Lauren, I totally agree. I want to see the list of those at TT’s Mar a Lago whine session. It certainly wasn’t a press conference; he didn’t answer any questions. All he did was lie.
Nehalem, many people hearing trumps lies and seeing him make up distasteful names, feel the same way O'Donnell does and those people have been waiting for somebody to step forward and speak to the unethical behavior of this former president. So I ask you if the contempt for Dunald that's felt by so many of us watching him, will consume us? I believe that we can and will rise above the feelings that Dunald offers us, because we recognize what he's doing. I believe in the truth that can free us from fear and know that we're stronger than any emotions that are created by this mentally imbalanced (ill) man. One way to stop him is to get the truth out there and it isn't pretty.
For those who have tsk-tsked us for the use of "Weird" in describing MAGAts, Trump's performance tonight proves its value.
I would suspect that the majority of readers here have been called "weird", probably more than once. We wear the word proudly. Our kind of "weird" is not what is at issue.
Trump has never before in his life been called "weird" to his face, and likely the same is true about most of the MAGAts. But of course they ARE deeply weird - choosing to be a fascist in America is stone weird. And when they claim "we're not weird!" they only manage to demonstrate how weird they are.
And calling them such is a Bowie Knife to his Baby Trump balloon we have mistaken for the Big Bad Wolf. It reduces him to the small thing he is. And then he can be laughed at - the one thing in the world he cannot abide, being laughed at. Trying to describe which variety of fascist he is, is to make him the Big Bad Wolf, a role he's happy to play. Laughing at him reduces him to the permanent 10-year old elementary school playground bully he is and always has been. And laughing at him is more likely to bring about that public massive fatal myocardial infarction we've all been praying for since he came down his garbage chute 9 years ago.
Tim and Kamala come across like the sensible adults in the room compared to Donald and his J.uvenille D.elinquent VP running mate. I call JD Juvie for short. It is outrageous what they are saying, and the press is on its knees with nothingness.
Today on Heather Cox Richardson's Substack, someone wrote. "
It has been told (quietly) that most of MSM do not challenge DT directly and then write about it because he keeps score and bars those who report his failures from attending any future press conferences which restricts their growth within their publication. Others claim (very quietly) that in your face journalists often have to deal with real death threats, fear that their families are in jeopardy and some have to hire security to patrol their home base!"
That is part of the problem. The MSM is not protecting their journalists and not telling the story. Clicks and likes journalism is what they produce, and Harris and Walz are right to respond to Trump and Juvie's lies with fact checking on social media, and to go directly to the people to get their stories out. Bill Clinton was very successful with his townhall meetings. As the press has evolved the campaigning should as well. Trump can go to them directly after intimidating everyone and hand selecting those who are favorable to him. Harris can go to the people, and get the message out directly. The press can choose to cover it or not, but the story they are creating that Trump has given him that Harris will not sit down with them. I think Harris should say to that, "You do you!" That will put it right back into his weirdness court, and we all know that weird is what a nice guy like Tim says to mean CRAZY! Project 2025 is crazy. I am about 1/3 through and discussing it in a group. Today Propublica dropped a story about it. They got 14 hours of leaked training videos from the project which they have summarized with clips to illustrate points they are making, and a link to all 14 hours is at the end. Please share this with people. We need to know what they plan for us. https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-project-2025-secret-training-videos-trump-election?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature
I kind of think it matters. Harkens back to men always being first and women second (except for Van Halen albums and when exiting sinking ships, apparently). Kind of like Mr. John Smith and his wife, Mrs. John Smith ←- no identity, except for being someone’s wife. Per protocol, one does not list the VP before the President, regardless of “team”. See also Gov and Lt Gov.
I couldn't agree with you more! This is the first time something the Dem's have said that REALLY, I mean REALLY has settled under his skin. It's wonderful --- and to the journalists I do respect who have tut tutted about this moniker - I think you are wrong. Weird they are, and there is nothing hateful about the word (like 'horrible person', 'crooked Joe', 'Lying Ted' --- Next to "Lock him up!!" at rallies we now have 'Weird and Creepy'. Who would have thought that a non elite Minnesotan could have really popped the criminal's ego. No words like 'dangerous', mendacious, deranged touched him --- but WEIRD - it's like Kryptonite to Superman.
While turning MAGA voters is a noble goal, it shouldn't be a priority right now. We have persuadable independents and apathetic Democrats to target for votes. We can extend the olive branch after we win. That doesn't mean we should purposely alienate them, but we can't prioritize the hardest votes to turn.
You have the priority right, but let's have a welcoming attitude to the wavering edges of the electorate, the borderlands that exist between Chicago and Downstate, Madison and Ferryville, Charlotte and Misenheimer, and numerous other demarcations of the American political landscape.
