Idiocracy

[bustaheims]

I wonder of George W Bush JR.  would have responded to this incident?

I'm confident he would have denounced the racists in no uncertain terms. He just might have done so from a driving range/golf course.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I wonder of George W Bush JR.  would have responded to this incident?

It's not exactly the strongest statement in the world, but still better than Trumps.

 

[herman]

What the "Alt-Left" was actually doing in Charlottesville | Slate

 

[Zee]

I wonder of George W Bush JR.  would have responded to this incident?

It's not exactly the strongest statement in the world, but still better than Trumps.

That moment when you realize that Dubya was a far better president than Trump. 

 

[rdowdall]

I wonder of George W Bush JR.  would have responded to this incident?

It's not exactly the strongest statement in the world, but still better than Trumps.

That moment when you realize that Dubya was a far better president than Trump. 

Well it comes from him and his father.  I equate Junior and Trump together as I think both had about the same level of political ability.  I think the difference is that Junior surrounded, or was told to surround, himself with experienced people that helped cover up a lot of his blemishes, whereas Trump, well you know...

 

[Bender]

I wonder of George W Bush JR.  would have responded to this incident?

He would have said something stupid and the world would have shaken it's head, and it would have been equivalent of the 50th worse thing Trump has said on any given day since he became president.

I don't think W. would've even been remotely that idiotic. He's said some stupid things, but for whatever reason I get the sense that even 50th worst would be unlikely.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/16/politics/george-h-w-bush-george-w-bush-charlottesville-statement/index.html

 

[herman]

If you're having a bad day, just remember that that guy who was the subject of the VICE News documentary at Charlottesville has since received a warrant for his arrest, cried on YouTube, and been kicked off of OKCupid.

 

[Kin]

Well it comes from him and his father. I equate Junior and Trump together as I think both had about the same level of political ability.  I think the difference is that Junior surrounded, or was told to surround, himself with experienced people that helped cover up a lot of his blemishes, whereas Trump, well you know...

His father being a key point there. When David Duke ran for Governor of Louisiana as a Republican in 1991, this is what the elder Bush said:

Q. Are you going to urge voters in Louisiana to vote against David Duke?

The President. Yes, strongly. We had a great victory in Mississippi yesterday. And Kirk Fordice won a good clean race on fundamental issues. And it is truly unfortunate that the State next door in Louisiana -- and they vote next week for Governor -- do not have the choice between two good men. We differ with Senator Wofford, but I think the Pennsylvanians had a choice between two decent, good men.

And I've got to be careful because I do not want to tell the voters of Louisiana how to cast their ballots next week. That is a right that we all cherish. It's a personal right. And so they've got to make their own decisions.

But when someone asserts that the Holocaust never took place, then I don't believe that person ever deserves one iota of public trust. And when someone has so recently endorsed nazism, it is inconceivable that such a person can legitimately aspire to leadership -- in a leadership role in a free society. And when someone has a long record, an ugly record, of racism and of bigotry, that record simply cannot be erased by the glib rhetoric of a political campaign.

So, I believe that David Duke is an insincere charlatan. I believe he is attempting to hoodwink the voters of Louisiana, and I believe that he should be rejected for what he is and what he stands for.

Another guy I disagreed with politically, Bush 41 at least knew how to speak on this issue.

 

[bustaheims]

Well it comes from him and his father.  I equate Junior and Trump together as I think both had about the same level of political ability.  I think the difference is that Junior surrounded, or was told to surround, himself with experienced people that helped cover up a lot of his blemishes, whereas Trump, well you know...

Strongly disagree. While I think W lacked in terms of eloquence and situational awareness, he wasn't anywhere near as tone-deaf or intellectually bankrupt as Trump is. W's persona made him appear to be a much less savvy politician than he actually was - and, he basically always expressed the right sentiment, even if it wasn't in the most eloquent fashion. Trump, on the other hand, is exactly what he appears to be - someone with no sense of playing politics outside the campaign trail, no real understanding of the mechanics of government, no ability to think before he speaks or acts, to see the big picture, or to approach anything with any semblance of an actual plan.

 

[Bill_Berg]

Well it comes from him and his father.  I equate Junior and Trump together as I think both had about the same level of political ability.  I think the difference is that Junior surrounded, or was told to surround, himself with experienced people that helped cover up a lot of his blemishes, whereas Trump, well you know...

Strongly disagree. While I think W lacked in terms of eloquence and situational awareness, he wasn't anywhere near as tone-deaf or intellectually bankrupt as Trump is. W's persona made him appear to be a much less savvy politician than he actually was - and, he basically always expressed the right sentiment, even if it wasn't in the most eloquent fashion. Trump, on the other hand, is exactly what he appears to be - someone with no sense of playing politics outside the campaign trail, no real understanding of the mechanics of government, no ability to think before he speaks or acts, to see the big picture, or to approach anything with any semblance of an actual plan.

