96 Comments

So - now for a LOT of trouble...

The Harris campaign made "weird" a voting issue with respect to DJT et al. The media (both traditional and "new" picked that up and ran with it for a few weeks. The Bulwark even ran some pieces and one commentator (can't remember specifically whom...) did point out that this may not be a wise strategy.

These ads are what happen when "weird" becomes an issue. This the DJT version of the Wallz comments...

PS - I am voting for Harris; I think this is what happens when folks in glass houses start throwing stones . Another way of putting it is - "don't mud wrestle with a pig".

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Using trangender children in a political ad is simply disgusting. These kids lives are hard enough without these scumbags making it more complicated.

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"It’s not clear if the ads will help Trump, hurt Harris—or just scapegoat trans people."

It's clear, the answer is yes (all three).

It doesn't mean this will tip the election since the degree of impact is not known, but the margins count a lot in this race. If Trump wins, it will be open season on the transgender population.

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Oct 25·edited Oct 25

It’s comical that we’re making hay over what 0.1% of the population? At least gays make up double digits give or take. Fucking insane brain rot. We can debate government funding but the attacks and commentary are just full on gross. Saddens me that this will possibly work. One of my coworkers back home in Missouri around 2011 was trans. Great person, hard worker, the amount of scorn / hate / fear leveled against them was astronomical. We knew this person. This was a small company of 50-60 people. Didn’t matter. They ended up leaving the state with their partner. :(

It was actually the start of my moving away from the right (was raised in a Republican and catholic household…yes those exist).

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founding

A lot of money spent to attack a group of people that are less than 1% of the population. Ignore the noise.

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Please - for context - Trump Administration also provided gender-affirming care to prisoners, as federal courts had ruled the government was required to do so. This issue is a nothing-burger to begin with, but we should be providing all relevant information when reporting on the Trump campaign's focus on this issue.

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Well, you know, if all else fails, show people that you hate the people that they hate.

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founding

So let me get this straight! We’ve had two trans people in the penitentiaries get surgeries which cost how much? $500k a piece? Even if it’s a million, it’s an infinitesimal amount of money, compared to how much the government spends a day: $20 billion!

Trump alone, accounts for $42 billion in farming subsidies a year, just because of his boneheaded tariffs on China; destroying an entire agricultural export industry to China. And don’t get me started on the Wall that Mexico decided wasn’t in its interest to pay for.

And not to mention, it was Trump’s policy to begin with. I’ve never seen a guy who creates so many problems with his policies, yet, when he left office, decided he could easily place the blame on Biden and democrats, who are left to clean up the mess. And sadly, too many “rubes” buy this bull shit!

Personally, I don’t believe prison is a place for any type of elective surgery or procedures, since it’s not a healthcare facility. Inmates committed crimes and are now paying the price. Inmates should have access to decent healthcare, but not better than your average American, who didn’t commit a crime; especially an an elective operation that costs a lot of money. And even though trans issues are considered mental illness, it doesn’t change the fact that the taxpayer has to foot the bill.

Essentially, jail is not summer camp or a spa; it’s prison! Yet, I would never vote for a president based on their “pro or con” belief of the LGBTQ community.

That said, on a scale of issues, this is a nothing burger! Although, as the wise man once said. “never underestimate the stupidity of a certain segment of the US electorate; they never cease to amaze!”…:)

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It's closer to $50k than $500k.

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founding

Thank you, and it just goes to show what a stupid and irrelevant issue this is.

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Most likely, his campaign operatives realize the more trump talks about the economy, the more voters he will turn off. He has no coherent (or even a solidly incoherent) economic plan except for his tariffs (the effect of which he doesn't understand).

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My family moved out of Florida in large part because of the governor's truly harmful policies in this area. I hope the trend (that these types of ads don't resonate) holds true. What's even more harmful is that if TFG is elected, lifesaving health care for the entire trans community is at high risk. That community runs from ages 5-99.

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That’s what I thought-another made up story to score points at the expense of others.

