John Oliver: Make Donald "Drumf" Again.

[Bridges]

The only people who are afraid of the guy are the established politicians.  I've felt this way for a while - I don't care who wins POTUS as long as it's Sanders or Trump. 

That's funny.  Bernie and Trump are both tapping into the anti-establishment populist movement.  Both Republicans and Democrats have been let down by their candidates in the past.  Promises swept away for payoffs to the oligarchy.

The irony though is that they couldn't be more opposite in terms of political ideology.  Bernie has a very strict belief and policy pattern.  Trump, well, I like Mark Bowden's description in Vanity Fair:

His latest outrageous edict on banning all Muslims from entering the country comes as no surprise to me based on the man I met nearly 20 years ago. He has no coherent political philosophy, so comparisons with Fascist leaders miss the mark. He just reacts. Trump lives in a fantasy of perfection, with himself as its animating force.

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/12/donald-trump-mark-bowden-playboy-profile

[peestandingup]

With much of Trump's campaign revolving around his near-constant demonization of reporters, restrictions on the media and appeals to callous authoritarianism, perhaps this response shouldn't be surprising. But it reflects an environment in which people feel comfortable saying it's OK to use physical violence -- and perhaps even violate someone's rights -- to put those who would challenge authority in their place.

Later video would show that the agent grabbed Morris around the neck and threw him on the ground first. Morris then got up and put a hand to the agent's throat, "in order to demonstrate the choke hold he had just experienced," according to a statement from Time.

Yeah, it seems by watching the extended clip the photog put his hands on the agent after he got slammed (so I was wrong there). I still can't tell what happened before that or if the photog put his hands on him first (they're hidden from view). Still, I wouldn't know what Trump has to do with that since he didn't command him to do so & its between the agent/the photog. The agent does seem outta line though. That's not cool.

and his recent refusal to disavow David Duke and white supremacists.

See, this is kinda my point. He did disavow as soon as he heard about it. It was at the Chris Christie endorsement q&a (and its on video, look for the full event vid). Then the very next day the media & GOP establishment (who came outta the woodwork for this) was making headlines pretending they didn't hear it. And its been parroted ever since. How many times should he be required to say it before the media actually reports it?

Its obvious, blatantly so, that all the hit pieces from news, media & old crows at the GOP that's happened over the last few days leading up to Super Tuesday is for a reason. They're making a last ditch effort to derail him, and it wont work. They're too late & they underestimated him from the beginning, and overvalued their old party talking points. I'm not saying some of the criticism isn't warranted, and god knows there's a lot you could go after him on. But like I said, that should show you the deep collusion between the party leaders & the media in general, which is something we can all agree needs to stop whatever side you're on.

I don't care either way, and I'm not particularly a fan. I'm just telling you what's happening & what I think is going to happen.

EDIT: Here's the clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXOkKMwIBo8&t=13m24s

[Tacachale]

With much of Trump's campaign revolving around his near-constant demonization of reporters, restrictions on the media and appeals to callous authoritarianism, perhaps this response shouldn't be surprising. But it reflects an environment in which people feel comfortable saying it's OK to use physical violence -- and perhaps even violate someone's rights -- to put those who would challenge authority in their place.

Later video would show that the agent grabbed Morris around the neck and threw him on the ground first. Morris then got up and put a hand to the agent's throat, "in order to demonstrate the choke hold he had just experienced," according to a statement from Time.

Yeah, it seems by watching the extended clip the photog put his hands on the agent after he got slammed (so I was wrong there). I still can't tell what happened before that or if the photog put his hands on him first (they're hidden from view). Still, I wouldn't know what Trump has to do with that since he didn't command him to do so & its between the agent/the photog. The agent does seem outta line though. That's not cool.

and his recent refusal to disavow David Duke and white supremacists.

See, this is kinda my point. He did disavow as soon as he heard about it. It was at the Chris Christie endorsement q&a (and its on video, look for the full event vid). Then the very next day the media & GOP establishment (who came outta the woodwork for this) was making headlines pretending they didn't hear it. And its been parroted ever since. How many times should he be required to say it before the media actually reports it?

