Politics 2017

[lost highway]

Ooops. Kevin and I grabbed the same little summary of garbage going on.  Sorry Kevin. I saw it and felt a powerful need to share it here, before I read the latest posts.

 

I'll leave it on so we can all read it twice.... and.... really... let.... this... sink.... in.  Blurrgh!

[John Smith]

They quietly figured out a work around on the ethics thing. Last week they passed a rule that allows members of congress to keep their records hidden from ethics investigations. This just makes me think that they are hiding major shit that people were sniffing around and/or they intend to do what grey want when they want with impunity. Looks like government is for sale.

[Passenger Sid]

Per DT tweet today Streep is an overrated actresss...and he has denied ever mocking that disabled reporter. Apparently he is unaware of the video of him

Mocking the guy. What an asshole.

 

I didn't see the Golden Globes speech, but I like Patrick Coffin's take on it. Coffin is former host of Catholic Answers Live. He writes Streep's comments in quotes followed by his take:

 

"Just to pick up on what (actor) Hugh Laurie said, you and all of us in this room really belong to the most vilified segments of American society right now."

Um, Meryl, I adore your talent -- I do -- but listen to yourself. You're wearing a $18,000 gown; a sleek limousine will float you home to Malibu; your net worth is north of $65,000,000; people seek your autograph, signed photo, and opinions every day of the week. I know you were going for facetious here, but...

 

"So I only ask the famously well-heeled Hollywood Foreign Press and all of us in our community to join me in supporting the Committee to Protect Journalists, because we’re gonna need them going forward, and they’ll need us to safeguard the truth."

 

Hahahahahahaahahahahahahahaha! I though she said we are going to need Hollywood celebs to safeguard the truth!

 

"It was that moment when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter, someone he outranked in privilege, power, and the capacity to fight back. It -- it kind of broke my heart when I saw it."

 

This is an allusion to the claim that Donald Trump did a mock impersonation of a handicapped reporter who wrote something negative about him (Trump). I have no idea where the truth lies on this, but for now, let it be said I don't support the mocking of people based on things they can't control, like physical looks. But have you seen the bazillion mocking images and impersonations liberals come up to mock Donald Trump's looks? I'll go out on a limb and I say I doubt these break Meryl's dear heart.

 

As for her advocacy of the underprivileged and the disabled -- I say, fantastic. But wasn't a disabled teenager tortured on Facebook Live only days ago by four African-American adults, who forced him to say "F*** Trump, f*** white people," and all manner of other vile things, while being gagged with tape, cut with a knife, and forced to shove his head into the toilet. Beyond terrifying.

[John Smith]

That was terrible what those people did to that young man and they will go to prison for a long time. But nice use of misdirection. I'm anxiously awaiting your rant about John Howard and his sentencing. But I digress, my main concern is what does that crime in Chicago have to do with Meryl Streep and what she had to say?

 

Is she only allowed to speak out abou pre-approved topics? Or does she have to mention those kids and condemn BLM, who had nothing to do with that crime, before she is allowed to speak out on other issues? It's just more faux outrage, she has every right to speak out as much as she wants. If people want celebrities to STFU then they need to speak out and condem all celebrities to STFU, including Mike Rowe, Ted Nugent, John Voigt, James Woods, Ben Stein and others...and that will never happen.

 

Btw nice on calling the assailents adults (three are 18 and one is 23) and calling the 18 yr old victim a teenager. The whole situation is horrible, no need to exaggerate to make it worse.

[KevinG]

Why do we give a fuck about what Streep said about PEOTUS?  Or what PEOTUS thinks about Streep?  We all saw the video.  We can come to our conclusions.  Meryl has every right to say what she thinks (unless there is a part in the constitution that I missed where celebrities can't speak their mind).  But it is all stupid trivial stuff.  Easy and fun to talk about, but nothing more than a distraction.  

 

But hey right now Jeff Sessions sitting in front of Senate Confirmation Hearing, who in 1986 was deemed to racist to be a Federal Judge and who currently may or may not have serious ethic violations and conflicts.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sessions-failed-to-disclose-oil-interests-as-required-ethics-experts-say/2017/01/09/56fdce24-d67c-11e6-b8b2-cb5164beba6b_story.html?utm_term=.40d8b3afd696.  PEOTUS wants him to be Attorney General.  The GOP controlled Senate will allow this to happen. This is the story we need to talk about.  

 

What currently is happening is scary stuff.

[John Smith]

One way to bring attention to it is to have someone notable tweet that Trump made an awful choice for AG, Trump will then have to respond (he can't help himself) and he will shine the light on sessions unintentionally.

 

Regardless though McConnell has pretty much made it clear that all of these people will get senate approval regardless of their issues.

 

All the other stuff is just diversionary bs to Allie the T's to rule as though they hold 100 senate seats and every hose seat.

[Passenger Sid]

I'm not a fan of Trump. But it REALLY fascinates me how worked up people are getting over his every move. He still has "elect" on his title. 

