IS Forum
Forum Index Register Members List Events Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Help

Go Back   International Skeptics Forum » General Topics » USA Politics
 


Welcome to the International Skeptics Forum, where we discuss skepticism, critical thinking, the paranormal and science in a friendly but lively way. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest, which means you are missing out on discussing matters that are of interest to you. Please consider registering so you can gain full use of the forum features and interact with other Members. Registration is simple, fast and free! Click here to register today.
Tags !MOD BOX WARNING! , Andrew McCabe , donald trump , George Papadopoulos , Michael Cohen , Paul Manafort , Robert Mueller , Trump controversies , Trump-Russia connections

Closed Thread
Old 19th June 2018, 02:17 PM   #281
Andy_Ross
Penultimate Amazing
 
Andy_Ross's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 47,041
FBI agent Peter Strzok escorted from building amid internal review
FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok was escorted from the building amid an internal review of his conduct, his lawyer confirmed Tuesday.

Strzok, who had a central role in the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while serving as secretary of State, was reportedly escorted from the FBI building on Friday amid an internal review of his conduct.

http://thehill.com/policy/national-s...ternal-review?
Andy_Ross is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 19th June 2018, 03:01 PM   #282
Squeegee Beckenheim
Penultimate Amazing
 
Squeegee Beckenheim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 32,124
Giuliani says he was interviewed by the FBI over the leaks from the FBI NY office in 2016
__________________
I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.
Squeegee Beckenheim is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 19th June 2018, 06:48 PM   #283
eerok
Quixoticist
 
eerok's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ON Canada
Posts: 5,480
Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop View Post
FBI agent Peter Strzok escorted from building amid internal review
FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok was escorted from the building amid an internal review of his conduct, his lawyer confirmed Tuesday.

Strzok, who had a central role in the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while serving as secretary of State, was reportedly escorted from the FBI building on Friday amid an internal review of his conduct.

http://thehill.com/policy/national-s...ternal-review?
Strzok is an idiot. He should've known enough to keep his political opinions private rather than plastering them all over the FBI servers. There's nothing wrong with criticising Trump, but it's outright dim to do so in such a blatant way in such a sensitive environment.
__________________
"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." - Oscar Wilde

Last edited by eerok; 19th June 2018 at 06:50 PM.
eerok is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 20th June 2018, 01:46 AM   #284
Squeegee Beckenheim
Penultimate Amazing
 
Squeegee Beckenheim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 32,124
Another report of Cohen being ready to flip on Trump
__________________
I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.
Squeegee Beckenheim is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 20th June 2018, 05:23 PM   #285
dudalb
Penultimate Amazing
 
dudalb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 60,375
Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim View Post
ANd COhen just openly criticized Trump over the refrugee scandal.

Yeah, I smell Cohen being Sammy the Bull Gravino to Donnie's Gotti...
__________________
Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty.

Robert Heinlein.
dudalb is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 20th June 2018, 05:30 PM   #286
Craig4
Penultimate Amazing
 
Craig4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: I live in a swamp
Posts: 27,712
Trump just got made into his wife and daughter's bitch and every news network is saying he caved on the child separation policies. He's about to go crazy and that crazy will likely slew in the direction of the Russia Investigation. He may even fire Sessions for coming up with the child separation policy.
Craig4 is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 20th June 2018, 06:24 PM   #287
dudalb
Penultimate Amazing
 
dudalb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 60,375
Originally Posted by Craig4 View Post
Trump just got made into his wife and daughter's bitch and every news network is saying he caved on the child separation policies. He's about to go crazy and that crazy will likely slew in the direction of the Russia Investigation. He may even fire Sessions for coming up with the child separation policy.
To the horror of most Republicans in congress since a Constituional Crisis is the last thing they want before the November Election....
__________________
Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty.

