President Donald J Trump calms a nation on edge pic.twitter.com/HO6Ou1XJzg
— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) April 13, 2020
He’ll never lose the shriveled, paranoid hearts of his Base — he could announce that he was going to divorce Melania for Lindsay Graham and cede his Oval Office throne to Hillary Clinton, and after a few confused moments they’d agree that it must be a subtle ploy to unmask the hated Democrats.
But Trump’s second line of defense, the Media Village Idiots paid by their oligarchic masters to publicly uphold Lord Smallgloves as the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being ever to occupy the White House, just might be beginning to have some doubts… at least about Trump’s ability to keep fooling a near-majority of the voters.
The reporter here is @PaulaReidCBS and this was very impressive questioning imo
— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) April 13, 2020
they are certainly not screwing around. they're raking in vast sums by milking their symbiotic relationship with the president https://t.co/07b4rf9Xwh
— Christopher Hooks (@cd_hooks) April 13, 2020
You know what’s even better than throwing shade via chyrons? Exercising editorial judgment. https://t.co/etKUanSSiq
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) April 13, 2020
The most watched show in cable news is currently doing an entire segment, complete with panel, whining about CNN's chyrons pic.twitter.com/ywQaGWM5a4
— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) April 14, 2020
idea: the chyron should be so big it hides the briefing entirely
— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) April 13, 2020
But don’t just take my word! Here’s the BBC’s Jon Sopel, “Trump berates media at jaw-dropping briefing”:
… This has been the most dizzying, jaw-dropping, eyeball-popping, head-spinning news conference I have ever attended. And I was at Bill Clinton’s news conference in 1998 when he faced the press for the first time over his relationship with Monica Lewinsky…
There are more than 23,000 Americans dead because of coronavirus and more than half a million infected – and remember that, in early March, Donald Trump was saying there were a handful of cases, but that would soon be down to zero.
Yet Donald Trump walked into the briefing room with scores to settle with the media. This wasn’t about the dead, the desperately sick, the people fearful of catching the virus. This was about him. And more particularly his profound sense of grievance that the media has been critical of his handling of Covid-19.
If you think that is an unfair exaggeration, after a few moments he said he was going to play a video. It had been produced by White House staff, even though it bore all the hallmarks of a campaign video. If it was a movie, it would have been called “Coronavirus: Why Donald Trump is Great – and the Media Awful”.
If you were watching the news conference on TV, you would have seen the film. But in the briefing room, where I had my vantage point, Donald Trump was alternately scowling at us, then pointing and smiling derisively and then smirking, as if to say, “Look at all you losers – I’ve nailed you with this”…
Daniel Dale’s rebuttal of Trump’s lies are the back half of this clip:
A Ghost to Most
First Rule of American Fascists:
Always double down. They’re all Roy Cohns now.
TS (the original)
I tried so hard – to listen to all of that first video – but I gave up when he started attacking the reporter. Did he ever mention what he did in February?
Azelie
If Jezebel still had Shade Court I’m pretty sure the ruling on the tweet about the chyrons would be “Not Shade.” Shade is subtle. I think this counts as a reading.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Deo vindice.
MattF
See, Trump never answers a question. That’s for losers.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@TS (the original):
Nope.
gene108
@TS (the original):
He said he did a lot, a lot, and would send her a list.
WereBear
Waiting for ANYONE in the talking heads brigade to exclaim, “The liberals were right all along!”
Yes, I know it will be looooong wait, but I am taking good care of myself. I might just see it in my lifetime.
Aleta
They should also subtitle what a reporter is asking and saying whenever he speaks over them. And leave that subtitled question up on screen for the entire time he’s avoiding the answer.
Nora
Trump has one thought — I’m being generous here in calling it a thought — and that is that the China Ban was brilliant and Biden criticized him so Biden was wrong. He wouldn’t even LISTEN to the questions about February and what the administration did after the ban.
I’ve seen 8 year olds who are better at responding to questions.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
then again, maybe there’s something to the argument the long crazy, without the hooting and hoof-stamping of the rubes, is not helping him
some polls also suggest Biden puts FL in play
germy
Wait… Fox News is complaining about non-objective chyrons?
Krope, the Formerly Dope
@gene108:
So he bullshitted his way through February. I guess that’s par for the course at Trump’s fabulous tippy top golf resorts.
TS (the original)
@gene108:
They just got to stop broadcasting this drivel – no-one sane can listen for more than a few minutes. Talk about a substitute campaign rally. For 3 years – no press conferences – now they are on every night – surely all that now happens in the West Wing is preparation for each event. The American people are paying for his campaign.
MattF
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I suspect that bad polling numbers are behind Trump’s anger. See current 538 approval graph.
donnah
I’d like to know what Republican Senators and House members are thinking. Trump’s mask, like that photo of his incomplete makeup, is slipping and revealing the real monster. They could have stopped him and they didn’t.
Are they biting their nails? Are they transferring funds to offshore accounts? Are their brows furrowed? Because as this crisis deepens and spreads, I want them to look at their own hands to see the blood of their constituents. No matter how much Purell they use, that blood won’t wash away.
They could have stopped him.
Amir Khalid
Disgraceful.
@TS (the original):
Nope.
germy
A Ghost to Most
Meanwhile, over at the State Dept:
Amir Khalid
@Aleta:
That’s a good idea.
