Media went Full Metal JoGo (Joseph Goebbels, who, if alive today media would dub "JoGo"). "Iconic" and greatest political photo in history something something was what I read as I scanned Twitter (I have stopped watching all "news" including local because it's so bad). Plus endless hours of coverage. So we have no definitive answers about how he was wounded and it appears he fell asleep last night at the convention. Where are the media's calls to confirm "fitness"? They have crowned him Beloved Leader.
One positive outcome and it's a big one IMHO is that so many more people are totally disgusted with the media and abandoning formerly beloved newspapers and cable hosts. This is a very good thing.
I agree but the media have neither the emotional intelligence or ethics or decency to experience shame. I saw tweet from Jonathan Chait yesterday in which he mocked Joe Biden for his stuttering during his interview with Lester Holt. It was hateful and vile. Our highly educated so called elites are exposing themselves for the fascist thugs they are. He'll eagerly compete for position as Stephen Miller's shiny black jackboot polisher. He'll have a lot of competition.
This is your very best piece on politics and trump. I feel the fatigue from him and from his stupid ignorant racist cult he feeds on. From the politicians that grovel before him for power, rather than decency and the super wealthy donors, of his ilk, that want to run the world their way and own it all and do it with their control of the trumps and Putins of the world, who make it easy.
Thanks, Mary. I think MAGA depends on our collective fatigue. Trump is basically Hugo Chavez, who just wanted to be on his own personal TV channel 24/7. Both are bores. Rich people donating to him are the worst humans out there.
I hope you're right about this not tipping the election permanently in his column. But I fear you're wrong, since way too large a fraction of our population seeks a strong leader, and the imagery of this dovetails so well with that desire.
You may not have wanted to write about last Saturday evening's incident, but I for one am grateful that you did, Greg. IMO, it is vital that we get reminded constantly of not only that the liar lies, but how his lies negatively affect and will affect us if he is elected again.
As my dear departed dad used to say: Don't go away mad, just go away.
Not fake. So then, how did Lucifer gain so much power, to protect the orange satan when all the "good" angels together couldn't keep Lincoln or Kennedy from being shot? Is that shooting a spoiler revealing the outcome of the human story?
Beyond the disgusting fist-pump photo op, two things stick in mind: 1) A news article described the alleged shooter as being so terrible a shot as to have been refused membership in a (school?) shooting club and ordered never to return, yet he hit a target's ear from a building, and it's not fake. Wonders never cease. 2) The stock market was up Monday morning, it reported of itself, because, courtesy of the ass-assination attempt, it's now nearly certain that "hero" Trump will win -- and do all he can to help himself and his rich corporate pals -- abolish the EPA, enact more tax cuts for biz/wealth, abolish DEI, prohibit women from holding jobs of good pay and power. (His pal just said out loud that the FBI should contain only the best, and [although required to meet the same standards] NO women are among the FBI's best, so must rid the FBI of women agents and leaders. Same with airline pilots? Surgeons? CEOs? Any job that pays well and/or invites respect? Military jobs, surely -- except perhaps for "secretaries" and "waitresses" -- and police, no doubt. Eliminate all of us c**ts from any job that a man might want. And make sure none of us potentially empathetic wimmin are left with power to disobey orders to mow down His personal enemies.
Rich white men have may have much to gain. Poor, ignorant, gullible men may believe he's on their side, but how could any woman vote for such rampant, screaming, egomaniacal mysogeny? May Goddess save us all.
You nailed it, Maureen. It is male white supremacy. The women around that grouping are merely that. There are few, if any, emotionally mature men around him. And the ones that are, usually hired, all seem to see him for what he is and haul ass to saner shores first opportunity.
Don't get me started on the God/Devil bit. There are so many examples of Satan taking the helm. Princip walking out of a deli to find the archduke and his wife idling in the car, having taken a wrong turn, for one thing.
