Gagging Trump or Us?

Trump having to comply with a very limited gag order is only half of today’s story. The other half is how Trump’s allies in the Republican party are causing us all to gag as we witness their disgusting strategic lying.

Today the partial gag order in Trump’s civil trial in New York was reinstated by New York’s Supreme Court. New York’s Supreme Court is an appellate court that heard Trump’s appeal on the original gag order. The question now is what will the consequences be when Trump ignores the gag order? We shall see.

The real news however in that most of us have been subjected to the repulsive actions and statements that have reached a fever peak rom Trump’s allies in the Republican Party. When we observe what our democracy is being subjected too it certainly makes me gag. Often these hard Right morons spew hatred, vitriol and vomit on the House floor or in committee meetings that makes us all want to retch.

Lindsey Graham directly called on Governor Abbott to send thousands of immigrants to the states of 10 Democratic Senators. https://twitter.com/i/status/1730047017886290267 Graham calls himself a Christian and yet wants too ship migrants that are legally seeking asylum as if they were cattle.

Josh Hawley is now saying the Biden Administration is using tactics straight out of the Chinese Communist Party’s playbook. Without any facts he is attacking Biden and calling him a Communist. Hawley has no idea what communism is, he is just vomiting hard Right talking points.

Clay Higgins is regurgitating talking points that the FBI was driving the attack on the Capitol on January 6th. He claims the FBI agents dressed up in Trump gear and incited the insurrection.

Moms4 Liberty has been attacking school Boards and school libraries over content. This news story broke today. Here is an except from Mother Jones. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/11/a-florida-gop-leader-a-moms-for-liberty-founder-and-allegations-of-group-sex-and-rape/

The investigative journalism outlet Florida Center for Government Accountability has a story today alleging that Christian Ziegler, the chair of the Florida GOP, sexually assaulted a woman. This would be enough to attract attention, but this woman was allegedly having a ménage à trois with him and his wife Bridget, the erstwhile crusading chair of the Sarasota school board and a co-founder of the parents’ rights group Moms for Liberty.

These are only a few examples of how low these Right Wing Morons are dragging our Nation. We need recognize their actions for what it is…pure vomit.

Let’s focus on today’s positive news, which is much easier to swallow.

New stats show annual inflation fell to its lowest level since March 2021 and that monthly inflation was zero. This comes after yesterday’s news that the U.S. economy grew by more than 5% last quarter. These are strong indicators that Biden’s economic vision is working.

All 4 National polls released this week have President Biden leading Donald Trump.

New reports show 52% of 18-29-year-olds say they will vote for Joe Biden over Trump. This is a higher percentage than any other age group. For all the stress about where Gen-Z sits, it should be noted that Biden drove record youth turnout in 2020 & will again in 2024.

813,000 student borrowers received an email Tuesday from President Biden saying their debt had been forgiven because of the Biden-Harris Administration’s loan forgiveness plans. This is a huge deal that will relieve a significant burden for countless Americans.

New economic analysis has been done and shows that shipping backlogs are now at a 25 year low. Most economists are attributing this success to President Biden’s insistence on creating a more resilient and sustainable economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rubbernecking and the Media

On this holiday weekend many of us take to the roads and eventually we all do it. We all have the tendency to want too see the accident, fire, or other emergency that has caught our attention. Even though we know we shouldn’t we rubberneck. On the road this often causes a traffic jam on the side of the road unaffected by the accident. Rubbernecking often results in another accident. When on the scene of another emergency our rubbernecking often mean that the first responders must divert some of their attention to the emergency at hand and safeguard the scene from us rubberneckers. Rubbernecking is often fed by our curiosity or desire to be a witness and often can create a problem for us as well.

So how does the media figure into rubbernecking? Let’s be honest, in this age of instant news, CNN, MSNBC, Fox, “X”, Facebook, Tik ToK and other forms available through the internet and cable TV, dramatic events drive viewers to seek more information. Lately when a Trump or his MAGA minions story hits the news cycle, many flock to see what this is all about. And just like the rubberneckers on the highway, those that flock to these media stories often get caught up in their own traffic jam of news that often blocks out the real news of the day.

When Trump or is MAGA minions actions get viewers to these media outlets it often drives their programming because it drives their revenues. Therefore, Trump’s words or actions actually help the revenues of these media outlets.