Agree that alienating and hurting voters is counter-productive. But the average MAGAs I know are not persuadable. I grew up with these people. They really think their views are overall mainstream and they simply aren't. They think they are the sum total of "real America" when in reality they are but a part of real America. I can counter by pointing out that I am alienated and hurt by being labeled communist, socialist, and by a number of other false and offensive epithets regarding my general character. So a mirror held up to MAGAs of what actual mainstream Americans think is weird doesn't bother me at all. And I am very happy that Democrats are reclaiming the words freedom and patriotism. It's about time.
Very interesting. Of course, you are giving voice to the necessity of compassion - it’s what we do when we are share humanity. There is a but coming and it is not intended to be invalidating (in any way). I’m one of those people who have experienced an unnatural amount of weird and awful experiences, I count myself one of the lucky to have come out of all that and still be a forward looking, kind, positive, and emotionally healthy person.
I have learned to be vigilant around people who intend harm. I read your post and thought ‘OH, NUTTIN DOIN!’ And yet I am trying to be open to what an average MAGA might be. Maybe that would be a Republican who has found them selves in a cult and never actually signed on for that crap, or a person willing to work together for the good of all Americans and our Democracy.
I think that I can responsibly say that I am willing to offer and share hope, but those people will have to take steps to accept it and include their own selves. Tough love.
Thank you so much. I appreciate this. I meant it as strategy. I feel Hillary lost in part because she called people deplorables. I just don’t want such a fabulous team to go down because people feel they are being attacked and can’t join.
I agree with you. And your mild mannered warning must be taken seriously by all of us.
Amidst all our enthusiasm and name calling and wishing a comeuppance (or worse) to Donald Trump, a man who embodies cruelty, hate, and indifference to the sufferings of other human beings, we need to think about who we want to be as a nation. Harris and Walz have staked out an "us vs. them" dynamic that is powerful and needed. They are weird. We are happy and cool and normal. But as the days go by, in swing states especially, we need to draw the repentent mild Trump voter to our SHARED cause, a better America that is not the dire, post-apocalyptic landscape where people are rounded up and put in concentration camps, and civil servants are not fired for doing their jobs, etc. We will not gain neutrals or Republicans if we are just asking them to turn against the people they love and care about. Some Republicans are definitely weird, and more than weird, evil and dangerous. Call those out. But after Nov. 5, we are going to need a coming together of Americans. Two family members in separate conversations in the last two days have told me that they don't like the "name calling" of the Harris-Walz campaign. These are left leaning professional people who would never vote for Trump. They have advanced degrees and, to be sure, form a ridiculously small sample size. I was at first flabbergasted, but I think they reveal something we need to consider. As Robert Hubbell echoes Simon Rosenberg, "We would much rather be us than them." But we have to be careful not to become them in the vitriol and triumphalism of our recent success. Joy, of course, feistiness, for sure, but let's invite all to the party if not the Party. Our major job is to excite our base and GOTV, but no one is going to want to come to our party and be a part of our Party, if we tell them that they are weird, stupid, ignorant, uncool, and hideous. Save that language for the men in suits at the Heritage Foundation, for Trump and Vance, Steven Miller and Steve Bannon, me who would never, ever be seen sitting down at Mar-a-Lago with any of the rank and file rural, white, Trump voters.
Beautifully expressed, Patrick. Name calling seems more playground bullying than a get-out-the-vote strategy. It has its place in demonizing the big players, who need to be called out for their evil mendacity and their fervent aim to put Project 2025 into force, but we don't have a chance to convert the cult members to vote blue, so our efforts must be to persuade, as you say, the voters at the "wavering edges."
As name-calling goes, "weird" is pretty tame. It's also something people can come back from, if they're people who have good intentions. It may well serve as a wakeup call to those on the Trump side who are willing to think about things a bit. Wait, I'm not weird. Why are they calling us weird? Or, are they calling me weird, or Trump and Vance? What about them is weird? Oh, that. You know, they may have a point...
I think Hillary lost because the counrty was not ready for a woman president and she had been disparaged for years by the GOP and then James Comey came out the last minute to put questions in people's minds not because she called MAGAs deplorable. The people who were offended by her deplorable remark wouldn't have voted for her anyway.
I agree. Walz himself has said that his use of the “weird” label pertains to Trump and Vance, but not to their supporters. Why make the same mistake Hillary made?
Good advice TC. Although I'm a couple of weeks younger than you are, I came out of the same era where weird wasn't a bad thing. Laughter continues to be the best medicine against the Boguszoic era orange bacterium that Truscott discussed yesterday, and it's good for us too. Weird, isn't it?
I have been called much worse than weird by the MAGAs I grew up with. Of course, no one was a MAGA then. We're approaching our 50th high school reunion to put things in perspective. Right now those I bother to check in on are butt-hurt by being calling weird, and they don't much appreciate being called fascist, either. Yet they don't hesitate to label people like me communist, socialist, etc etc.