Joe Falco
The media that’s actually pushing back on Trump’s bs need to keep it up. Deny him air time if he lies. Let him blow up and take away press credentials. If it comes down to just OANN being the only one left to lavish praise and fully turn his press briefings into state-run propaganda spectacles, go right ahead.
I just want the last flailing pieces of journalistic integrity and professionalism to stop normalizing Trump and his actions.
MattF
@donnah: In hiding, mostly. There’s some heavy, anonymous brow-furrowing behind the scenes, but no actual regrets.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
This is now TRULY the party of Lincoln – George Lincoln Rockwell.
germy
Krope, the Formerly Dope
That screen would get awfully cluttered pretty quickly.
He had his line and he was sticking to it. Once Fox had time to clean up, they’ll make sure their audience is only looking at the cherry-picked facts they want.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
Baud
@germy:
Sharpie time!
germy
Immanentize
@germy: The letter started, “Sir, I really must beg for your forgiveness” and was clearly tear stained.
rikyrah
Wag
@Nora:
I’ve also seen eight year olds who are also more successful at deflecting blame. His repeated circling back to the same tired points undermines himself. I hope that he continues to do this, and that it continues to undermine whatever credibility he has remaining with all except the unreachable 27%.
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
The Great DeSantis Coronovirus Massacre may put Florida in play.
rikyrah
@rikyrah:
germy
Amir Khalid
@Krope, the Formerly Dope:
This reporter’s questions weren’t particularly long in substance.
rikyrah
@germy:
Tell Dolt45 to produce the letter
Baud
@germy:
I hope the GOP runs on that.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@donnah: I wonder if Susan Collins gets drunk and remembers that week when she was John McCain’s sidekick and she was getting spontaneous applause in airports
Krope, the Formerly Dope
@Amir Khalid: But what about the reporter before her? And the reporter before that? And the years of artlessly dodged questions?
germy
Baud
@rikyrah:
Executive privilege.
germy
The Mad King
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I can’t decide if I want her or Graham to lose more. (McConnell is first on my list.)
MattF
@germy: Q: Mr. Mulvaney, are you having fun yet?
A Ghost to Most
@WereBear: We will see mushroom clouds first.
rikyrah
Maddow explained this last night.
She won’t do a stay at home order.
She has a serious enough breakout that the plant that produces 5-10% of all pork products FOR THE COUNTRY IS CLOSED BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
The Mayor of the town is begging for a stay at home order.
And….THIS is what the muthaphuckin’ Governor is doing ??
germy
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud:
Those Sharpie’s are MAGIC! Take one to your negative bank balance and presto becomes a positive!
Baud
@rikyrah:
The War against Liberalism was always a suicide mission.
Nora
@Baud: Why pick and choose?
MattF
Obama will endorse Biden this morning.
Baud
@MattF:
Oh yeah.
Baud
@Nora: Agreed.
danielx
@Immanentize:
See, that’s one of his tells – whenever It refers to an incident in which he is addressed as “sir”, whatever comes next is complete horseshit.
Baud
@danielx:
The other tell is when his lips are moving.
danielx
@WereBear:
Never happen.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@MattF: oh man, the follies are gonna be off the charts tonight
Eolirin
@Baud: If we somehow pick off Graham, we probably end up with a net +12 seats in the Senate and win Texas. So I’d put him higher just for that ^^
Krope, the Formerly Dope
@danielx: I mean Joe Biden is a tough guy. A tough guy. He never cries. He comes to me crying, letter in hand, falls to his knees and says “Sir…”
Baud
@MattF:
I hope he tells the American people not to fuck up this time.
(Narrator: He won’t do that.)
Gin & Tonic
Not sure if anyone is interested besides me, but here’s a comprehensive piece on the Covid-19 situation in the weird Russian-controlled non-countries of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus (Abkhazia, Transdnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh, etc.)
Betty Cracker
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I believe Florida is absolutely in play, thanks to Trump Mini-Me DeSantis bungling the COVID-19 response (in a manner that echos Trump’s failure on that score), rising anger about the purpose-built for failure UI benefits system and the continuing economic fallout that will hit tourism and service industry-dependent states hardest. It depends on where we are come November, of course, but there are no easy fixes to these problems.
TS (the original)
@rikyrah:
I don’t think King is the right word to use here. In most (probably all) of the European countries that have royalty – the King/Queen is the head of State but definitely NOT the head of government. The latter went a long time ago.
Trump is acting as a dictator. Hitler is a good example & of course Putin in modern times but his rallies and demands for total obedience and subservience is definately of Hitler standards.
Luciamia
Jim, Foolish Literalist
OT: I Do Not Understand The Stock Market, Part The Infitieth: “Stocks Soar as Big Banks Announce Earnings” via my phone.
MattF
@Betty Cracker: And if Trump loses Florida, he can’t win the presidential election. Period.
Amir Khalid
@Krope, the Formerly Dope:
I’d keep the subtitle to just the most recent unanswered question. For all the unanswered questions in a single media Q&A, I’d display a running tally in a corner of the screen. Suggesting that four years of questions evaded or responded to with lies/bullshit be shown in subtitles is unpractical.
Krope, the Formerly Dope
Doesn’t the fact that he didn’t endorse during the primary suggest that he has no faith in his former Vice President? /FauxNewsPointMyWholeFamilyBought
Eta: Damn that’s along HTML tag.
