4 thoughts on “Monday Open Thread”

1. I keep wondering WHY Trump is a leading candidate among the Republicans. Others have questions, too: Charlie Sykes, one-time talk-radio host and strong advocate for the Republican takeover of Wisconsin, writes this morning in the Bulwark:

   Catching up on this Day of Atonement

   Let’s start with some relevant context:

   In the last few days, the leading GOP candidate for president — the twice impeached, defeated former president, who is facing four criminal indictments — suggested the execution of General Mark Milley; demanded a federal shutdown unless the prosecutions against him are defunded; called on all Senate Democrats to resign; and threatened to use the powers of the federal government to retaliate against news outlets like NBC that had criticized him.

   This is the same former president who has called for terminating provisions of the Constitution; orchestrated a coup to overturn the last presidential election; and absconded with military secrets. Lest you have forgotten, he has also been found liable for rape; and faces more than 90 felony counts for (among other things) paying off a porn star, conspiracy, obstruction, and defrauding the federal government.

   And just a few days ago, we got a new report reminding us of the depths of the former president’s contempt for disabled and wounded veterans.

   At his welcome ceremony at Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall, across the Potomac River from the capital, Milley gained an early, and disturbing, insight into Trump’s attitude toward soldiers. Milley had chosen a severely wounded Army captain, Luis Avila, to sing “God Bless America.” Avila, who had completed five combat tours, had lost a leg in an IED attack in Afghanistan, and had suffered two heart attacks, two strokes, and brain damage as a result of his injuries. To Milley, and to four-star generals across the Army, Avila and his wife, Claudia, represented the heroism, sacrifice, and dignity of wounded soldiers….

   After Avila’s performance, Trump walked over to congratulate him, but then said to Milley, within earshot of several witnesses, “Why do you bring people like that here? No one wants to see that, the wounded.” Never let Avila appear in public again, Trump told Milley. (Recently, Milley invited Avila to sing at his retirement ceremony.)

   I’m pretty certain most readers here can add to the list, announcing their own anecdote of Trump violating Presidential norms.

   For any supporters, what is the equivalent list about Biden? Or why doesn’t any of this matter to you?

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   1. The reason is simple.

      He directs his pitch to stupid people who are frightened of the world that is changing, resentful towards those they hold responsible, and seeking reassurance that the world in which they grew up can be restored.

      This may come as a surprise but most people in this country do not think like those who post on this site.

      He offers them everything they seek. And he validates their racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia.  In sum, he co-signs their bullshit and they love him for that.

       

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   2. Why TFG won’t debate: cognitively, he isn’t up to it. Here he is confusing Jeb with Dubya Bush….ranting that Jeb got us into the Iraq war. 
       

      He knows that his deluded supporters idolize the image of “Trump”, the he-man who has little in common with the real, Covid-damaged,  addled sociopath. 

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2. Here's something new for the anti-science, anti-public health, MAGAts ….

   Parasitic Brain Worm Spreading Across Southeastern U.S., Scientists Warn (msn.com)

   Although let's face it. Any worm that managed to bore its way inside the head of a MAGAt would likely find an empty shell and starve to death.

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