A story about a pathetic man's downfall [34 Felony Convictions]

[Neonmoon 38129]

Trump really likes endorsing dictators. Weird 

[HenryJames 66041]

6 hours ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

wow

 

 

[NAVY 6740]

6 hours ago, HenryJames said:

 

Bungled response huh? Checks notes.jpg

[Francisco 2.0 32389]

Good God.

Trump submitted a letter to the editor to the Wall Street Journal disputing their article on Monday concerning the Pennsylvania 2020 Presidential Election.  They actually published it.  I don't have a sub, so I can't post it here; perhaps someone else can.  Here's the first paragraph:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/president-donald-trump-2020-election-fraud-pennsylvania-ballots-11635280347

Quote

In your editorial “The Election for Pennsylvania’s High Court” (Oct. 25), you state the fact that a court wrongly said mail-in ballots could be counted after Election Day. “This didn’t matter,” you add, “because Mr. Biden won the state by 80,555, but the country is lucky the election wasn’t closer. If the election had hung on a few thousand Pennsylvanians, the next President might have been picked by the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Well actually, the election was rigged, which you, unfortunately, still haven’t figured out. Here are just a few examples of how determinative the voter fraud in Pennsylvania was:

 

[High Plains Drifter 11035]

 

Its the WSJ opinion page. Of course they printed that shite.

 

 

[RomaVicta 29905]

On 10/25/2021 at 11:58 PM, DonkeyCigars said:

There are absolutely lessons to be learned from all this. I think of a piece I read recently on ancient Greeks like Socrates and such and how performative they had to be, and ultimately it's always been showmanship and large platforms (cults of personalities) that activate and amplify messages. 

I'd be curious to know the name and source of that piece or even the actual point that was being made.

How does Socrates fit into that thesis?

Have you read Plato? Socrates doesn't fit what you seem to be getting at.

[DonkeyCigars 144]

29 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

I'd be curious to know the name and source of that piece or even the actual point that was being made.

How does Socrates fit into that thesis?

Have you read Plato? Socrates doesn't fit what you seem to be getting at.

The source was BBC, here is the link: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210922-would-plato-tweet-the-ancient-greek-guide-to-social-media

Here are some quotes:

When philosophy began, the written word in the Greek-speaking world was still very young – and so ideas were often disseminated as oral-performative acts in public spaces, not unlike the epic poems of the previous age. Long before philosophers were writing books and papers, their thoughts had to be transmitted in a way that could grab their audience's attention – there was an element of public display.

Early philosophers developed highly elaborate public personas

The influential pre-Socratic philosopher Xenophanes presented his ideas in the context of rhapsodic contests, where poets vied for prizes and renown – philosophical rap competitions, of a sort. Early philosophers also developed highly elaborate public personas. Empedocles, who's credited with inventing the idea of the four Classical elements, made his public appearances with extravagant flair – a purple robe, a golden belt, sandals of bronze – and referred to himself as an incarnate god. 

Empedocles made public appearances with extravagant flair, and referred to himself as a god (Credit: Alamy)

If these modes of self-presentation had included the ability to take video, you would have had some potentially very viral philosophers. They were, in their manner, akin to content creators and influencers, in that their intellectual authority consisted not only in their ideas, but their performative eloquence, and the cult of personality with which they surrounded themselves. 

Perhaps the most famous ancient Greek philosopher managed to disseminate his ideas without ever writing anything at all. Socrates, as we're told, conducted in-the-moment philosophical conversations, usually in public places, in which he challenged conventional wisdom on various topics – provoking his fellow citizens, and, fatally for himself, the government. His art was verbal, but his expressions were as transient as a tweet or a post, a virtuous troll in the comments sections of Athenian intellectual life. 

We may be returning to a state in which a thinker's claim to wisdom relies on their ability to effectively perform it

His exploits are recreated for us in the writings of his students, most famously Plato. In many ways these Socratic dialogues, which are the fountainhead of the whole philosophical tradition that follows, can be read as a fictionalised biography of a career influencer – the Collected Twitter Threads of Socrates, liberally reinvented, yet perhaps faithful in spirit. 

