychiatrists and former Executive Branch officials like secretaries of State or Defense, attorneys general, and even former presidents and vice presidents.
Now there's a cat among the pigeons! As the article noted, it's never going to become law (because Mitch McConnell will ignore it), but it sure is fun to contemplate, isn't it?
Earlier in the week, when Trump left the hospital, it was revealed that the steroids he was taking could have side effects like hallucination, delusions of grandeur, and manic and irrational behavior. Which, of course, begs the question: "With Trump, how could anyone tell?"
Nothing says we're worried about the president in the depths of 'roid rage quite like contemplating the 25th Amendment. Which is why this week's Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week goes to Representative Jamie Raskin. Well done! Trump trolling at its finest!
[Congratulate Representative Jamie Raskin on his House contact page, to let him know you appreciate his efforts.]
Sadly, there is no question about who deserves the Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week this week. Cal Cunningham, who is running for a Senate seat in North Carolina, had a pretty good shot at winning his race in a very purple state. The sitting Republican senator isn't all that popular, and he just came down with COVID-19, courtesy of Donald Trump.
But that may all have changed this week, because it was revealed that Cunningham was "exchanging intimate texts with a woman who is not his wife."
In the texts, first reported by NationalFile.com and confirmed as authentic by Cunningham's campaign, the married father of two discusses setting up a rendezvous with Arlene Guzman Todd, a public relations strategist who is also married.
"Would make my day to roll over and kiss you about now," Cunningham writes in one. In another, Todd texts Cunningham, "Pick a day, city, make up an excuse for the fam, ditch a staffer, starch your white shirt, and be ready to kiss a lot."
He also reportedly texted her that he wanted to spend a night with her. Later, the news got even worse as what everyone suspected was confirmed:
In a new report from The Associated Press, Arlene Guzman Todd, a woman from California, confirmed that she and Cunningham had been "intimate" in July, and additional text messages between Guzman Todd and a third, unidentified individual, further describe the details of their relationship. The AP report is the first corroboration of a physical, consensual relationship between Cunningham and Guzman Todd, though it was previously reported that they had exchanged sexually suggestive text messages.
Cunningham at first tried to move past the scandal, releasing a statement that didn't say much:
I have hurt my family, disappointed my friends, and am deeply sorry. The first step in repairing those relationships is taking complete responsibility, which I do. I ask that my family's privacy be respected in this personal matter.
I remain grateful and humbled by the ongoing support that North Carolinians have extended in this campaign, and in the remaining weeks before this election I will continue to work to earn the opportunity to fight for the people of our state.
He's going to remain in the race and hope for the best, in other words. Since he's really the only chance Democrats have at picking up this seat, there haven't been many calls for him to step down.
Still, this wasn't a relationship buried in the dim and distant past -- this happened as recently as July. During the current campaign, in other words. That's pretty bad.
If Democrats blow this pickup opportunity because of Cunningham's wandering eye, it could mean they fail to gain control of the Senate. That's how important this race may turn out to be.
So as we said it's a pretty easy choice this week for Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week.
[Cal Cunningham is a private citizen and we do not provide links to campaign websites as a rule, so you'll have to seek his contact information out yourself if you'd like to let him know what you think of his actions.]
Volume 592 (10/9/20)
Once again we have a rather mixed bag this week. There are two quotes from open letters to the public, but most of it deals with Trump's ever-increasing incompetence, in one form or another.
Oh, here's an extra-funny talking point we didn't have room for, as well. Trump was so drugged-out delusional this week that apparently he thinks he's got a shot at winning California (spoiler alert: he doesn't). He tweeted his drug-addled optimism out to the world:
Vote TRUMP California. No more blackouts, shutdowns, ridiculous forrest [sic] fires, or water "rationing" (coming soon). We can win in California NOW!
Pretty much the entire internet reacted by pointing out the hilarious parallel Trump's latest misspelling brought to mind: "Forrest Trump -- stupid is as stupid does."
Snarkiness aside, though, let's get to the real talking points.
Another one bites the dust
Does GOP now stand for "Grifters' Own Party"? We're just sayin'....
"Republican Party stalwart Elliott Broidy became just the most recent in Trump's orbit to cop a plea deal for committing federal crimes. It seems he made millions acting as an unregistered agent for Malaysia and China as he sucked up to Donald Trump. You may remember this guy because he was named deputy finance chairman for the Republican National Committee -- or, better still, from why he had to step down from this post. Two years ago it was revealed that he had paid $1.6 million in hush money to a Playboy model after having an affair with her. Oh, and the money was paid out with the help of none other than Michael Cohen. No wonder Trump liked him so much!"
