I keep reciting your mantra ---- we will win - eventually. But I can not shake my feeling of dread. Except for Jennifer Rubin - (and only another handful - minus thumb!) - I despair of the Mainstream Press. Twitter does not surprise in its depravity - the mainstream media simply disgusts me. The assault on the Pelosi family is truly horrifying and overwhelmingly disturbing. The thunderous silence of Republicans appalls. I pray that we have a sleeping giant of voters that will support the Dems and are not featuring in the polls - which I do my best to ignore. As you point out, Biden's and the Dem's incredible accomplishments barely feature in the news. No wonder so many American voters are so ignorant. And yesterday, Ezra Klein's by line 'Do the Dems deserve to win?' Not a word asking the question of the Republicans. It's sickening
I am pinning this comment to the top. Ezra Klein's essay about whether Democrats deserve to be reelected is written as if January 6th did not happen and as if Trump is not a twice-impeached, coup-plotting hate monger who seeks to overthrow democracy. Klein quibbles about legislative priorities and vaccine roll-outs--both important, but both meaningless if MAGA extremists succeed in overturning the Constitution. What alternate universe is Ezra Klein living in? It must be a nice fantasy-world where there are two responsible political parties and the challenge facing journalists is deciding which is doing the best job in rolling out legislation that benefits the American people.
I haven't read the essay, but I can read the hate, conspiracy, and fear-mongering supported by the Republican Party largely by their silence. Even a man like Romney who has an ethical silence does nothing to put a stop to the wild conspiracy and hate speech by people like Majorie Taylor Green and Jim Jordan.
On a positive note, I did spend a Saturday afternoon with my neighbor discussing our midterm ballot. It was really delightful to have a thoughtful discussion about real issues for a change. The endless hyperbole is tiresome and counterproductive. There is something truly refreshing about rational discourse.
Journalists were once taught that "balanced" news was right, but those classes did not say that Stalin (I can't mention Hitler) should have gotten 50-50 treatment. "News" is supposed to convey reality; how about using the word "lying" when appropriate?
I would like to suggest that we all send a get well card/wish to the Pelosi family. Maybe thousands of cards, emails, etc would help the family know how many people support them.
Flossie, I read Speaker Pelosi's tweet about how much it meant to her and her family to receive the thousands of messages of support and appreciation, which inspired me to send her a card. Yes!
Thank you, Flossie, for proposing this gesture of care that we might extend to the Pelosi family. Even if only as a small expression of compassion during an unimaginable time. And it may calm the deep disturbance we feel inside, individually and collectively. Somehow.
I hate that I have to use the term "fellow Aspergian" to describe Elon Musk. He is emotionally permanently the 12-year old who got so badly bullied it affected him mentally, as he demonstrates daily. Aspergians are really smart where we are "interested," plus we can be very successful in those areas when we apply ourselves because of our 8-10 hour spans of attention. Where we aren't interested, it's "in one ear and out the other" and we might as well be morons. I learned at an early age that "the mark of the intelligent man is to know where he's stupid," as my Aspergian (only they didn't know that was what it was then) father once told me. I stick to what interests me and all of you think I am really smart. Which I am. In those things. Trust me, I can be a moron's moron when it comes to what doesn't interest me, which is a long list.
Musk, because he was interested in computers and able to apply his span of attention, got rich with what became PayPal at an early age. Once that happened he was in danger, because being rich means being in "a world where there is no 'no,'" which eventually drives the inhabitant crazy but his enablers say nothing and he comes to believe because he is rich he is a genius in all things. The result is what we see with Musk (who I call Muck and that's not a typo).
Personally, I'd like to take the worthless piece of shit and stick him in one of his tinny toys, then stuff that in one of his rockets and fire it into the sun. Make the universe great again.
But god I hate the fact I understand him because he's one of us.
TC, I sometimes hesitate to criticize Musk because I agree that his outlook is affected by his condition (as is true with all of us, to some degree). But Musk is a billionaire with the support system and advisers to help him channel his energies and thoughts in a helpful, responsible way. He chooses otherwise, and so is subject to fair criticism. That is not necessarily true for others who do not have the support framework he enjoys.
I must admit to having a love/hate relationship with Musk and as a retired physician have assumed everything you say TCinLA about the emotional/intellectual challenges of living on “the spectrum.” I’m a member of the Tesla owners community, many of whom are extremely frustrated by Musks “extracurricular” behavior, because when you dive really deeply into what he and his team have accomplished (and will soon accomplish), he has arguably done more good for the world than most people understand. So it’s a “don’t throw the baby out with the bath water” situation for me. I despair, both in his social/political behavior, and how that has blinded a large part of our country to the good he is and will accomplish. It’s yet another example of our culture’s inability to see other than black and white.
That makes a lot of sense. It is hard to see the good people do when they are screaming at you from social, print, and other in-your-face media. Nuance is definitely not the order of the day.
This "rant" is from my friend on FB Rosemary S. Lawler. She is brilliant. To the gentlemen on this page, I am sorry if this offends you. Apologies if it is not in keeping with Today's Edition Newsletter, but I couldn't let it go un-read. Thank you.
"Election Day is coming up fast. My rant for the day.
"I really hope all the conservative men out there have taken to heart (since you vote for people behind that concept) that *every life is sacred from the moment of conception.*
"I talk about voting for people behind the concept because religiously that concept has been debated for centuries. Politically, our Founding Mothers understood the necessity of using certain medications that would *bring on* or *restore* the menses. Certainly, women on some portion of the Oregon Trail did.
"Feel free, Gentlemen, to do a bit of research about that. Lots of journal entries, recipes, herbal remedies for you to find from centuries before I was born.
"Gentlemen, given who you vote for, obviously, you believe someone else’s body - regardless of circumstances, since you vote for that concept - can be used to sustain another’s life.
"So, Gentlemen….
"1. You’ve all been blood and tissue typed, yes?
"2. You’re on a living donor list, yes?
"3. You’re prepared to donate a kidney, 1/2 your liver, some of your skin, any and all blood products, any donation science will conceive of - at whatever moment - without respect to if it is inconvenient for you, or economically disadvantageous to you, or would be academic or career suicide for you to go through donation and recovery at a time NOT OF YOUR CHOOSING.
"4. And you COMPLETELY disagree with the concept of “no Medicare after age 90” right? (I thought *death panels* were one of your objections to the ACA) but no, you just want the healthcare people paid into for decades to stop after age 90. Because?…..you don’t want the program to stay solvent by increasing salary limits for SS, or instituting an equitable tax on wealth, or any of the other ways to guarantee people the care they’ve been GUARANTEED. Just say it. *I don’t care about other people’s health.* It’s freeing to admit the truth.
"If you’re in agreement with the Republican platform - have not done the blood and tissue typing, have NOT set aside funds to pay for your parents or grandparents medical care - you’re just, I dunno, a hypocrite? Like a HUGE hypocrite?
"Or maybe you were just voting for taxes and guns..
"I don’t even know what to say to women who vote Republican, on any level, at this moment in time. I’m just shaking my head at the desire to turn back time."
Have you read the book Ejaculate Responsibly by Gabrielle Stanley Blair? Fascinating read that turns pregnancy and abortion rights on it's head. Here's the synopsis from the website: In "Ejaculate Responsibly, Gabrielle Blair offers a provocative reframing of the abortion issue in post-Roe America. In a series of 28 brief arguments, she deftly makes the case for moving the abortion debate away from controlling and legislating women’s bodies and instead directs the focus on men’s lack of accountability in preventing unwanted pregnancies.
Highly readable, accessible, funny, and unflinching, Blair builds her argument by walking readers through the basics of fertility (men are 50 times more fertile than women), the unfair burden placed on women when it comes to preventing pregnancy (90% of the birth control market is for women), the wrongheaded stigmas around birth control for men (condoms make sex less pleasurable, vasectomies are scary and emasculating), and the counterintuitive reality that men, who are fertile 100% of the time, take little to no responsibility for preventing pregnancy.
The result is a compelling and convincing case for placing the responsibility—and burden—of preventing unwanted pregnancies away from women and onto men."
Sharon, Reading what you posted/ shared above it seems appropriate to share another aspect regarding sex as relates to abortion. It struck me as applicable after reading the synopsis to the Ejaculate Responsibly book. (fwiw which I wrote/ posted this elsewhere):
—————
There’s a part of the Rights’ pro-life/ anti-abortion view on the issue that seems to have slid into the background. Or perhaps it’s been deliberately pushed to the background by conservatives, especially Christian Conservatives. They have a strong motivation to keep it in the background too as it IS one of, if not THE, issue behind their anti-abortion stance. By put in the background I mean it is not given any attention, not openly or publicly stated or discussed. And as such does not get any airtime in the media. So what is this “unsaid” motivation.
Their motivation is not so much about being pro-life as it is about their attitude(s) about having sex when a person is not married, particularly women having sex who are not married. There is a strong proclivity on the right to believe that allowing abortion promotes promiscuity (both in women and men but their focus leans heavily on women….and teenage girls). They claim abortion is the “get out of jail” free card which promotes promiscuity and sexual activity outside of wedlock. The Right, the Christian Right view this as a harbinger of the Left, of Liberals. In other words the Liberal view on abortion is about their wanting to be sexually promiscuous. It could also be said they perceive the Left/ Liberals have no morality when it comes to sex.