Eolirin
@Betty Cracker: Florida feels like it’s always in play. But between all of that and the reinfranchisement of at least some of the felon population, I do think our odds of getting that last .5% is just a bit higher this time
What’s I’m looking for is a few point drop for Trump that puts Texas in play.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Krope, the Formerly Dope
Perhaps an anthology book series then? It will likely be longer than the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Amir Khalid
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Announcing profits is always good for the stock price. Before the coronavirus happened, the US economy was still doing decently well thanks to the previous administration, and hadn’t yet ground to a halt.
rikyrah
@Betty Cracker:
You forgot that the POLL TAX for former felons who have served their time had been struck down. The pool of possible new voters from that group is around 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE that couldn’t vote in 2016, but can in 2020.
bemused
@germy:
I woudn’t put it past him and his cabal to forge a letter.
Barbara
@Krope, the Formerly Dope: No. It means that he respects voters.
sixthdoctor
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: In my fantasy world, Trump gets so angry and frustrated tonight that he literally starts tantrum-crying, and the press responds like The Great Santini bullying his son with a basketball…
rikyrah
@Baud:
I shall not choose.
I want ALL OF THEM GONE ??
Eolirin
@Barbara: Krope was not asserting that was true, he was saying that’s the talking point coming out of the right.
Krope, the Formerly Dope
@Barbara: You may want to recalibrate your snarkometer. There was at least one big obvious tell.
Uncle Cosmo
@Baud: Old line from the days of LBJ** – some of his staffers (never identified) said they had a foolproof way of telling when he was telling the truth & when he was lying:
**obligatory fuck LBJ! for raven
cain
@rikyrah:
Someone posted yesterday I think that Brazil already did these tests and determined that it causes heart problems and death. So for them to pursue this is going to be a huge political loser.
Barbara
@Eolirin: @Krope, the Formerly Dope:
You guys, my snarkometer has died. It has the same sensitivity that 60% of COVID-19 victims do for the sense of smell, which is zero. Seriously. At any rate, apologies, and I did edit to remove the ad hominem content even before I saw your replies.
Mike in DC
What I think of when I think about Trump’s performance yesterday:
“In spite of my rage I am still just a rat in a cage…”
chopper
@MattF:
that and the loss in WI. i know, state supreme court doesn’t sound like much, but trump came out and loudly endorsed the gooper in the race and the loss makes trump look bad.
dmsilev
@MattF: See, more proof that the DNC establishment is Rigging The Process!
Krope, the Formerly Dope
C’mon you gonna believe Trump or you gonna believe pointy headed scientists with their so-called “evidence?”
Amir Khalid
@Krope, the Formerly Dope:
That might make a book, but it would obviously not work for TV news.
Just One More Canuck
@germy:
please please please please please let this happen
I’ll be in for $100
cain
@Betty Cracker:
any of florida’s senators in play? I definitely want to see all of their House reps.
BobS
Maybe one of the networks could show the briefings in relative real-time, putting Trump on pause in order to correct his lies and gaslighting as they occur. For instance, Trump’s February schedule (golf, rallies, etc.) and statements regarding the pandemic (both his and right-wing media) are pretty well documented.
Watching someone do an ‘as-it-happens’ exegesis might turn out to be popular with viewers like us.
Eolirin
@Barbara: No worries, just enough stuff to get legitimately angry about, didn’t want another one added to your day unnecessarily. :)
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@cain: I think the next FL Senate race is Rubio in ’22
Uncle Cosmo
@Krope, the Formerly Dope: Naah, daily video feature:
Multiple clips for multiple years & multiplying lies.
Amir Khalid
@cain:
Worse, it diverts medical resources away from actually useful action.
Krope, the Formerly Dope
Aww, man, that was my tip.
Eolirin
@cain: Not this year.
danielx
At this point I’m sort of surprised that he hasn’t announced that he’s dropping the press conferences and going back to his preferred method to address the American people (i.e., Twitter) because these pesky reporters keep reporting what he said back in January and February. Worse yet, comparing what he says today with what governors and various experts* say.
*”Fuckin’ experts, what do they know anyway? My gut tells me more than any expert ever has or will!”
Eolirin
@danielx: He can’t do rallies because of the social distancing and lock downs. He needs to be in front of crowds or cameras or he starts going crazy. He won’t be able to stop the briefings for long even if he gets hit hard enough that he takes a short break.
Especially because the media would start focusing on Biden and governors in that vacuum. That would be intolerable to him.
mmolleur
@Baud:
Florida’s in play because a) it’s always close but b) people here are capital F Furious about the broken unemployment system that has taken until just this week to issue its first checks. Scott built a $77 million (gift to grifter buddies)boodoggle and DeSantis has spent nearly as much to patch it. Just to start getting $275/wk to the laid off people. They still can’t figure out how to get the extra $600 out or how to pay the self employed and gig workers. Everyone knows someone who is hurting because of this. I’m in a very red county and my neighbors won’t shut up about it.
Amir Khalid
@danielx:
One can well understand Trump’s habit of relying on his gut to tell him about things. He has more gut than any medical expert.
SFAW
@germy:
“Sir, you keep telling us about things that never happened, such as an alleged Biden apology. Do you really believe that, because that’s what the voices in your head are telling you? Or are you just lying, betting that no one will dare to call you a (fucking) liar?”