Hey, that's our money!
The Washington Post just ran an excellent article toting up all the taxpayer money being spent to get Trump re-elected.
"Donald Trump is burning through an obscene amount of taxpayer funds which is all being spent to get him re-elected. There is the $7.9 billion Trump wants to spend to send every senior in the country a $200 prescription drug card. This money -- since Congress hasn't approved it -- would come straight out of the Medicare trust fund. Then there's the $11.6 billion Trump is finally sending to Puerto Rico -- three years after the hurricane hit -- because someone apparently told Trump there are a lot of voters from Puerto Rico who now live in Florida. Then there are the food boxes being distributed -- but only if they have a letter signed by Trump in them. Trump also wanted to suspend payroll taxes and then forgive these taxes after the election, which would have cost about $400 billion that the Social Security trust fund would have lost. Then there are the tens of billions he's had to send to farmers each year since he destroyed their agricultural markets with his tariff war with China. When you stop and add up how much taxpayer money Trump is trying to use to directly buy people's votes, it really is rather astonishing."
Maybe add "nor politics" to the motto?
But, of course, it doesn't end there.
"Trump is also trying to co-opt the entire federal government into his re-election campaign. Bill Barr has all but weaponized the Justice Department, and the Post Office is still up to its dirty tricks as well. They're actively fighting against federal court orders to knock off all the delays, which has resulted (once again) in significantly slowing down the delivery of mail -- right before the election. Even more pathetic, the Post Office announced this week that they were barring all members of Congress from touring their facilities because (are you sitting down?) they don't want to violate the Hatch Act. Man, that's funny! I mean, nobody in the Trump administration is in the slightest bit worried about the Hatch Act, as evidenced by their political convention at the White House and Fort McHenry. They simply do not care one iota about the Hatch Act and now we're supposed to believe they are overly concerned with mail sorters and carriers somehow doing so during a congressional oversight tour? Tell me another funny one, please...."
Someone should have objected
Joseph Petro, a former Secret Service special agent and senior executive, wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Post this week expressing his disgust at Trump putting agents' lives at risk with his "royal carriage ride" in front of Walter Reed hospital. His whole piece is worth reading, but here was the key complaint:
Given the president's covid-19 infection, this was a gratuitous and dangerous political exercise that needlessly exposed his Secret Service agents -- as well as their families -- to the potentially deadly novel coronavirus. Where was the Secret Service senior management? Did anyone resist this potential danger to these agents and perhaps their families? It was an avoidable risk, and someone should have objected.
Whistleblower has had enough
Of course, when someone does object, they are punished by Trump. Whistleblower Rick Bright, who exposed some of the political interference with government scientists and health departments, finally had enough. After being shunted to a do-nothing job for blowing the whistle on the Trump White House, he finally resigned this week in disgust. He published his resignation letter to explain why:
Of all the tools required for an effective U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic, one that is sorely missing is the truth. Public health guidance on the pandemic response, drafted by career scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been repeatedly overruled by political staff appointed by the Trump administration. Career scientists throughout the Department of Health and Human Services hesitate to push back when science runs counter to the administration's unrealistically optimistic pronouncements.
Public health and safety have been jeopardized by the administration's hostility to the truth and by its politicization of the pandemic response, undoubtedly leading to tens of thousands of preventable deaths. For that reason, and because the administration has in effect barred me from working to fight the pandemic, I resigned on Tuesday from the National Institutes of Health.
Surgeon general breaks the rules
In a normal administration, in more normal times, this would have been bigger news.
"The surgeon general of the United States -- during a trip to Hawai'i to urge everyone to follow all the rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus, mind you -- was cited by a cop for breaking emergency pandemic orders by visiting a park that was closed for the duration of the emergency. I suppose no one should be surprised that even the top medical officer of the country is just as hypocritical as his boss is about keeping the public safe. After all, just look at how his boss acts on a daily basis, even after becoming infected."
Trump's real reason
Trump can't seem to figure out whether he'll participate in any more debates or not, but let's focus on the real reason for this.