Democrats trying to attach labels doesn’t work effectively. Better to pick on a Republican platform item, state it, and then say, “Is THAT *really* what you want?
In laughing at him and calling him weird we see the adult version of the 9 year old CFDT receiving a bowl of mashed potatoes poured over his head by his older brother. The family laughed then and we laugh now.
What a sad, sorry lot these media fools and Trump and his minions are. If only they didn’t hurt so many people. I watched a clip of the so called press conference. Just staring at Trump’s vile face as he bold faced lied, I just kept wondering how he could be such a brazen liar and how these so called journalists could lower themselves to be part of this evil charade. And yes, Lawrence O’Donnell might be the only one in corporate media who really sheds a flood light on this, in my view, criminal use of the public air waves. I feel redeemed just listening to him. Thank you Lawrence
and Robert and Simon Rosenberg for keeping me on a positive, motivated track and I’m grateful for Kamala’s mantra “When we fight, we win!”
I watched the entire "conference press," not knowing that its host had selected the members of the press, but noticing that the venue seemed to be intended to make the questions impossible to hear, so his answers couldn't be challenged for their relevance. I guess i'm too inured to the host's media manipulation to be "shocked, shocked to find there's gambling going on in here!" I believe Maggie Haberman was among the "props," so perhaps we'll hear from her. There must be some written or anecdotal accounts of the outreach to the media.
I wrote a piece about the "conference press" and noted a couple of whoppers that haven't been mentioned: that electric trucks will require bridges to be rebuilt, and that the earlobe is at the top of the ear. I also noted the helicopter tale. At the end of the piece there's a link to the event. If interested:
Maybe some of these"reporters" were not reporters at all but paid participants to make the event to appear as legitimate? We all know that he pays people to attend his rallies and to stand behind him. Who knows with this guy?I would put nothing past him.
I'm pretty sure they were, as he called on Maggie, I think, and a couple of others. I've seen a couple of reporters who said he didn't answer their questions, and the reporter to whom he responded, "What a stupid question!"
There was a journalist on Washington Week last night who was there. He said they’d been invited for an off the record meeting with the campaign. When Trump heard they were coming, he arranged for the press conference.
If this is true, and I don't doubt that it is, it should be front page news. That the press was suckered and seduced is bad enough, that they were lied to an ambushed by Trump should be shouted from the rooftops.
I don't pay any attention to the NY Times or the WaPo anymore. Their negative coverage of Biden and neutral or favorable coverage of Trump has demonstrated that they no longer have any credibility. Their coverage is so spun it can't believed.
Kamala has shown her qualities loud and clear these past few weeks, but her humility is quietly shining from the past almost four years as she served Joe Biden as his VP. I never saw her seek to grab the spotlight; she just did the bidding that was asked of her. When asked to step forward, though, Oh, Boy! The glow from her excellence captured Americans thirsty for someone to follow. Wow! Her humility is a great, attractive quality!
I couldn't agree more, Janet. I just keep thinking..."finally, some normal people that I can relate to!" Having spent the last 8 wondering, "who the heck are these people and where did they come from?"
We watched NPR’s Washington Week on Friday night. One of the guest commentators was a reporter who attended the Trump staged news conference at his club in FL. According to the reporter who attended the Trump press conference, he and his fellow reporters had decided to attend a "press briefing" by the Trump campaign in FL. Apparently briefing such as this one are routine occurrences in the world of campaigns. When Trump learned that there was going to be this group of reporters in FL and nearby, he ordered his staff to send some buses to fetch the reporters for Trump’s impromptu press conference. The reporters arrived and were given campaign materials and brought to the press conference room. The Washington Week reporter explained that the press conference was an example of the poorly planned Trump campaign organization events that had occurred in 2016 when candidate Trump often stepped into address reporters himself without his campaign operatives awareness of the events, and his campaign staff often found themselves cleaning up the lies and incoherent ramblings made by Trump during those press conferences. This account causes the Washington Week listeners to wonder if any of the reporters who attended the Trump impromptu press conference will do follow-up reporting pushing back with an explanation of how they found themselves becoming duped reality television actors in a Trump world staged version of an Apprentice campaign press conference in 2024. The O’Donnell report of the event on his program makes those reporters look like fools or worse willing participants.
The reporters at the Trump Maralogo free publicity interview have now become the story.There should be a list of the invited access reporters somewhere. Maybe there is a phone image of them that was taken to show the "yuge" turnout of the press. They should be identified and their credentials as journalists checked.
Would find the list of reporters and who they represent enlightening. I imagine it’s a matter of time until it surfaces. Maybe the Guardian will deliver it.
