Politics Thread

[paulxu]

What drives so much of our discourse, unfortunately.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...users-rcna3581

[Strange Brew]

Huh?

Haha, good one.

[Masterofreality]

What drives so much of our discourse, unfortunately.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...users-rcna3581

No. What “drives most of our discourse” is false narratives perpetuated by corporate media that create false impressions.
Then the ignoring of important stories that defy that narrative. Example?
The mainstream media just followed the preferred narrative that parents were “domestic terrorists” after meetings in Loudon County VA became raucous because parents actually stood up to the School Board and one father was arrested for his disruption. CNN gladly reported on that.
But it took the Daily Caller, an right leaning independent outlet to break the story of the man’s daughter being raped in a bathroom by a cross dressing guy. The Daily Caller, who people like Paul call fringe conspiracy theorist media, did fine investigative reporting and now the Superintendent and Board members are being called to account, the rapist has now been implicated in another rape and arrested.
Guess who hasn’t reported a single word of this Daily Caller revelation?
CNN.

Yeah. We have a problem. And NBC news is part of it.

[xubrew]

I think that what ultimately drives the most discourse is that discourse seems to be becoming the main objective. It's all about trolling the other side, or sticking it to the other side. The actual policies don't matter. It's a turf war and the goal is to gain control of the turf and/or to deny the other side any control at all.

The Right calls out Fake News, and in a lot of cases they're right, and it's something that everyone should call out, but a huge faction of The Right also believes in Q, and that the election was stolen, and a bunch of other nonsense that is so fake that it's basically as fictitious as Lord of the Rings. They hate Fake News, but not the Fake News that works in their favor.

The Left is quick to call out what can accurately be described as an Insurrection at the Capitol, and they should. Everyone should. But they don't seem to see any problem with the violence that erupts at their own political protests. This, right here, is one of the many microcosms of the discourse that exists in our country. The Right supports the police!! But...not on January 6th. Not when the police are in THEIR way. The Left wants to Defund the Police!!! (which is stupid beyond description) but..not on January 6th. They wanted the cops on that day!

The Right fears socialism, but I guess they like it if it actually gives THEM something and their people are in charge. The first COVID stimulus checks were mailed out and approved under the Trump Administration. When push came to shove, all COVID testing and vaccines were free to the vast majority of people. The Left says The Right wants to take away their healthcare, but in the time of a pandemic the healthcare was there.

This is one of my favorite observations. I don't know how valid it is now, but I'll share it. You know how you can tell whether a person is liberal or conservative?? By how tidy their house is. Liberals are slobs. Conservatives are neat-freaks. Yet liberals care about the environment, and clean air, and healthy food, and safe farming, and conservatives don't seem to care that the Earth is quickly starting to resemble an elevator that someone farted in. That always seemed kind of backwards to me. But, the environment, and the climate is an issue. Industrial farming is an issue. It's an issue that effects all of us, but yet because (and really ONLY because) The Right looks at it as a "liberal issue," they always push back on it even though it's in their best interest not to. To bend on that would mean losing the turf war!! Even if you don't believe that pollution and the lax restrictions on industrial farming is bad for the climate, you have to at least admit that pollution causes pollution! Why can't the neat-freaks with tidy houses tell the rest of the slobs in America to clean up their freakin' mess!!?? We can't even agree that cleaner air, and healthier better food is a good thing!!

When Trump won in 2016, The Left couldn't handle it. They basically didn't. They basically accused the Russians of hacking in to the voting machines to sway the election toward Trump almost because they needed a coping mechanism. They didn't want to admit that the real reason they lost was because how much people in America thought they sucked. The Right was appalled at the response, and understandably so. They correctly pointed out that The Right had never acted that way before after an election, and insinuated in a way that was believable (at the time) that they never would. They would accept the results and move on. Well...in 2020, THAT OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T HAPPEN!!! Now The Left is calling out The Right for inventing a narrative rather than accepting the results, and they should. But, again, it's the double standard of each side throwing a fit and inventing a narrative when they don't win an election, and calling out the other side for not accepting the results when they do win an election.

The Right calls out The Left for Cancel Culture, and they should. Yet, Colin Kaepernick got cancelled. No one on The Right was too upset about that. They don't want people cancelled...except for the ones they do want cancelled. The Left criticizes The Right for this...yet they themselves won't stop cancelling people for stupid shit that usually doesn't matter and that oftentimes happened a long time ago. I'm highly concerned about the day that someone from The Left realizes that Willie Nelson played Uncle Jesse in The Dukes of Hazzard and demands that he be banished from society. Both sides are all for freedom of speech!! Unless, of course, it's something they don't want to hear.

Here is some advice that won't be followed...