Don’t fall into the trap that abortion is simply an anti-abortion/ pro-life issue for the Right wing. It is not! Their views about sex motivates their stance about abortion as much if not more than their views about being anti-abortion/ pro-life. Seriously do a simple search. Type “sexual promiscuity and abortion” into your favorite search engine and see what comes up!
Start talking about it too. The Christian Right and their view that they are morally superior to liberals about sex needs to be brought to light and openly discussed once again. It ain’t just about abortion or pro-life!
Thanks, George. I would also like to add many “Christians” are in “ demand for a child” they can raise to be “ morally superior”. Below is a footnote from Alito’s leaked draft:
“See, e.g., Centers for Disease Control, Adoption Experiences of Women and Men and Demand for Children to Adopt by Women 18-44 Years of Age in the United States 16 (Aug. 2008) ("[N]early 1 million women were seeking to adopt children in 2002 (i.e., they were in demand for a child), whereas the domestic supply of infants relinquished at birth or within the first month of life and available to be adopted had become virtually nonexistent.") Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics, Adoption and nonbiological parenting, www.cdc.gov/nsfg/key_statistics/a-keystate.htm#adoption (showing that approximately 3.1 million women between the ages of 18-49 had ever "[t]aken steps to adopt a child" based on data collected from 2015-2019).”
Thanks for sharing that George - and you are totally correct. It's about suppressing sexuality. Didn't the christian right use the same argument re: birth control - that it promotes "promiscuity" (I hate that word).
I don't know.... men have the majority of control (politically) at the moment and they're doing a shitty job of it. I'd like to see equal responsibly when it comes to pregnancy.
Seems I didn't pause long enough before posting my comment. When I read it over a few minutes ago, I cringed at myself, realizing how misguided it was. I am going to delete it now so others don't see it!
Put the men into the equation, they cause the problem, then walk away. True in more instances than most would believe. As to the self-righteous women, they are toadies, ruled by the “superior” sex.
The women I know personally who continue to vote MAGAt (I don't consider them "conservative" or even "Republican") have a weird fascination with the 50's. They wear 50's clothes, 50's makeup, 50's hair styles, 50's accessories, they're into 50's style dancing and partying and their lifestyles are much like an old black and white movie. At the same time they priss around in high heels carrying their homemade chocolate cakes on cake pedestals, they cheat on their husbands. I too just shake my head. What a world we live in!
Well ranted, well argued, thanks for sharing it Lynell. This is one of those responsible people that Robert talked about in the Twitter conversation, and it would be interesting to see the response to this post if it entered the Twittersphere. Interesting academically, we can all guess at the reality.
What is going on with the mainstream media? Robert, you are right to call attention to it - first they don't cover Biden's speeches and long list of legislative accomplishments designed to help the middle and working class voters. No wonder he is sinking in the polls. All they do is repeat endless Trump, Musk/Muck, and Kanye/Ye stories, plus all the anxiety-provoking stuff about a GOP takeover. What is going on? Are some marketing algorithms determining the news that is fit to print? Democracy does indeed die in darkness. Regarding the Pelosi's, Robert, you articulated it perfectly and this is not rocket science: someone just attempted to assassinate the third in line for the presidency. Paul Pelosi, 82, nearly lost his life. What happened to the news? Why is The NY Times and WaPo helping the GOP undo democracy in the midterms? Can't the White House be more effective in promoting its Administration's many successes?
Last year, the whistleblower at Facebook told the world that FB’s algorithm, at least for awhile, weighted “anger” responses to postings at 5 times the weight given to “like” responses. This extremely sophisticated platform knew exactly what would create more “engagement” of users.
Paul Simon sang in the ‘70s “I don’t believe what I read in the papers; they’re only out to capture my dime”. But since then social media has shown us how far outlets will go to capture us and our ability to think. They’ll then sell what they know about us to companies selling candidates, shoes, and a thousand other items.
How could Musk have 120 million people “be exposed to” a damaging BS piece of his??? What are we thinking, as we allow this to happen when public decency in the nation is hanging by a thread?
It saddens me greatly that our culture is being destroyed by social media and it’s ways of warping of what we know/believe, and yet tens of millions of good people keep using it. Our blind devotion to “free speech” and our propensity to naively get addicted to “fun” things seem to me like the culprits.
I have never used any social media, and my smart 20-something daughter used to consider me a Luddite. Now she agrees that this communication system is destroying our culture by hijacking our social incentives, and our norms of thinking/behaving, while also making us all into “the product” of billionaire corporations.
So I see what’s happening to NYT, etc. as simply following suit with FB - print more of what agitates and less of what educates. It’s a great business model and the public will overwhelmingly play along. Uugghh. 🤬
That's such a perceptive and equally frustrated response - thanks for the fact-based commiseration. Evidently, without laws, there are no ethics. But now our Supreme Court is compromised, social media is doing exactly what you say it is doing, and pollution/fossil fuel use/profits are skyrocketing just as we reach what scientists are screaming is the final tipping point. As an educator myself (university professor), I see the destruction of public education in this country from Reagan on as one of the main problems, aside from the lack of regulation. This is of course a planetary problem too: who could regulate fossil fuel use but also attempts to "fix" the environmental problems with geo-engineering. Envision the world we want to see - ok, I am doing my best, or working on it as best I can. It is a very difficult situation and Pulitzer-prize winning journalism needs to step up to the plate. Ovveride profit making motives with ethical practices for the public/common good.
I've stopped watching the "mainstream media" because it seems too much like reading People Magazine while waiting in line to check out something at the drugstore. I am reading Eleanor Roosevelt's biography (Vol. 2) and just finished the part where her efforts to promote a World Court were thwarted largely by Hearst's newspapers and their fear-mongering. I don't know whether it is helpful to know we've been through similar challenges in the past. I also read that the last savage lynching was in 1934 and even that did not spur people on to pass anti-lynching legislation until fairly recently.
Thank you, Robert, for your elaboration of the details of the break-in of the Pelosi residence. Though I'm a subscriber to both WaPo and the NYT, I did not receive any of their follow-up news accounts about this.
I remain hopeful about the upcoming election next week! FYI, Brazil got it right in their recent election where "Leftist Lula" of the Workers' Party candidate defeated Bolsonaro. We must be copycats and do the same for the U.S. He used Twitter by tweeting one word: "Democracy."
Lynell, I just read the Common Dreams piece (thanks for the link), and, while I don’t imagine the U.S. ever will emulate Brazil, like that nation, I believe the security here also depends on a far more cooperative environment in which there is a modicum of social and economic justice for large numbers of people today who feel oppressed and marginalized by a runaway wild capitalism.
I especially resonated to Robert’s call that we train ourselves and acquire the knowledge to pursue what is true (and, in my view, valuable). I imagine we’ve all observed that the one thing the radical right loathes more than liberals is the truth. And the quickest way to agitate them is to tell the truth.
Indeed, I don’t expect that going on the offensive and exposing truths Republicans don’t want told will have much, if any, impact on MAGA extremists. Nonetheless, I do imagine, a week before Election Day, there still are sufficient numbers of “persuadables,” who—were they to see data, for example, confirming that the biggest driver of inflation is corporate pricing—could help Dems hold the House, pick up some Senate seats, and also win contests in battleground state and local elections.
This is to answer your question and to also acknowledge the great work of Eric Boehlert. He covered the media and was an astute and rigorous critic. Sadly Mr. Boehlert died April 7th of this year. This a dual tragedy; both for his family and friends and for the Country. I miss his work greatly. What I do is the painstaking task of truth spreading by commenting in other media outlets such as NYT and WaPo. WaPo is now a haven for obvious Russian trolls and alt right trolls. I just post facts when the anti-Biden articles roll out. People appreciate it and then they share it. So it's word of mouth truth/facts telling. That's why I support people enduring Twitter for as long as they can.
Here is an example of my truth/facts telling which needs updating:
• Reversal of Trump Executive Orders
• American Rescue Plan
• 500 Million Covid-19 Vaccine Shots
• Added 9 Million jobs
• 5% GDP during his first year
• Reduced $380 Billion, a record amount, from the deficit in his first year
• Greatest and Fastest Economic Recovery in History
• Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
• Climate Change and emissions Executive Orders
• Expanded Affordable Care Act to 5 Million new customers
• Nominated and Confirmed a Historic rate of Judges
• Nominated and Confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court
• Largest increase in Manufacturing Jobs in 30 years
• CHIPs Bill
• Made Juneteenth a National Holiday
• Restored the Violence Against Women Act
• 3.5% Unemployment with lowest jobless claims in 50 years
• Over 50 days straight of dropping gas prices
• Estimated Deficit Reduction of $1.7 Trillion for 2nd Year
• Lowest Child Poverty rate in history
• Allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices
• $380 Billion investment in Clean Energy
• $30 Billion in support of Ukraine against Russia
• Renewed Veterans Burn Pit Healthcare bill
• Killing Al Qaeda #1 Ayman Al-Zawahiri
• Implemented Firearms and Gun Safety Bill
I post stuff like this even when the article isn't about these things but authors like Theissen, Olsen etc are spreading lies. We can all be a guerilla truth person and throw truth/facts bombs wherever lies are being spread. I don't name call or otherwise comment. Just the facts.