Betty Cracker
@cain: Unfortunately, no senate seats in play.
cain
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
That will be fun.. I’d be interested to see what kind of shit show that is going to be. We’ll need to take notes on how brother Rubio handles the crises.
MattF
BTW, the WaPo Database of Lies has been updated.
cain
@Amir Khalid:
Yeah, but that’s not really the reason they are doing it. If this was all science/sanity based they would have been looking at other situation. This is just them trying to avoid stay in place s and following Dear Leader (or maybe enriching Dear Leader).
Of course, if the trials cause death, that will create some further turbulence.
cain
@Eolirin:
@Betty Cracker:
Thanks y’all. Alas.. it would have been nice to take some more senate seats. :/
Roger Moore
@Nora:
His thought is simpler and more general than that: whatever he did was brilliant and right. This is the one thing he always insists on, and it’s the the primary motivation of a huge part of the Trump personality cult. They spend an enormous amount of time trying to prove that everything he did was great. It’s not enough for him to bury his mistakes; they have to be proven to be correct.
Amir Khalid
I’m watching a YouTube video about the Game Of Life that the late mathematician John Conway did for the University of Nottingham’s mathematics channel. Fascinating.
Betty Cracker
@mmolleur: Same — people are fucking PISSED in my county, which Trump won with nearly 70% of the vote. I’ve gotta think getting buggered by Republicans in a way that affects one’s personal beer money will leave a mark, but who knows?
MattF
@Roger Moore: The cult also insists that Trump has never lied, which is maximally gobsmacking. Their timeline has no relation with reality.
zhena gogolia
I am checking every 30 seconds to see Obama endorse Biden. I need an infusion of hope.
Betty Cracker
@cain: Rubio is has ostentatiously taken ownership of the PPP disbursements, which people tell me is a complete shit-show. I hope it sandbags that fucker until the end of time.
cain
@mmolleur:
Yeah.. good times. Looks like trying to setup a racist system is bad for everyone in times of duress. It’s going to get worse before it gets better – because you know, we haven’t hit the peak in Florida yet and it’s going to be one thing after another.
There will be no Democrats to blame in this. Everyone knows it. The blame will be on New Yorkers.. that’s going to be awesome cuz Florida makes a lot of money from snowbirds.
cain
@Betty Cracker:
Rooting for injuries.
Baud
I wonder when I should endorse Biden to maximize the effect.
cain
Maybe all this is going to break down now that people are personally invested. Republican have always gotten away with the shit they do because it doesn’t seem to hurt people personally, but this is pretty personal.
The virus is laying bare a lot of things in people’s politics.
BobS
@Roger Moore: And, of course, it wasn’t a ban, it was restrictions (placed on foreign nationals, but not American citizens) that were enacted after person-to-person transmission was determined and after the first US case was documented. Tens of thousands of trips occurred between the US and China after the so-called “ban” was enacted, making it a travel sieve that, at most, bought a little time, i.e. the month of February (that was squandered).
MattF
@Amir Khalid: Conway felt his own greatest achievement was the Surreal Number system. It’s a bit technical, but it’s amazing. Donald Knuth wrote a little book on it, which can be downloaded from the Internet Archive.
WereBear
Nor is there any Republican interest in actually fixing anything. So much easier to lie and claim it is fixed.
Frankensteinbeck
@Gin & Tonic:
I read it. It was certainly interesting. I didn’t even know those countries exist. Putin is such an asshole. I hope they weather the storm okay, and I’m glad they’re taking distancing precautions, but it’s scary that they have so little medical infrastructure.
@TS (the original):
Trump is a Nazi, actually thinks of himself as a Nazi. I’m convinced of it. The only principles he sticks to are trade wars and brutalizing minorities, and he is hardcore about brutalizing minorities. He was reportedly pissed about any attempt to stop him from having concentration camps and specifically desired them. There’s the ‘book of Hitler’s speeches’ story no one knows is true, of course. This man who lies shamelessly and constantly couldn’t condemn Nazis, had to backtrack to ‘very fine people on both sides’. He retweets Nazi propaganda by openly avowed Nazis. He has a long history of racist statements and actions. The only difference, the one that catches people who don’t know how general Nazi bigotry was, is that for Trump Jews are his model minority. He has as history of spouting anti-Semitic stereotypes, he just likes greedy people and dual allegiance.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
it’s been years since I saw this movie, and I’m not a hundred percent sure of the whole History vs Hollywood thing, but… I don’t think he remembers it either..
Also, do we think this was trump? the syntax is almost normal
Gin & Tonic
@Amir Khalid: I was a regular reader of Scientific American back when he created that game, and when the irreplaceable Martin Gardner ran the “Mathematical Games” column. Influenced my life.
raven
Barack Obama To Endorse Joe Biden For President
Obama waited until Bernie Sanders dropped out of the Democratic primary before endorsing his former vice president in the 2020 race.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Baud: wait till he agrees to pay off your campaign debt, bar tabs and dog-track debts
Jeffro
um y’all…the Ill Douche is melting down on Twitter as we speak, er, type…
he just threatened all Democratic governors, calling them “mutineer” a la Mutiny on the Bounty
Jeffro
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: You posted it as I was typing it up! ;)
Is that just nuts, or what??
germy
germy
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Baud
@WereBear:
Capri
@donnah: I think Tom Lehr said it best: GOP elected officials feel like a Christian Scientist with appendicitis.