I don't discount any of the events. But, given the curious lack of medical information about his injury, I suspect Trump took a few pieces of glass, and he doesn't want it known that he did not, in fact, get grazed by a bullet. The prop gauze on his ear is ridiculous. I'm not sure people feel sympathy for this guy, or care much. And the idea that he will now win is based more in our fear than objective reality. Who does this convince to vote for him? The motherfucker didn't even call the wife of the guy who died. (Biden did, and she refused the call, because she says her husband would have wanted it that way...SMH these MAGA).
The rich nepo babies funding Trump are the real villains, I think. They contribute nothing to actual society. We need to tax the hell out of them.
I'll be curious to see, if they know, how many women vote for Trump. I bet the percentage is much lower than the polls say.
Also..major gratitude to you for posting this piece. I no longer see anyone nearby not brainwashed. I really need this evidence that wisdom and sanity still exist.
My main takeaway is that people don't give a shit about Trump. They are sick of him. He's like a terrible network show that has gone on for way too many seasons. Cancel it already!
I enjoyed your piece, Greg—as you are a kind hearted soul. As for myself, I try!! Yet, I beg to differ: I want the son-of-a-bitch—DEAD. And yes, I cheered with uncontainable GLEE….
When he does meet his Maker, I hope of natural causes, there will be much mirth in the streets. And his asshole followers will insist his funeral crowd was the biggest.
That is fucking amazing Agent Orange was saved from the bullets, but not the children of Uvalde. What a god. We were spending some time at the lake cabin and the rule was no political talk. Everyone's reaction was it looked staged and then we stopped talking about it.
Colonists countries have been stealing resources from other countries, forever. Like they did with the Shah, to have power in alliance with Britain, over controlling their oil. The US made this happen and profited as well. The Iranians are still paying for that. We have done this over and over again. That's why I do not doubt Russia and/or China's ambition for power. Shitpants is a groomed greedy fucking bastard, who Putin controls. They have bankrolled him. He has been laundering their millions for decades. It's pretty hard to trust. Democracy is hanging by a rope over black hole. The American Oligarchs are greasing the rope.
There is an alliance forming of Putin/Xi/Khomenei and a few other players, including Orban. Trump wants in on that. I don't know how much more obvious this can be, but the media continues to treat him like a regular Rep candidate. Biden needs to declassify and release some Trump files. That's the trump card, ha ha, we can still play.
Yep, we can see it. So can a glass eye in a duck's ass. The press is going the way of our Supreme Court. King Shitpants is good for their bottom line. As they have stated, they aren't responsible for democracy. That doesn't sell their news or fill their owner's pockets.
I thought it was Staged. If I billet hits your ear your head would jerk back it did not. I believe it was glass from the teleprompter that cut his ear. It’s not like the secret service to screw up this badly. It was a great theatrical entrance to the convention, pumping his fist and all. If some is shit they don’t worry about their shoes and the listen to secret service and do not resist their attempts to save him. He is such a pathological liar. I believe this is another of the millions of lies. It is a scary time. He pick the worst possible Vp who says women that are abused must stay with their abuser. Project 2025 will kill the constitution and our democracy. It’s already happening , we have a court that is no longer making decisions based on constitutional law. It is a sad and chaotic time. I think we all need to keep our eye on the prize living I a democracy and doing what ever we can to save it.
Some in the SS were MAGAts on Jan 6, remember they deleted all texts for that day. No answers, no consequences. Are the compromised one’s still working for him. Too many unanswered questions.
The Court being captured is the real issue here. The fascists own that branch. Congress is divided. We can't let them take the White House -- and the DOJ etc -- because that's the ballgame.
Vance is a comically awful candidate. Does anyone like him? Will he add even a single vote?
I know!!! I have music on. This is fucking insane. I've got a belly full of our toxic media. I will not watch. Half this country is filled narcissistic, bigoted, misogynistic, illiterate assholes. Our politics is a reflection of its people. Fuck!!!
You always deliver good thinking & writing but this is a grand slam for saying what it is & what it means, to wit, nothing. Your conclusion is perfect too. All this carnivorous locust deserves is to die of natural causes that can't be hyped, so he can be swept up & disintegrate out of sight & mind.