Its obvious, blatantly so, that all the hit pieces from news, media & old crows at the GOP that's happened over the last few days leading up to Super Tuesday is for a reason. They're making a last ditch effort to derail him, and it wont work. They're too late & they underestimated him from the beginning, and overvalued their old party talking points. I'm not saying some of the criticism isn't warranted, and god knows there's a lot you could go after him on. But like I said, that should show you the deep collusion between the party leaders & the media in general, which is something we can all agree needs to stop whatever side you're on.

I don't care either way, and I'm not particularly a fan. I'm just telling you what's happening & what I think is going to happen.

EDIT: Here's the clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXOkKMwIBo8&t=13m24s

I meant refusing to disavow David Duke in that first interview. He knew exactly who David Duke was, he pays people to keep on top of that stuff for him, and he's been quoted criticizing Duke in the past. And clearly he knows what "white supremacy" means. He only disavowed it later when he got called on it - that's the issue. He's catering to people's worst tendencies, by design. This is a legitimate criticism - in fact, most of the points of criticism against him have been. The only question is why it didn't happen to this extent until recently. The GOP clearly underestimated him (or wishfully hoped he'd go away) but the media is another question.

[peestandingup]

He only disavowed it later when he got called on it - that's the issue.

No, he actually did it the day it happened at that Christie rally I linked to, well before that interview you're alluding to. And as you've said, he's been on record from the past disavowing him well before this. So again, how many times should he talk about some loser ex KKK member nobody cares about before it satisfies everyone?

Granted Trump was probably playing dumb during that later interview & deflecting. He obviously knows who he is & what white supremcy is. The interviewer was asking him to disavow any group that he (the interviewer) deems questionable & tell them all right then & there not to vote for him. Trump said to send them who these groups were & he could answer the question. That's normal political stuff & there's really nothing to see here.

Anyways, Duke left & denounced the KKK decades ago for their hate & violence, just like Democratic Senator Robert Byrd (which of whom the Clintons were pretty cozy with), or Dems playing up to black lives matter (who have had members say/do some really hate-filled racist things). No one talks about those though.

[Tacachale]

He only disavowed it later when he got called on it - that's the issue.

No, he actually did it the day it happened at that Christie rally I linked to, well before that interview you're alluding to. And as you've said, he's been on record from the past disavowing him well before this. So again, how many times should he talk about some loser ex KKK member nobody cares about before it satisfies everyone?

Granted Trump was probably playing dumb during that later interview & deflecting. He obviously knows who he is & what white supremcy is. The interviewer was asking him to disavow any group that he (the interviewer) deems questionable & tell them all right then & there not to vote for him. Trump said to send them who these groups were & he could answer the question. That's normal political stuff & there's really nothing to see here.

Anyways, Duke left & denounced the KKK decades ago for their hate & violence, just like Democratic Senator Robert Byrd (which of whom the Clintons were pretty cozy with), or Dems playing up to black lives matter (who have had members say/do some really hate-filled racist things). No one talks about those though.

He was deflecting, and that's the issue. He goes whichever way the mop flops on the white supremacy issue: Friday (and before) he knew who Duke was and disavowed his support (in a wishy washy way), Sunday he didn't know him and wouldn't disavow him, and Monday he disavowed him again after getting crap for it. If this was some other issue, it wouldn't be news, but he's the only candidate in the country who wouldn't immediately distance themself from white supremacists (Duke is still one, regardless of leaving the KKK, and he's not the only one who's expressed support for Trump). At any rate it's a symptom of the bigger issue. It's part of the pattern of all the other crap he says to appeal to the worst in American voters.

[peestandingup]

They ALL do it. Trump is no different. Its like when a reporter asked Hillary if she wiped the data clean on her email server prior to having it seized & she replied "like, with a cloth or something??" looking as if she didn't understand what they meant, then deflection.