"Trump pulled out of the second presidential debate when the debate commission announced it would have to be held virtually. There's a very simple reason for this: Trump is afraid to debate Joe Biden if Biden gets to actually speak without Trump constantly yelling at him. Trump even openly admitted this in an interview on Fox:"
It's not acceptable. I'm not going to waste my time in a virtual debate. That's not what debating is all about -- you sit behind the computer and do a debate -- it's ridiculous. And then they cut you off whenever they want.
"That's right -- they cut you off when you are blatantly breaking the rules and not letting the other candidate speak. Trump can't handle this at all, obviously. He is terrified at the thought of America truly seeing (and hearing) the difference between the two candidates. All Trump wants is a scream-fest where the loudest and most obnoxious guy in the room gets to commandeer all the time available. Which is not a debate at all -- it is instead just a yelling match on a schoolyard playground."
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Cross-posted at: Democratic Underground
Is Trump trying to lose? I think we may have asked this question once or twice before, about four years ago.
No but, I do think he's laying the groundwork for explaining away an election loss, just before he goes into the night, extra crispy. Heh.
this week's Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week goes to Representative Jamie Raskin. Well done! Trump trolling at its finest!
No doubt. Short Fingers accused the Dems of plotting to get rid of Biden and making Monster Harris the prez. Of course, hidden in there is the fact that he knows he's going to lose.
At every fork in the road, Trump has consistently been taking the stupidest and least-popular route.
So say the elites. Heh.
Roid-raging Fat Donny is wagging the dog. He F-bombed Iran on Rash Limpbone's show today.
Talking Point 8) After a group of white supremacists tried to kidnap and possibly execute the governor of Michigan, Trump strongly condemned the governor but said not a word about the kidnapers. He didn't even tell them to stand by.
He emerged from the hospital and could have easily said a few empathetic things about the dangers of getting COVID-19, which likely would have won him back some votes. He didn't. Instead, he told America that the virus was no big deal, and nobody should let it "dominate their lives."
Okay, who around thinks that Trump could have said a few empathetic things? I mean, seriously?
How many more years do we need?
Gotta love McConnell throwing Drumpf under the bus. He's obviously afraid he's gonna be demoted, not to mention afraid of the virus.
Ditch Mitch / Dump Trump
t every fork in the road, Trump has consistently been taking the stupidest and least-popular route.
Remains to be seen.
The Democrats had better up their game ... and, fast. Or, they may find that they are just one stupid, least-popular thing away from ensuring that Trump is re-elected. Ahem.
t every fork in the road, Trump has consistently been taking the stupidest and least-popular route.
Remains to be seen.
The Democrats had better up their game ... and, fast. Or, they may find that they are just one stupid, least-popular thing away from ensuring that Trump is re-elected. Ahem.
I wonder why so many Republican 'elites' are coming out against Trump. Could it be because they are afraid that Trump is, ah, going to win?
What?
I doubt that PG-rated texts will doom Cunningham or the Dem takeover of the senate. How does it even register in the age of the pussygrabber?
Again, he could be just having a steroid-induced flashback to 2016, when the subject of Hillary's emails became the October surprise (thank you, James Comey).
I'm just gonna go ahead and let that (last bit) slide. Because, we all know who is the one with more integrity in the little finger than the other two in their wholeness, combined. Ahem.
Bill Barr should still be in quarantine. And, frankly, so should Biden.
So Trump's decided to make his closing argument against Hillary Clinton ...
Intriguing play. It could work.
Having said all that, I have to agree that there is an argument to be made in support of the notion that things are looking pretty good for my guy.
But, I'm way too biased to be making any predictions. And, way too invested to be anything less than wholly shattered if he loses.
LizM [12],
Please speak for yourself.
It does seem like Fat Donny has caused an inconveniently timed PR problem that will surface shortly when the demand for free Regeneron treatment for coronavirus patients spikes with the new tidal wave of cases.
No, the president is not trying to lose. That goes against every instinct he has. Rather, he's trying to win but is no longer sane enough to judge correctly what would help him win.
Meet the new Donald, same as the old Donald. ;
Please speak for yourself.
Yeah, I could feel that one comeing.
You know what else "everybody knows"?
Biden committed the biggest political crime in American history.
He hasn't lost yet. :)
the cunningham thing really sucks. that seat was winnable. now probably not so much, and it could be the difference between majority and minority in the whole damn senate.
It's actually pretty laughable that Democrats are pro-choice and against love between consenting adults. Seriously?
Or, is it just that you don't like it when they get caught. Whatever.
What do the progressives think!? Heh.
i didn't say there was anything reprehensible about it. just that it's politically very inconvenient.