Barbara, While I don’t recall raising a question, I surely appreciate your extraordinary effort to amplify this Administration’s record of accomplishments.
I find it incomprehensible that there are still “undecideds” out there. Repubs are violent, lying, racist thugs who will destroy middle class life. Yet people are undecided…really! Is the price of milk Biden’s fault? WTF
Jeri, My term “persuadables” refers to the 60% in this country living paycheck to paycheck and the millions working for starvation wages. Borrowing from Bernie Sanders, my project as of late has been to prevail upon Democratic leadership to focus more on a pro-worker agenda—$15 hourly minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, extension of the child tax credit, affordable, quality childcare, universal healthcare, investments in housing, in eldercare, and the like—all of which have received zero Republican support.
Robert, you hit the nail on the head of Elon! I used to think that Trump was the devil incarnate but now that Musk has his hands dipped into the muck, it is he who has taken that role. He will never apologize. He’s a narcissist, like Trump, and they never acknowledge their role in any wrongdoing. I understand that Jack Dorsey actually invited Elon, his good friend, to take Twitter over. No telling where he got his money to do so but I have my thoughts on that. Elon is a no good SOB and more than likely, a true fascist like the rest of the Pro-Rape Party members. It will be interesting to see what tactic Nancy uses to combat these lies and terrorists. I want to say that I am on Twitter and I had been thrown off before because I said Trump and his family should be brought to the town square and hung upside down until the blood ran out of them. I did use his name and I didn’t curse. The algorithm didn’t approve and blocked me. Was it wise for me to say that? No, it wasn’t but I felt so abused, so angry. I am back on albeit using a different name but I am trying to hold myself back from doing what I did before. I also am attracted to getting the news right away. That’s really one of the magnets drawing me to Twitter. That and being able to speak my mind in real time.
Interesting that you were booted for your comment, but Marjorie Taylor Greene's call for the execution of Nancy Pelosi did not result in her immediate suspension from Twitter or Congress.
I am not up for the fight of posting on Twitter, so I hope that if you are, you will use the platform to comment in a way that fair, accurate, and responsible. We need more voices like that on Twitter.
Yes, it is very frustrating Marj Three Names is allowed to open her mouth at all. She’s truly dangerous. I do try to be accurate and responsible but obviously, I irked their algorithm. My sister, who is equally as honest as I am, called Kimberly Guilfoyle a “whore” and she was knocked off also. What is accurate? No, but you get it’s meaning. Seems to be okay when people freely use f**k and other nasty words but when someone makes comments to combat the untruths, you’re stopped in your tracks. That is not fair.
Actually, Puck News has been covering Muck's Twitter takeover. It's financed with $24 billion of his own equity (Tesla shares), $13 billion he got his friends like Larry Ellison to pony up, and $13 billion in loans from banks that are now "sketchy" since the change in finances since last April. All in all, it's a very shaky tree, and Elon may have to buy his own discounted bank debt when the banks are forced to sell it at the discounted rate it will bring, to keep the "loan to own" slime from buying it and then killing him financially when he misses his first debt payment. he's already lost GM's advertising on the site and other major advertisers are pausing their advertising. Since that is 80% of Twitter's revenue, his financial situation is "shaky from the start" and his stupidity in getting involved with this crap this weekend is going to only make the advertisers more leery, not wanting to be painted with his brush.
Marlene - stay away from Twitter: it's business model is the same as FleeceBlock: if they were a bar, it would be, continue serving the raving drunk at the end of the bar triples, and disclaim all responsibility when he staggers out to the parking lot, finds his keys and manages to drive off.
Twitter is designed to appeal to the Dark Side, just like Facebook. Stay away. It's why they're evil and a nice person like you shouldn't be involved in that. It's emotional heroin.
I agree with you that Musk has taken a huge business risk. Twitter will contaminate his other brands. Who will want to drive a "Twittermobile" (i.e., Tesla) when the Twitter brand is most associated with white nationalism and hate speech?
TC, I am going to stick it out, for now. I may go with the exodus if there is one. I want Musk to get buried by his own greed, if that’s even possible. I just feel like doing something, saying something, having a voice that might get heard. I am on FB but really only to speak with old college friends. I rarely engage in anything on my page. Had to block my longtime dentist, his wife, and daughter off because of the nasty right-wing crap they spewed. The two of them grew up with my husband. He never thought they’d be so hateful but there it is. I just don’t want to back down or back away yet. I sure appreciate you looking out for me though.
I too have decided to stick it out on Twitter, Marlene. Despite the dramatic rise in misinformation THE DAY Musk took over, and including the 500% rise in the use of the “n” word, I’m staying - for a while, at least. I can tweet the truth, block the trolls and find ways to support #votebluein22 candidates.
Musk is dangerous but so is fascism. And misinformation is the fascist’s tool. Time for those of us that can tolerate it to help in the truth campaign. @baylebeads on Twitter.
I will follow you, Sheila. Apparently today, Musk fired the entire Twitter board, the bastard! Let’s see who he elects in their place. We both may not stay with Twitter for long.
Twitter is what people who contribute make of it. Sure there are a lot of dark ugly racists tweets BUT legitimate columns and writers also publish on the site with valuable and fact based articles and impressions worth reading. Their voices have to be heard and available to all readers. Many legitimate authors have said they will take a wait and see before leaving the site. Twitter is not making a profit and many major advertisers like GM are suspending advertising to wait and see what happens. What Musk will discover is that if he turns Twitter into a “ firestorm” he will lose clicks and advertisers and the value of the stock in his parent company. It’s an expensive endeavor.
I’m not a fan of Twitter but along with the crazies a lot of great people tweet important truthful Information and perspectives that needs to have a voice. We cannot be bulled off the platform.
Cruz is Texas’ most despicable. Well, hard to tell. Paxton, Patrick, and Abbott are right up there. Cornyn not far behind, and a slew of state reps. Truly, it’s a horde of evil, supported by good, Christian fascists.
Yes, Twitter is useful for breaking news and for easily amplifying support for progressive candidates, democracy, truth, and the good sides of humanity. Block the rest. Don't let the attention-seekers shut us down, especially ahead of this critical election.
I, too, will stick it out as long as I can. I’ve been spreading as much truth and helpful information as I can. @AnnetteASD. When I am informed I have a new follower, I check them out. If they are not in sync with my views I either block them or remove them from following me.
Re: speaking the truth, that sometimes requires engaging with Trump supporters rather than disengaging and saying there’s no point. I once again had the pleasure of canvassing this weekend outside Harrisburg PA in a working class neighborhood that was racially and politically mixed.
I met mostly enthusiastic Democratic voters, but at one home the Democrat was not home. I asked the guy who answered the door which party reflected his beliefs and he said the Republicans. I asked what attracted him about Republicans. He said things were better under Trump, the economy, etc. I pointed out that. Idea has created 10 million jobs and we lost millions of jobs under Trump because he did nothing about the pandemic. The guy said the pandemic came at the end of his term, and I said it was early 2020. He had plenty of time and did nothing.
Then I asked a series of questions. Did he want a 10-year-old rape victim to have to give birth, as an abortion ban with no exceptions would require? Did he want Social Security, Medicare, and health coverage for 20 million Americans repealed, as the GOP proposed? Did he want his vote to count, or is it ok for politicians to abide by elections only if they win? Did he want a state legislator in the room with a woman and her doctor, as Oz proposed? We discussed a few more issues such as Ukraine and Putin. He opposed Republican positions every time. I have no idea if he will change his vote, but if I introduced some facts and doubt, it was a victory.
When a social media vehicle hits a certain mass - becomes a dominant source of information and discussion - that platform becomes responsible for the distribution of that information. It becomes responsible for the accuracy of that information. There is no neutral position in a free for all that is not supervised. There is only complicity. FB and Twitter are now the "National Newspapers".
Amazon holds its sellers responsible for the quality of their products and accuracy of its advertising. Amazon is huge and sells millions of items. How does it keep on top of that? They pay people to work on the issue. It's called a commitment to reputation. It's hard work and takes a lot of people and payroll. Amazon is way far from perfect - at least they TRY.
I refuse to accept the whining from Musk or Markie that it is too hard to do. You guys have billions and billions and you spend those billions on your projects and toys. But the vehicles in question here - that influence the entire world - you have abandoned to chaos.
By posting verifiable nonsense on the platform he purchased hours ago, Musk has revealed his bias and his intentions. Twitter will now be an unstoppable megaphone for his bullshit. As TC has so well explained, Musk is a genius in the areas that made him the richest guy in the world. But when it comes to politics, the influence of the media and reality, I think he is clueless and diabolical. And perhaps, now he is as dangerous as "45". What to do? I don't have a solid opinion yet.