Robert, I watched the Harris-Walz rally today and it appeared to be standing room only. The attendees loved what they had to say but before they came on, Mark Kelly and Gabby Giffords greeted the crowd. They all started chanting “Gabby! Gabby!” It was very touching and she was just beaming. Trump’s so-called rally was abysmal with a lot of emptiness, kind of like his brain. I hope there’s an investigation about those reporters too.
I do want to ask you one thing: Why did Schiff throw Biden under the bus and ask him to not run? He was one of the first to do so and I have a very bitter taste in my mouth. I understand he is the Dem pick for Senator against Garvey, but I found his arrogance too much for my liking. So please explain it to me, will you?
Marlene, with all due respect, but please look at where we are now and where we were four weeks ago. That's why Adam Schiff asked the President not to run. And not sitting it out and waiting to see from where the wind blows but doing so as one of the first representatives within the Democratic Party took lots of guts. He put country over party, his longtime loyalty to the President and quite possibly also any consideration of his own political future.
I believe your perception is a valid one, Stefan. When calls for Joe to step down were brewing, my first thought was it was a betrayal. It was abandoning ship without a lifeboat accessible to latch onto. I have since read that once Biden decided to step down, he indeed provided us the "lifeboat" that is Kamala Harris. I don't know for sure but suspect that Adam Schiff among others were part of the plan that made the transition to Kamala as smooth as it ended up being.
I had the same thoughts, Lynell. So grateful for such a smooth transition and for all those who made it possible.I’m especially grateful for President Biden.This joyful pic (at end of post) of him welcoming World Series Champs Texas Rangers to the White House brought tears to my eyes. 💙
"What Did Joe Biden Do Today?" shows all of us that he is still fully functional as president, in many small and big ways. His decision to bow out was heroic and so far is producing unexpectedly wonderful results.
I'm curious too, Marlene, about why Schiff (and others) took the public position that they did, but I think that can wait for another day. I sense that they were becoming desperate to salvage the election up and down the ballot. The ends never justify the means, IMHO, but in this case may have informed a strategy that may someday be judged as brilliant.
President Biden, retiring on his own terms, timed his departure immediately after the GOP folded their circus tent, and Kamala Harris hit the ground running at top speed and hasn't looked back. And, by the way, President Biden is free now to actually do his job. A pretty tasty lemonade, I'd say.
Hello, Marlene. I hear you as Adam Schiff is concerned. I have long admired him and I was terribly disappointed about how he was among the first to call for Biden to step aside. In fact, I'm still upset with him as I am with others I have otherwise held in high regard.
Though here's the important part for me. At the time, Robert spoke out about the apparent betrayal of Adam Schiff, naming him and other esteemed lawmakers as well. I imagine that was not easy for Robert given his expressed praise and support of Schiff in the past. Though what's even more impressive to me is that Robert has placed that aside, or perhaps moved beyond his own held negative emotions. For the greater good.
So instead of picking up his shovel and pail and moving on to building another sandcastle, Robert is holding his previously planned fundraiser to benefit Schiff's campaign and those of eight other Dems. Robert has counseled us on not walking away from those who we perceive to have been unfaithful. And he modeled that.
Truth be told, there are a number of lawmakers who I've supported over time and for whom I am now withholding my support given the way it all unfolded. Modest contributions, letter writing and postcarding for them are on hold. I know I need to get over myself, to soften those ragged edges. Though there may be some remnant of hope for me. I was so pleased to register for next Wednesday night's fundraiser. A small act of moving beyond my disappointment and hurt. And perhaps to practice laying down my self-righteous nature. And as a way to honor Robert's integrity and grace.
I'd suggest that it may honor President Biden's integrity and grace, too. I think he believed he was the best candidate to beat Felonious Trump, and truly wanted to finish what he started. His exit was masterful.
Beautifully said, Jean. I've gone through the same feelings about Schiff, and also have great faith in Robert to show us the path of integrity and grace, as you so eloquently put it. Thank you.
I have lost respect for Schiff because of how he maneuvered the situation with Republican Steve Garvey to increase support for Garvey so as to reduce it for Democrat Katie Porter, then appeared to aggressively fundraise to Dems by emphasizing the increased threat of having a Republican in the Senate. I suppose he was being a typical politician aiming to win the nomination at any cost, and/or perhaps Katie Porter was not considered to be a strong enough candidate to run for a Senate seat.
From reporting I read, he also threw Katie Porter under the bus with a blizzard of negative advertising so that two Democrats would not be running against each other. Totally agree with your sentiments about the AZ rally and Schiff.
When Biden was in the race, DT's strategy was, he may be ok to all of you, but think if he is incapacitated during the next four years, you will get Harris and he thought he had a winning strategy. Little did he know, that once the country met VP Harris, they would fall in love with her ( and Walz just enhances the love). So he had been reduced the worst bully you knew in third grade. The bullies I knew in third grade, grew up and out of that stage and are productive members of society. The only conclusion I can arrive at, is that Trump never developed emotionally beyond third grade. No one who loves this country should want a third grader running it- Period the end.