You have no values. Your whole life: it's nihilism, it's cynicism, it's sarcasm and orgasm.
You know, in France, I could run on that slogan and win.
~deconstructing harry
JL
Heh.
I'm just saying that it's not a good reason to lose to a Republican. Hopefully, voters in NC are smarter than that.
Bogus!
Jamie Raskin's website doesn't want my email if I'm out of his district. *smh* Tried ta thank him.
[5]
andygaus wrote:
Talking Point 8) After a group of white supremacists tried to kidnap and possibly execute the governor of Michigan, Trump strongly condemned the governor but said not a word about the kidnapers. He didn't even tell them to stand by.
Wow. Just wow, Dawg.
"That's... gotta hurt!"
-The Mask
Although, come to think of it these Michiganders are "standing by" um, in custody. And for at least the near *cough* future.
Heh.
Was the Surgeon General really visiting a whole park, or just one of the men’s restrooms in the park? Terrible that my mind immediately goes there... but he is a member of an Republican Administration, so it is more likely than not that I am right!
The previous post was
APPROVED by
The Society for the Prevention of the Gratuitous Use of "Heh"
Ah...Listen
Ya effed up my thread haha
True that, about the Repugs
Hey. Some men's restrooms need more attention than others.
Nevertheless. I have NO idea what latest corrupt Repug scandal you are referencing. But I wanna caution you, ListenWhenYouHear that it, say, renderes a disturbing visual. Not suitable for all ages.
Other than that, spot on.
This is just delicious, all you east coast early risers.
Gold Dust Woman by Government Mile featuring Grace Potter. Absolutely effing haunting. Enjoy with yer cup of jo.
What?
No cup of jo?
This'll wake you up.
Bad Horsie Steve Vai
Hey, is this mic on?
*sigh*
In a recent Cheeky Poll, Trump was trailing his own CV19 infection by double digits.
Karma isn't just a bitch anymore, it's now also a rascal of the polls.
Cunningham, lol... What world is this when a guy lands in the 'Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week' bin for telling the truth about his extra-marital horizontal jogging and expresses, albeit half-heartedly, a pang of remorse? Apparently, it's a world in which very few in the ranks the GOP and the Trump orbit could aspire to get into 'a Dem sin-bin'... You can't beat the truth out that mob, let alone have them admit it publically...
And Trump is all in for his re-election, every ounce of his being is working to that end, to the exclusion of all else... We know this because he's failing so spectacularly, a sure sign that a self-professed genius is on the tiller.
Weed harvesting this weekend, I love Canada. I can't buy or sell more than pound of pot at any given time, I can however grow four plants which I'll wager this year weigh three or four pounds.
A commonly overlooked loophole I'm comfortable exploiting.
Happy Thankswhatits, folks. I thought I would offer that sentiment for all here on this the Canadian Thanksthingy weekend. For the US contingent, I offer it up as a vicarious event until such time as you find any reason to give thanks generally.
Vote and do it well.
LL&P
Chris, compliments on the good summary of this crazy week.
This sentence in particular was a masterpiece: 'To put it another way, Trump's Justice Department told Congress to "stand back and stand by" on any legislation to combat right-wing domestic terrorism. Just when a plot to kidnap a governor was uncovered.'
She's only 16, and probably not going to register as a Democrat, but Claudia Conway deserves an honorable mention for being a more honest communicator than her mother.
'"Hey guys currently dying of covid," Claudia Conway posted in a TikTok video with that caption on Sunday.'
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/kellyanne-conways-daughter-the-latest-to-test-positive-for-covid-19/ar-BB19HgyD
P.S. Could this also have fueled Trump's hatred for TikTok?
I missed this news last week. But I'm surprised, Chris, that you neglected nominate Gov Polis in either of the two most recent FTPs. Unless I have misread the super-subtle references you've weaved into the FTPS over the past years, marijuana is a topic that never grows old.
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/10/01/polis-pardons-coloradans-convicted-marijuana-possession/
I'll sign off with serious news, that Democratic candidates throughout the country MUST forcefully emphasize. The Trump administration's negligence ("reckless endangerment") has resulted in the leaders of America's military going into quarantine. AND the person who carries the "nuclear football" has contracted a deadly virus.
Putin, Xi, Maduros, etc couldn't have impacted America's "military readiness" more effectively.
(And no surprise at all that the 'personalities' at Faux News are deafeningly silent.)