But here are my fun possibilities:
1. Advertisers flee Twitter, revenue dries up, the floggings and firings continue until any minimal content supervision becomes a greater joke than it is now. Most folks also dump it for another vehicle. But some stick around thinking they have a responsibility to tell the truth and fight the good fight.
2. Musk's Council that is to supervise and prevent "a Hellscape" finds it needs to delete Musk's comments because they are so stupid, carelessly false and destructive. He fires them all. The process described in number 1 is sped up dramatically. Twitter files for bankruptcy and limps along with a reputation worse than Parler.
3. Musk finds that Twitter occupies much too much of his time and energy. He gets frustrated and bored with his new toy and steps away from day to day management. He really would rather play with his cars, trucks and rockets. Then he finds a new project. He is inspired by the HBO series "Raised by Wolves" which is about two robot androids named "Mother and Father" who are assigned the task of finding a new planet for a few of the surviving children of a decimated Earth. Mother and Father need a good rocket to perform their duty. Musk decides to build the androids and refine one of his rockets so it can travel the way the "Enterprise" did. At the last minute, Musk realizes that everything on Earth is boring - including all of us. He boards the rocket joining his newly created parents. The US government cancels his passport. The global sigh of relief is Earth shaking.
4. Or in another complete fantasy, but my favorite, all social media platforms are taken under wing by the FCC. Strict adherence to truth is supervised by teams of super bright enlightened young people. All lies and false political conspiracies are taken down before they can "go viral". In other words, somebody holds these punks accountable. Algorithms are adjusted to reward verifiable truths, stories about lost puppies and kittens , babies doing amazing things are boosted. Heroic behavior is featured. The latest advances in medicine and scientific research are a focus. The impacts of the Climate Crisis and the obvious solutions are posted hourly. In other words, a benevolent takeover and rejection of hate, lies and violence. The FCC will promote truth and planetary survival.
That was fun. Still not sure what my personal path will be re: Tweetdom. I only go there occasionally as I see it as more of a place for people to rant with little bombs of comments - too little thoughtful fact finding and discussion. Although, some do try. I guess maybe it will just dry up and die of its own dysfunction. There are thousands of other ways to communicate and enjoy life.
Guess it’s a sign of the times that normally optimistic, progressive me cringes at option #4. On the surface, I love it. However… Not hard to imagine that these government teams policing conspiracies might be a two-edged sword. If MAGA succeeds over the next few years (God help us), how would we feel about total government control over media content?
Folks - this is one heck of a tricky problem to truly solve in a multi-cultural, multi-tribal nation. Just maybe (and believe me, I don’t know), platforms allowing any kind of constitutionally legal speech might be the right approach.
On Twitter, we each curate our own feed, following the people we admire and respect. The people who follow deplorable ideas are out there and aren’t going away. But increasingly, their ideas are moving further and further to the fringe. Certainly not anywhere near majority opinions.
It’s possible that over time the hard right may coalesce into a tight knot of self-reinforcing craziness, ignored by most, and highly visible to law enforcement.
1. The name of the troll site, the "Santa Monica Observer" - it is not a "website" as much as it is the blog of a single person to spread falsehoods. Giving these sorts of sites names that make them seem like legit news sites is a common troll tactic because repeating "as reported in the Santa Monica Observer" makes it seem more likely to be true than "as reported on John Trumplover's blog."
2. The trolls are still spreading a story that "well, maybe the Observer story isn't true, but how do you explain the fact that when he called the police, Pelosi knew his attacker's name." - this is another falsehood but it's also being put out there to help create the impression this was something shady, not an assassination attempt. Be on guard for that one.
3. What makes the Mush situation even more frightening is that many journalists seem to be afraid of getting on the wrong side of Musk - both because they are afraid he will throw them off Twitter, where they need a presence to stay relevant with other journos and because they are afraid he will turn his Army of Trolls against them.
4. It is notable that Musk's tweet was in response to Hillary Clinton. It gives him an out -- "I was just trolling Hillary" which for many on the right will sort of excuse everything.
5. Let's see if TPTB in the Democratic Party are able to figure out a way to use this whole scenario to our advantage - remind people of the chaos that results from putting Trumpists in power and giving them a voice.
One thing I do is check the source where the "information"/lies are coming from. Then I post it on the site. I also do this when someone from one of these sources is writing in WaPo etc. I checked the Santa Monica Observer on the "Media Bias Fact Check" website. Here are the results. If it were me I would post portions of this on their site.
Media Bias Fact Check/Santa Monica Observer
Overall, we rate the Santa Monica Observer Questionable based on the routine publication of false and misleading information and the use of poor sources.
Detailed Report
Reasoning: Poor Sourcing, Fake News, Lack of Ownership Transparency, Imposter
Bias Rating: RIGHT
Factual Reporting: LOW
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
"QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for the purpose of profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.
People seem to have forgotten the shitshow every hour of every day that chump orchestrated. We will not survive another go round with him and his magats
Here is a tidbit that popped up when I logged on this morning. I hope it helps those who are worried about the polls and the midterm outcomes.
"Political expert tells media to stop 'getting played' by Republican polling averages 'flooding the zone'
Raw Story - Yesterday 11:16 PM
By Sarah K. Burris
provided by RawStory
Two major sources of the political rankings include RealClearPolitics and FiveThirtyEight, both of whom average out public polls done for campaigns.
According to Democratic political expert Simon Rosenberg, the polls they're pulling in to generate those averages are leaning more Republican, lending the averages to be skewed more conservative.
"There is a ferocious campaign GOP campaign right now to flood the zone with their polls, game the averages, declare the election is tipping to them," tweeted Rosenberg on Sunday. "No question they could win but the early vote and polling this week DO NOT confirm this trend. Sorry. "
Simon is awesome and if you are not following him on Twitter, you should. @SimonWDC. Also listen to the podcast “That Trippi Show” with Simon as a guest. So many of these “polls” are conducted by conservative groups.
Thanks but I don't have a smartphone. I am on Facebook for family and friends and only have people I am close to as friends. I am not on twitter or anything else besides facebook.
I have long opposed Twitter as a swamp populated largely by trolls and other hideous creatures unworthy of anyone's time or attention. Now that Elon Musk has become its "Chief Twit" I do not expect that it will be anything more than yet worse than before.
Musk dramatically overpaid to acquire Twitter by any reasonable valuation metrics. Twitter is an unprofitable and shrinking business. Musk's plans and early steps following closing of the acquisition are unlikely to turn it around. Advertisers are fleeing the forum and for good reason. Most advertisers do not imagine a troll farm as their target market space. Musk owes over $1 billion annually in interest payments alone to the lenders who supported his acquisition. It is clear that to support that Musk will need to increase revenues dramatically and to do so he will need the pick the pockets of the trolls who populate Twitter. His announced plans to charge a monthly "troll fee" (my own characterization of Blue Twitter "verification") shows where he expects to find some of that revenue. His management style of threatening employees with layoffs to "inspire" their productivity shows he has similar disdain for both his employees and his customers.
He might well be simply sitting in front of a $44 billion burning dumpster fire and pouring gasoline on it.
You missed that Musk's tweet is probably the strongest endorsement for the removal of the exception given to social media the para 230 that protects them from the lawsuits the other media as responsible for damage their content causes.
I keep reciting your mantra ---- we will win - eventually. But I can not shake my feeling of dread. Except for Jennifer Rubin - (and only another handful - minus thumb!) - I despair of the Mainstream Press. Twitter does not surprise in its depravity - the mainstream media simply disgusts me. The assault on the Pelosi family is truly horrifying and overwhelmingly disturbing. The thunderous silence of Republicans appalls. I pray that we have a sleeping giant of voters that will support the Dems and are not featuring in the polls - which I do my best to ignore. As you point out, Biden's and the Dem's incredible accomplishments barely feature in the news. No wonder so many American voters are so ignorant. And yesterday, Ezra Klein's by line 'Do the Dems deserve to win?' Not a word asking the question of the Republicans. It's sickening
I am pinning this comment to the top. Ezra Klein's essay about whether Democrats deserve to be reelected is written as if January 6th did not happen and as if Trump is not a twice-impeached, coup-plotting hate monger who seeks to overthrow democracy. Klein quibbles about legislative priorities and vaccine roll-outs--both important, but both meaningless if MAGA extremists succeed in overturning the Constitution. What alternate universe is Ezra Klein living in? It must be a nice fantasy-world where there are two responsible political parties and the challenge facing journalists is deciding which is doing the best job in rolling out legislation that benefits the American people.
I haven't read the essay, but I can read the hate, conspiracy, and fear-mongering supported by the Republican Party largely by their silence. Even a man like Romney who has an ethical silence does nothing to put a stop to the wild conspiracy and hate speech by people like Majorie Taylor Green and Jim Jordan.
On a positive note, I did spend a Saturday afternoon with my neighbor discussing our midterm ballot. It was really delightful to have a thoughtful discussion about real issues for a change. The endless hyperbole is tiresome and counterproductive. There is something truly refreshing about rational discourse.
