One reason NOT to relax: repetition of bullshit works, and it's proven itself time and again to be especially effective with MAGAs and the MAGA-adjacent. In controlled cog psych studies, the illusory truth effect (BS repetition) works for humans of any stripe – even when the subjects absolutely know the claim is total bullshit. It's just less cognitively demanding to buy bullshit one has heard before. And Trump's a master of the art.
So, is dumb McCarthyism flawed and illogical? Yes. Have I picked my jaw up off the ground thousands of times in the age of Trump, at the sheer stupidity of MAGA gullibility? Also yes.
Exactly. They'll all be parroting, "Those dumocrats are all communists" while having no clue what communism actually is or if there is a single Democrat that supports it.
One of the segments of the Daily Show I love the best is when Jordan Klepper goes out and interviews Trump supporters. I remember once years back when he went around and was asking them about what they thought of Obamacare. Naturally, they all loathed it. Then he was like - what would you think of a plan that couldn't deny you for pre-existing conditions? (Love it!) How about one that would let your kids stay on until the age of 26? (Great!) He went through the provisions, and they all thought the plan was amazing. Then he was like - what if we called it the Affordable Care Act? (That's a great name!) And then he'd be like, that's literally Obamacare, and they'd just stand there with bewildered looks on their faces.
This is brilliant. Now please tell Democrats how to get their act together and create/distribute a powerful message that "what they want is essentially a free enterprise system with more robust regulation and a more comprehensive system of social supports.- but in plain english
I'm no expert but something like
We're not Communists - they want the government to own and regulate everything.
Repbulicans want a government that lets a few super rich white folks own everything.
Democrats want a government that makes sure everyone is free, and able to meet the basic needs for food, shelter, healthcare, good roads and bridges, and a safer world.
In other words, let's take back Abraham Lincoln: He expressed this philosophy in an 1854 fragment on government, writing: “The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves — in their separate, and individual capacities.”
Thanks for all you do, and for allowing free subscribers to comment!
Yes, as the late Hunter Thompson long ago pointed out, the GOP thrives on messages full of "Fear & Loathing. All Americans Trump's age were taught in grammar school to hate commies. Ironic, is it not, that Trump's best (only?) friend Vlad is head of a communist country - Russia? Furthermore, being 79 myself, I get the impression that fear of communism is no longer emphasized in public schools. Does Donny know that?
-----------------------
Regardless, equating socialism with communism as twin evils has long been a goal of the billionaire class, who are wealthy beyond imagination thanks to America's rigged capitalist economic system. So branding liberals as communists is not a totally blunt weapon. I wonder if Democrats will find the courage to challenge being labeled as commies with "bullshit," and then link their platforms and goals to promoting the quality of life promised in our Constitution.
We should also constantly remind voters that Trump has demanded, and received, stock ownership (or some sort of equity agreement) in 15 corporations (including Intel, US Steel, Nvidia, etc.). Sounds like communism to me, government ownership of production.
To reduce the power of the Oligarchs, please support and vote for these Democratic candidates for the Senate: SC: Anne Andrews, FL: Alexander Vindman, TX: James Talarico, IA Josh Turek
NH: Chris Pappas, GA: John Ossoff, AK: Mary Peltola, OH: Sherrod Brown,
NC: Roy Cooper, ME:____________, MN:____________, MI:________________.
Join these organizations that help you send postcards to likely Democratic voters urging them to VOTE:
I’m 83 and last night I believe were like those who in the 50’ who gathered too watch Joe punish men.
Scary, people were sure he was correct,he destroyed lives. Finally a Brahmin lawyer Saudi, “: have you no decency”. The image joined a picture if Cohn next to Joe. Recall, Cohn advised Trump people hate communism though it does not exist. We should all watch the revised video
I hope this is right. Just yesterday my local newspaper had a feature on a newly-elected county board [overwhelmingly Republican] chairman. Just a normal-sounding guy on a path of public service. The reporter asked him about Trump and his key feedback was that people really don't want communists in charge. This message might not attract new voters, but the base accepts and repeats whatever they're told.
What pathetic parrots these people be. Like Henny Penny “the sky is falling!” Aren’t the actions of his administration more communist – they ARE taking ownership in companies and telling them what to do. BTW, I love Aaron’s photo on the posts – mitigates the disgust created by the content!
C'mon, Democrats, produce a Tik Tok (not "tic tac") video of young people rapping Blizzi Boi's "Forty-Oooooone" back at Trump's "Communism." First, a young person, then the geezer, back and forth. Make sure there's a good mix of every type of young person that the bigots hate.
One reason NOT to relax: repetition of bullshit works, and it's proven itself time and again to be especially effective with MAGAs and the MAGA-adjacent. In controlled cog psych studies, the illusory truth effect (BS repetition) works for humans of any stripe – even when the subjects absolutely know the claim is total bullshit. It's just less cognitively demanding to buy bullshit one has heard before. And Trump's a master of the art.
So, is dumb McCarthyism flawed and illogical? Yes. Have I picked my jaw up off the ground thousands of times in the age of Trump, at the sheer stupidity of MAGA gullibility? Also yes.
Exactly. They'll all be parroting, "Those dumocrats are all communists" while having no clue what communism actually is or if there is a single Democrat that supports it.