Susan and David, I've known bullies and I can even remember 3rd grade, but Trump is worse than any grade school bully I've ever known. There are eight-year olds who when give "the codes" would understand that these are dangerous things and would listen to the grown ups in the room. Not this infant. Trump is monstrous, and I hope the country is waking up to him, but 74 million people voted for him before.
What a wonderful way to start my morning. Thank you Robert for continuing to document Trump’s decline. Keep on digging, Trump! And for goodness sakes, keep on talking!
Thank you also for sharing your beautiful astronomy photographs and mini tutorials. They help to remind us that we are all part of something breathtaking.
How beautifully expressed, Mark, of Robert sharing "beautiful astronomy photographs and mini tutorials." And how ... "they help to remind us that we are all part of something breathtaking."
I have always figured the NYT would be sorry if they crossed him if and when he became president. Looks like the deadline for feeling sorry has moved up.
A former classmate of mine lives in AZ and is an amateur photographer and took pictures of the rally and sent them to me. He said the energy and vibe was equal to a rock concert and most importantly everyone was smiling and happy. Additionally Walz gave a better speech than he did in Philadelphia. The reality going forward is Trump can’t match the energy of the Harris campaign and his attack and negativity will stand out even more than it did before because it’s being compared to the joy of the Harris Walz campaign. Wait till we get to the convention. What Harris brings more than ever is the fact that we have a candidate that can beat Trump. It won’t be easy but it will happen.
The DNC will be phenomenal! The last time the public showed as much enthusiasm and support as the Harris/Walz team is already generating, the candidate WON!
I recommend Tom Nichols’ column “The Truth about Trump’s Press Conference” in yesterday’s Atlantic. He calls out the press for not reporting Trump’s deterioration accurately. The Atlantic, at least, is not committing the mistake of what it’s very smart editor Jeffrey Goldberg calls the “bias toward coherence” which, as Nichols explains, “leads to careful circumlocutions instead of stunned headlines.” According to Nichols, the accurate headlines for Trump’s press conference would have been “Donald Trump is not well. He is not stable. There’s something deeply wrong with him.” The Atlantic is a voice of sanity and a good antidote to the reporting in the NYT. Goldberg’s work hosting “Washington Week in Review” is also worth watching.
These great candidates: Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI), Senator Bob Casey (PA), Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), Senator Jon Tester (MT), Senator Jacky Rosen (NV), Congressman Colin Allred (TX), Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ), Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (MI), and Congressman Adam Schiff (CA) live in states with very different voting rules for voting and for applying for vote by mail (VBM) ballots.
It behooves your MC for the fund-raiser to make it clear that some states have (A) purged voters from the voting rolls without due notice, sometimes because they didn't vote in the past election (B) passed new Voter ID laws and/or (C) new rules for applying for vote by mail ballots so I hope your election forum will include a reminder for all voters and unregistered voters to go to Vote.0rg and either register to vote there or check that they are registered and whether new voter ID laws or rules for VBM have been passed since 2020.
Early registering and applying for VBM will make a difference.
The Felon is, and always has been, a puffer fish. Much bigger in his own mind than in reality. His "same old (sh*t)show," to borrow Kamala's phrase, is stale and lie-infested. None of us trust a word that comes out of his mouth. Plus, he craves the adulation of his sycophantic followers like a drug. His lies become elaborate self-serving delusions that his cult lap up. So, we bring him down to baby-bully-size by calling him what he and all his MAGA-ites are: weird. The most powerful word of the year! It completely punctures their balloon. The puffer fish shrinks and slinks away. Poof!
Just read the quote below in todays Heather Cox Richardson’s letter.
Good for Kamala. The press has done so much in the service of democracy. But when they are silly and not doing their jobs, it is only right that Harris (and others) not give them the time of day. Looks to me that they blew it yesterday.
“Yesterday, after journalists had begun to complain that they did not have enough access to Harris, she came to them directly on the tarmac at the Detroit airport and asked, “What’cha got?” All but one of their questions were about Trump and his comments; the one question that was not about Trump came when a journalist asked when Harris would sit down for an interview.”
Laurence O'Donnell is today's Edward R Murrow! He is a fearless example of honest, unbiased reporting.
How can we get a list of the reporters who were hand-picked and went to Mar-a-Lago?
Notice , as Lawrence pointed out, that we, in tv land, couldn’t hear the questions. This was trumps house…all done by design
NBC had a reporter there. They should be able to find out if he was invited to attend. He could also identify many of the others who were in the room.