In the age of social media, we may be returning to a state in which a thinker's claim to wisdom relies on their ability to effectively perform it – with the additional requirement that they're able to transmute that performance into content.

[Brisketexan 105095]

[DonkeyCigars 144]

45 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

I'd be curious to know the name and source of that piece or even the actual point that was being made.

How does Socrates fit into that thesis?

Have you read Plato? Socrates doesn't fit what you seem to be getting at.

Also, as I hope I've satiated your curiosity with my response, I'd be curious to get your feedback after reading that article on both the point being made, the dotted line I drew from the article to Trump/this thread, and any other takeaways you might have had. Especially since I feel you are unfairly skeptical, at times, about my sources because I thought it was obvious I only read reputable and learned literature and quarterlies. 😛

[RomaVicta 29905]

1 hour ago, DonkeyCigars said:

Also, as I hope I've satiated your curiosity with my response, I'd be curious to get your feedback after reading that article on both the point being made, the dotted line I drew from the article to Trump/this thread, and any other takeaways you might have had. Especially since I feel you are unfairly skeptical, at times, about my sources because I thought it was obvious I only read reputable and learned literature and quarterlies. 😛

Your source is very good and interesting. Kudos.

I think the comparison of how communication worked for philosophers and sophistoi of Athens with how it works today is inapt. 

One of the intersting things about city-states and even mega-city-states such as Rome is the direct familiarity the community had with persons of fame or infamy. The impression was not mediated beyond hearsay.

In course at UT, I learned that in a play (I believe The Birds) which sends up philosophers, one of the comedic masks was designed to closely resemble Socrates. It was a show stopper. Socrates finally stood in the audience in acknowledgement. Without photos, paintings, TV, or Twitter, the masses of Athens knew his face well enough to get the joke.

In Rome, Julius Caesar appealed to the common people in a way no other Patrician cared to even try. Imagine the Forum filled with tens of thousands of Romans witnessing and listening in person.

Yes, rhetorical skills, appearance, and other showmanship was surely employed. Trump may have made a solid demagogue back in the day, but he would have been forced to do it as he does at his rallies. And his rallies alone.

I was drawn to Classics by the utter shock I felt reading Marcus Livius' The War With Hannibal at how familiar antiquity was to a modern reader. Still, there is nothing there like our shiny, manipulating media ready to up-play or downplay any random detail. In this way, these worlds are profoundly different.

[Michael Knight 12977]

3 hours ago, Francisco 2.0 said:

Good God.

Trump submitted a letter to the editor to the Wall Street Journal disputing their article on Monday concerning the Pennsylvania 2020 Presidential Election.  They actually published it.  I don't have a sub, so I can't post it here; perhaps someone else can.  Here's the first paragraph:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/president-donald-trump-2020-election-fraud-pennsylvania-ballots-11635280347

 

He is one pathetic loser

[atomheartbevo 89648]

7 minutes ago, Michael Knight said:

He is one pathetic loser

I honestly didn't have him blaming Barr for not helping steal Pennsylvania on my bingo card.

Publicly bashing your AG is probably not a good way to keep his loyalty, should he be called upon to testify about anything involving you.

Edited October 27, 2021 by atomheartbevo

[Longhorn_Fan68 33868]

3 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

I honestly didn't have him blaming Barr for not helping steal Pennsylvania on my bingo card.

Publicly bashing your AG is probably not a good way to keep his loyalty, should he be called upon to testify about anything involving you.

I've lost track of how many dimensions deep this man plays chess. our feeble brains can't even begin to comprehend

[Michael Knight 12977]

4 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

I honestly didn't have him blaming Barr for not helping steal Pennsylvania on my bingo card.

Publicly bashing your AG is probably not a good way to keep his loyalty, should he be called upon to testify about anything involving you.

you're assuming bill barr has any integrity

[Horndog 2228]

More intelligence and comprehension has been displayed on this page alone than Trump has demonstrated in a lifetime. By a multiple of thousands. 