'The official said almost the entirety of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including Gen. James C. McConville, the Army chief of staff, are quarantining after Adm. Charles Ray, the vice commandant of the Coast Guard, tested positive for coronavirus.
“We are aware that Vice Commandant Ray has tested positive for Covid-19 and that he was at the Pentagon last week for meetings with other senior military leaders,” Jonathan Hoffman, the Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement released by his office.
“Out of an abundance of caution, all potential close contacts from these meetings are self-quarantining and have been tested this morning,” he added. “No Pentagon contacts have exhibited symptoms and we have no additional positive tests to report at this time.”
The announcement represents an alarming development — as the virus extends its reach from the highest levels of civilian government to the operational heart of the country’s national security apparatus.'
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/us/pentagon-leaders-are-quarantining-after-being-exposed-to-the-virus.html
My apologies, but I just have to share this talking-points-worthy quote - from a Republican!
'Rich Galen, a Republican strategist, said: “The notion of the White House being the world’s epicentre hot zone is just beyond belief. As far as Trump is concerned, we know this about him: you can say, how many people have died of coronavirus? Well, if none of their names are Donald J Trump, then the answer is none.”'
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/10/trump-coronavirus-test-week-surreal-reality-show
Elizabeth Miller, on [24] "It's actually pretty laughable that Democrats are pro-choice and against love between consenting adults."
Speaking only for myself, this has nothing to do with love between consenting adults. That's fine for singles - love away, and more power to you both.
Cunningham deserves criticism because he cheated on his wife. Unless they have an open marriage, with Mrs. Cunningham speaking out in support of her husband's affair(s), he strikes me as a thoroughly dishonest man in at least one area of his life - with marginal points, I guess, for being able to come clean to his constituents once he was caught. If I lived in N.C. I would be a very unhappy Democrat right now.
They announced the winner of this year's Noble Peace Prize yesterday and it wasn't Fat Donny. That probably explains why he was F-bombing Iran. Gotta try harder. He should probably ban immigrants from shithole Norway while he's at it.
Cunningham deserves criticism because he cheated on his wife.
Really?
MtnCaddy,
There are too many things of critical importance to worry about for Democrats to be the least bit unhappy about the sex lives of politicians or of anyone else. Cunningham's wife could always leave him. But, again, none of our concern.
Sorry, MtnCaddy! The above is meant for one of our Johns. :)
I guess I have MtnCaddy on my mind ...
The orange one said "I'm back because I'm a perfect physical specimen and I'm extremely young." I don't believe that steroids produce hallucinations on that scale. They must be treating him with LSD. He should make that available to everyone for free.
:-)
[8] Elizabeth Miller wrote: (And for Don Harris too)
"The Democrats had better up their game ... and, fast. Or, they may find that they are just one stupid, least-popular thing away from ensuring that Trump is re-elected. Ahem."
Have you hear of Act Blue? They have become a fund raising juggernaut for Democrats, from the top all the way down ballot to local school board elections! People who never got money for campaigns before are now being showered and supported with cash.
ActBlue is a nonprofit technology organization established in June 2004 that enables left-leaning nonprofits, Democratic candidates, and progressive groups to raise money from individual donors on the Internet by providing them with online fundraising software. Its stated mission is to "empower small-dollar donors".
[33] ListenWhenYouHear wrote:
"Was the Surgeon General really visiting a whole park, or just one of the men’s restrooms in the park? Terrible that my mind immediately goes there... but he is a member of an Republican Administration, so it is more likely than not that I am right!"
Is it just me, or does anyone else get this vibe? My Gaydar just goes off big time anytime I hear and see the Surgeon General speak.
[11]
John From Censornati wrote:
I doubt that PG-rated texts will doom Cunningham or the Dem takeover of the senate. How does it even register in the age of the pussygrabber?
When your a Repug candidate and you have nothing to run on ("another tax break for the rich, anyone?") you grasp at any (whataboutism) straw that you can.
Divide.
Distract.
Dominate.
[53]
Elizabeth Miller wrote:
I guess I have MtnCaddy on my mind...
I knew it! I KNEW it!
She loves me,
She loves me not...
Climate change is just like Covid. It won't go away until we execute a well considered & reality-based plan of action.
Superspreaderman's death cult rally was quite brief today. He decided to shut up before he passed out in front of the TV cameras.
John M,
ActBlue is a nonprofit technology organization established in June 2004
Well, perhaps this will be their year ...