Robert Heinlein.
dudalb is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 20th June 2018, 06:26 PM   #288
Craig4
Penultimate Amazing
 
Craig4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: I live in a swamp
Posts: 27,712
I'm sure they also don't want their president to go crazy but nothing can stop that now.
Craig4 is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 20th June 2018, 07:01 PM   #289
LSSBB
Devilish Dictionarian
 
LSSBB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: An elusive house at Bachelors Grove Cemetery
Posts: 20,071
Originally Posted by Craig4 View Post
I'm sure they also don't want their president to go crazy but nothing can stop that now.
He hasn't been for years?
__________________
"You must not let your need to be right be more important than your need to find out what's true." - Ray Dalio, Principles
LSSBB is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 20th June 2018, 07:06 PM   #290
Trebuchet
Penultimate Amazing
 
Trebuchet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Posts: 39,057
Originally Posted by Craig4 View Post
He may even fire Sessions for coming up with the child separation policy.
He's pretty much going to have to fire someone for it; otherwise it might look like it's his fault.
__________________
Cum catapultae proscribeantur tum soli proscripti catapultas habeant.
Trebuchet is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 21st June 2018, 12:52 AM   #291
Squeegee Beckenheim
Penultimate Amazing
 
Squeegee Beckenheim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 32,124
https://twitter.com/TheBeatWithAri/s...69007312228352

Quote:
Michael Cohen's friend @DonnyDeutsch on what is likely to "come out" of investigation:

- Some "Stormy Daniels things"
- Missing links to "solve the problem with Russia"
At the end of the clip he says that it's "a fantasy" to think there were things Trump was doing that Cohen didn't know about, and that if he were Trump he'd be "very worried".
__________________
I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.
Squeegee Beckenheim is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 21st June 2018, 09:54 AM   #292
Segnosaur
Penultimate Amazing
 
Segnosaur's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada, eh?
Posts: 20,625
Originally Posted by Craig4 View Post
Trump just got made into his wife and daughter's bitch and every news network is saying he caved on the child separation policies. He's about to go crazy and that crazy will likely slew in the direction of the Russia Investigation. He may even fire Sessions for coming up with the child separation policy.
Well, it would be a rather bold move... Fire Sessions, publically state that its because he was behind the child separation policy (conveniently ignoring all the other Trumpsters that were involved), while privately saying "now I can end the Mueller investigation". Republican congresscritters can look the other way and pretend "oh, Sessions was fired for reasons unrelated to Russia", Trump gets a new AG that ends the investigation, and the republicans and Russians breath a sign of relief, happy in the knowledge that formal investigations into Russian influence into the election will end.
__________________
Trust me, I know what I'm doing. - Sledgehammer

I'm Mary Poppins Y'all! - Yondu

We are Groot - Groot
Segnosaur is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 21st June 2018, 12:20 PM   #293
acbytesla
Penultimate Amazing
 
acbytesla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 33,710
Originally Posted by Segnosaur View Post
Well, it would be a rather bold move... Fire Sessions, publically state that its because he was behind the child separation policy (conveniently ignoring all the other Trumpsters that were involved), while privately saying "now I can end the Mueller investigation". Republican congresscritters can look the other way and pretend "oh, Sessions was fired for reasons unrelated to Russia", Trump gets a new AG that ends the investigation, and the republicans and Russians breath a sign of relief, happy in the knowledge that formal investigations into Russian influence into the election will end.
I was thinking the EXACT same thing. I just read that the DOJ is pulling in JAG Corp lawyers to help speed up immigration hearings and deportations.
__________________
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get to me.
.

Last edited by acbytesla; 21st June 2018 at 12:21 PM.
acbytesla is online now   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 21st June 2018, 01:10 PM   #294
LSSBB
Devilish Dictionarian
 
LSSBB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: An elusive house at Bachelors Grove Cemetery
Posts: 20,071
Originally Posted by acbytesla View Post
I was thinking the EXACT same thing. I just read that the DOJ is pulling in JAG Corp lawyers to help speed up immigration hearings and deportations.
JAG had a process in Gitmo.
__________________
"You must not let your need to be right be more important than your need to find out what's true." - Ray Dalio, Principles
LSSBB is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 22nd June 2018, 02:35 AM   #295
Squeegee Beckenheim
Penultimate Amazing
 
Squeegee Beckenheim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 32,124
Judge denies Manafort's request to suppress the evidence gathered from his storage unit, saying that the FBI didn't need a warrant as they were voluntarily granted access
__________________
I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.
Squeegee Beckenheim is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 22nd June 2018, 10:17 AM   #296
Squeegee Beckenheim
Penultimate Amazing
 
Squeegee Beckenheim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 32,124
The same judge has also refused to dismiss a money laundering charge against Manfort
__________________
I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.
Squeegee Beckenheim is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 22nd June 2018, 01:16 PM   #297
dudalb
Penultimate Amazing
 
dudalb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 60,375
If Donie jr has the nickname of Fredo,then Cohen might get the nickname of Frankie Pantangelli....
__________________
Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty.