[atomheartbevo 89648]

20 minutes ago, Michael Knight said:

you're assuming bill barr has any integrity

Trump's rant in the WSJ today was about Barr ordering U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain to stand down and not investigate PA election irregularities.

So there is something there.  Whether you call it integrity, or Barr simply reading the tea leaves and not wanting to fuck around and find out, I don't know.

I think if Bill Barr has to choose between saving his own skin and taking the fall for Trump, 10 out of 10 times he'll choose to save his own skin. 

[Michael Knight 12977]

1 hour ago, atomheartbevo said:

Trump's rant in the WSJ today was about Barr ordering U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain to stand down and not investigate PA election irregularities.

So there is something there.  Whether you call it integrity, or Barr simply reading the tea leaves and not wanting to fuck around and find out, I don't know.

I think if Bill Barr has to choose between saving his own skin and taking the fall for Trump, 10 out of 10 times he'll choose to save his own skin. 

the failure here is the belief that Bill Barr would be accountable for anything and would have to "save his own skin". Nothing will happen.

[hornmpa96 2618]

Is it really his own skin when we all know Bill Barr is an alien walking around in a human suit?

[Pato del Muerto 52489]

4 minutes ago, hornmpa96 said:

Is it really his own skin when we all know Bill Barr is an alien walking around in a human suit?

Lizard person?

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19100]

3 hours ago, hornmpa96 said:

Is it really his own skin when we all know Bill Barr is an alien walking around in a human suit?

[WhatTheBuck 28776]

4 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

Trump's rant in the WSJ today was about Barr ordering U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain to stand down and not investigate PA election irregularities.

So there is something there.  Whether you call it integrity, or Barr simply reading the tea leaves and not wanting to fuck around and find out, I don't know.

I think if Bill Barr has to choose between saving his own skin and taking the fall for Trump, 10 out of 10 times he'll choose to save his own skin. 

And he should still hang for lying to the American people and covering up Russian interference in the 2020 election. 

[Satchel 6938]

On 10/26/2021 at 10:45 PM, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

wow

 

The Brazilian people finally wake up and turn on Bolsonaro and Trump sides with the dictator. Completely on brand.

[C-Man 27214]

5 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

Trump's rant in the WSJ today was about Barr ordering U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain to stand down and not investigate PA election irregularities.

So there is something there.  Whether you call it integrity, or Barr simply reading the tea leaves and not wanting to fuck around and find out, I don't know.

I think if Bill Barr has to choose between saving his own skin and taking the fall for Trump, 10 out of 10 times he'll choose to save his own skin. 

[Macanudo 12976]

9 hours ago, WhatTheBuck said:

And he should still hang for lying to the American people and covering up Russian interference in the 2020 election. 

The danger is that next time, Trump and his ilk will make sure that the stink and treachery extends further and further down in the DOJ.  

[Horn Under a Bad Sign 20395]

11 hours ago, Satchel said:

The Brazilian people finally wake up and turn on Bolsonaro and Trump sides with the dictator. Completely on brand.

Good Lord ... does Trump think his endorsement carries any weight in Brazil? 

[Longhorn_Fan68 33868]

16 minutes ago, Horn Under a Bad Sign said:

Good Lord ... does Trump think his endorsement carries any weight in Brazil? 

probably trying to get on his good side so he has somewhere to flee when shit hits the fan

[Bullneck 19078]

 

 

[TwiceHorn 31450]

10 minutes ago, Bullneck said:

 

 

I cunt hear you, twat did you say?

[Restless Native 315]

I'll never understand how someone could live nearly 8 decades in New York City, in the top 1% economically, and never even pick up a shred of class or refinement.

[Biff Tannen 45673]

On 10/28/2021 at 11:16 AM, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

probably trying to get on his good side so he has somewhere to flee when shit hits the fan

This is probably more correct than you think.

['stache 21802]

"and basically a lowlife.:"

This is a grown man who held the most powerful office in the country, maybe the world. I just cannot wrap my head around that.