John M
Is it just me, or does anyone else get this vibe? My Gaydar just goes off big time anytime I hear and see the Surgeon General speak.
Honestly, I couldn’t remember who our Surgeon General was when I read the story. I just knew that anytime someone is cited for “being in a public park after the park has closed”, it is almost always “code” for the police were called to break up a “public gathering” in the Men’s Restrooms. If you are caught in a closed park after hours, the police will just ask you to leave in most cases. Citations don’t get issued unless you knew you were not supposed to be doing what you were doing in the park!
But after pulling up video of the man.... YEPPERS! Your Gaydar is working just fine!
Don Harris,
According to your definition, reckless endangerment could be applied to someone that pretends that there are no alternatives to the two party good cop/ bad cop show and withholds/ignores information about other options.
No. No, it could not be applied to that. That is ridiculous.
Can't stop wondering if the worm is finally starting to turn in the Senate. At the latest swing of the pendulum, 45 is said to be "desperate" for more stimulus/economic relief for the people prior to the election and has upped the offer. Our ever-sober fiscally conscientious Senate Republicans, however, feel that the White House offer is way more than is needed at this juncture:
On a conference call Saturday morning with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, multiple GOP senators denounced the proposal, attacking the price tag as too big, questioning the overall direction and criticizing individual proposals, according to several people who participated in the call or were briefed on its contents. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail the private discussion.
Who is trying harder not to be re-elected at this point?
Chris,
Still, this wasn't a relationship buried in the dim and distant past -- this happened as recently as July. During the current campaign, in other words. That's pretty bad.
If Democrats blow this pickup opportunity because of Cunningham's wandering eye, it could mean they fail to gain control of the Senate.
Seriously? Count me in with the crowd who wouldn't let this deter us from casing a vote for Cunningham (if we could vote, that is) or even from mobilizing us to get out and vote for him even if we were planning not to vote at all (for whatever reason we weren't planning to vote and if we could vote). Ahem.
And, who/what is NationalFile.com, anyways?
Get over it! These elections mean too much! Keep focused!
How does one case a vote? And, I even used the preview thingy. Sigh.
National File is a bold new media project focused on hard news regarding cultural movements, political issues, the tech industry, and other topics pertaining to the New Right.
Shocking. Positively shocking.
@russ [65],
It absolutely can be applied, but only if the option is pie.
My absentee ballot for the Nov election was approved for counting by my County Board of Elections on Oct 9. According to the county web tracking site absentee ballots tend to be counted early on election day. My county has alread approved more than 100 K absentee ballots. Ohio's online absentee ballot tracking site lags real time status by only a day or two - at least early in the election process. These stats are for Ohio, your state may vary.
There is a serious flaw in our Constitution regarding te Presidency. There is no means to enforce out laws against a President who violates them. Trumps rally at the White House is but on of the many clear and obvious violations of the Hatch Act he has done. And there is nothing anyone can do about it. How can we expect the Justice Department to bring charges against their boss? The courts can not imitate actions only adjudicate charges brought to them. Other than impeachment the Congress has no role in enforcing these laws. Mr Trump has uncovered a serious flaw in our system, we should fix it before someone smarter and more capable is in a position exploit it.
SF B - 72
The President, all members of the US Congress, civilian Federal employees and Military Officers take an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution. If a President issues unconstitutional orders, they obliged to not obey these orders. There is no ambiguity here.
Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, enlisted ranks must obey lawful commands going down the chain of command, but not unlawful commands. In a well ordered military (which I firmly believe:hope we still have), military discipline takes care of any confusions among the ranks.
If the Congressional, Judicial, and Military don't have the will or the guts to throttle a rogue President, than more laws that will be ignored aren't going to help.
Ultimately, everything boils to the Soul of a Nation. If rotten, we might be Trumped.
Lincoln Project cartoon,
The Walk of Shame
Funny!
@caddy,
how about jim carrey going 'full goldblum'
https://youtu.be/xI_lxFv203I
JL
"There is a serious flaw in our Constitution regarding te (sic)Presidency."
Just one, I can think of a dozen without working up sweat.