One of the segments of the Daily Show I love the best is when Jordan Klepper goes out and interviews Trump supporters. I remember once years back when he went around and was asking them about what they thought of Obamacare. Naturally, they all loathed it. Then he was like - what would you think of a plan that couldn't deny you for pre-existing conditions? (Love it!) How about one that would let your kids stay on until the age of 26? (Great!) He went through the provisions, and they all thought the plan was amazing. Then he was like - what if we called it the Affordable Care Act? (That's a great name!) And then he'd be like, that's literally Obamacare, and they'd just stand there with bewildered looks on their faces.
The MAGA will be condemning communist Democrats while pumping gas at the new state owned Trump gas stations.
At that point Gilda Radner should pop in with "Never mind!"
You can’t make this shit up
Trump himself can't even describe the tenets of communism.
Just FYI, this isn't a diss on Waldman's article, which is top-tier, as usual!
A quibble: Trump is a con man, not an artist—a bully without charm or wit or manners, certainly not the charisma of that artist.
Note, however, that the term "con artist" is in Merriam-Webster's. <g>
“Hatred is the coward's revenge for being intimidated.” - George Bernard Shaw
This is brilliant. Now please tell Democrats how to get their act together and create/distribute a powerful message that "what they want is essentially a free enterprise system with more robust regulation and a more comprehensive system of social supports.- but in plain english
I'm no expert but something like
We're not Communists - they want the government to own and regulate everything.
Repbulicans want a government that lets a few super rich white folks own everything.
Democrats want a government that makes sure everyone is free, and able to meet the basic needs for food, shelter, healthcare, good roads and bridges, and a safer world.
In other words, let's take back Abraham Lincoln: He expressed this philosophy in an 1854 fragment on government, writing: “The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves — in their separate, and individual capacities.”
Thanks for all you do, and for allowing free subscribers to comment!
No in Trump's mind it is still 1960. And his Father's praise of McCarthy is still ringing in his ears.
Ach, those commies! Xi, Kim, Orban, Putin—Donald Trump will kowtow now.
merriam webster for kowtow: to show obsequious deference
Since Commies are so bad, trump will kowtow now how?
Bow low
If commie vow, no DOW wow.
And how!
Yes, as the late Hunter Thompson long ago pointed out, the GOP thrives on messages full of "Fear & Loathing. All Americans Trump's age were taught in grammar school to hate commies. Ironic, is it not, that Trump's best (only?) friend Vlad is head of a communist country - Russia? Furthermore, being 79 myself, I get the impression that fear of communism is no longer emphasized in public schools. Does Donny know that?
-----------------------
Regardless, equating socialism with communism as twin evils has long been a goal of the billionaire class, who are wealthy beyond imagination thanks to America's rigged capitalist economic system. So branding liberals as communists is not a totally blunt weapon. I wonder if Democrats will find the courage to challenge being labeled as commies with "bullshit," and then link their platforms and goals to promoting the quality of life promised in our Constitution.
We should also constantly remind voters that Trump has demanded, and received, stock ownership (or some sort of equity agreement) in 15 corporations (including Intel, US Steel, Nvidia, etc.). Sounds like communism to me, government ownership of production.
Talking about communism makes Trump sound so…old. Yet Maga is bound to latch onto another term even though they have no idea what it means.
Has Trump realized that his favorite ruler is a “Communist” Autocrat??
To reduce the power of the Oligarchs, please support and vote for these Democratic candidates for the Senate: SC: Anne Andrews, FL: Alexander Vindman, TX: James Talarico, IA Josh Turek
NH: Chris Pappas, GA: John Ossoff, AK: Mary Peltola, OH: Sherrod Brown,
NC: Roy Cooper, ME:____________, MN:____________, MI:________________.
Join these organizations that help you send postcards to likely Democratic voters urging them to VOTE:
https://turnoutpac.com. https://votefwd.org. https:// shop.bluewavle.com/postcards
commitwdemocracy.com/postcards
the felon's peri-orbital edema is so severe that his eyes are barely open. CHF &/or kidney disease
I’m 83 and last night I believe were like those who in the 50’ who gathered too watch Joe punish men.
Scary, people were sure he was correct,he destroyed lives. Finally a Brahmin lawyer Saudi, “: have you no decency”. The image joined a picture if Cohn next to Joe. Recall, Cohn advised Trump people hate communism though it does not exist. We should all watch the revised video
I hope this is right. Just yesterday my local newspaper had a feature on a newly-elected county board [overwhelmingly Republican] chairman. Just a normal-sounding guy on a path of public service. The reporter asked him about Trump and his key feedback was that people really don't want communists in charge. This message might not attract new voters, but the base accepts and repeats whatever they're told.
What pathetic parrots these people be. Like Henny Penny “the sky is falling!” Aren’t the actions of his administration more communist – they ARE taking ownership in companies and telling them what to do. BTW, I love Aaron’s photo on the posts – mitigates the disgust created by the content!
C'mon, Democrats, produce a Tik Tok (not "tic tac") video of young people rapping Blizzi Boi's "Forty-Oooooone" back at Trump's "Communism." First, a young person, then the geezer, back and forth. Make sure there's a good mix of every type of young person that the bigots hate.