 

I'm gonna go out a very large and sturdy limb...Hollywood, those in entertainment media, and musicians are gonna force-feed us normal folks one helping of whine after the next in a lot of their creative output the next 4 years. 

[lost highway]

I'm not a fan of Trump. 

 

Do you have any feelings about why Russia wanted him to win?

[tinnitus photography]

I'm gonna go out a very large and sturdy limb...Hollywood, those in entertainment media, and musicians are gonna force-feed us normal folks one helping of whine after the next in a lot of their creative output the next 4 years. 

kinda like Travis Twitt?

 

lol, he got owned hard.

https://twitter.com/travistritt/status/818339794325479424

[Doug C]

I'm not a fan of Trump. But it REALLY fascinates me how worked up people are getting over his every move. He still has "elect" on his title. 

 

 

I get worked up over his (most) every move because they are unbecoming of the president elect of the United States of America. If Obama had replied to individuals via Twitter, mocked a persons disability, etc., then you would have truly seen people worked up over someone's every move.

[tinnitus photography]

^^^

 

yep, the double standard here is staggering.

[KevinG]

I'm not a fan of Trump. But it REALLY fascinates me how worked up people are getting over his every move. He still has "elect" on his title. 

 

Well considering that currently the people who will be advising him are currently being pushed through the confirmation process with a fraction of the vetting that every other appointee has had is pretty concerning.  People need to get worked up over that cause that is happening right fucking now.    

 

As for his twitter or whatever damn fool fight he gets into with whatever celeb, people should not get worked up over that.  It is the rantings of a petulant child.  It should be ignored.   

[lost highway]

It's a new shift in our political landscape. We are now cool with Russia, but have some serious tensions with SNL, the FBI, the CIA and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sanctions may be necessary. 

[tinnitus photography]

It's a new shift in our political landscape. We are now cool with Russia, but have some serious tensions with SNL and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sanctions may be necessary. 

[jff]

 

"It was that moment when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter, someone he outranked in privilege, power, and the capacity to fight back. It -- it kind of broke my heart when I saw it."

 

This is an allusion to the claim that Donald Trump did a mock impersonation of a handicapped reporter who wrote something negative about him (Trump). I have no idea where the truth lies on this, but for now, let it be said I don't support the mocking of people based on things they can't control, like physical looks. But have you seen the bazillion mocking images and impersonations liberals come up to mock Donald Trump's looks? I'll go out on a limb and I say I doubt these break Meryl's dear heart.

 

 

 

What a crock.  Trump CAN control the aspects of his appearance that people make fun of...his hair and his orange makeup.  Equating hair styles and cosmetic choices with a physical or mental handicap is disgusting.

[John Smith]

What a crock. Trump CAN control the aspects of his appearance that people make fun of...his hair and his orange makeup. Equating hair styles and cosmetic choices with a physical or mental handicap is disgusting.

And a president/presidential candidate should be able to rise above criticism.

[Passenger Sid]

I get worked up over his (most) every move because they are unbecoming of the president elect of the United States of America. If Obama had replied to individuals via Twitter, mocked a persons disability, etc., then you would have truly seen people worked up over someone's every move.

 

 

I agree. Trump's narcissistic. He's defensive. He's thin-skinned. His ego is out of control (although, I'd argue ALL Presidents' egos are).

 

My point is that, as a fan of late night comedy TV, and movies, and entertainers and music....it's gonna be a sucky, whiny, bitch-and-moan fest the next 4 years from 90% of the entertainment media.

 

Probably every new record is gonna reference evil Trump. Every freaking concert I go to. Every Fallon and Kimmel and Colbert monologue.

 

Trump won. Fair and square. I'd rather people accept it and get out the vote in 4 years rather than complain 24/7.

[lost highway]

I agree. Trump's narcissistic. He's defensive. He's thin-skinned. His ego is out of control (although, I'd argue ALL Presidents' egos are).

 

My point is that, as a fan of late night comedy TV, and movies, and entertainers and music....it's gonna be a sucky, whiny, bitch-and-moan fest the next 4 years from 90% of the entertainment media.

 

Probably every new record is gonna reference evil Trump. Every freaking concert I go to. Every Fallon and Kimmel and Colbert monologue.

 

Trump won. Fair and square. I'd rather people accept it and get out the vote in 4 years rather than complain 24/7.

 

I think some of what you're saying here is fair. I'm also a fan of late night comedy TV, and I also dislike when they do a Trump story that isn't particularly pertinent, or insightful.... because "that's just what we're doing these days".

 

But I also think we should be engaged, and vigilant, not merely wait 4 years. I think if we look at what real conservatism means- limiting the power of government, stopping corruption, increasing transparency, as well as what real progressivism means- preventing the very rich from rigging the system to benefit themselves, while trying to give the poor an opportunity to further themselves and enjoy basic dignities.  From both of these perspectives Trump is a serious risk.

 

As a hyper-simplified analysis conservatism works to protect the people from the government, and liberalism works to protect the people from the rich.  Donald Trump is powerful in each of those respects.