[DonkeyCigars 144]

7 minutes ago, 'stache said:

"and basically a lowlife.:"

This is a grown man who held the most powerful office in the country, maybe the world. I just cannot wrap my head around that.

Trump is the epitome of that saying "...like wrestling with pigs in the mud, after a while you realize the pigs actually enjoy it."

Trump loves to be petty. You aren't going to out-petty him.

[Brisketexan 105095]

7 minutes ago, DonkeyCigars said:

Trump is the epitome of that saying "...like wrestling with pigs in the mud, after a while you realize the pigs actually enjoy it."

Trump loves to be petty. You aren't going to out-petty him.

No, you are not.  He practices it at a level that defies human explanation.

Also, a majority of the voters in a large number of states LOVES HIM FOR IT.  Again, behavior that is peak "shitty human being" is an ASSET in the minds of our fellow countrymen.  We don't recover from that.

[DonkeyCigars 144]

15 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

No, you are not.  He practices it at a level that defies human explanation.

Also, a majority of the voters in a large number of states LOVES HIM FOR IT.  Again, behavior that is peak "shitty human being" is an ASSET in the minds of our fellow countrymen.  We don't recover from that.

Yea, I generally agree. He is a bully. He is also petty to the level you stated very well. And unfortunately, it's often funny (e.g. calling Meghan a low life, his Rosie O'Donnell insults back in the day, etc.) or so absurd that it's humorous to laugh at him (e.g. his ties and suits and hair, etc.)

When we laugh with him, he is bringing out the worst in us. My first instinct is to chuckle when he calls Meghan McCain a low life, that is not good. Laughing at Rosie O'Donnell when he called her a loser pig is also not a good thing. On the internet this is usually expressed and prefaced with "I'm going to hell for this, but..." as you laugh at something inappropriate.

[bluto 4916]

Damn you’re a fucking idiot

[HornOnTheBayou 8921]

34 minutes ago, DonkeyCigars said:

And unfortunately, it's often funny (e.g. calling Meghan a low life, his Rosie O'Donnell insults back in the day, etc.)

['stache 21802]

45 minutes ago, DonkeyCigars said:

Yea, I generally agree. He is a bully. He is also petty to the level you stated very well. And unfortunately, it's often funny (e.g. calling Meghan a low life, his Rosie O'Donnell insults back in the day, etc.) or so absurd that it's humorous to laugh at him (e.g. his ties and suits and hair, etc.)

When we laugh with him, he is bringing out the worst in us. My first instinct is to chuckle when he calls Meghan McCain a low life, that is not good. Laughing at Rosie O'Donnell when he called her a loser pig is also not a good thing. On the internet this is usually expressed and prefaced with "I'm going to hell for this, but..." as you laugh at something inappropriate.

It was funny for a minute when he was a joke candidate looking for attention. It became real when an entire fucking political party decided it was great and put him in fucking office. It's not even remotely funny for a man who held that position to continue doing this shit. It wasn't funny when he encouraged a fucking insurrection where people were literally ready to kill politicians in his name. It's not funny in any respect whatsoever, and fuck you for even suggesting that there is any humor involved. 

[Francisco 2.0 32389]

47 minutes ago, DonkeyCigars said:

Yea, I generally agree. He is a bully. He is also petty to the level you stated very well. And unfortunately, it's often funny (e.g. calling Meghan a low life, his Rosie O'Donnell insults back in the day, etc.) or so absurd that it's humorous to laugh at him (e.g. his ties and suits and hair, etc.)

When we laugh with him, he is bringing out the worst in us. My first instinct is to chuckle when he calls Meghan McCain a low life, that is not good. Laughing at Rosie O'Donnell when he called her a loser pig is also not a good thing. On the internet this is usually expressed and prefaced with "I'm going to hell for this, but..." as you laugh at something inappropriate.

 

 

[Neonmoon 38129]

The dumbest people. 