Greg, you once again said exactly what I would say if I could write. I agree with every single word of your commentary. I have read, and continue to read, LOTS of pundits these past 5+ years to try to understand and make sense of our present age, which instinctively to me seems radically and fundamentally different from anything I have ever experienced in my 71 years. You explain all this chaos as well as anybody—-actually better.
In any other day, Trump would have, and should have, been treated as the circus freak he is. Instead,every group on the R side of the ledger, or even close, from crass politicians (no surprise there), to normal people and even en masse my fellow Christians(!!!!!)have embraced lying, immorality, cruelty, grift, theft and even treason with delight. My God, what have we become? That is not intended as an expletive, but as a plaintive wail to the heavens—really.
As a Texan, I must tell you, do not forget in your litany of mass shootings, El Paso, Uvalde, and Sutherland Springs. A church, a school and a Wal-Mart. What an American tragedy and an American microcosm that is…..
Troubled, traumatized or just mentally ill young white males all(Hispanic in Uvalde of course). I especially want to call attention to the young man who drove over 600 miles from the Metroplex to El Paso to shoot all the “vermin.” Funny how that was just a mentally ill person , not someone radicalized by violent rhetoric by you know who……. But this kid Saturday thoughtfully listened to you, Rick Wilson and President Biden and decided to do this. Poor DJT.
I will never understand how such blatantly bad faith garbage is given a pass by media, and by the voters too!!!!! How many times have we heard “mental health, mental health” or “let’s arm kindergarten teachers” when we all try to talk about common sense gun laws or anything else. Oh, and by the way, I always loved the trope if we prohibit ANYTHING related to guns, “only criminals will have guns.” What pure unadulterated crap! How many of these troubled boys are criminals? None really. A ban of these horrific assault weapons would have avoided at least the carnage and dismemberment and likely lots of the deaths over and over again. Also, maybe 377 law enforcement officers would not have sat around for hours scared of one 18 year old with an assault weapon.
We are MESSED up in America now, and all my fellow “Christians” are leading the way.
Thanks for letting me rant on so long, but your beautiful and powerful and insightful column today triggered me in a good way I think. Thank you!!!!!
Thanks for this, Rick. This is a safe space for venting, I assure you!
There are so many wonderful people in Texas, and Texas has the single worst governor/#2/AG of any state. Not even close. Has the power been turned on in Houston yet? I would love a big surprise in November, such as Texas voting for Joe. Won't happen, but I know so many great folks in Texas.
The gun thing is madness, pure madness. Who benefits from our policies? Gun manufacturers and Putin. But SCOTUS is on the side of the maniacs, alas.
As a lapsed Catholic, I have beheld Leonard Leo and Sam Alito, both Catholics of Italian descent from NJ, do more to ruin the country than almost anyone, and it fills me with rage. So I can understand how you feel.
You spoke to my feelings exactly, Greg. Once it was clear to me that the fat gasbag wannabe dictator was not seriously injured, I moved on. Not worth the fatigue of thinking about it much, indeed! Proves that Elie Wiesel had it right -- the opposite of love is indifference
Thank you. Elie was right about that for sure. I cannot overstate how quickly people at the party forgot about it. No one gave a shit. And these are people who are politically engaged. I don't think the apathetic people cared at all.
Learn to recognize MAGA Dog Whistles - the coded calls to Political Violence.
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/07/15/maga-dog-whistles-to-political-violence/
Thanks, Deepak. Great work!
Media went Full Metal JoGo (Joseph Goebbels, who, if alive today media would dub "JoGo"). "Iconic" and greatest political photo in history something something was what I read as I scanned Twitter (I have stopped watching all "news" including local because it's so bad). Plus endless hours of coverage. So we have no definitive answers about how he was wounded and it appears he fell asleep last night at the convention. Where are the media's calls to confirm "fitness"? They have crowned him Beloved Leader.
One positive outcome and it's a big one IMHO is that so many more people are totally disgusted with the media and abandoning formerly beloved newspapers and cable hosts. This is a very good thing.
The whole thing is a travesty. The media should be ashamed. The local media in PA did a good job, but the subsequent coverage was appalling.