Krope, the Formerly Dope
@Jeffro: the Ill Douche
Brought to you by the el departamiento of redundancies department.
danielx
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Governors: to tell the truth, Mr. President, The Caine Mutiny is one of our favorite movies….
The Thin Black Duke
Let’s forget about the batshit crazy 27%, those suicidal bozos are unreachable; just try to stay out of their way as they happily march off the cliff. However, as Trump’s support inexorably erodes, everybody else left in the GOP is in play. What used to be normal is gone, and it’s not coming back. Shit done got real. It’s bad, it’s going to get worse, and all people want right now is somebody who is going to fix this ongoing freak show, and it’s becoming painfully obvious that Trump can’t do it. People don’t want excuses or empty promises anymore. It’s become a matter of Life or Death, and most folks don’t want to die, even if it means voting for a (gasp!) Democrat.
Calouste
@Baud: November 4th.
Baud
@raven:
And Balloon Juice thought Bernie had no influence.
Jeffro
In all seriousness, there needs to be a huge clamor on the D side for Twitler to resign or be impeached again for abuse of power. As much as I want him to suffer for 7 more months and drag his party down past the crazification factor, the country needs the abuse to stop and the Covid-19 response to get itself nationally organized. It’s not like president Pence is going to somehow sweep to victory.
Resign or be impeached, moron.
zhena gogolia
@Baud:
Aren’t you going to be on the dais with Barack?
A Ghost to Most
@Krope, the Formerly Dope: Under the “total authority” of El Rey Cortez T. Killer.
Jeffro
@germy: He needs to resign or be impeached. Enough with the abuse.
hueyplong
This Florida UI kerfuffle wherein the Trumpists sat back and laughed about Those People getting stiffed and then they got stiffed themselves when they really needed it might be the best face-eating leopards example of the entire maladministration.
Difficult to discern a non-putsch path to reelection without Florida.
Patricia Kayden
@Nora: After Trump’s so-called China ban, thousands of Chinese nationals still entered the U.S.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/us/coronavirus-china-travel-restrictions.amp.html
Roger Moore
@BobS:
I think it’s far better just to cut away any time Trump is speaking and explain to viewers exactly why.
Patricia Kayden
@germy: Governors have independence. I thought Rightwingers were all about state rights.
Mike in NC
Can we go ahead now and surmise that Time magazine has picked Dr. Fauci as frontrunner for 2020 Person of the Year? Another reason Fat Bastard will blow a gasket on live TV.
Krope, the Formerly Dope
@Patricia Kayden: Yes, the states’ rights to do what Republicans tell them.
L85NJGT
Vince McMahon has chapter eleven’d the XFL.
danielx
@Eolirin:
This is true. He needs attention and (if possible) adulation the way the rest of us need oxygen, like all narcissists. But attention is the main thing – “if they’re talking about you, you’re winning”.
SFAW
@Patricia Kayden:
I thought Rightwingers were all about state rights.
“States’ rights (and all other rights, for that matter) for me, but not for thee.”
— every RWMF/Republican officeholder
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Loretta Lynn is trending because it’s her birthday.
Twitter really needs some kind of “birthday” or “not dead” or “no ‘rhona” tag these days
SFAW
@L85NJGT:
He should have renamed it the “TrumpFL.”
Barbara
@Betty Cracker: Maybe they will feel the need to save on gas and stay home instead. These are the things that affect turn out.
trollhattan
@The Thin Black Duke:
Correct, you are 100%. And in Biden’s VP selection let’s not get carried away believing he can skim off some slice of Trump’s minions in order to snag this or that “battleground” state; he cannot and Biden-Duke 2020 would not change that one iota.
Now in the lemons-lemonade arena, if Trump wishes to continue running his campaign via corona presser, then take yesterday as an example of how to stuff the lemonade back into the lemon and shove that lemon up his ass. Accommodating him the last four years has been of zero value. You have a hammer, you have tongs, bring them and use them.
Baud
@The Thin Black Duke:
@trollhattan:
Thirded. Trump was entertainment for white people enjoying good times thanks to Obama. The show is over, and reality is looking to recover the cost of admission.
FlipYrWhig
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: there’s no way Trump spontaneously uses the word “invigorating.”
Mike in NC
@germy: History showed that Lieutenant William Bligh was a miserable captain and deplorable human being, but a skilled seaman and navigator who was able to sail a crowded open boat across thousands of miles of ocean. Trump has trouble finding the Men’s Room at Mar-A-Lago.
different-church-lady
It’s quite obvious he doesn’t know how to answer the last question.
germy
@Patricia Kayden:
Their principles shift according to political circumstances.
For example, their feelings about the national deficit. A crisis during Obama’s years, but didn’t matter under VP Cheney.
Barbara
@hueyplong: I don’t understand the sense of invincibility that would celebrate this level of incompetence, not in a tourist economy where natural disasters are pretty common. It’s not 1952. There won’t be one UI system for them and another for OTHERS.
BobS
@Patricia Kayden: Yeah, I’ve been wondering how the Cliven Bundy types square that circle.
MattF
@different-church-lady: I think that attacking the questioner does, in fact, answer the question.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@A Ghost to Most: There is way to win friends and influence people, preach at them.
joel hanes
@germy:
Twenty bucks to the first reporter to address him as “fuckface.