Lauren, I totally agree. I want to see the list of those at TT’s Mar a Lago whine session. It certainly wasn’t a press conference; he didn’t answer any questions. All he did was lie.
Thank God for LLawrence McDonnell and his courage for truth in journalism.
Oops make that O'Donnell
O’Donnell has such contempt for Trump that I’m afraid it will ultimately consume him.
Nehalem, many people hearing trumps lies and seeing him make up distasteful names, feel the same way O'Donnell does and those people have been waiting for somebody to step forward and speak to the unethical behavior of this former president. So I ask you if the contempt for Dunald that's felt by so many of us watching him, will consume us? I believe that we can and will rise above the feelings that Dunald offers us, because we recognize what he's doing. I believe in the truth that can free us from fear and know that we're stronger than any emotions that are created by this mentally imbalanced (ill) man. One way to stop him is to get the truth out there and it isn't pretty.
Just kindly shut up, Valley Girl. Thank you.
I clicked on the link, and got an error message. :-(
What link did you click on?
The one provided by Robert
No doubt about it!
For those who have tsk-tsked us for the use of "Weird" in describing MAGAts, Trump's performance tonight proves its value.
I would suspect that the majority of readers here have been called "weird", probably more than once. We wear the word proudly. Our kind of "weird" is not what is at issue.
Trump has never before in his life been called "weird" to his face, and likely the same is true about most of the MAGAts. But of course they ARE deeply weird - choosing to be a fascist in America is stone weird. And when they claim "we're not weird!" they only manage to demonstrate how weird they are.
And calling them such is a Bowie Knife to his Baby Trump balloon we have mistaken for the Big Bad Wolf. It reduces him to the small thing he is. And then he can be laughed at - the one thing in the world he cannot abide, being laughed at. Trying to describe which variety of fascist he is, is to make him the Big Bad Wolf, a role he's happy to play. Laughing at him reduces him to the permanent 10-year old elementary school playground bully he is and always has been. And laughing at him is more likely to bring about that public massive fatal myocardial infarction we've all been praying for since he came down his garbage chute 9 years ago.
Walz reminds me of the child who says out loud: "The emperor has no clothes on".
Tim and Kamala come across like the sensible adults in the room compared to Donald and his J.uvenille D.elinquent VP running mate. I call JD Juvie for short. It is outrageous what they are saying, and the press is on its knees with nothingness.
Today on Heather Cox Richardson's Substack, someone wrote. "
It has been told (quietly) that most of MSM do not challenge DT directly and then write about it because he keeps score and bars those who report his failures from attending any future press conferences which restricts their growth within their publication. Others claim (very quietly) that in your face journalists often have to deal with real death threats, fear that their families are in jeopardy and some have to hire security to patrol their home base!"
That is part of the problem. The MSM is not protecting their journalists and not telling the story. Clicks and likes journalism is what they produce, and Harris and Walz are right to respond to Trump and Juvie's lies with fact checking on social media, and to go directly to the people to get their stories out. Bill Clinton was very successful with his townhall meetings. As the press has evolved the campaigning should as well. Trump can go to them directly after intimidating everyone and hand selecting those who are favorable to him. Harris can go to the people, and get the message out directly. The press can choose to cover it or not, but the story they are creating that Trump has given him that Harris will not sit down with them. I think Harris should say to that, "You do you!" That will put it right back into his weirdness court, and we all know that weird is what a nice guy like Tim says to mean CRAZY! Project 2025 is crazy. I am about 1/3 through and discussing it in a group. Today Propublica dropped a story about it. They got 14 hours of leaked training videos from the project which they have summarized with clips to illustrate points they are making, and a link to all 14 hours is at the end. Please share this with people. We need to know what they plan for us. https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-project-2025-secret-training-videos-trump-election?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature
Linda, I humbly encourage you to practice writing Kamala’s name first! She will be our President not Tim!
Makes no difference which name comes first. They are a team.
I kind of think it matters. Harkens back to men always being first and women second (except for Van Halen albums and when exiting sinking ships, apparently). Kind of like Mr. John Smith and his wife, Mrs. John Smith ←- no identity, except for being someone’s wife. Per protocol, one does not list the VP before the President, regardless of “team”. See also Gov and Lt Gov.
Can I borrow "Juvie"??
By all means TC! And please share this link to a propublica article summarizing creepy Project 2025 training videos. Someone leaked 14 hours of these videos and they have clips illustrating points. At the end is a link to all 14 hours. We need to know what they have planned for us. https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-project-2025-secret-training-videos-trump-election?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature
Perhaps the journalists who really care should start publishing with no by-line, so the MAGgots can't find them.