I agree but the media have neither the emotional intelligence or ethics or decency to experience shame. I saw tweet from Jonathan Chait yesterday in which he mocked Joe Biden for his stuttering during his interview with Lester Holt. It was hateful and vile. Our highly educated so called elites are exposing themselves for the fascist thugs they are. He'll eagerly compete for position as Stephen Miller's shiny black jackboot polisher. He'll have a lot of competition.
This is your very best piece on politics and trump. I feel the fatigue from him and from his stupid ignorant racist cult he feeds on. From the politicians that grovel before him for power, rather than decency and the super wealthy donors, of his ilk, that want to run the world their way and own it all and do it with their control of the trumps and Putins of the world, who make it easy.
Agree. Your very best piece, sadly about the worst person in the USA.
Thank you.
Thanks, Mary. I think MAGA depends on our collective fatigue. Trump is basically Hugo Chavez, who just wanted to be on his own personal TV channel 24/7. Both are bores. Rich people donating to him are the worst humans out there.
I hope you're right about this not tipping the election permanently in his column. But I fear you're wrong, since way too large a fraction of our population seeks a strong leader, and the imagery of this dovetails so well with that desire.
In the words of Bender Rodrigues: "We're boned"
Well, the media sure wants him to win. That much is clear. But I don't see how wearing a maxipad on your ear makes you look tough.
You may not have wanted to write about last Saturday evening's incident, but I for one am grateful that you did, Greg. IMO, it is vital that we get reminded constantly of not only that the liar lies, but how his lies negatively affect and will affect us if he is elected again.
As my dear departed dad used to say: Don't go away mad, just go away.
Thanks, Lynell.
That reminds me of something my HS physics teacher used to say before Xmas break: "Hark the herald angels shout: GET OUT!"
No need to reply, but wanted to add that you take care of yourself and family above all else.
Not fake. So then, how did Lucifer gain so much power, to protect the orange satan when all the "good" angels together couldn't keep Lincoln or Kennedy from being shot? Is that shooting a spoiler revealing the outcome of the human story?
Beyond the disgusting fist-pump photo op, two things stick in mind: 1) A news article described the alleged shooter as being so terrible a shot as to have been refused membership in a (school?) shooting club and ordered never to return, yet he hit a target's ear from a building, and it's not fake. Wonders never cease. 2) The stock market was up Monday morning, it reported of itself, because, courtesy of the ass-assination attempt, it's now nearly certain that "hero" Trump will win -- and do all he can to help himself and his rich corporate pals -- abolish the EPA, enact more tax cuts for biz/wealth, abolish DEI, prohibit women from holding jobs of good pay and power. (His pal just said out loud that the FBI should contain only the best, and [although required to meet the same standards] NO women are among the FBI's best, so must rid the FBI of women agents and leaders. Same with airline pilots? Surgeons? CEOs? Any job that pays well and/or invites respect? Military jobs, surely -- except perhaps for "secretaries" and "waitresses" -- and police, no doubt. Eliminate all of us c**ts from any job that a man might want. And make sure none of us potentially empathetic wimmin are left with power to disobey orders to mow down His personal enemies.
Rich white men have may have much to gain. Poor, ignorant, gullible men may believe he's on their side, but how could any woman vote for such rampant, screaming, egomaniacal mysogeny? May Goddess save us all.
You nailed it, Maureen. It is male white supremacy. The women around that grouping are merely that. There are few, if any, emotionally mature men around him. And the ones that are, usually hired, all seem to see him for what he is and haul ass to saner shores first opportunity.
You don't think JD Vance is mature? ; )
Don't get me started on the God/Devil bit. There are so many examples of Satan taking the helm. Princip walking out of a deli to find the archduke and his wife idling in the car, having taken a wrong turn, for one thing.
I don't discount any of the events. But, given the curious lack of medical information about his injury, I suspect Trump took a few pieces of glass, and he doesn't want it known that he did not, in fact, get grazed by a bullet. The prop gauze on his ear is ridiculous. I'm not sure people feel sympathy for this guy, or care much. And the idea that he will now win is based more in our fear than objective reality. Who does this convince to vote for him? The motherfucker didn't even call the wife of the guy who died. (Biden did, and she refused the call, because she says her husband would have wanted it that way...SMH these MAGA).