Robert Heinlein.
dudalb is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 22nd June 2018, 09:29 PM   #298
Aridas
Crazy Little Green Dragon
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: East Coast, US
Posts: 10,678
Tangentially related to this... Republican attempt to hold Rod Rosenstein in contempt temporarily failed because they bungled their paperwork.

Incompetent. Incredible double standards. Scum. By the end of this, a whole bunch of the House Republicans honestly should be convicted of Obstruction of Justice, at the least, separate from anything else.
__________________
So sayeth the crazy little dragon.
Aridas is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 22nd June 2018, 09:43 PM   #299
Skeptic Ginger
Nasty Woman
 
Skeptic Ginger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
Keystone cops come to mind.
Skeptic Ginger is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 03:12 AM   #300
jimbob
Uncritical "thinker"
Moderator
 
jimbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 31,644
Originally Posted by Monza View Post
* they're

If I was sending a tweet out to millions of people, I would proof-read more often.
One word

covffee
__________________
OECD healthcare spending
Public/Compulsory Expenditure on healthcare
https://data.oecd.org/chart/60Tt

Every year since 1990 the US Public healthcare spending has been greater than the UK as a proportion of GDP. More US Tax goes to healthcare than the UK
jimbob is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 08:09 AM   #301
phiwum
Penultimate Amazing
 
phiwum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 13,384
Originally Posted by jimbob View Post
One word

covffee
For goodness sake, spell it right, man.
phiwum is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 08:14 AM   #302
jimbob
Uncritical "thinker"
Moderator
 
jimbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 31,644
Originally Posted by phiwum View Post
For goodness sake, spell it right, man.


In my defence, I was on a phone, and struggle to remember nonsense words.
__________________
OECD healthcare spending
Public/Compulsory Expenditure on healthcare
https://data.oecd.org/chart/60Tt

Every year since 1990 the US Public healthcare spending has been greater than the UK as a proportion of GDP. More US Tax goes to healthcare than the UK
jimbob is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 08:19 AM   #303
LSSBB
Devilish Dictionarian
 
LSSBB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: An elusive house at Bachelors Grove Cemetery
Posts: 20,071
Originally Posted by phiwum View Post
For goodness sake, spell it right, man.
I don't know whether to be upset or relieved that covfefe is not in the spell checker...
__________________
"You must not let your need to be right be more important than your need to find out what's true." - Ray Dalio, Principles
LSSBB is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 08:38 AM   #304
jimbob
Uncritical "thinker"
Moderator
 
jimbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 31,644
Maybe I should be POTUS? My spelling is obviously up to the job.

I wasn't born in the US, although Dad did briefly hold a Green Card*. But I do have a very visible advantage over Obama as far as legitimacy is concerned in the view of Trump supporters.

*Studying Agriculture in the UK, he did farm work in the US and the Netherlands.
__________________
OECD healthcare spending
Public/Compulsory Expenditure on healthcare
https://data.oecd.org/chart/60Tt

Every year since 1990 the US Public healthcare spending has been greater than the UK as a proportion of GDP. More US Tax goes to healthcare than the UK
jimbob is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 08:42 AM   #305
Squeegee Beckenheim
Penultimate Amazing
 
Squeegee Beckenheim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 32,124
Originally Posted by jimbob View Post


In my defence, I was on a phone, and struggle to remember nonsense words.
You only think it's a nonsense word because it wasn't intended for you. Those it was intended for know.
__________________
I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.
Squeegee Beckenheim is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 09:37 AM   #306
phiwum
Penultimate Amazing
 
phiwum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 13,384
Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim View Post
You only think it's a nonsense word because it wasn't intended for you. Those it was intended for know.
Brilliant.
phiwum is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 09:41 AM   #307
Andy_Ross
Penultimate Amazing
 
Andy_Ross's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 47,041
Trump tweets

"Poll numbers plummet on the Democrat inspired and paid for Russian Witch Hunt. With all of the bias, lying and hate by the investigators, people want the investigators investigated. Much more will come out. A total scam and excuse for the Dems losing the Election!"