I couldn't agree with you more! This is the first time something the Dem's have said that REALLY, I mean REALLY has settled under his skin. It's wonderful --- and to the journalists I do respect who have tut tutted about this moniker - I think you are wrong. Weird they are, and there is nothing hateful about the word (like 'horrible person', 'crooked Joe', 'Lying Ted' --- Next to "Lock him up!!" at rallies we now have 'Weird and Creepy'. Who would have thought that a non elite Minnesotan could have really popped the criminal's ego. No words like 'dangerous', mendacious, deranged touched him --- but WEIRD - it's like Kryptonite to Superman.
I agree with "Weird," but, it's a little too nice. I prefer "Creepy" to describe trump and vance.
I tend to think that Weird & Creepy = Trump & Vance. They each get their own adjective on the bumper sticker in my head.
Try WC .
And Pathetic
As long as we don’t hurt and alienate voters. Trump and Vance are weird. Average MAGA need to feel included in hope.
While turning MAGA voters is a noble goal, it shouldn't be a priority right now. We have persuadable independents and apathetic Democrats to target for votes. We can extend the olive branch after we win. That doesn't mean we should purposely alienate them, but we can't prioritize the hardest votes to turn.
You have the priority right, but let's have a welcoming attitude to the wavering edges of the electorate, the borderlands that exist between Chicago and Downstate, Madison and Ferryville, Charlotte and Misenheimer, and numerous other demarcations of the American political landscape.
Getting those wavering edges to vote blue would be icing on the cake, for sure, Patrick.
It just might win close elections.
Well said, Dean.
Agree that alienating and hurting voters is counter-productive. But the average MAGAs I know are not persuadable. I grew up with these people. They really think their views are overall mainstream and they simply aren't. They think they are the sum total of "real America" when in reality they are but a part of real America. I can counter by pointing out that I am alienated and hurt by being labeled communist, socialist, and by a number of other false and offensive epithets regarding my general character. So a mirror held up to MAGAs of what actual mainstream Americans think is weird doesn't bother me at all. And I am very happy that Democrats are reclaiming the words freedom and patriotism. It's about time.
Very interesting. Of course, you are giving voice to the necessity of compassion - it’s what we do when we are share humanity. There is a but coming and it is not intended to be invalidating (in any way). I’m one of those people who have experienced an unnatural amount of weird and awful experiences, I count myself one of the lucky to have come out of all that and still be a forward looking, kind, positive, and emotionally healthy person.
I have learned to be vigilant around people who intend harm. I read your post and thought ‘OH, NUTTIN DOIN!’ And yet I am trying to be open to what an average MAGA might be. Maybe that would be a Republican who has found them selves in a cult and never actually signed on for that crap, or a person willing to work together for the good of all Americans and our Democracy.
I think that I can responsibly say that I am willing to offer and share hope, but those people will have to take steps to accept it and include their own selves. Tough love.
Thank you so much. I appreciate this. I meant it as strategy. I feel Hillary lost in part because she called people deplorables. I just don’t want such a fabulous team to go down because people feel they are being attacked and can’t join.
PS,
I agree with you. And your mild mannered warning must be taken seriously by all of us.
Amidst all our enthusiasm and name calling and wishing a comeuppance (or worse) to Donald Trump, a man who embodies cruelty, hate, and indifference to the sufferings of other human beings, we need to think about who we want to be as a nation. Harris and Walz have staked out an "us vs. them" dynamic that is powerful and needed. They are weird. We are happy and cool and normal. But as the days go by, in swing states especially, we need to draw the repentent mild Trump voter to our SHARED cause, a better America that is not the dire, post-apocalyptic landscape where people are rounded up and put in concentration camps, and civil servants are not fired for doing their jobs, etc. We will not gain neutrals or Republicans if we are just asking them to turn against the people they love and care about. Some Republicans are definitely weird, and more than weird, evil and dangerous. Call those out. But after Nov. 5, we are going to need a coming together of Americans. Two family members in separate conversations in the last two days have told me that they don't like the "name calling" of the Harris-Walz campaign. These are left leaning professional people who would never vote for Trump. They have advanced degrees and, to be sure, form a ridiculously small sample size. I was at first flabbergasted, but I think they reveal something we need to consider. As Robert Hubbell echoes Simon Rosenberg, "We would much rather be us than them." But we have to be careful not to become them in the vitriol and triumphalism of our recent success. Joy, of course, feistiness, for sure, but let's invite all to the party if not the Party. Our major job is to excite our base and GOTV, but no one is going to want to come to our party and be a part of our Party, if we tell them that they are weird, stupid, ignorant, uncool, and hideous. Save that language for the men in suits at the Heritage Foundation, for Trump and Vance, Steven Miller and Steve Bannon, me who would never, ever be seen sitting down at Mar-a-Lago with any of the rank and file rural, white, Trump voters.