The rich nepo babies funding Trump are the real villains, I think. They contribute nothing to actual society. We need to tax the hell out of them.
I'll be curious to see, if they know, how many women vote for Trump. I bet the percentage is much lower than the polls say.
Also..major gratitude to you for posting this piece. I no longer see anyone nearby not brainwashed. I really need this evidence that wisdom and sanity still exist.
Thank you.
My main takeaway is that people don't give a shit about Trump. They are sick of him. He's like a terrible network show that has gone on for way too many seasons. Cancel it already!
Yes!
I enjoyed your piece, Greg—as you are a kind hearted soul. As for myself, I try!! Yet, I beg to differ: I want the son-of-a-bitch—DEAD. And yes, I cheered with uncontainable GLEE….
Thanks, Laura.
When he does meet his Maker, I hope of natural causes, there will be much mirth in the streets. And his asshole followers will insist his funeral crowd was the biggest.
From the first line, I was hooked.
You always give me more than I hope for. This is who he is.
He of course can't do anything without the loyalty our Republicans in Congress have shown him.
Not loyalty to country and the people who vote them in.
Unbelievable but our Reality for now.
Thank You Sir.
Thank you, Ant. The Congressional GOP are the lowest of the low. Especially Marco Rubio, who is smart enough to know better.
That is fucking amazing Agent Orange was saved from the bullets, but not the children of Uvalde. What a god. We were spending some time at the lake cabin and the rule was no political talk. Everyone's reaction was it looked staged and then we stopped talking about it.
Colonists countries have been stealing resources from other countries, forever. Like they did with the Shah, to have power in alliance with Britain, over controlling their oil. The US made this happen and profited as well. The Iranians are still paying for that. We have done this over and over again. That's why I do not doubt Russia and/or China's ambition for power. Shitpants is a groomed greedy fucking bastard, who Putin controls. They have bankrolled him. He has been laundering their millions for decades. It's pretty hard to trust. Democracy is hanging by a rope over black hole. The American Oligarchs are greasing the rope.
There is an alliance forming of Putin/Xi/Khomenei and a few other players, including Orban. Trump wants in on that. I don't know how much more obvious this can be, but the media continues to treat him like a regular Rep candidate. Biden needs to declassify and release some Trump files. That's the trump card, ha ha, we can still play.
Yep, we can see it. So can a glass eye in a duck's ass. The press is going the way of our Supreme Court. King Shitpants is good for their bottom line. As they have stated, they aren't responsible for democracy. That doesn't sell their news or fill their owner's pockets.
I thought it was Staged. If I billet hits your ear your head would jerk back it did not. I believe it was glass from the teleprompter that cut his ear. It’s not like the secret service to screw up this badly. It was a great theatrical entrance to the convention, pumping his fist and all. If some is shit they don’t worry about their shoes and the listen to secret service and do not resist their attempts to save him. He is such a pathological liar. I believe this is another of the millions of lies. It is a scary time. He pick the worst possible Vp who says women that are abused must stay with their abuser. Project 2025 will kill the constitution and our democracy. It’s already happening , we have a court that is no longer making decisions based on constitutional law. It is a sad and chaotic time. I think we all need to keep our eye on the prize living I a democracy and doing what ever we can to save it.
Some in the SS were MAGAts on Jan 6, remember they deleted all texts for that day. No answers, no consequences. Are the compromised one’s still working for him. Too many unanswered questions.
I forgot about that. I think they should just have them go try and pet Commander Biden, and if he bites them, they're out!
The Court being captured is the real issue here. The fascists own that branch. Congress is divided. We can't let them take the White House -- and the DOJ etc -- because that's the ballgame.
Vance is a comically awful candidate. Does anyone like him? Will he add even a single vote?
He looks like a man in charge - behind chump. What’s not to like. If you’r a MAGAt. Hopefully doesn’t impress others except Putin’s devotees
Having to hear about him has been the most exhausting 3 days of 2024 thus far.