Journalists were once taught that "balanced" news was right, but those classes did not say that Stalin (I can't mention Hitler) should have gotten 50-50 treatment. "News" is supposed to convey reality; how about using the word "lying" when appropriate?
Hear hear-- using the word “lying” would of course be approoriate, correct Journalism.
The Democrats fundraising email bots do use “lies” “lied” “lying.”
It’s all about the conservative right wing corporation that bought and are buying up the airwaves.
Robert B. Hubbell, your community is the only safe truthful (social media) community I know.
Also, Heather Cox Richardson and many Democratic grassroots organizations.
Indeed, Republicans silence disgusting.
I would like to suggest that we all send a get well card/wish to the Pelosi family. Maybe thousands of cards, emails, etc would help the family know how many people support them.
From her site:
Washington, DC Office
1236 Longworth H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
phone: (202) 225-4965
hours: M-F 9-5:30pm
US Capitol Building
San Francisco District Office
90 7th Street
Suite 2-800
San Francisco, CA 94103
phone: (415) 556-4862
hours: M-F 9-5:30pm
Pinning to the top.
Flossie, I read Speaker Pelosi's tweet about how much it meant to her and her family to receive the thousands of messages of support and appreciation, which inspired me to send her a card. Yes!
Thank you, Flossie, for proposing this gesture of care that we might extend to the Pelosi family. Even if only as a small expression of compassion during an unimaginable time. And it may calm the deep disturbance we feel inside, individually and collectively. Somehow.
I hate that I have to use the term "fellow Aspergian" to describe Elon Musk. He is emotionally permanently the 12-year old who got so badly bullied it affected him mentally, as he demonstrates daily. Aspergians are really smart where we are "interested," plus we can be very successful in those areas when we apply ourselves because of our 8-10 hour spans of attention. Where we aren't interested, it's "in one ear and out the other" and we might as well be morons. I learned at an early age that "the mark of the intelligent man is to know where he's stupid," as my Aspergian (only they didn't know that was what it was then) father once told me. I stick to what interests me and all of you think I am really smart. Which I am. In those things. Trust me, I can be a moron's moron when it comes to what doesn't interest me, which is a long list.
Musk, because he was interested in computers and able to apply his span of attention, got rich with what became PayPal at an early age. Once that happened he was in danger, because being rich means being in "a world where there is no 'no,'" which eventually drives the inhabitant crazy but his enablers say nothing and he comes to believe because he is rich he is a genius in all things. The result is what we see with Musk (who I call Muck and that's not a typo).
Personally, I'd like to take the worthless piece of shit and stick him in one of his tinny toys, then stuff that in one of his rockets and fire it into the sun. Make the universe great again.
But god I hate the fact I understand him because he's one of us.
TC, I sometimes hesitate to criticize Musk because I agree that his outlook is affected by his condition (as is true with all of us, to some degree). But Musk is a billionaire with the support system and advisers to help him channel his energies and thoughts in a helpful, responsible way. He chooses otherwise, and so is subject to fair criticism. That is not necessarily true for others who do not have the support framework he enjoys.
No, he is not one of you. He is a mutant of his own making. Your father was a genius, takes one to know what they don’t know. Muck has no clue.
I must admit to having a love/hate relationship with Musk and as a retired physician have assumed everything you say TCinLA about the emotional/intellectual challenges of living on “the spectrum.” I’m a member of the Tesla owners community, many of whom are extremely frustrated by Musks “extracurricular” behavior, because when you dive really deeply into what he and his team have accomplished (and will soon accomplish), he has arguably done more good for the world than most people understand. So it’s a “don’t throw the baby out with the bath water” situation for me. I despair, both in his social/political behavior, and how that has blinded a large part of our country to the good he is and will accomplish. It’s yet another example of our culture’s inability to see other than black and white.
That makes a lot of sense. It is hard to see the good people do when they are screaming at you from social, print, and other in-your-face media. Nuance is definitely not the order of the day.
This is a really great comment. I couldn't agree more and I love the ending. Thank you for making me laugh this Monday morning.
This "rant" is from my friend on FB Rosemary S. Lawler. She is brilliant. To the gentlemen on this page, I am sorry if this offends you. Apologies if it is not in keeping with Today's Edition Newsletter, but I couldn't let it go un-read. Thank you.
"Election Day is coming up fast. My rant for the day.
"I really hope all the conservative men out there have taken to heart (since you vote for people behind that concept) that *every life is sacred from the moment of conception.*
"I talk about voting for people behind the concept because religiously that concept has been debated for centuries. Politically, our Founding Mothers understood the necessity of using certain medications that would *bring on* or *restore* the menses. Certainly, women on some portion of the Oregon Trail did.
"Feel free, Gentlemen, to do a bit of research about that. Lots of journal entries, recipes, herbal remedies for you to find from centuries before I was born.
"Gentlemen, given who you vote for, obviously, you believe someone else’s body - regardless of circumstances, since you vote for that concept - can be used to sustain another’s life.
"So, Gentlemen….
"1. You’ve all been blood and tissue typed, yes?
"2. You’re on a living donor list, yes?
"3. You’re prepared to donate a kidney, 1/2 your liver, some of your skin, any and all blood products, any donation science will conceive of - at whatever moment - without respect to if it is inconvenient for you, or economically disadvantageous to you, or would be academic or career suicide for you to go through donation and recovery at a time NOT OF YOUR CHOOSING.
"4. And you COMPLETELY disagree with the concept of “no Medicare after age 90” right? (I thought *death panels* were one of your objections to the ACA) but no, you just want the healthcare people paid into for decades to stop after age 90. Because?…..you don’t want the program to stay solvent by increasing salary limits for SS, or instituting an equitable tax on wealth, or any of the other ways to guarantee people the care they’ve been GUARANTEED. Just say it. *I don’t care about other people’s health.* It’s freeing to admit the truth.
"If you’re in agreement with the Republican platform - have not done the blood and tissue typing, have NOT set aside funds to pay for your parents or grandparents medical care - you’re just, I dunno, a hypocrite? Like a HUGE hypocrite?
"Or maybe you were just voting for taxes and guns..
"I don’t even know what to say to women who vote Republican, on any level, at this moment in time. I’m just shaking my head at the desire to turn back time."
Have you read the book Ejaculate Responsibly by Gabrielle Stanley Blair? Fascinating read that turns pregnancy and abortion rights on it's head. Here's the synopsis from the website: In "Ejaculate Responsibly, Gabrielle Blair offers a provocative reframing of the abortion issue in post-Roe America. In a series of 28 brief arguments, she deftly makes the case for moving the abortion debate away from controlling and legislating women’s bodies and instead directs the focus on men’s lack of accountability in preventing unwanted pregnancies.
Highly readable, accessible, funny, and unflinching, Blair builds her argument by walking readers through the basics of fertility (men are 50 times more fertile than women), the unfair burden placed on women when it comes to preventing pregnancy (90% of the birth control market is for women), the wrongheaded stigmas around birth control for men (condoms make sex less pleasurable, vasectomies are scary and emasculating), and the counterintuitive reality that men, who are fertile 100% of the time, take little to no responsibility for preventing pregnancy.
The result is a compelling and convincing case for placing the responsibility—and burden—of preventing unwanted pregnancies away from women and onto men."
https://www.workman.com/products/ejaculate-responsibly/paperback
Sharon, Reading what you posted/ shared above it seems appropriate to share another aspect regarding sex as relates to abortion. It struck me as applicable after reading the synopsis to the Ejaculate Responsibly book. (fwiw which I wrote/ posted this elsewhere):
—————
There’s a part of the Rights’ pro-life/ anti-abortion view on the issue that seems to have slid into the background. Or perhaps it’s been deliberately pushed to the background by conservatives, especially Christian Conservatives. They have a strong motivation to keep it in the background too as it IS one of, if not THE, issue behind their anti-abortion stance. By put in the background I mean it is not given any attention, not openly or publicly stated or discussed. And as such does not get any airtime in the media. So what is this “unsaid” motivation.
Their motivation is not so much about being pro-life as it is about their attitude(s) about having sex when a person is not married, particularly women having sex who are not married. There is a strong proclivity on the right to believe that allowing abortion promotes promiscuity (both in women and men but their focus leans heavily on women….and teenage girls). They claim abortion is the “get out of jail” free card which promotes promiscuity and sexual activity outside of wedlock. The Right, the Christian Right view this as a harbinger of the Left, of Liberals. In other words the Liberal view on abortion is about their wanting to be sexually promiscuous. It could also be said they perceive the Left/ Liberals have no morality when it comes to sex.
Don’t fall into the trap that abortion is simply an anti-abortion/ pro-life issue for the Right wing. It is not! Their views about sex motivates their stance about abortion as much if not more than their views about being anti-abortion/ pro-life. Seriously do a simple search. Type “sexual promiscuity and abortion” into your favorite search engine and see what comes up!
Start talking about it too. The Christian Right and their view that they are morally superior to liberals about sex needs to be brought to light and openly discussed once again. It ain’t just about abortion or pro-life!