Then


"The Russian Witch Hunt is Rigged!"
Andy_Ross is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 10:04 AM   #308
Squeegee Beckenheim
Penultimate Amazing
 
Squeegee Beckenheim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 32,124
Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop View Post
Trump tweets

"Poll numbers plummet on the Democrat inspired and paid for Russian Witch Hunt. With all of the bias, lying and hate by the investigators, people want the investigators investigated. Much more will come out. A total scam and excuse for the Dems losing the Election!"

Then


"The Russian Witch Hunt is Rigged!"
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/22/p...ion-june-poll/

Quote:
Most Americans continue to believe that the Russian effort to influence the 2016 presidential election is a serious matter that should be investigated, but the constant criticism by President Donald Trump of special counsel Robert Mueller is taking its toll, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS released Friday.

The number of Americans who approve of how Mueller is handling the investigation has dropped from 48% in March to 44% in May to just 41% now, the lowest it has been in CNN's polling. Mueller has a lot of company; no one connected with this matter is coming out of it in a positive light. Mueller's favorable rating is just 32%; former FBI director James Comey's favorability is just 28%; Rudy Giuliani, one of Trump's lawyers in the Russia investigation, is viewed favorably by only 31% of Americans.

[...]

Negative views of Mueller don't mean that the public is taking Trump's side. Just 29% approve of how Trump is handling the Russia investigation. Only 35% say it is an attempt to discredit Trump's presidency. Nearly 7-in-10 think Trump should testify under oath if Mueller requests it. Another 70% would disapprove if Trump issues himself a presidential pardon, with no majority in any demographic group.

[...]

And what about the idea of impeachment? It hasn't yet caught on with Democratic leaders, who have not pushed it. Forty-two percent of Americans currently say that Trump should be impeached and removed from office, including 77% of Democrats (not surprising) and only 9% of Republicans (even less surprising).
Where does that 42% stand in historical context? It's a lot higher than support for impeaching Bill Clinton, which hovered around 29% through most of 1998, when he was impeached by the House of Representatives. It's higher than the number who supported impeaching either Barack Obama or George W. Bush (around 29%-30% supported impeaching them, suggesting that 30% is roughly a baseline of pro-impeachment sentiment for a modern president).

Support for impeaching Richard Nixon reached 43% in March of 1974. But that poll, taken by Harris, came after the Saturday Night Massacre and after the Senate Watergate hearings that dragged on for months, after John Dean pleaded guilty and cooperated with prosecutors against Nixon, after it became clear that Nixon had bugged the Oval Office, and after the existence of the infamous 18-and-a-half minute gap was revealed. The fact that Trump is already in Nixon territory without similar events already taking place is suggestive but not predictive. Nixon resigned in August of 1974 one step ahead of an impeachment vote. There's no indication any such vote is coming for Trump.
__________________
I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.
Squeegee Beckenheim is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 11:48 AM   #309
Skeptic Ginger
Nasty Woman
 
Skeptic Ginger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
They (as in the GOP and the Trumpers) keep repeating the narrative that the investigation has gone on long enough. I know we've done some pushback on that, but not enough. The same way GOP legislators and pundits repeat the mantra, 'it's been long enough', Democratic legislators and pundits need to repeat the mantra, the Nixon investigation took longer.

The Democrats are not effective using talking points memos. I don't understand why they don't get it.

Last edited by Skeptic Ginger; 23rd June 2018 at 11:49 AM.
Skeptic Ginger is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 12:04 PM   #310
davefoc
Philosopher
 
davefoc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: orange country, california
Posts: 9,434
Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger View Post
They (as in the GOP and the Trumpers) keep repeating the narrative that the investigation has gone on long enough. I know we've done some pushback on that, but not enough. The same way GOP legislators and pundits repeat the mantra, 'it's been long enough', Democratic legislators and pundits need to repeat the mantra, the Nixon investigation took longer.

The Democrats are not effective using talking points memos. I don't understand why they don't get it.