[mchookem 16327]

1 hour ago, DonkeyCigars said:

Yea, I generally agree. He is a bully. He is also petty to the level you stated very well. And unfortunately, it's often funny (e.g. calling Meghan a low life, his Rosie O'Donnell insults back in the day, etc.) or so absurd that it's humorous to laugh at him (e.g. his ties and suits and hair, etc.)

When we laugh with him, he is bringing out the worst in us. My first instinct is to chuckle when he calls Meghan McCain a low life, that is not good. Laughing at Rosie O'Donnell when he called her a loser pig is also not a good thing. On the internet this is usually expressed and prefaced with "I'm going to hell for this, but..." as you laugh at something inappropriate.

come on, man... you're being purposely obtuse here, you know damn well it goes WAY beyond self-consciously laughing at an off-color joke he makes 🙄 ~30-40% of the population absolutely WORSHIPS his lowrent whitetrash persona and craves more of it. you know this. there is endless footage of this phenomenon. 

Edited October 29, 2021 by mchookem

[DonkeyCigars 144]

34 minutes ago, 'stache said:

It was funny for a minute when he was a joke candidate looking for attention. It became real when an entire fucking political party decided it was great and put him in fucking office. It's not even remotely funny for a man who held that position to continue doing this shit. It wasn't funny when he encouraged a fucking insurrection where people were literally ready to kill politicians in his name. It's not funny in any respect whatsoever, and fuck you for even suggesting that there is any humor involved. 

I agree Jan 6th is not funny, but what does that have to do with calling Meghan McCain a low life (something many of us on this thread have done) and calling Rosie O'Donnell a loser (again, something I'd guess literally everyone on these 171 pages has done at least once in their lifetime)?

My point which you missed was ardent agreement with @Brisketexan. He's unnaturally petty and he is a massive bully. And when we laugh WITH Trump (we, being society not you specifically, and I was admitting to times I've laughed with him and was open and vulnerable about it) it is BAD. It's engaging a bad part of our nature. I don't laugh with him anymore. I didn't laugh at calling Meghan McCain a low-life. I actively worked to ignore the humor in that, for my own sanity.

Ultimately Trump brings the worst out of people.

Edited October 29, 2021 by DonkeyCigars

[OneOfTheOutOfFocusGuys 2072]

33 minutes ago, Francisco 2.0 said:

 

 

['stache 21802]

5 minutes ago, DonkeyCigars said:

I agree Jan 6th is not funny, but what does that have to do with calling Meghan McCain a low life (something many of us on this thread have done) and calling Rosie O'Donnell a loser (again, something I'd guess literally everyone on these 171 pages has done at least once in their lifetime)?

My point which you missed was ardent agreement with @Brisketexan. He's unnaturally petty and he is a massive bully. And when we laugh WITH Trump (we, being society not you specifically, and I was admitting to times I've laughed with him and was open and vulnerable about it) it is BAD. It's engaging a bad part of our nature. I don't laugh with him anymore. I didn't laugh at calling Meghan McCain a low-life. I actively worked to ignore the humor in that, for my own sanity.

Ultimately Trump brings the worst out of people.

None of us have every fucking been president of the United States, and none of us have millions upon millions of followers who are itching to act violently against anyone who disagrees. You seem to be pretending that you have some nuanced position. You don't. You can't downplay his behavior, and then say, "see, I'm in agreement with you." The fact that you would even say shit like the bolded means you're a fucking clown. One of those people who giddily vote for a fucking tyrant but pretend that you disagree with him behavior. 

Edited October 29, 2021 by 'stache

[Gatorubet 30209]

I agree Jan 6th is not funny, but what does that have to do with calling Meghan McCain a low life (something many of us on this thread have done) and calling Rosie O'Donnell a loser (again, something I'd guess literally everyone on these 171 pages has done at least once in their lifetime)?
My point which you missed was ardent agreement with [mention=593]Brisketexan[/mention]. He's unnaturally petty and he is a massive bully. And when we laugh WITH Trump (we, being society not you specifically, and I was admitting to times I've laughed with him and was open and vulnerable about it) it is BAD. It's engaging a bad part of our nature. I don't laugh with him anymore. I didn't laugh at calling Meghan McCain a low-life. I actively worked to ignore the humor in that, for my own sanity.
Ultimately Trump brings the worst out of people.