I agree with Busta. W looked like a fool, but Trump is a fool. Big difference.

 

[rdowdall]

Well it comes from him and his father.  I equate Junior and Trump together as I think both had about the same level of political ability.  I think the difference is that Junior surrounded, or was told to surround, himself with experienced people that helped cover up a lot of his blemishes, whereas Trump, well you know...

Strongly disagree. While I think W lacked in terms of eloquence and situational awareness, he wasn't anywhere near as tone-deaf or intellectually bankrupt as Trump is. W's persona made him appear to be a much less savvy politician than he actually was - and, he basically always expressed the right sentiment, even if it wasn't in the most eloquent fashion. Trump, on the other hand, is exactly what he appears to be - someone with no sense of playing politics outside the campaign trail, no real understanding of the mechanics of government, no ability to think before he speaks or acts, to see the big picture, or to approach anything with any semblance of an actual plan.

Nope, you're wrong.  So many people have congratulated me on what an outstanding post I have written.  They say that it is the best post that has been posted on this site.  Herman and Nik personally messaged me to tell me how much they enjoyed my post.  We had virtual cake, and it was the most delicious cake that anyone has ever imaginarily eaten.  I had the biggest slice.  It was a huge, huge slice. 

In all seriousness though, the sense I always got from Junior was that he was more of a figure head than he was an actual president.  So in that respect, I equate him to Trump, who is also, not a president.  To a certain degree, I got that sense from Clinton as well.   

 

[bustaheims]

In all seriousness though, the sense I always got from Junior was that he was more of a figure head than he was an actual president.  So in that respect, I equate him to Trump, who is also, not a president.  To a certain degree, I got that sense from Clinton as well. 

I mean, in a sense, all presidents are figureheads, but I'm confident in saying that Bush and Clinton were in control when they held the office - maybe not in an as obvious a way as others, but, they still had the vision and steered the ship. Trump has no vision, and is off playing in the kiddy pool while the adults bicker amongst themselves.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Right to the point...

[tweet]897677641595146240[/tweet]

 

[rdowdall]

http://www.ottawasun.com/2017/08/17/i-know-how-powerful-hate-is--a-one-time-canadian-neo-nazi-speaks-out-on-charlottesville

I don't remember the riots in Ottawa.  I would have been in my teens when they happened.

 

[Andy007]

Proud, full-fledged Nazis marching, saluting and taunting along public streets in North America. I still can't believe this is actually real.

On a somewhat related note, I was watching Sarah Silverman on Norm Macdonald's podcast on youtube yesterday and was astounded by the seemingly endless barrage of ethnic and gender slurs (not to mention unabashed hatred) in the comment section underneath. One self described alt-right poster was boasting about the inevitable rise of his "party's" power and how that would mean people like Silverman would be "hanged by the lampposts." These basic sentiment were essentially echoed by the more than 1500 dislikes the podcast received. All of that hate for a funny, smart, honest, self-deprecating comedian who happens to be a woman and Jewish? Wow, I'm still shuddering.

 

[Bender]

Proud, full-fledged Nazis marching, saluting and taunting along public streets in North America. I still can't believe this is actually real.

On a somewhat related note, I was watching Sarah Silverman on Norm Macdonald's podcast on youtube yesterday and was astounded by the seemingly endless barrage of ethnic and gender slurs (not to mention unabashed hatred) in the comment section underneath. One self described alt-right poster was boasting about the inevitable rise of his "party's" power and how that would mean people like Silverman would be "hanged by the lampposts." These basic sentiment were essentially echoed by the more than 1500 dislikes the podcast received. All of that hate for a funny, smart, honest, self-deprecating comedian who happens to be a woman and Jewish? Wow, I'm still shuddering.

And to me what's even more is I bet you most of these people haven't really ever met anyone jewish or have had any slight against them by anyone who is/was jewish. I don't understand it.

 

[herman]

And to me what's even more is I bet you most of these people haven't really ever met anyone jewish or have had any slight against them by anyone who is/was jewish. I don't understand it.

It's indoctrination. Based on what I've read about them, these groups tend to take on people on the fringes of society (for whatever the socio-economic reason), subsume their identities into the gang/cult and give them a sense of family and belonging that is what they actually wanted. In their eyes, it's not about hatred, it's about doing what they believe is right and good, and what resistance they face are the trials and tribulations faced by heroes.

It's not much different than religious or secular extremist groups. The ideology takes root as their foundational belief system (whatever it is, justified or otherwise) and our human minds are going to naturally defend those core tenets as a matter of survival.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Bannon out, looks like the generals are taking over now, which is a whole other reason to worry.

 

[Arn]

Bannon gone now too..

 

[bustaheims]

Bannon out, looks like the generals are taking over now, which is a whole other reason to worry.

To an extent, yeah, but, the current military leadership in the US has seen firsthand just how damaging getting involved in a conflict without a solid plan can be. They'll at least look at things from a strategic perspective rather than a xenophobic one or a reactionary one.