TAKE IT DOWN A NOTCH!!! Realize that if the person who won the election is someone you didn't vote for that you're not shut out of the government, or the system, and that he or she still represents you. You didn't "lose" the turf war. You don't have to leave. Understand that while it looks like The Left and The Right are separated by a hundred miles, the wall that's separating them really isn't THAT tall or THAT deep. If for no other reason than a lot of the things that you think suck about the other side also suck about your own side. We all have to live together. No one is going anywhere. So, figure out out! Let's all grab some beers, and put the game on, and watch it together, and just chill the fuck out a little bit...

[Masterofreality]

Fair assessment Brew, but..

I know of no one who believes in Q. Nobody. That is an invention of the left to counter Antifa, which is totally real.
I know of zero riots initiated by “Q” whatever that is other than some trolls joking on 4Chan. January 6 had zero to do with “Q” except in leftist conspiracist minds.
Yeah, there are some who believe the election was stolen…ON BOTH SIDES! But no where near the numbers on the right that you may think. Stacy Abrams still thinks she won Georgia and never conceded. Al Gore and Dems still think he won. This is not merely a right side contention. I still think we got jobbed vs Ohio State, but it makes no difference. If there were mistakes, you correct and move on.

As to Kapaernick. Some “cancelling”. A guy who was destined to be a backup quarterback got a $17 million contract from Nike.
Let’s see if Enes Kanter, who is truly making a stand, gets anything- even tepid supports from the NBA. And where is Mr Outspoken Lebron James opining on this? (Crickets)

[paulxu]

You missed their convention in Las Vegas?

https://www.newsweek.com/republicans...nevada-1641562

(perhaps the "left" invented the convention...always possible I suppose)

[X-man]

You missed their convention in Las Vegas?

https://www.newsweek.com/republicans...nevada-1641562

(perhaps the "left" invented the convention...always possible I suppose)

When you see the list of "facts" in MOR's post above, it is yet more evidence that he is incapable of comprehending the reality of the election, the Trump wing of the Republican Party, and the dangers to democracy that exist because of them. You will never get through to him.

[Masterofreality]

You missed their convention in Las Vegas?

https://www.newsweek.com/republicans...nevada-1641562

(perhaps the "left" invented the convention...always possible I suppose)

When you see the list of "facts" in MOR's post above, it is yet more evidence that he is incapable of comprehending the reality of the election, the Trump wing of the Republican Party, and the dangers to democracy that exist because of them. You will never get through to him.

Interesting that the term QAnon only appears in corporate media descriptions of the event, not the official title or connected materials.
The real event name is : For God & Country: Patriot Double Down.

The article calls it “a QAnon event” in the writer’s words. The organizer is Ron Watkins, accused of at one time being behind the 'Q' account that sparked the conspiracy movement—a claim he has denied. Wow! He allegedly called himself “QAnon John” which means zero. I’ll call myself “Satan MOR” just for effect. Doesn’t make me Satan though. Some of you guys don’t think I’m a Master of Reality anyway, so what’s in a name?

Show me the proof, other than this author’s empty accusations and name calling that an actual QAnon exists other than the authors’ paragraph that states it is a described “online conspiracy movement.” The corporate press is great at slapping “brands” on things. Kinda like calling parents at school board meetings “Domestic Terrorists”, Right? Create that narrative tho.

Opposed to Biden that called Antifa “just an idea” while it has militant anarchists carrying a logo, dressing in black and wearing helmets attacking federal buildings, police and rioting in numerous cities as anarchists, QAnon is truly “an idea” that lives rent free in leftists and socialists heads.

Let me know next time when an alleged helmeted and black clad “QAnon” guy assaults and kills police and federal agents. Then I’ll believe you.

[paulxu]

I don't know if he was helmeted, but he probably didn't need it...he killed his own kids. He was "enlightened" though...so there is that.

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/13/10271...ed-him-to-kill

[X-man]

Interesting that the term QAnon only appears in corporate media descriptions of the event, not the official title or connected materials.
The real event name is : For God & Country: Patriot Double Down.

The article calls it “a QAnon event” in the writer’s words. The organizer is Ron Watkins, accused of at one time being behind the 'Q' account that sparked the conspiracy movement—a claim he has denied. Wow! He allegedly called himself “QAnon John” which means zero. I’ll call myself “Satan MOR” just for effect. Doesn’t make me Satan though. Some of you guys don’t think I’m a Master of Reality anyway, so what’s in a name?

Show me the proof, other than this author’s empty accusations and name calling that an actual QAnon exists other than the authors’ paragraph that states it is a described “online conspiracy movement.” The corporate press is great at slapping “brands” on things. Kinda like calling parents at school board meetings “Domestic Terrorists”, Right? Create that narrative tho.

Opposed to Biden that called Antifa “just an idea” while it has militant anarchists carrying a logo, dressing in black and wearing helmets attacking federal buildings, police and rioting in numerous cities as anarchists, QAnon is truly “an idea” that lives rent free in leftists and socialists heads.

Let me know next time when an alleged helmeted and black clad “QAnon” guy assaults and kills police and federal agents. Then I’ll believe you.

Glad to see that you are positing that all those people with "Q" regalia are totally delusional.