We cannot let this be our norm.
I know!!! I have music on. This is fucking insane. I've got a belly full of our toxic media. I will not watch. Half this country is filled narcissistic, bigoted, misogynistic, illiterate assholes. Our politics is a reflection of its people. Fuck!!!
I wonder what the ratings will be. After the initial tune-in, I bet they suck.
Well put, and I agree.
You always deliver good thinking & writing but this is a grand slam for saying what it is & what it means, to wit, nothing. Your conclusion is perfect too. All this carnivorous locust deserves is to die of natural causes that can't be hyped, so he can be swept up & disintegrate out of sight & mind.
Thanks so much, Richard. And thus always to locusts!
Sic semper indeed.
WOW! but Greg, how do you really feel?
Tired, Dennis. I feel tired. : )
Greg, you once again said exactly what I would say if I could write. I agree with every single word of your commentary. I have read, and continue to read, LOTS of pundits these past 5+ years to try to understand and make sense of our present age, which instinctively to me seems radically and fundamentally different from anything I have ever experienced in my 71 years. You explain all this chaos as well as anybody—-actually better.
In any other day, Trump would have, and should have, been treated as the circus freak he is. Instead,every group on the R side of the ledger, or even close, from crass politicians (no surprise there), to normal people and even en masse my fellow Christians(!!!!!)have embraced lying, immorality, cruelty, grift, theft and even treason with delight. My God, what have we become? That is not intended as an expletive, but as a plaintive wail to the heavens—really.
As a Texan, I must tell you, do not forget in your litany of mass shootings, El Paso, Uvalde, and Sutherland Springs. A church, a school and a Wal-Mart. What an American tragedy and an American microcosm that is…..
Troubled, traumatized or just mentally ill young white males all(Hispanic in Uvalde of course). I especially want to call attention to the young man who drove over 600 miles from the Metroplex to El Paso to shoot all the “vermin.” Funny how that was just a mentally ill person , not someone radicalized by violent rhetoric by you know who……. But this kid Saturday thoughtfully listened to you, Rick Wilson and President Biden and decided to do this. Poor DJT.
I will never understand how such blatantly bad faith garbage is given a pass by media, and by the voters too!!!!! How many times have we heard “mental health, mental health” or “let’s arm kindergarten teachers” when we all try to talk about common sense gun laws or anything else. Oh, and by the way, I always loved the trope if we prohibit ANYTHING related to guns, “only criminals will have guns.” What pure unadulterated crap! How many of these troubled boys are criminals? None really. A ban of these horrific assault weapons would have avoided at least the carnage and dismemberment and likely lots of the deaths over and over again. Also, maybe 377 law enforcement officers would not have sat around for hours scared of one 18 year old with an assault weapon.
We are MESSED up in America now, and all my fellow “Christians” are leading the way.
Thanks for letting me rant on so long, but your beautiful and powerful and insightful column today triggered me in a good way I think. Thank you!!!!!
Thanks for this, Rick. This is a safe space for venting, I assure you!
There are so many wonderful people in Texas, and Texas has the single worst governor/#2/AG of any state. Not even close. Has the power been turned on in Houston yet? I would love a big surprise in November, such as Texas voting for Joe. Won't happen, but I know so many great folks in Texas.
The gun thing is madness, pure madness. Who benefits from our policies? Gun manufacturers and Putin. But SCOTUS is on the side of the maniacs, alas.
As a lapsed Catholic, I have beheld Leonard Leo and Sam Alito, both Catholics of Italian descent from NJ, do more to ruin the country than almost anyone, and it fills me with rage. So I can understand how you feel.
Thanks again for sharing this.
You spoke to my feelings exactly, Greg. Once it was clear to me that the fat gasbag wannabe dictator was not seriously injured, I moved on. Not worth the fatigue of thinking about it much, indeed! Proves that Elie Wiesel had it right -- the opposite of love is indifference
Thank you. Elie was right about that for sure. I cannot overstate how quickly people at the party forgot about it. No one gave a shit. And these are people who are politically engaged. I don't think the apathetic people cared at all.