Mr. President, evidence shows that since your inauguration you’ve publicly stated over twenty thousand lies, and it’s obvious that you are ignorant, lazy, and petty. Why should anyone care what you have to say about these matters, or any matter?
sheldon vogt
@Krope, the Formerly Dope: Shut down the internet for the day, champ.
Baud
@A Ghost to Most:
Is he referring to Jesus or Trump?
germy
Reader comment over at LGM:
BobS
@joel hanes: slightly edited: “Mr. President, evidence shows that since your- cough, fuckface, cough- inauguration you’ve- cough, fuckface, cough- publicly stated over twenty thousand lies, and it’s obvious that you- cough, fuckface, cough- are ignorant, lazy, and petty. Why should anyone care what you- cough, fuckface, cough- have to say about these matters, or any matter?”
Barbara
@Baud: I honestly wonder how our allies can stand it. I imagine the official translator version: “American SOS now talking about irrelevant religious beliefs. Seeking your agreement.” Response: smile, nod, change subject.
Baud
Which one of you is in Israel?
different-church-lady
@WereBear:
That would be akin to the show runners admitting their plot twists don’t make a scrap of sense.
Roger Moore
@Patricia Kayden:
It’s good to remember that the original States Rights crowd were just as hypocritical about it as today’s. For example, they certainly didn’t believe in a state’s right to ignore the Fugitive Slave Law, and the whole thing about Dred Scott was at attempt to prevent free states from passing laws freeing slaves deliberately brought there by their masters.
joel hanes
@TS (the original):
Trump is acting as a dictator. Hitler is a good example
At various times, Trump has publicly professed his admiration of Duterte, Erdogan, the al Sauds, and Kim.
When people tell you who they are, believe them.
Baud
@Barbara: Most diplomats are practical. Evangelizing doesn’t affect them in any tangible way.
Kelly
Whether it’s hydroxychloroquine, evolution, economics, diplomacy or any other RWNJ fantasy I’m always staggered by how convinced the RWNJ are that THEY are the logical ones and liberals are hand waving away reality.
Elizabelle
Cuomo O’Clock.
Right now: “we don’t have a king in this country.”
Giving a tutorial on federal vs. states’ obligations and relationship. Will watch this in whole once it concludes.
A view from Planet Sanity
ETA: “There are laws. There are facts. Even in this wild political environment.”
Also points out that one can be tough as well as loving.
You should check this out. Speaking about Trump and the Mutiny on the Bounty. Wow have I missed some news this morning, hmmm?
Governors as mutineers.
“The president is clearly spoiling for a fight on this issue.”
Betty Cracker
Obama’s endorsement:
A Ghost to Most
At least when my blood boils these days, I can look out the window and watch the adult Tonka Toys in my front yard. They have crossed the road, and are now working in our front yard. Huge big booms send me scurrying to insure they didn’t hit the house. So far, so good.
PJ
@trollhattan: Biden’s VP choice should be seen as 1) picking a potential successor and 2) increasing Democratic turnout. I don’t think the Bernie Bros/leftists are gonna vote Democratic because Warren (that snake!) is on the ticket, and certainly not for any other candidate, so forget about getting them. (At her age, she is also an unlikely successor.). So he should pick whoever is going to increase regular Democratic turnout (which I think will be Harris, who will appeal to the middle-aged women and African-Americans who have been carrying the party.)
MattF
@joel hanes: Not to mention Xi and Putin.
germy
NY governor press conference is happening. Cuomo right now is quoting the constitution.
Mentioning the Mutiny on the Bounty tweet. “The president is clearly spoiling for a fight on this issue.”
Baud
@Betty Cracker: The suspense is over!
different-church-lady
@donnah: It’s probably no different than it was in 2016: “There’s nothing we can do about it, so let’s just wait and take advantage of anything we can from it.”
TS (the original)
Cuomo just gave Trump a small lecture on the constitution quoting Alexander Hamilton. He is now discussing Mutiny on the Bounty & the president’s tweets
This is too important for anyone to play politics.
Edit: slow typist – repeating germy above
Elizabelle
@TS (the original): It’s incredible, isn’t it?
germy
“What would happen if people refused to engage, refused to fight? Sometimes it’s better to walk away from a fight. The president will have no fight with me. I will not engage in it.” – Cuomo
Miss Bianca
@PJ: Have to admit that Biden/Harris is a dream ticket for me.
Elizabelle
Advising about refusing to engage. As in the sage advice of our own Thin Black Duke.
Riffing on seeing a poster as an 8 year old: “what if they gave a war and no one came?”
“The president will have no fight with me.”
This is no time for politics and no time to fight. Put my hand out in total partnership and cooperation. If he wants a fight, he’s not going to get it from me.
BobS
@Miss Bianca: I’d prefer Biden/M.Obama, but Biden/Harris is perfectly acceptable.
different-church-lady
@Betty Cracker: My god, who saw that coming?!?
Elizabelle
I guess this television is the equivalent of our moonshot, for being real and keeping us engaged. :-(
ETA: And right on schedule, he brings up Apollo 13.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@germy: a very smooth way to call him both a bully and a child
L85NJGT
Oil has dropped under $22 a barrel and the Texas Railroad Commission is considering mandated output cuts. That’s pitting the big corporations against the wildcatters. End of days stuff for the extant state political & power system.