Thanks, George. I would also like to add many “Christians” are in “ demand for a child” they can raise to be “ morally superior”. Below is a footnote from Alito’s leaked draft:
“See, e.g., Centers for Disease Control, Adoption Experiences of Women and Men and Demand for Children to Adopt by Women 18-44 Years of Age in the United States 16 (Aug. 2008) ("[N]early 1 million women were seeking to adopt children in 2002 (i.e., they were in demand for a child), whereas the domestic supply of infants relinquished at birth or within the first month of life and available to be adopted had become virtually nonexistent.") Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics, Adoption and nonbiological parenting, www.cdc.gov/nsfg/key_statistics/a-keystate.htm#adoption (showing that approximately 3.1 million women between the ages of 18-49 had ever "[t]aken steps to adopt a child" based on data collected from 2015-2019).”
"the domestic supply of infants"? Like it's a commodity! So infuriating!
Exactly ! was a domestically supplied infant pre Roe V Wade.
Thanks for sharing that George - and you are totally correct. It's about suppressing sexuality. Didn't the christian right use the same argument re: birth control - that it promotes "promiscuity" (I hate that word).
Thank you. I'm going to check this out.
I don't know.... men have the majority of control (politically) at the moment and they're doing a shitty job of it. I'd like to see equal responsibly when it comes to pregnancy.
Seems I didn't pause long enough before posting my comment. When I read it over a few minutes ago, I cringed at myself, realizing how misguided it was. I am going to delete it now so others don't see it!
Lynell - No worries! I got the gist of what you were saying! I always enjoy your comments and insights.
Thank you, Sharon!
Put the men into the equation, they cause the problem, then walk away. True in more instances than most would believe. As to the self-righteous women, they are toadies, ruled by the “superior” sex.
The women I know personally who continue to vote MAGAt (I don't consider them "conservative" or even "Republican") have a weird fascination with the 50's. They wear 50's clothes, 50's makeup, 50's hair styles, 50's accessories, they're into 50's style dancing and partying and their lifestyles are much like an old black and white movie. At the same time they priss around in high heels carrying their homemade chocolate cakes on cake pedestals, they cheat on their husbands. I too just shake my head. What a world we live in!
Brings Stepford Wives to mind for me.
Absolutely. Very creepy indeed.
A friend of mine said there is also a women's faction of the MAGA group who think women should not wear pants...All very 50's. Creepy, creepy, creepy.
I'm speechless, Ellen. To each their own?
I guess. It's a phenomenon I don't understand.
Ditto!
Well said. There was a sermon I heard a long time ago called "When were those good old days?" Going back is not a solution to the challenges of today.
Well ranted, well argued, thanks for sharing it Lynell. This is one of those responsible people that Robert talked about in the Twitter conversation, and it would be interesting to see the response to this post if it entered the Twittersphere. Interesting academically, we can all guess at the reality.
What is going on with the mainstream media? Robert, you are right to call attention to it - first they don't cover Biden's speeches and long list of legislative accomplishments designed to help the middle and working class voters. No wonder he is sinking in the polls. All they do is repeat endless Trump, Musk/Muck, and Kanye/Ye stories, plus all the anxiety-provoking stuff about a GOP takeover. What is going on? Are some marketing algorithms determining the news that is fit to print? Democracy does indeed die in darkness. Regarding the Pelosi's, Robert, you articulated it perfectly and this is not rocket science: someone just attempted to assassinate the third in line for the presidency. Paul Pelosi, 82, nearly lost his life. What happened to the news? Why is The NY Times and WaPo helping the GOP undo democracy in the midterms? Can't the White House be more effective in promoting its Administration's many successes?
The bully pulpit is ignored, bodes poorly for our future…
Last year, the whistleblower at Facebook told the world that FB’s algorithm, at least for awhile, weighted “anger” responses to postings at 5 times the weight given to “like” responses. This extremely sophisticated platform knew exactly what would create more “engagement” of users.
Paul Simon sang in the ‘70s “I don’t believe what I read in the papers; they’re only out to capture my dime”. But since then social media has shown us how far outlets will go to capture us and our ability to think. They’ll then sell what they know about us to companies selling candidates, shoes, and a thousand other items.
How could Musk have 120 million people “be exposed to” a damaging BS piece of his??? What are we thinking, as we allow this to happen when public decency in the nation is hanging by a thread?
It saddens me greatly that our culture is being destroyed by social media and it’s ways of warping of what we know/believe, and yet tens of millions of good people keep using it. Our blind devotion to “free speech” and our propensity to naively get addicted to “fun” things seem to me like the culprits.
I have never used any social media, and my smart 20-something daughter used to consider me a Luddite. Now she agrees that this communication system is destroying our culture by hijacking our social incentives, and our norms of thinking/behaving, while also making us all into “the product” of billionaire corporations.
So I see what’s happening to NYT, etc. as simply following suit with FB - print more of what agitates and less of what educates. It’s a great business model and the public will overwhelmingly play along. Uugghh. 🤬
When will we stop our cultural suicide?
That's such a perceptive and equally frustrated response - thanks for the fact-based commiseration. Evidently, without laws, there are no ethics. But now our Supreme Court is compromised, social media is doing exactly what you say it is doing, and pollution/fossil fuel use/profits are skyrocketing just as we reach what scientists are screaming is the final tipping point. As an educator myself (university professor), I see the destruction of public education in this country from Reagan on as one of the main problems, aside from the lack of regulation. This is of course a planetary problem too: who could regulate fossil fuel use but also attempts to "fix" the environmental problems with geo-engineering. Envision the world we want to see - ok, I am doing my best, or working on it as best I can. It is a very difficult situation and Pulitzer-prize winning journalism needs to step up to the plate. Ovveride profit making motives with ethical practices for the public/common good.
I've stopped watching the "mainstream media" because it seems too much like reading People Magazine while waiting in line to check out something at the drugstore. I am reading Eleanor Roosevelt's biography (Vol. 2) and just finished the part where her efforts to promote a World Court were thwarted largely by Hearst's newspapers and their fear-mongering. I don't know whether it is helpful to know we've been through similar challenges in the past. I also read that the last savage lynching was in 1934 and even that did not spur people on to pass anti-lynching legislation until fairly recently.
Thank you, Robert, for your elaboration of the details of the break-in of the Pelosi residence. Though I'm a subscriber to both WaPo and the NYT, I did not receive any of their follow-up news accounts about this.
I remain hopeful about the upcoming election next week! FYI, Brazil got it right in their recent election where "Leftist Lula" of the Workers' Party candidate defeated Bolsonaro. We must be copycats and do the same for the U.S. He used Twitter by tweeting one word: "Democracy."
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/10/30/brazil-hope-leftist-lula-defeats-far-right-bolsonaro-presidential-runoff
Lynell, I just read the Common Dreams piece (thanks for the link), and, while I don’t imagine the U.S. ever will emulate Brazil, like that nation, I believe the security here also depends on a far more cooperative environment in which there is a modicum of social and economic justice for large numbers of people today who feel oppressed and marginalized by a runaway wild capitalism.
Has the cretin conceded?
Haven't a clue, but I've been offline so...
I especially resonated to Robert’s call that we train ourselves and acquire the knowledge to pursue what is true (and, in my view, valuable). I imagine we’ve all observed that the one thing the radical right loathes more than liberals is the truth. And the quickest way to agitate them is to tell the truth.
Indeed, I don’t expect that going on the offensive and exposing truths Republicans don’t want told will have much, if any, impact on MAGA extremists. Nonetheless, I do imagine, a week before Election Day, there still are sufficient numbers of “persuadables,” who—were they to see data, for example, confirming that the biggest driver of inflation is corporate pricing—could help Dems hold the House, pick up some Senate seats, and also win contests in battleground state and local elections.
This is to answer your question and to also acknowledge the great work of Eric Boehlert. He covered the media and was an astute and rigorous critic. Sadly Mr. Boehlert died April 7th of this year. This a dual tragedy; both for his family and friends and for the Country. I miss his work greatly. What I do is the painstaking task of truth spreading by commenting in other media outlets such as NYT and WaPo. WaPo is now a haven for obvious Russian trolls and alt right trolls. I just post facts when the anti-Biden articles roll out. People appreciate it and then they share it. So it's word of mouth truth/facts telling. That's why I support people enduring Twitter for as long as they can.
Here is an article Mr. Boehlert wrote:
https://pressrun.media/p/is-the-press-rooting-against-biden?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share#details:~:text=4%20%E2%80%A2%207M-,Why%20is%20the%20press%20rooting%20against%20Biden%3F,-Burying%20great%20news
Here is an example of my truth/facts telling which needs updating:
• Reversal of Trump Executive Orders
• American Rescue Plan
• 500 Million Covid-19 Vaccine Shots
• Added 9 Million jobs
• 5% GDP during his first year
• Reduced $380 Billion, a record amount, from the deficit in his first year
• Greatest and Fastest Economic Recovery in History
• Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
• Climate Change and emissions Executive Orders
• Expanded Affordable Care Act to 5 Million new customers
• Nominated and Confirmed a Historic rate of Judges
• Nominated and Confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court
• Largest increase in Manufacturing Jobs in 30 years
• CHIPs Bill
• Made Juneteenth a National Holiday
• Restored the Violence Against Women Act
• 3.5% Unemployment with lowest jobless claims in 50 years
• Over 50 days straight of dropping gas prices
• Estimated Deficit Reduction of $1.7 Trillion for 2nd Year
• Lowest Child Poverty rate in history
• Allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices
• $380 Billion investment in Clean Energy
• $30 Billion in support of Ukraine against Russia
• Renewed Veterans Burn Pit Healthcare bill
• Killing Al Qaeda #1 Ayman Al-Zawahiri
• Implemented Firearms and Gun Safety Bill
I post stuff like this even when the article isn't about these things but authors like Theissen, Olsen etc are spreading lies. We can all be a guerilla truth person and throw truth/facts bombs wherever lies are being spread. I don't name call or otherwise comment. Just the facts.
