As to ways to silence his "enemies" in the media, some of the Donald's most Trumpy friends in Florida's government are already deploying a prototype for testing. Ran into a bit of a hiccup, but I doubt they'll let that stop them:
It still amazes me that Chris Christy lit himself on fire during a primary but is unwilling to do anything now to make sure Trump loses. Just astounding his cowardice.
Re CBS editing: Well, Trump's favorite channel Fox does this all the time to his benefit. Recent example: When Harris did her Fox interview with Bret Baier, he showed an edited clip of Trump sounding as if he never said anything about using the military or the National Guard against protesters, immigrants or other enemies. Harris caught that right away and called him on it telling viewers exactly what Trump had actually said. No one has benefitted more from creative editing than Trump has.
There is plenty of old news footage that can be edited together. It’s better to show people than tell them. People sometimes need a jolt or reality check. It’s very easy to block tragic events out of one’s head. Think 9/11. Thank God for video.
Not that logic matters but companies have set timelines for record destruction including old employee files and wage garnishment records. They probably line up with statutory limits on state liability lawsuits. Trump knows this as a business owner. It’s amazing how he plays the dumb blonde while also being a business genius, and gets away with both.
Yes. My industry keeps records for the exact timetable required by law, then they are destroyed. No incentive to keep stuff laying around for discovery.
I'm not sure I can bring myself to read the article about the 80 year old man who was giving away his much-needed savings to political candidates. My mother passed earlier this year. 92 years old with some dementia her last couple years. One thing I learned taking care of her is how older people are targeted by not only political candidates but non-profits with direct mail solicitations trying to play on their sympathies to give them money. My mother would get her mail and then want to open up the checkbook for these causes. She would always say "But it's for a good cause." I would respond that they don't raise money for bad causes. The problem is that many of these charities have highly paid executives and very little of the money, after administrative costs, go for the cause. Non-profits have to only be set up for a charitable type cause and not turn a profit. They can pay their executives whatever they want.
Fortunately, in my mother's case, she would only give $20 or so...but that just meant she ended up on more mailing lists. Here's a problem. There is no way to stop direct mail solicitations and as I said they really target the elderly, probably because many of them have dementia and can be exploited. There is a list you can get on to stop direct mail solicitations, but it's 100% voluntary.
I realize we are outside the realm of logic (and decency, on the solicitors' end) ... but I wonder if the following might have a 0.000001 chance of doing any good?
Sit down with the loved one and
(1) recognize that there is far more need than you can ever fill
(2) make a giving plan and budget that maximizes your realistic and sustainable ability to do good
(3) stick to it no matter what happens.
This does not require you to distinguish between good and bad charities, or make any judgment calls at all except the ones you make at leisure when you first sit down to make the plan. Honor your feelings and values during step 2, not later.
It's what I do. Personally, I do not give in response to a disaster or other emotionally compelling incident, because I know that either (1) "my" charity is already responding or (2) it is one of the millions that I can't do anything about.
I'm not saying this is for everyone. We're all wired differently and have different job tickets. Not a solution for scams that prey on actual dementia, I know. But it could help for people who are just too vulnerable to impulse giving (just like something similar could work for people prone to impulse buying or eating).
Impulse giving is SO tempting because it makes you *feel* connected; but you're not really any more connected than you would be with structured giving.
Make a plan and stick to it. Warm heart, cool mind.
My neighbor just spent hours trying to block some jerk who was calling his 85 year old mother in law asking her to get hundreds of dollars in gift cards to help someone in North Carolina recover from the hurricane. She has no connection to anyone in North Carolina. I wonder what else she's been giving money to.
Switch people to phones with answering machines. 99% of the callers don't bother leaving a message on my phone unlike email which is in your face. I never bothered setting up my cellphone with voice mail. If it's someone I know, they'll text me.
The fact that Trump and MAGA-land have made such a big stink about the 60 Minutes edit and Harris's alleged "lie" about working for McDonald's demonstrates that they actually can't find scandals comparable to the ones that Trump regularly creates by himself.
I've seen MAGAs say things like: "If she'll lie about working at McDonald's, what else will she lie about?"
Let me turn this around, dear MAGAs: "If she's always lying, why are you so fixated on something you have not shown to be a lie at all?"
Since Trump says he could have negotiated a deal to prevent the Civil War and dealing with crazies like Putin and Kim is a breeze, why doesn't someone ask him why he hasn't been able to negotiate with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer?
Aren't there people in Trump's Wharton's graduating class who said they never remember seeing him on campus or in classes? Why not look into this story further?
Frankly, the problem is pretty much everyone around back then are dead or may be afflicted with dementia. Trump won't allow his academic record to be released from the institutions he attended.
The ridiculous schlepping candidates need to do for being candidates is also tiresome. It must cause discerning, good candidates to avoid running for office.
RE: Trump's Dumbest Crusade
As to ways to silence his "enemies" in the media, some of the Donald's most Trumpy friends in Florida's government are already deploying a prototype for testing. Ran into a bit of a hiccup, but I doubt they'll let that stop them:
https://popular.info/p/update-its-the-first-amendment-stupid
It still amazes me that Chris Christy lit himself on fire during a primary but is unwilling to do anything now to make sure Trump loses. Just astounding his cowardice.