We saw this in 2016. Trump’s outrageous behavior was reported on all day, every day. Not only did it drive revenues , the constant exposure drove minions towards him. They heard someone who validated their most outrageous ideas everyday. The media’s constant coverage is what helped spawn the mass MAGA movement and all the evil baggage that came with it.

So just as rubbernecking on the road can cause problems for those who are on the other side of the guide rails, wanting to see what Trump has said today causes problems for those on the other side of his political spectrum.

Don’t “rubberneck” when Trump’s actions are shown over and over. Glance at it and move on, after all we still need too know. Perhaps these media outlets will realize that their viewers are not interested in wall to wall coverage of Trump and his MAGA minions and will no longer provide the means for us to get bogged down in Trump traffic.

We can only hope.

Strategic Lying

Deception is a form of lying that has been in practice for many years in the international community. Often used to mislead the enemy so that you can get the upper hand. As the saying goes, “all is fair in love and war.” However, deception when used against your own populace to gain a political advantage is not deception it is strategy lying.

Strategic lying is a practice that is being used by the Republican Party every day. They are using this strategy to hold the attention of a segment of the population that either have preconceived prejudices on an issue, ignorant of what is actually true, or are seeking validation of their own theories.

When attempts are made too identify these lies, more often or not it keeps the lie alive and benefits the lying party. Because, those that buy into a lie are often unable or unwilling to admit that their own theory is wrong, and they will most likely dig in deeper to the lie.

Today’s case in point. Today a strategic lie is circulating on Fox News and throughout MAGA world. They are claiming this year’s Thanksgiving dinner and travel costs are higher than ever and President Biden is to blame when the economic indicators prove the opposite. Prices are at pre 2020 levels, gas prices are way down, and airline ticket prices are low as well. This strategic lie is used to drive a political lie about President Biden. They also fail to mention that unemployment is a record lows and salaries are up over 41/2%

So how do we combat strategic lies? First and foremost avoid combat! Don’t just call out a lie because that only plays into their hand. Better yet, anticipate the lies, and share facts as much as possible. Flood social media with current economic trends, accomplishments of the Biden Administration, and make your opinions known.

2024 is going to be a turning point for our Nation. We either will fall into the abyss of Fascism, or Democracy will prevail. Democracy needs us to recognize the strategic lies that are being used daily. Often these lies are parroted by members of the Party and Fox News based on the talking points they receive daily. Often their words will be exactly alike. Even on Fox and Friends in the morning, you can see them reading the daily talking points given to them as they are doing a show. It is so obvious when you recognize their strategy.

Democracy will prevail because the truth is on our side. Have a happy Thanksgiving and remember to spread the facts instead of debating the lies as you pass the Turkey.

Gotta Opine!

It has been way to long since I have posted here. Now that I am firmly entrenched in my retirement years, it is time to get back it. Folks, I thank those of you who have read my posts in the past and I hope you will follow me as my social media journey continues. I will be shifting from education issues towards posting more on current political events. Feel free to comment and share this blog with others.

Our Nation is now facing a disruptive political climate that is threatening our democracy. Trump’s MAGA movement has spawned a resurgence of fascism that we have defeated in the past but has reincarnated as more dangerous than ever before. With the fuel provided by social media and political greed our Nation faces this threat from within. It is time to stand up, be counted and defeat this threat. This is a battle of ideologies that we must win.

These fascists have brought out strategies from their old playbook. They have attacked our educational institutions, our places of worship, our governmental institutions, our regulatory safeguards, and our sacred right to free elections. Even though they are a minority they have skillfully used social media to spew lies that root in the darkness of ignorance.

We need to stop playing defense and go on the offense. Let start by calling out those that threaten us. Elon Musk has turned Twitter now call “X” into a platform that highlights the White Nationalist’s agenda. “X” has promoted anti Semitism and his “For You” tab is dominated by posts from Marjorie Taylor Greene and other MAGA morons. Musk pushes this extreme Right propaganda in an effort to legitimize their rhetoric. There is an old saying that if you continue to tell the same lie over and over, it will be eventually seen as the truth, This is right out of the fascist playbook.

In future posts I plan to call out these lies. Stay tuned and most importantly stay informed.