The entire thing needs an overhaul to drag it into here and now. Central to it's dysfunction is it's failure to be precise. It tries too hard to please all the people all the time, which it was designed to do at the time in it's post-revolutionary vision. The US constitution was created by men who had democracy and equality on the tips of there tongues, but not in their hearts. They built in trap doors and exits for all contingencies that arise for people in power, in the same way they put in a system of checks and balances betwix the (now redundant and obviously archaic) various federal, state and municipal levels, e.g. the US senate keeps its most important federal decisions jealously unto itself because the senate at the time was for wealthy, well turned-out gentry, and not for rabble elected into the house of representatives by the other rabble, the common people. Why have two deliberative elected federal bodies of government? it makes zero sense until you look at what they do, the powers they have, and the contemporary mindset of those who created it. The house can impeach any person in power, but only the senate can show them the door! The founders went out of their way to create a system that was fair for all, but way fairer for the few, like themselves, landed gentry. In this day and age, there's no need for the US senate, I would amalgamate the two houses into a parliamentary-style single body or reduce them to the vestigial role of rubber stamping for the sake appearances.
Obviously, it's too late to fix the problems built into the US constitution without tearing down the entire system and rebooting it, and no guarantee that it wouldn't go back to its default settings, which would be repellant. The only way forward is to slowly close all the doors that allow for political lobbying, if America has shown the world one thing its, money and cronyism is the arch enemy of representative government. It's a waste of time electing Joe or Jane Blow because they advocate one way, only to watch them be corrupted another way by a special interest once they arrive in Washington. Polling proves this when 75% of the population want something other than what the elected officials try to push down their throats. Election cycles don't rectify the problem, despite what delusional view you may be operating under regarding "American Democracy", it just goes on and on. Take away the crumbs, and the rats will leave.
LL&P
there's a lot of talk about 'saving the soul of america.'
cue jewel singing karaoke
https://youtu.be/rmv1VhrtYRo
There ya go, Joshua, getting the CW Sunday Night Music Festival and Dance Party underway.
I hope you and JFC and Kick will keep this show on the road tonight, including our very own tribute to EVH!
I'll be enjoying your selections later on ...
I saw Van Halen when they toured in support of their first album. They came to the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh on Sept 2, 1978 as the opening act for Black Sabbath. As the crowd left the arena after the show, nobody was talking about Black Sabbath. We had witnessed The Next Big Thing.
In 1979, VH was touring as headliners. They came to the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh on May 7, 1979. It was a small place that held less than 3,000 people. A girl I knew from my neighborhood had a friend who worked in the Stanley box office and she got me tickets in the orchestra pit for the VH show. It was awesome. Eddie threw me one of his guitar picks and I still have it. The pick says Van Halen on it. I also still have a T-shirt from that show and it still fits. I wore it on Wednesday.
I saw them one more time in 1984 when they played a two night stand in Maryland, just outside the District. I lost interest in them when they replaced David Lee Roth with Sammy Hagar.
I’ve kept ticket stubs from all the shows I’ve attended in my life and that’s how I can tell you about these shows despite my memories getting a little lost in the fog.
And The Cradle Will Rock
Help me understand this behavior...
Taken from my Facebook thingy, with my obvious consent.
"Just mailed my vote, I voted for Bernie"
I know this individual, she's real, I went to her first wedding and catered her second.
I'm flabbergasted, and somewhat annoyed.
I lit her up, naturally, but got to thinking, how pervasive is this idiocy within the Democratic Party?
Have they not considered the alternative?
A vote for anyone other than Biden is a vote for Trump, is really is that simple.
I'd prefer to think I have a cretin for a friend, but by the likes she seems to have provoked, I suspect she's not alone in her cretiny.
Appalling.
LL&P
So, what is your problem, JTC??
JFC,
Your Story about VH is a little bit like mine with PRiSM, except I only saw them once, in 1977, their first year together, opening for Styx. I didn't keep my ticket stub, though. :( I went to see Styx that night but, came home with Prism, er, a lifelong fan of a new, up and coming Canadian rock band!
I lost interest in them when they booted Tabak out of the band at the end of 1980 in one the most idiotic and destructive self-inflicted wounds in Canadian rock history.
Around the same time, they found out that they were the winners of the Juno (the Canadian Grammy) award for Group of the Year for 1980. And, they were just about to hit it really big in the US.
Then, I lost track so completely that I didn't even hear about Tabak's tragic death in an ostensibly minor cycling accident at the end of 1984, just before the band was to be reunited.
I rediscovered them during the early days of Pandemic I and have reconstituted my Prism collection in CD form. If this fine Canadian rock band hadn't suffered two devastating tragedies, one entirely by their own hands, they may have gone on to be a next big thing, too.
But, enough about Prism - sorry for rambling on ...