It is a problem. Truth is under constant assault. We have entered a new era here. Fox News the National Enquirer and other conservative media outlets are relentlessly propping up Trump without regard to truth. They have created a group of pro-Trump people that have deep unassailable confirmation biases that favor Trump. I don't think the long term consequences of this are knowable right now, but if Trump was younger or healthier he might be around long enough to destroy the American democracy.
__________________
The way of truth is along the path of intellectual sincerity. -- Henry S. Pritchett

Perfection is the enemy of good enough -- Russian proverb
davefoc is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 12:15 PM   #311
Darat
Lackey
Administrator
 
Darat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: South East, UK
Posts: 113,982
Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger View Post
They (as in the GOP and the Trumpers) keep repeating the narrative that the investigation has gone on long enough. I know we've done some pushback on that, but not enough. The same way GOP legislators and pundits repeat the mantra, 'it's been long enough', Democratic legislators and pundits need to repeat the mantra, the Nixon investigation took longer.

The Democrats are not effective using talking points memos. I don't understand why they don't get it.
Reality is nuanced and the truth is very often not simple, so often those that want to be truthful struggle with the inaccuracy "sound bites" require.

But Trump could be countered without dishonesty , why for instance aren't they all saying "Trump's latest lie..." that or "Trump's lying again" in all responses or "can't he ever be truthful/honest"
__________________
If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago

Last edited by Darat; 23rd June 2018 at 12:16 PM. Reason: dishonest
Darat is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 12:26 PM   #312
Skeptic Ginger
Nasty Woman
 
Skeptic Ginger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
Originally Posted by Darat View Post
Reality is nuanced and the truth is very often not simple, so often those that want to be truthful struggle with the inaccuracy "sound bites" require.
That's BS. Sound bites and effective narratives don't have to be dishonest. But the myth is common. Liberals just don't get it, marketing science works on both sides of the aisle.

Quote:
But Trump could be countered without dishonesty , why for instance aren't they all saying "Trump's latest lie..." that or "Trump's lying again" in all responses or "can't he ever be truthful/honest"
That is coming out a lot more, at least on CNN and MSNBC. The fact Trump changes his mind hourly has become a news story that is getting more and more coverage. Also the incompetence with the immigration policy changes is a big story.

I'd like to see more 'incompetence' narratives. Those are not dishonest.
Skeptic Ginger is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 12:31 PM   #313
davefoc
Philosopher
 
davefoc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: orange country, california
Posts: 9,434
Originally Posted by Darat View Post
Reality is nuanced and the truth is very often not simple, so often those that want to be truthful struggle with the inaccuracy "sound bites" require.

But Trump could be countered without dishonesty , why for instance aren't they all saying "Trump's latest lie..." that or "Trump's lying again" in all responses or "can't he ever be truthful/honest"

Nothing like this seems to matter any more. In the past, a real, unequivocal lie, was very damaging to a political career. People lied for sure, but maybe they made a mistake, maybe they misspoke, maybe they were misinterpreted, maybe they forgot, etc., but real unequivocal, obvious and categorical lying by politicians was unusual. Trump does it relentlessly and shamelessly. And his supporters don't seem to care.


I might make too much of the Fox News situation, but without Fox News there would be no president Trump and without the relentless pandering to this president by Fox News the Republican Party would have stood up to Trump along time ago. We have entered an era where a powerful news organization and the POTUS are working synergisticly to mislead the public. It is scary to see how easy it is to make truth unimportant.
__________________
The way of truth is along the path of intellectual sincerity. -- Henry S. Pritchett

Perfection is the enemy of good enough -- Russian proverb
davefoc is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 12:51 PM   #315
jimbob
Uncritical "thinker"
Moderator
 
jimbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 31,644
Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger View Post
That's BS. Sound bites and effective narratives don't have to be dishonest. But the myth is common. Liberals just don't get it, marketing science works on both sides of the aisle.

That is coming out a lot more, at least on CNN and MSNBC. The fact Trump changes his mind hourly has become a news story that is getting more and more coverage. Also the incompetence with the immigration policy changes is a big story.

I'd like to see more 'incompetence' narratives. Those are not dishonest.
Unfortunately it's not BS. truth is nuanced, and saying "no" just repeats the lie. Saying that Trump lies, is met with "well all politicians lie".

Though I agree that simple messages are often missed.

And yes, we have parallels this side of the pond as well and at least your opposition party isn't led by someone who is also stupid, antisemitic, incompetent, and ideologically committed to the main disastrous policy of the government, but for diametrically opposed (and utterly implausible and undesirable) reasons.
__________________
OECD healthcare spending
Public/Compulsory Expenditure on healthcare
https://data.oecd.org/chart/60Tt

Every year since 1990 the US Public healthcare spending has been greater than the UK as a proportion of GDP. More US Tax goes to healthcare than the UK
jimbob is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 12:58 PM   #316
Skeptic Ginger
Nasty Woman
 
Skeptic Ginger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
Originally Posted by jimbob View Post
Unfortunately it's not BS. truth is nuanced, and saying "no" just repeats the lie. Saying that Trump lies, is met with "well all politicians lie".