Elizabelle
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Talking Trump off the ledge, although Trump may not realize that. He will just see fealty.
Elizabelle
Q: why didn’t you just say “no comment” if you’re trying to make peace with Trump? (Says Cuomo’s been on TV 4 times already today.)
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Betty Cracker: ‘the other side has a propaganda network, with little regard for the truth’
I wonder if Jake Tapper will again feel compelled to defend his “sister network”
(and I hope they release the written form of this endorsement)
TS (the original)
@Elizabelle:
I don’t think his refusal to enter a fight with Trump will work. Trump drags people in whether they want to be there or not. Gov Cuomo is talking sense to a man who thinks the only way to gain power is to fight.
Cuomo says he will not fight – unless Trump forces him by his actions – trump will force it.
But – he is now saying – Trumps lies cannot go uncorrected. Some of his statements cannot stand.
Miss Bianca
@Elizabelle: Which just proves that Cuomo, asshole tho’ he may be in other contexts, is still a far better person than I am.
Who am still smarting about getting into it last night when I get fed up with the whiny passive-aggressive BS from my white lefty “friends” on FB, who just can’t get over themselves about how icky the Democrats are, and how much they despise us for not recognizing that they want Progressive Paradise, and they want it NOW, and why can’t Democrats just understand how much they’ve suffered?!
Betty Cracker
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Obama dropped a lot of shade for Obama.
Baud
@Miss Bianca:
Send them this.
https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2020/04/a-virginia-lesson
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@TS (the original):
I’m not watching, but what I’m getting from twitter and reports in this thread is that Cuomo is effectively saying, I will not comment on reports of my opponent’s drunkenness, corruption and syphillis.
L85NJGT
@SFAW:
The lying and crazy pressers don’t matter. It’s when he breaks Kayfabe that he loses fans.
Dave
@SFAW: States rights works, and has always worked, exactly the way “Fuck your feelings” works. It’s your feelings that can get fucked, theirs are of course important, and the right of States to do what the speaker and only the speaker wants.
SFAW
@germy:
“Democrat governor Chicken Cuomo was trying to take me on, but when I called his bluff, he ran away. They ALL run away, because I have total authority, and have a higher JQ than all of them put together! I do! My daddy TOLD me I do! And so did America’s Mayor! I really DO!”
ETA: I forgot to include the Murderer-in-Chief making chicken-clucking sounds, which would be his style. Also, the “JQ” is not a typo, but might be a little too subtle.
Gin & Tonic
@germy: It will be interesting, as the Acela Corridor states and the West Coast states proceed with their own plans and demonstrate that the POTUS is irrelevant. I suspect that he hates being ignored most of all.
Miss Bianca
@BobS: Michelle Obama has repeatedly stated that she has less than zero interest in returning to Washington as a political leader, so frankly I find even “fantasy football” recruitment of her as a VP candidate to be…hmm. Not sure of the word I’d want to use here.
TS (the original)
Why the media reps have to ask & ask – why aren’t you being nice to the President – Why are you arguing about what he says. Will they EVER go say these things to trump – over and over – until he answers.
Gov Cuomo answers – off the cuff – with words that are articulate & understandable. I hate that he feels obligated to say trump did things right (cause I don’t think he did) but he even does that without malice.
MattF
@TS (the original): I think Trump is baffled and angered by Cuomo getting positive coverage. The whole ‘tell the truth’ thing is completely outside Trump’s field of view.
Geminid
I think Trump’s one thought is, “I have to be reelected. I have to!” Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush both wanted second terms, but they each had good lives to move on to if they lost. Trump does not, and he is desperate.
Brachiator
Coming late to the thread.
This is certainly true, but it is sad to see it in the newsmedia. I keep hearing some talkradio show hosts and reporters (mainly from ABC news) either praise Trump or deliberately soft pedal criticism.
And even when they discuss Trump’s failings, they will fall back on the lazy lie that any criticism must be partisan driven. In this way, they can disarm it without directly challenging the criticism.
In Southern California, many of these reporters and others will talk about the efforts done to contain the virus, but will never credit Governor Newsom or local officials with doing the right thing. They will instead credit the local health experts.
It is just mind boggling to see that these people just don’t care how much damage Trump has done and will continue to do.
Some of this seems to be related to the personal views of the radio personalities and reporters. But some of this must come from the news directors and station owners as directive on how these issues are to be handled.
TS (the original)
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
But he is commenting on Trumps lies – and correcting them.
He commented when Trump said he has the power to do it all. Cuomo quoted Alexander Hamilton to say he did not.
The Thin Black Duke
@Miss Bianca: Michelle has done her time. She’s under no obligation to step back into the game.
cmorenc
@rikyrah:
On the contrary, Gov Andrew Cuomo is serving daily as a splendid example of responsible, sober-headed leadership, in stark contrast to the mad toddler in the White House. Or, if you are referring to Chris Cuomo (the journalist) instead of Andrew Cuomo (the governor) – again, the contrast with actual truthful, responsible journalism and the spew coming from the Toddler-in-Chief are again compelling.