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The thing is, MAGA grifters can not talk about reality because they look like the crooks they are if they allow reality to come into play. All of it; abortion, immigration, trans, tariffs - these fucks care not one wit about any of that. They only care that enough voting folk get excited about it to be distracted while they rifle our pockets. All of the show is to make it easier to cut taxes on moneyed interests and vacuum up middle-class tax dollars by privatizing every conceivable function of government. Make no mistake, these people don't want the MOST money, they want ALL of the money. If they can figure out a way to get your labor for free, they'll gladly make you a slave.

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Rich Trump voters do so for their own self interest, AKA tax cuts. Poor Trump voters do so against their own self interest. They would all be better off with liberal policies in place. The problem is they are too stupid and influenced by fame to realize it. America is a broken country and will never recover from Trump.

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I get the pessimism. We have to believe in democracy. We have to have hearts like Ukrainians.

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Ironically, Steve, that elemental characteristic so evident in the Ukrainian people is a big reason why Putin & MAGA so disdain and fear them. It was once celebrated here but now rejected by Trumpism.

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Putin and MAGA most assuredly do fear that "elemental characteristic". I'm pretty sure they don't disdain it. Also important to remember, Trumpists are in the minority. We who believe in democracy have the advantage of being "WE". MAGA is a gang of individuals. They are drops in a bucket. We are a deluge. Keep the faith!

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Let it rain, brother! ⚡️⛈️💧🌞😊

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The Greeks have a saying, "Meta apo y vronti, o helios vgainei." They have a way of keeping their chin up. It means, "After the storm, the sun comes out." Pessimism is not helpful.

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I believe in democracy. I'm Canadian, so I actually get to see it in action. The US system is just bad. The electoral college and the senate were created on flawed ideas. There is a reason no other country in the world does it like you guys.

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Well, you and they had us as an example. We were largely winging it in 1787. While I believe we should honor the spirit and achievement of "the Framers," I always point out: *they knew* they weren't perfect, that their work was a kludgy compromise, and that revisions and adaptations would be called for over time. They would be surprised to know how *few* amendments we have made, from their time to this.

I will also note that our non-majoritarian structures do have parallels in supranational organizations like the UN and EU. Like US Senate seats, UN representation is fixed per member state, with no regard at all for population. Like US electoral votes, Members of the European Parliament are allocated degressively, so small countries like Malta and Luxembourg have fewer seats, but much more representation per citizen than big countries like Germany and France.

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The problem is it will never change. I can't imagine any amendment being passed. Life is too good in the USA for the revolution that is needed. Zombies on Smart Phones watching TicToc making 15 bucks an hour. The US is doomed. Got lucky for 200+ years and now you are fucked. Sucks for the world.

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Is your name really Pete, or is it Pyotr? We have work to do here, to be sure. We are far from fucked. Or doomed. Or whatever apocalyptic pessimism you want to invoke.

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Of course, it is all relative. I mean you are fucked in terms of making real change to the system. Total gridlock. If you like your plan, you can keep it. If you don't like your plan...

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Pete are you sure you’re Canadian? Sounds like some of our Made in the USA™️ cynicism has rubbed off on you 😉

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We aren't all nice.

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I am still reeling from a conversation yesterday with a close friend in Florida who had previously purported to be an Independent voter.

Said he’s now supporting trump, DeSanitizus, et al because “the gays and transvestites are taking over”.

He’s age 65, college grad, highly intelligent.

Proving that propaganda works better than ever in this so called “Information Age”.

I am extremely worried that our Republic is at the precipice of failure.

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I know a few “independent voters“ who really are people that just don’t want to admit their Republicans.

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This is not hard to figure. It is shoring up religious right support that might be wavering a bit over abortion. If some portion of that block stayed home, it could prove the difference in swing states.

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founding

Don't boo, vote!

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I got energy for both! 😊💙

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Oct 24·edited Oct 24

Quite the statement for the Trump pollster to say voters don’t like Kamala’s character when polling consistently shows she is viewed as more caring and trustworthy and has higher net approvals. It’s giving delusion.

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