Sorry for the length of this comment.
Barbara, While I don’t recall raising a question, I surely appreciate your extraordinary effort to amplify this Administration’s record of accomplishments.
Oops. It was Claire's question. I lost the thread. Sorry.
I find it incomprehensible that there are still “undecideds” out there. Repubs are violent, lying, racist thugs who will destroy middle class life. Yet people are undecided…really! Is the price of milk Biden’s fault? WTF
Jeri, My term “persuadables” refers to the 60% in this country living paycheck to paycheck and the millions working for starvation wages. Borrowing from Bernie Sanders, my project as of late has been to prevail upon Democratic leadership to focus more on a pro-worker agenda—$15 hourly minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, extension of the child tax credit, affordable, quality childcare, universal healthcare, investments in housing, in eldercare, and the like—all of which have received zero Republican support.
Robert, you hit the nail on the head of Elon! I used to think that Trump was the devil incarnate but now that Musk has his hands dipped into the muck, it is he who has taken that role. He will never apologize. He’s a narcissist, like Trump, and they never acknowledge their role in any wrongdoing. I understand that Jack Dorsey actually invited Elon, his good friend, to take Twitter over. No telling where he got his money to do so but I have my thoughts on that. Elon is a no good SOB and more than likely, a true fascist like the rest of the Pro-Rape Party members. It will be interesting to see what tactic Nancy uses to combat these lies and terrorists. I want to say that I am on Twitter and I had been thrown off before because I said Trump and his family should be brought to the town square and hung upside down until the blood ran out of them. I did use his name and I didn’t curse. The algorithm didn’t approve and blocked me. Was it wise for me to say that? No, it wasn’t but I felt so abused, so angry. I am back on albeit using a different name but I am trying to hold myself back from doing what I did before. I also am attracted to getting the news right away. That’s really one of the magnets drawing me to Twitter. That and being able to speak my mind in real time.
Interesting that you were booted for your comment, but Marjorie Taylor Greene's call for the execution of Nancy Pelosi did not result in her immediate suspension from Twitter or Congress.
I am not up for the fight of posting on Twitter, so I hope that if you are, you will use the platform to comment in a way that fair, accurate, and responsible. We need more voices like that on Twitter.
Yes, it is very frustrating Marj Three Names is allowed to open her mouth at all. She’s truly dangerous. I do try to be accurate and responsible but obviously, I irked their algorithm. My sister, who is equally as honest as I am, called Kimberly Guilfoyle a “whore” and she was knocked off also. What is accurate? No, but you get it’s meaning. Seems to be okay when people freely use f**k and other nasty words but when someone makes comments to combat the untruths, you’re stopped in your tracks. That is not fair.
Actually, Puck News has been covering Muck's Twitter takeover. It's financed with $24 billion of his own equity (Tesla shares), $13 billion he got his friends like Larry Ellison to pony up, and $13 billion in loans from banks that are now "sketchy" since the change in finances since last April. All in all, it's a very shaky tree, and Elon may have to buy his own discounted bank debt when the banks are forced to sell it at the discounted rate it will bring, to keep the "loan to own" slime from buying it and then killing him financially when he misses his first debt payment. he's already lost GM's advertising on the site and other major advertisers are pausing their advertising. Since that is 80% of Twitter's revenue, his financial situation is "shaky from the start" and his stupidity in getting involved with this crap this weekend is going to only make the advertisers more leery, not wanting to be painted with his brush.
Marlene - stay away from Twitter: it's business model is the same as FleeceBlock: if they were a bar, it would be, continue serving the raving drunk at the end of the bar triples, and disclaim all responsibility when he staggers out to the parking lot, finds his keys and manages to drive off.
Twitter is designed to appeal to the Dark Side, just like Facebook. Stay away. It's why they're evil and a nice person like you shouldn't be involved in that. It's emotional heroin.
And - Twitter delenda est!!
I agree with you that Musk has taken a huge business risk. Twitter will contaminate his other brands. Who will want to drive a "Twittermobile" (i.e., Tesla) when the Twitter brand is most associated with white nationalism and hate speech?
Exactly.
TC, I am going to stick it out, for now. I may go with the exodus if there is one. I want Musk to get buried by his own greed, if that’s even possible. I just feel like doing something, saying something, having a voice that might get heard. I am on FB but really only to speak with old college friends. I rarely engage in anything on my page. Had to block my longtime dentist, his wife, and daughter off because of the nasty right-wing crap they spewed. The two of them grew up with my husband. He never thought they’d be so hateful but there it is. I just don’t want to back down or back away yet. I sure appreciate you looking out for me though.
I too have decided to stick it out on Twitter, Marlene. Despite the dramatic rise in misinformation THE DAY Musk took over, and including the 500% rise in the use of the “n” word, I’m staying - for a while, at least. I can tweet the truth, block the trolls and find ways to support #votebluein22 candidates.
Musk is dangerous but so is fascism. And misinformation is the fascist’s tool. Time for those of us that can tolerate it to help in the truth campaign. @baylebeads on Twitter.
I will follow you, Sheila. Apparently today, Musk fired the entire Twitter board, the bastard! Let’s see who he elects in their place. We both may not stay with Twitter for long.
Twitter is what people who contribute make of it. Sure there are a lot of dark ugly racists tweets BUT legitimate columns and writers also publish on the site with valuable and fact based articles and impressions worth reading. Their voices have to be heard and available to all readers. Many legitimate authors have said they will take a wait and see before leaving the site. Twitter is not making a profit and many major advertisers like GM are suspending advertising to wait and see what happens. What Musk will discover is that if he turns Twitter into a “ firestorm” he will lose clicks and advertisers and the value of the stock in his parent company. It’s an expensive endeavor.
Hi Stephen. I agree. Want any of us to follow you?
@ellie_kona
I’m not a fan of Twitter but along with the crazies a lot of great people tweet important truthful Information and perspectives that needs to have a voice. We cannot be bulled off the platform.
Those of us on it will stay on it until after the election because we can reply with truth on the lies of the vermin. Cruz being the most diseased.
Cruz is Texas’ most despicable. Well, hard to tell. Paxton, Patrick, and Abbott are right up there. Cornyn not far behind, and a slew of state reps. Truly, it’s a horde of evil, supported by good, Christian fascists.
Cruz is who is constantly on social media fomenting bull shit.
Have to agree, wasn’t always so. They threw out the baby with the bath water.
Yes, Twitter is useful for breaking news and for easily amplifying support for progressive candidates, democracy, truth, and the good sides of humanity. Block the rest. Don't let the attention-seekers shut us down, especially ahead of this critical election.
@ellie_kona
and as Christine and Lynell would say, Salud!
I will start following you, Ellie. @trubloo
Same here. I set alerts for the people I want to see, and mostly avoid the "news feed". I'm going to add all of you now. @highmaintenancy
I, too, will stick it out as long as I can. I’ve been spreading as much truth and helpful information as I can. @AnnetteASD. When I am informed I have a new follower, I check them out. If they are not in sync with my views I either block them or remove them from following me.
Personally, had I read your Tweet back then, I would not have been offended at all, Marlene. But maybe that's just me. As Christine would say, Salud!
And I got canned for saying that he was a wannabe Hitler, think I’ll stay canned. Hope Jack Dorsey lives to rue the day…
Oh man I so feel you. I try to come up with ways to share my rage that won't get me imprisoned and I can't. Love you!!!!
Re: speaking the truth, that sometimes requires engaging with Trump supporters rather than disengaging and saying there’s no point. I once again had the pleasure of canvassing this weekend outside Harrisburg PA in a working class neighborhood that was racially and politically mixed.
I met mostly enthusiastic Democratic voters, but at one home the Democrat was not home. I asked the guy who answered the door which party reflected his beliefs and he said the Republicans. I asked what attracted him about Republicans. He said things were better under Trump, the economy, etc. I pointed out that. Idea has created 10 million jobs and we lost millions of jobs under Trump because he did nothing about the pandemic. The guy said the pandemic came at the end of his term, and I said it was early 2020. He had plenty of time and did nothing.