We are here tonight to pay tribute to a great rockin' guitar player ...
How about a little Eddie Van Halen guitar solo from 1983 ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4eZWEG_KVs
I watched this concert in Toronto the other night from the summer of '95 at the Molson Amphitheatre ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDw2pCqQJf8&list=RDVDw2pCqQJf8&start_radio=1&t=170
well, i wouldn't be me if i didn't post this one...
https://youtu.be/6M4_Ommfvv0
;)
JL
Jump!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYN7mTi6HM
How about a CWSNMFDP six string salute to EVH ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy-LfsVysU8&list=RDSwYN7mTi6HM&index=16
and liz,
whenever you mention prism, my mind goes here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mind_Forever_Voyaging
*although obviously my reference point is a bit later, it was a really interesting game for a ten year old...
Joshua, I was waiting for you to post that one. :)
Eruption guitar solo from 2015 ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpM3AI46VX0&list=RDSwYN7mTi6HM&index=37
And, Prism wasn't the first name for this band ... they began in 1976 as Stanley Screamer.
EVH encore!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9r-NxuYszg&list=RDSwYN7mTi6HM&index=40
Elizabeth Miller
78
I hope you and JFC and Kick will keep this show on the road tonight, including our very own tribute to EVH!
But, but... I was so busy today, EM! I'm a flippin' some Texas.
Here's Eddie Van Halen on grand piano... where he started. This one is a super short 18 seconds. EVH played as a child and didn't play piano all too often as an adult in public. He was a musical prodigy who couldn't even read sheet music; I think he was so awesome on guitar because he invented his own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vIbG9wGx1c
Prism is the name of the protagonist in a mind forever voyaging, a 1980s video game.
Meretzky, the author, said in an interview that his intent with the game was to convey a negative view of Reagan's policies.[1] In another interview, he said that he had hoped for AMFV to cause controversy with its political content, expressing disappointment at the lack of hate mail.[2]
Interesting.
Here's a great interview with EVH ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb26D8bBZB8
So, I'm done for the night. But, I have an idea for next Sunday.
How about we post new songs by our favourite classic artists ...
AC/DC just release a new song - Shot in the Dark - off their new album PowerUp...
New Lead Guitar
JTC [80]
A vote for anyone other than Biden is a vote for Trump
What state does your friend live in? While I would prefer that she vote for Biden, unless she lives in a purple state, her vote is unlikely to benefit the orange one.
LizM [97]
I loved Bon Scott era AC/DC. Highway To Hell was a nearly perfect album. I stuck with them for Back In Black, but that was it.
@jtc/jfc,
yeah, it matters a lot which state she lives in. the national popular vote does matter as well, but comparatively speaking it's peanuts.
JL
Have you listened to Shot in the Dark, JFC.
I was never a fan of AC/DC, not really. But, the last many years I've been liking their stuff more and more and I don't really distinguish between the two lead singers. Not like Prism, anyway.
I really like Shot in the Dark. After all the decades they've been playing, it deserves at least a listen, no?
I did listen to it and it undeniably sounds like them. On the other hand, it's a pale echo of 70's AC/DC. I'm listening to the Highway To Hell album right now for the first time in years. Riff rock at its best. I think they'd have been an even bigger success if Bon Scott had survived.
Just for the record, I downloaded, printed and filled in my California ballot two weeks ago and sent it in airmail from the UK. Ballot tracking tells me it was received on October 6th. I'll join the chorus: get your vote in as early as your state allows.
Mezzomamma
104
This! Awesome. :)
CW: It seems that it is now time to ask a very strange question: Is Donald Trump actually trying to lose the election?
No, he isn't. One need only watch the spinning of Russian disinformation on Fox News for the answer. The Trump cult learned nothing from 2018; they still believe all the con artistry bullshit spin and spew. It's like they're incapable of learning that what outrages them is manufactured conspiracy fantasy that only they're all invested in because they're gullible and have bought "all in" to the right=wingnut conspiracy cult.
Ed Rollins (co-chair of the pro-Trump super PAC Great America), who was not happy about Trump's various responses to getting sick: "There was a panic before this started, but now we're sort of the stupid party."
Well, maybe I spoke too soon about the right-wingnut crowd catching on. I guess it just takes awhile to come to grips with the ignorance and to admit the "stupid" that is so glaringly obvious to the majority of Americans.
[108]
How hard it must be to figure out you were duped. Harder to publicly admit so.