[atomheartbevo 89648]

1 hour ago, 'stache said:

It was funny for a minute when he was a joke candidate looking for attention. It became real when an entire fucking political party decided it was great and put him in fucking office. It's not even remotely funny for a man who held that position to continue doing this shit.

Just putting aside the insurrection shit for a moment, it's really stunning in general.

I mean, this is the shit you expect from some techie 20-something who all of the sudden came into a bunch of money, and doesn't understand that he is somehow in a position where he should act like a man instead of a 12 year-old.  Or some high school dropout who won the lottery and is using his newfound fame to trash everybody who ever said an unkind thing about.

You don't expect this from some guy in his 60s and into his 70s who has been wealthy all of his life.

Then again, this is a guy who has constantly fucked up businesses that should make money hand-over-fist and  marries models and bangs porn stars, so...I suppose it's completely on-brand for him to be this intensely insecure.

[Brisketexan 105095]

1 hour ago, 'stache said:

It was funny for a minute when he was a joke candidate looking for attention. It became real when an entire fucking political party decided it was great and put him in fucking office. It's not even remotely funny for a man who held that position to continue doing this shit. It wasn't funny when he encouraged a fucking insurrection where people were literally ready to kill politicians in his name. It's not funny in any respect whatsoever, and fuck you for even suggesting that there is any humor involved. 

This.  I have said some stupid, crass, and offensive shit in my life.  I still occasionally do, among friends, in private.

But I also have another role -- I'm an officer of the court, and a representative of my clients.  And in THAT capacity, I have certain obligations, my word carries weight.  So, I don't say crass and offensive things in that capacity because of my position.

Trump the Game Show Host?  He can be as crass and shitty as he wants.  I will think he's crass and shitty, but who gives a fuck, he's a game show host. When the GODDAMNED MOTHERFUCKING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES says this shit, it matters.  It matters a lot.  Current, former, doesn't matter.  There is a REASON you've never heard any other POTUS, in office or out of it, behave that way.....because it so fucking denigrates the office and the country, and is so hideously harmful, that no sane or decent person would behave that way.  Trump is a goddamned sociopath.  That's bad enough.  He's also worshipped as an infallible god by the GQP.  That's what is killing and will kill us as a country.  We cannot recover when half of our body politic is a festering cancer.

Edited October 29, 2021 by Brisketexan

[Biff Tannen 45673]

17 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Trump is a goddamned sociopath.  That's bad enough.  He's also worshipped as an infallible god by the GQP.  That's what is killing and will kill us as a country.

Remember this, it's very important.  It's not him, it's his cult.

[Macanudo 12976]

And I think this is why the "Let's Go Brandon" shit rankles so much.   We've slid so far backward.   The mouth-breathing, knuckle-draggers have such a large platform that decency and adult-like behavior no longer means civility and common sense.   

But it has also exposed that American society is a failing one. 

[Brisketexan 105095]

38 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

And I think this is why the "Let's Go Brandon" shit rankles so much.   We've slid so far backward.   The mouth-breathing, knuckle-draggers have such a large platform that decency and adult-like behavior no longer means civility and common sense.   

But it has also exposed that American society is a failing one. 

Correct.  Looking at the USA right now is like looking at a CT scan for tumors.....and seeing fucking tumors EVERYWHERE.  You were hoping that you might see something treatable...instead, your stomach sinks as you realize you're looking at a death sentence.  And those tumors are only growing and spreading, by the way. 

It only gets worse.

There is no bottom.

[DDD Dad 14332]

Correct.  Looking at the USA right now is like looking at a CT scan for tumors.....and seeing fucking tumors EVERYWHERE.  You were hoping that you might see something treatable...instead, your stomach sinks as you realize you're looking at a death sentence.  And those tumors are only growing and spreading, by the way. 
It only gets worse.
There is no bottom.

Well at least it’s nearly 5 o’clock on Friday.