Jeffro
@Betty Cracker: he did indeed, but whaddya gonna do? Anytime you talk about intelligence, experience, character, values, morals, and teamwork…you’re talking about the opposite of trumpov
Miss Bianca
@Baud: Oh no, *that* won’t work, because saying that voting for Democrats, or even (gasp!) *joining the Democratic Party* is better for progressive goals than whining about how unprogressive the Democrats are makes one “angry”, “rigid”, and “self-righteous”.
This from a woman who shrilled at me, “don’t you dare try to blackmail me with the Supreme Court!” back in ’16. Sigh. I don’t know why I even fucking bother. There’s a certain element of the white left that is just as arrogant ignorant, and clueless about their own privilege as the white right.
Jeffro
“Joe will surround himself with people who KNOW how to run the government…and CARE about running the government…”
OUCH!
SFAW
@Geminid:
My fervent hope is that he spends Election Day, 2021, under indictment, and has the opportunity to watch President Biden’s State of the Union in January, 2022, from his cell in Rikers.
SFAW
@Miss Bianca:
Fixed
BobS
@Miss Bianca: Yeah, I understand that, but we also live in a world in which none of us would have thought- in 2012- that Donald Trump could possibly be elected president in 2016. Shit happens, minds change, and I (for one) can be hopeful that hers someday will.
With respect to Biden/Harris and Biden/Obama, it’s the difference between probably winning in November and ‘no fucking contest’ in November.
joel hanes
@Miss Bianca:
Not sure of the word I’d want to use here
Delusional ?
A wish-fulfillment fantasy?
H.E.Wolf
Please forgive the lack of tactful diplomacy with which I am about to state this.
Neither of these intelligent, accomplished Black women is an hors d’oeuvres platter for our review and/or delectation. And one of them has repeatedly stated her disinterest in running for political office. We can trust her to know her own mind.
cmorenc
@Brachiator:
This tactic is a cousin to the classic Cavuto tactic of asking a question framed so it’s loaded with pejorative allegations designed to stick to its target, irrespective of the actual facts or answer. It refocuses the framing on the pejorative discount, rather than factual substance.
BobS
@H.E.Wolf: New to presidential politics, are we? Because “an hors d’oeuvres platter for our review” is exactly what VP sweepstakes are. You, me, and everyone knows that a woman, and more likely than not a woman of color, will be Biden’s VP pick, and any and all speculation will occur within those parameters.
If you really think otherwise, I have $1000 that says you’re wrong.
BobS
@joel hanes: How about someone who’d prefer a sure-bet at a time when American democracy is experiencing an existential crisis?
Baud
@Miss Bianca:
Yep. Some people are lost causes.
Matt McIrvin
On Twitter, “OMG Trump” was trending, and it seemed split 50-50 down the middle between “OMG Trump has gone even more insane than usual” and “OMG Trump is SAVAGELY owning the lying media”. (The word “savage” came up often enough that I assume it was an orchestrated talking point or a canned bot word; they’ve decided savage is awesome).
cain
@L85NJGT:
How so? Care to elaborate?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Miss Bianca: I see that phrasing a lot, the idea that discussing the SC is “blackmail”. I wonder where it started, with whom. Telling that the Moore-Sarandon left is so drawn to the idea that they’re being victimized when the actual consequences of their politics is put before them.
Geminid
@H.E.Wolf: good point.
Brachiator
@Matt McIrvin:
I wonder what it is that they think the media is lying about.
And yeah, I think a lot of this crap is an organized campaign. It’s almost as if it cannot be turned off once it is started.
BobS
@Geminid: And my answer/offer to you is the same as to H.E. Wolf- do you really think serious VP consideration is being given to a white male candidate (or any male candidate)?
I’ve got $1000 that says it’s a woman of color.
jimmiraybob
Q Baby!!
Geminid
@BobS: obviously it will be a woman. Biden said so. And I too think it will be a woman of color. I think Ms. Wolf’s point went right by you. But it was well said, and not deserving of your condescension.
BobS
@Geminid: Would you explain the point that I missed?
Geminid
@BobS: read her post. And think about it.
BobS
@Geminid: I did. It could be I’m not taking away the point intended. Would you explain to me what I’m missing?
Another Scott
@Gin & Tonic: COVID-19 and H1N1 swine flu? On top of the war and all the rest. :-(
Thanks for the pointer.
Cheers,
Scott.
stinger
@Baud: Por que no los tres?
Another Scott
@PJ: There’s a lot to like about Kamala, but she does have some baggage. Clyburn made a point of saying that there are a lot of excellent AA women out there.
I’ve mentioned before that a long time AA (male) friend in Ohio said that he would never vote for Kamala because of her history while she was a prosecutor. I don’t know how common that view is, but she obviously had trouble in SC. I think we need to give Biden the space to be thoughtful about his pick and consider all the plusses and minuses, and not assume that it’s naturally going to be one of the Senate women who ran against him.
My $0.02.
Cheers,
Scott.
Sm*t Cl*de
Caestigula. Everything sounds better in Latin.
J R in WV
@H.E.Wolf:
While this is self-evidently true, has anyone actually asked Ms Obama to run with him for President and Vice President? Am I completely wrong in thinking that the Obama family owns (or leases) a really nice DC home?
Could Michelle turn Joe Biden down as his running mate, knowing that she would probably become the first woman to become president? And the second African American? Not wanting something and being unwilling to save one’s nation from Trumpism are two different things.
I would bust my ass working to elect a third Biden-Obama ticket. If she knew that was true of millions of people, what would she do?