Though I agree that simple messages are often missed.

And yes, we have parallels this side of the pond as well and at least your opposition party isn't led by someone who is also stupid, antisemitic, incompetent, and ideologically committed to the main disastrous policy of the government, but for diametrically opposed (and utterly implausible and undesirable) reasons.
I hear this all the *********** time. And time and time again I cite examples of honest, effective talking points if only they were repeated as often as the GOP repeats theirs.

"All politicians lie" has worn off. Trust me, I'm a news junkie.

Nuanced or not, so what? That doesn't mean a talking points campaign will never have influence.

And as for the 'core', you don't aim messages at the core*. You aim them at the people who are still reasonably sane.

(*Aiming messages to get the vote out notwithstanding.)
Skeptic Ginger is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 01:50 PM   #317
jimbob
Uncritical "thinker"
Moderator
 
jimbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 31,644
Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger View Post
I hear this all the *********** time. And time and time again I cite examples of honest, effective talking points if only they were repeated as often as the GOP repeats theirs.

"All politicians lie" has worn off. Trust me, I'm a news junkie.

Nuanced or not, so what? That doesn't mean a talking points campaign will never have influence.

And as for the 'core', you don't aim messages at the core*. You aim them at the people who are still reasonably sane.

(*Aiming messages to get the vote out notwithstanding.)
The low-information voters watching Sinclair News stations?

I'm working on the principle that most people who are not low-information voters are already against Trump.
__________________
OECD healthcare spending
Public/Compulsory Expenditure on healthcare
https://data.oecd.org/chart/60Tt

Every year since 1990 the US Public healthcare spending has been greater than the UK as a proportion of GDP. More US Tax goes to healthcare than the UK
jimbob is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 01:53 PM   #318
Skeptic Ginger
Nasty Woman
 
Skeptic Ginger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 96,386
Originally Posted by jimbob View Post
The low-information voters watching Sinclair News stations?

I'm working on the principle that most people who are not low-information voters are already against Trump.
I didn't say low information voters listening to alt-right radio. That's Trump's base.

Your post is a perfect example of rejecting marketing for ... reasons.

That's how we got Trump in the first place. Clinton did a poor job of rebutting the criticisms against her, and thought those complex policy solutions on her web page would carry the day.

They didn't.
Skeptic Ginger is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 02:33 PM   #319
portlandatheist
Illuminator
 
portlandatheist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,725
Originally Posted by Stacko View Post
I am so tempted to plug this into Excel and make a line graph out of it.

ETA: I see somebody on twitter did just that

Last edited by portlandatheist; 23rd June 2018 at 02:35 PM. Reason: ETA
portlandatheist is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Old 23rd June 2018, 02:55 PM   #320
The Big Dog
Guest
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 29,742
Originally Posted by Darat View Post
Reality is nuanced and the truth is very often not simple, so often those that want to be truthful struggle with the inaccuracy "sound bites" require.

But Trump could be countered without dishonesty , why for instance aren't they all saying "Trump's latest lie..." that or "Trump's lying again" in all responses or "can't he ever be truthful/honest"
well because eventually people are going to get immune to baseless accusations and want a little more substance than just anti-Trump propaganda.

Like here, Mueller's "achievements" are looking worse with each passing day, a couple of bs plea deals that look like a set up. Like the Flynn deal. The consensus is growing is that there was a ton of monkey business with the FBI 302's and that McCabe (who actually lied repeatedly under oath) had a hand in it.

Here take a look: https://saraacarter.com/what-happene...fbi-interview/
The Big Dog is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Back to Top
Closed Thread

International Skeptics Forum » General Topics » USA Politics

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:06 AM.
Powered by vBulletin. Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

This forum began as part of the James Randi Education Foundation (JREF). However, the forum now exists as
an independent entity with no affiliation with or endorsement by the JREF, including the section in reference to "JREF" topics.

Disclaimer: Messages posted in the Forum are solely the opinion of their authors.