Then I asked a series of questions. Did he want a 10-year-old rape victim to have to give birth, as an abortion ban with no exceptions would require? Did he want Social Security, Medicare, and health coverage for 20 million Americans repealed, as the GOP proposed? Did he want his vote to count, or is it ok for politicians to abide by elections only if they win? Did he want a state legislator in the room with a woman and her doctor, as Oz proposed? We discussed a few more issues such as Ukraine and Putin. He opposed Republican positions every time. I have no idea if he will change his vote, but if I introduced some facts and doubt, it was a victory.
Stan
When a social media vehicle hits a certain mass - becomes a dominant source of information and discussion - that platform becomes responsible for the distribution of that information. It becomes responsible for the accuracy of that information. There is no neutral position in a free for all that is not supervised. There is only complicity. FB and Twitter are now the "National Newspapers".
Amazon holds its sellers responsible for the quality of their products and accuracy of its advertising. Amazon is huge and sells millions of items. How does it keep on top of that? They pay people to work on the issue. It's called a commitment to reputation. It's hard work and takes a lot of people and payroll. Amazon is way far from perfect - at least they TRY.
I refuse to accept the whining from Musk or Markie that it is too hard to do. You guys have billions and billions and you spend those billions on your projects and toys. But the vehicles in question here - that influence the entire world - you have abandoned to chaos.
By posting verifiable nonsense on the platform he purchased hours ago, Musk has revealed his bias and his intentions. Twitter will now be an unstoppable megaphone for his bullshit. As TC has so well explained, Musk is a genius in the areas that made him the richest guy in the world. But when it comes to politics, the influence of the media and reality, I think he is clueless and diabolical. And perhaps, now he is as dangerous as "45". What to do? I don't have a solid opinion yet.
But here are my fun possibilities:
1. Advertisers flee Twitter, revenue dries up, the floggings and firings continue until any minimal content supervision becomes a greater joke than it is now. Most folks also dump it for another vehicle. But some stick around thinking they have a responsibility to tell the truth and fight the good fight.
2. Musk's Council that is to supervise and prevent "a Hellscape" finds it needs to delete Musk's comments because they are so stupid, carelessly false and destructive. He fires them all. The process described in number 1 is sped up dramatically. Twitter files for bankruptcy and limps along with a reputation worse than Parler.
3. Musk finds that Twitter occupies much too much of his time and energy. He gets frustrated and bored with his new toy and steps away from day to day management. He really would rather play with his cars, trucks and rockets. Then he finds a new project. He is inspired by the HBO series "Raised by Wolves" which is about two robot androids named "Mother and Father" who are assigned the task of finding a new planet for a few of the surviving children of a decimated Earth. Mother and Father need a good rocket to perform their duty. Musk decides to build the androids and refine one of his rockets so it can travel the way the "Enterprise" did. At the last minute, Musk realizes that everything on Earth is boring - including all of us. He boards the rocket joining his newly created parents. The US government cancels his passport. The global sigh of relief is Earth shaking.
4. Or in another complete fantasy, but my favorite, all social media platforms are taken under wing by the FCC. Strict adherence to truth is supervised by teams of super bright enlightened young people. All lies and false political conspiracies are taken down before they can "go viral". In other words, somebody holds these punks accountable. Algorithms are adjusted to reward verifiable truths, stories about lost puppies and kittens , babies doing amazing things are boosted. Heroic behavior is featured. The latest advances in medicine and scientific research are a focus. The impacts of the Climate Crisis and the obvious solutions are posted hourly. In other words, a benevolent takeover and rejection of hate, lies and violence. The FCC will promote truth and planetary survival.
That was fun. Still not sure what my personal path will be re: Tweetdom. I only go there occasionally as I see it as more of a place for people to rant with little bombs of comments - too little thoughtful fact finding and discussion. Although, some do try. I guess maybe it will just dry up and die of its own dysfunction. There are thousands of other ways to communicate and enjoy life.
Guess it’s a sign of the times that normally optimistic, progressive me cringes at option #4. On the surface, I love it. However… Not hard to imagine that these government teams policing conspiracies might be a two-edged sword. If MAGA succeeds over the next few years (God help us), how would we feel about total government control over media content?
Folks - this is one heck of a tricky problem to truly solve in a multi-cultural, multi-tribal nation. Just maybe (and believe me, I don’t know), platforms allowing any kind of constitutionally legal speech might be the right approach.
On Twitter, we each curate our own feed, following the people we admire and respect. The people who follow deplorable ideas are out there and aren’t going away. But increasingly, their ideas are moving further and further to the fringe. Certainly not anywhere near majority opinions.
It’s possible that over time the hard right may coalesce into a tight knot of self-reinforcing craziness, ignored by most, and highly visible to law enforcement.
My fave is #3.
I like #3 AND #4.
Couple of notes:
1. The name of the troll site, the "Santa Monica Observer" - it is not a "website" as much as it is the blog of a single person to spread falsehoods. Giving these sorts of sites names that make them seem like legit news sites is a common troll tactic because repeating "as reported in the Santa Monica Observer" makes it seem more likely to be true than "as reported on John Trumplover's blog."
2. The trolls are still spreading a story that "well, maybe the Observer story isn't true, but how do you explain the fact that when he called the police, Pelosi knew his attacker's name." - this is another falsehood but it's also being put out there to help create the impression this was something shady, not an assassination attempt. Be on guard for that one.
3. What makes the Mush situation even more frightening is that many journalists seem to be afraid of getting on the wrong side of Musk - both because they are afraid he will throw them off Twitter, where they need a presence to stay relevant with other journos and because they are afraid he will turn his Army of Trolls against them.
4. It is notable that Musk's tweet was in response to Hillary Clinton. It gives him an out -- "I was just trolling Hillary" which for many on the right will sort of excuse everything.
5. Let's see if TPTB in the Democratic Party are able to figure out a way to use this whole scenario to our advantage - remind people of the chaos that results from putting Trumpists in power and giving them a voice.
One thing I do is check the source where the "information"/lies are coming from. Then I post it on the site. I also do this when someone from one of these sources is writing in WaPo etc. I checked the Santa Monica Observer on the "Media Bias Fact Check" website. Here are the results. If it were me I would post portions of this on their site.
Media Bias Fact Check/Santa Monica Observer
Overall, we rate the Santa Monica Observer Questionable based on the routine publication of false and misleading information and the use of poor sources.
Detailed Report
Reasoning: Poor Sourcing, Fake News, Lack of Ownership Transparency, Imposter
Bias Rating: RIGHT
Factual Reporting: LOW
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
"QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for the purpose of profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.
People seem to have forgotten the shitshow every hour of every day that chump orchestrated. We will not survive another go round with him and his magats
Here is a tidbit that popped up when I logged on this morning. I hope it helps those who are worried about the polls and the midterm outcomes.
"Political expert tells media to stop 'getting played' by Republican polling averages 'flooding the zone'
Raw Story - Yesterday 11:16 PM
By Sarah K. Burris
provided by RawStory
Two major sources of the political rankings include RealClearPolitics and FiveThirtyEight, both of whom average out public polls done for campaigns.
According to Democratic political expert Simon Rosenberg, the polls they're pulling in to generate those averages are leaning more Republican, lending the averages to be skewed more conservative.
"There is a ferocious campaign GOP campaign right now to flood the zone with their polls, game the averages, declare the election is tipping to them," tweeted Rosenberg on Sunday. "No question they could win but the early vote and polling this week DO NOT confirm this trend. Sorry. "
Simon is awesome and if you are not following him on Twitter, you should. @SimonWDC. Also listen to the podcast “That Trippi Show” with Simon as a guest. So many of these “polls” are conducted by conservative groups.
Thanks but I don't have a smartphone. I am on Facebook for family and friends and only have people I am close to as friends. I am not on twitter or anything else besides facebook.
I do like Trippi though.
I have long opposed Twitter as a swamp populated largely by trolls and other hideous creatures unworthy of anyone's time or attention. Now that Elon Musk has become its "Chief Twit" I do not expect that it will be anything more than yet worse than before.
Musk dramatically overpaid to acquire Twitter by any reasonable valuation metrics. Twitter is an unprofitable and shrinking business. Musk's plans and early steps following closing of the acquisition are unlikely to turn it around. Advertisers are fleeing the forum and for good reason. Most advertisers do not imagine a troll farm as their target market space. Musk owes over $1 billion annually in interest payments alone to the lenders who supported his acquisition. It is clear that to support that Musk will need to increase revenues dramatically and to do so he will need the pick the pockets of the trolls who populate Twitter. His announced plans to charge a monthly "troll fee" (my own characterization of Blue Twitter "verification") shows where he expects to find some of that revenue. His management style of threatening employees with layoffs to "inspire" their productivity shows he has similar disdain for both his employees and his customers.
He might well be simply sitting in front of a $44 billion burning dumpster fire and pouring gasoline on it.
OT: If Hillary Clinton had died, and they brought her remains to debate T___p, she still would have won.
And yet, even with all this going on, good news from Brazil and for the world as Lula defeats Bolsonaro to win as Brazil’s president. There is hope.
You missed that Musk's tweet is probably the strongest endorsement for the removal of the exception given to social media the para 230 that protects them from the lawsuits the other media as responsible for damage their content causes.
Will come back to that point. Agree with you!
Here, here