Re CBS editing: Well, Trump's favorite channel Fox does this all the time to his benefit. Recent example: When Harris did her Fox interview with Bret Baier, he showed an edited clip of Trump sounding as if he never said anything about using the military or the National Guard against protesters, immigrants or other enemies. Harris caught that right away and called him on it telling viewers exactly what Trump had actually said. No one has benefitted more from creative editing than Trump has.
ETTD. I see that the McD's logo has been appropriated by Trump, Inc. Elderly people forsake their nest eggs to secure the rantings of an old madman.
Same as it ever was.
I guess we can be grateful that the former president didn't describe RFK, Jr's manly parts in the barbershop talk.
There is plenty of old news footage that can be edited together. It’s better to show people than tell them. People sometimes need a jolt or reality check. It’s very easy to block tragic events out of one’s head. Think 9/11. Thank God for video.
After posting that Cheap Shot, I assume all the questions about "Why is Trump fixating on such-and-such?" are rhetorical.
Not that logic matters but companies have set timelines for record destruction including old employee files and wage garnishment records. They probably line up with statutory limits on state liability lawsuits. Trump knows this as a business owner. It’s amazing how he plays the dumb blonde while also being a business genius, and gets away with both.
Yes. My industry keeps records for the exact timetable required by law, then they are destroyed. No incentive to keep stuff laying around for discovery.
I'm not sure I can bring myself to read the article about the 80 year old man who was giving away his much-needed savings to political candidates. My mother passed earlier this year. 92 years old with some dementia her last couple years. One thing I learned taking care of her is how older people are targeted by not only political candidates but non-profits with direct mail solicitations trying to play on their sympathies to give them money. My mother would get her mail and then want to open up the checkbook for these causes. She would always say "But it's for a good cause." I would respond that they don't raise money for bad causes. The problem is that many of these charities have highly paid executives and very little of the money, after administrative costs, go for the cause. Non-profits have to only be set up for a charitable type cause and not turn a profit. They can pay their executives whatever they want.
Fortunately, in my mother's case, she would only give $20 or so...but that just meant she ended up on more mailing lists. Here's a problem. There is no way to stop direct mail solicitations and as I said they really target the elderly, probably because many of them have dementia and can be exploited. There is a list you can get on to stop direct mail solicitations, but it's 100% voluntary.
Sorry for my rant...
Excellent rant!
I realize we are outside the realm of logic (and decency, on the solicitors' end) ... but I wonder if the following might have a 0.000001 chance of doing any good?
Sit down with the loved one and
(1) recognize that there is far more need than you can ever fill
(2) make a giving plan and budget that maximizes your realistic and sustainable ability to do good
(3) stick to it no matter what happens.
This does not require you to distinguish between good and bad charities, or make any judgment calls at all except the ones you make at leisure when you first sit down to make the plan. Honor your feelings and values during step 2, not later.
It's what I do. Personally, I do not give in response to a disaster or other emotionally compelling incident, because I know that either (1) "my" charity is already responding or (2) it is one of the millions that I can't do anything about.
I'm not saying this is for everyone. We're all wired differently and have different job tickets. Not a solution for scams that prey on actual dementia, I know. But it could help for people who are just too vulnerable to impulse giving (just like something similar could work for people prone to impulse buying or eating).
Impulse giving is SO tempting because it makes you *feel* connected; but you're not really any more connected than you would be with structured giving.
Make a plan and stick to it. Warm heart, cool mind.
FWIW?
My neighbor just spent hours trying to block some jerk who was calling his 85 year old mother in law asking her to get hundreds of dollars in gift cards to help someone in North Carolina recover from the hurricane. She has no connection to anyone in North Carolina. I wonder what else she's been giving money to.
Switch people to phones with answering machines. 99% of the callers don't bother leaving a message on my phone unlike email which is in your face. I never bothered setting up my cellphone with voice mail. If it's someone I know, they'll text me.
Help! Overexposure to Trump has led me to spontaneously birthe typos — here, right from the get-go, should be “Re” not “Te.”
The fact that Trump and MAGA-land have made such a big stink about the 60 Minutes edit and Harris's alleged "lie" about working for McDonald's demonstrates that they actually can't find scandals comparable to the ones that Trump regularly creates by himself.
I've seen MAGAs say things like: "If she'll lie about working at McDonald's, what else will she lie about?"
Let me turn this around, dear MAGAs: "If she's always lying, why are you so fixated on something you have not shown to be a lie at all?"
Since Trump says he could have negotiated a deal to prevent the Civil War and dealing with crazies like Putin and Kim is a breeze, why doesn't someone ask him why he hasn't been able to negotiate with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer?
That's spot on.
Because they're the real evil, of course, whereas Putin and Kim aren't really that bad, as Trump himself has said.
Aren't there people in Trump's Wharton's graduating class who said they never remember seeing him on campus or in classes? Why not look into this story further?
Frankly, the problem is pretty much everyone around back then are dead or may be afflicted with dementia. Trump won't allow his academic record to be released from the institutions he attended.
Most likely because he is an F student
The ridiculous schlepping candidates need to do for being candidates is also tiresome. It must cause discerning, good candidates to avoid running for office.
They have it easy. They only have to go to a half dozen states.
“ … an inestimable jewel.” That quote from Lincoln gave me goosebumps. Great job today, Bill. Loved every word.
He's really excellent at picking from him. The blowing out the moral light of JD/Trump mentioning Lincoln's criticism of Douglas was also excellent.
You start to feel bad that inquisitive minds like Kristol'sand Egger's have to waste neuron activity on matters like this one.