I mean, we could give examples of stuff like this all day with every candidate/politician in history. All of them.

[Tacachale]

^They all do it, just not on the matter of support from white supremacists.

[whyisjohngalt]

^^^^ Sounds like you think you're better than the white supremacists. 

Wouldn't that make you a white supremacists white supremacist?

[simonsays]

I'm with Spy. He's a short fingered vulgarian and that's about it.......

[peestandingup]

I think the left is mostly scared that he'll actually win the Presidency. After Trump runs the board on Super Tuesday & Bernie drops out (and he will, it'll become clear then that it'll be impossible for him to win), it'll just be Trump & Clinton. I see many (not all, but many) voting Trump in the general because they fucking hate Hillary (I mean they REALLY hate her). They'll do it purely for spite & a "burn it to the ground" viewpoint. Trump will also totally stick the knife in & twist it during those debates with her, saying things that no other candidate would dare to say. All leading Trump to win the nomination. Mark it down.

Hi, guys.

[bill]

I think the left is mostly scared that he'll actually win the Presidency. After Trump runs the board on Super Tuesday & Bernie drops out (and he will, it'll become clear then that it'll be impossible for him to win), it'll just be Trump & Clinton. I see many (not all, but many) voting Trump in the general because they fucking hate Hillary (I mean they REALLY hate her). They'll do it purely for spite & a "burn it to the ground" viewpoint. Trump will also totally stick the knife in & twist it during those debates with her, saying things that no other candidate would dare to say. All leading Trump to win the nomination. Mark it down.

Hi, guys.

crickets

[peestandingup]

I think the left is mostly scared that he'll actually win the Presidency. After Trump runs the board on Super Tuesday & Bernie drops out (and he will, it'll become clear then that it'll be impossible for him to win), it'll just be Trump & Clinton. I see many (not all, but many) voting Trump in the general because they fucking hate Hillary (I mean they REALLY hate her). They'll do it purely for spite & a "burn it to the ground" viewpoint. Trump will also totally stick the knife in & twist it during those debates with her, saying things that no other candidate would dare to say. All leading Trump to win the nomination. Mark it down.

Hi, guys.

crickets

Meh. It's to he expected.

And I'm really not trying to toot my own horn, but I've been saying this since Oct of last year. This is a classic case of the left believing their own hype, being dismissive & not recognizing the state of the average voter across the country.

It was enviable. I don't normally make bold predictions, but it was crystal clear to me what was happening. I wouldn't have said it otherwise.

[Adam White]

You had a 50/50 chance of getting it right. I have a hard time believing you had any greater insight than people who do this for a living.

If you had got it wrong, you'd be on here explaining how your opinion was correct at the time or something - or how the election was stolen, etc.

[peestandingup]

You had a 50/50 chance of getting it right. I have a hard time believing you had any greater insight than people who do this for a living.

If you had got it wrong, you'd be on here explaining how your opinion was correct at the time or something - or how the election was stolen, etc.

Sure Adam. Except I've been say this for many months (feel free to check my history). Were the other points lucky guesses too? I don't post often, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

Speaking to that, why would I? I was basically dismissed (and sometimes attacked) by 90% of this board for simply telling people these things. Then watching day after day of the stories & headlines being posted from the typical junk media outlets, rinse, repeat. It was this dismissiveness, and frankly arrogance, that lost the left elections far & wide, including the POTUS. Not to mention they had a completely shit candidate buried with actual real scandals & collusions.

So yeah. The left is gonna have to do some soul searching, cut the rhetoric, and figure out where to go from here. Again, I've been saying this exact thing for a long long time, and its come to roost.

They did this. Don't forget it.

[BridgeTroll]

Ding!  Ding! Ding!  We have a winner!

It was this dismissiveness, and frankly arrogance, that lost the left elections far & wide, including the POTUS. Not to mention they had a completely shit candidate buried with actual real scandals & collusions.

Rural america and the forgotten "flyovers" roared...