 

I won't sit and wait for 4 years while he spends my tax dollars to build an inflammatory and impractical wall.  I won't sit and wait while he appoints cronies to oversee massive industries they still have personal and financial ties to.  I don't just accept someone siding with the Russian government over our most important intelligence agencies. I don't really give a shit about being a democrat at this point.  It's more about being American.

 

And at the end of the day Trump didn't win fair and square. He had the Kremlin helping him.  Reagan is rolling in his grave.

 

** Also, P.S. thanks for posting.  It helps to have a conservative voice in the mix.

[kidsmoke]

I agree. Trump's narcissistic. He's defensive. He's thin-skinned. His ego is out of control (although, I'd argue ALL Presidents' egos are).

 

My point is that, as a fan of late night comedy TV, and movies, and entertainers and music....it's gonna be a sucky, whiny, bitch-and-moan fest the next 4 years from 90% of the entertainment media.

 

Probably every new record is gonna reference evil Trump. Every freaking concert I go to. Every Fallon and Kimmel and Colbert monologue.

 

Trump won. Fair and square. I'd rather people accept it and get out the vote in 4 years rather than complain 24/7.

 

I don't agree that he won fair and square, not by any stretch of the imagination. I think time will expose just how crooked this "win" really was.

[John Smith]

The alternative to resisting his presidency, to calling h on his bullshit is bending over and grabbing your ankles. I'll take the bitching and moaning.

 

Re the sessions hearing, and pretty much all the hearings to come...I see Sessions and other nominees as bad picks horribly unqualified in one way or another, definitely not people who will unify the country. The republicans however are viewing these guys favorably and as the sorts of people they want in these positions to further the conservative agenda. They are not radicals to them.

 

Edit...I think the story on Trumps golden shower fantasy sounds plausible but I'll bet it's fake. If the story were about bill or hill or any other dem, it would be all over the news. Funny stuff nonetheless.

 

Edit edit looks like this story is out there, waiting anxiously for fox and Breitbart spin.

[ih8music]

yeah, it's frankly difficult to take the golden shower fetish part of the report seriously.  I mean, anything is possible I suppose, but that would be exceptionally reckless behavior on his part.

[KevinG]

I agree. Trump's narcissistic. He's defensive. He's thin-skinned. His ego is out of control (although, I'd argue ALL Presidents' egos are).

 

My point is that, as a fan of late night comedy TV, and movies, and entertainers and music....it's gonna be a sucky, whiny, bitch-and-moan fest the next 4 years from 90% of the entertainment media.

 

Probably every new record is gonna reference evil Trump. Every freaking concert I go to. Every Fallon and Kimmel and Colbert monologue.

 

Trump won. Fair and square. I'd rather people accept it and get out the vote in 4 years rather than complain 24/7.

 

Heaven forbid, the entertainment industry try to affect change with their constitutional right to free speech.  They should offend your fragile sensibilities.  Yes Trump won the election, he will be president.  However it is important to remember that he lost the popular vote by nearly 3 million.  I am not saying that this de-legitimizes his presidency, but a majority of Americans saw him as unfit to lead this country.  A majority voters saw him mock a disabled reporter, advocate sexual assault, urge a foreign government to interfere into our election process, encourage violence and regularly lie to the American public.  

 

They now see a person who is installing advisers who are unqualified, may or may not have serious ethical conflicts, want to dismantle or fundamentally change their cabinets, advocate dangerous ideas (the RFK jr meeting, etc is the scariest one of the bunch) and frankly are flat out racist.  

 

So yeah there are nearly 66 million people who did not want Donald Trump as president and see him as dangerous.  Many of them in the entertainment industry.  It is the duty of every American to actively use their constitutional right to complain, bitch, and point out how they think their government is doing them wrong.  It is the core value that our country was built upon.  Just as you have a right not to listen, buy, or watch.  But do not chide someone's right to say what they feel.  

[lost highway]

yeah, it's frankly difficult to take the golden shower fetish part of the report seriously. I mean, anything is possible I suppose, but that would be exceptionally reckless behavior on his part.

I'm with you. Whether it happened or not, I don't think his critics should focus on it. There are so many things of greater consequence that he needs to answer for. We already heard him boast of sexual assault, how would gossip about some kink do anything anyhow?

[John Smith]

His minions and synchophants are claiming that the whole issue is an elaborate hoax perpetrated by 4chan, while the Donald in his twitter tirade blasted intelligence agencies for leaking the report. Conway grudgingly admitted that it was part of an Intelligence briefing the Donald received, but that it was in an appendix way in the back. Regardless the report taken in whole paints a very damning picture of s supremely compromised president and implicated the Republican Party as being if not active participants at least willing to turn a blind eye to all of this. Which their supporters are 100% fine with.

[Sir Stewart]

I'm not a fan of Trump. But it REALLY fascinates me how worked up people are getting over his every move. He still has "elect" on his title. 

 

I'm gonna go out a very large and sturdy limb...Hollywood, those in entertainment media, and musicians are gonna force-feed us normal folks one helping of whine after the next in a lot of their creative output the next 4 years. 

 

You're a real weirdo.