Beautifully expressed, Patrick. Name calling seems more playground bullying than a get-out-the-vote strategy. It has its place in demonizing the big players, who need to be called out for their evil mendacity and their fervent aim to put Project 2025 into force, but we don't have a chance to convert the cult members to vote blue, so our efforts must be to persuade, as you say, the voters at the "wavering edges."
As name-calling goes, "weird" is pretty tame. It's also something people can come back from, if they're people who have good intentions. It may well serve as a wakeup call to those on the Trump side who are willing to think about things a bit. Wait, I'm not weird. Why are they calling us weird? Or, are they calling me weird, or Trump and Vance? What about them is weird? Oh, that. You know, they may have a point...
Got it! Thank you
I think Hillary lost because the counrty was not ready for a woman president and she had been disparaged for years by the GOP and then James Comey came out the last minute to put questions in people's minds not because she called MAGAs deplorable. The people who were offended by her deplorable remark wouldn't have voted for her anyway.
I agree. Walz himself has said that his use of the “weird” label pertains to Trump and Vance, but not to their supporters. Why make the same mistake Hillary made?
Good advice TC. Although I'm a couple of weeks younger than you are, I came out of the same era where weird wasn't a bad thing. Laughter continues to be the best medicine against the Boguszoic era orange bacterium that Truscott discussed yesterday, and it's good for us too. Weird, isn't it?
I have been called much worse than weird by the MAGAs I grew up with. Of course, no one was a MAGA then. We're approaching our 50th high school reunion to put things in perspective. Right now those I bother to check in on are butt-hurt by being calling weird, and they don't much appreciate being called fascist, either. Yet they don't hesitate to label people like me communist, socialist, etc etc.
Democrats trying to attach labels doesn’t work effectively. Better to pick on a Republican platform item, state it, and then say, “Is THAT *really* what you want?
Sorry, I no longer engage with those people. So I'm completely not caring that being called weird bothers them. They are not persuadable.
It’s not weird. It’s creepy. Really.
In laughing at him and calling him weird we see the adult version of the 9 year old CFDT receiving a bowl of mashed potatoes poured over his head by his older brother. The family laughed then and we laugh now.
What a sad, sorry lot these media fools and Trump and his minions are. If only they didn’t hurt so many people. I watched a clip of the so called press conference. Just staring at Trump’s vile face as he bold faced lied, I just kept wondering how he could be such a brazen liar and how these so called journalists could lower themselves to be part of this evil charade. And yes, Lawrence O’Donnell might be the only one in corporate media who really sheds a flood light on this, in my view, criminal use of the public air waves. I feel redeemed just listening to him. Thank you Lawrence
and Robert and Simon Rosenberg for keeping me on a positive, motivated track and I’m grateful for Kamala’s mantra “When we fight, we win!”
I watched the entire "conference press," not knowing that its host had selected the members of the press, but noticing that the venue seemed to be intended to make the questions impossible to hear, so his answers couldn't be challenged for their relevance. I guess i'm too inured to the host's media manipulation to be "shocked, shocked to find there's gambling going on in here!" I believe Maggie Haberman was among the "props," so perhaps we'll hear from her. There must be some written or anecdotal accounts of the outreach to the media.
I wrote a piece about the "conference press" and noted a couple of whoppers that haven't been mentioned: that electric trucks will require bridges to be rebuilt, and that the earlobe is at the top of the ear. I also noted the helicopter tale. At the end of the piece there's a link to the event. If interested:
https://open.substack.com/pub/bobmorgan/p/felonious-trump-conference-press
Do we even know if they were really the Press? Were they asking real questions, or just mumbling for effect? Very suspicious.
And weird.
Maybe some of these"reporters" were not reporters at all but paid participants to make the event to appear as legitimate? We all know that he pays people to attend his rallies and to stand behind him. Who knows with this guy?I would put nothing past him.
I'm pretty sure they were, as he called on Maggie, I think, and a couple of others. I've seen a couple of reporters who said he didn't answer their questions, and the reporter to whom he responded, "What a stupid question!"
There was a journalist on Washington Week last night who was there. He said they’d been invited for an off the record meeting with the campaign. When Trump heard they were coming, he arranged for the press conference.
If this is true, and I don't doubt that it is, it should be front page news. That the press was suckered and seduced is bad enough, that they were lied to an ambushed by Trump should be shouted from the rooftops.
So you expect the media to emphasize a story that their members were played for suckers? Hmmmmm.
Interesting. I guess that "excuses" the makeup of the audience, but not the apparent softball questions.
I don't pay any attention to the NY Times or the WaPo anymore. Their negative coverage of Biden and neutral or favorable coverage of Trump has demonstrated that they no longer have any credibility. Their coverage is so spun it can't believed.
“Just staring at Trump’s vile face as he bold faced lies, I just kept wondering how he could be such a brazen liar.” —
Maggie Haberman once observed that Trump just says whatever comes into his mind. Since his mind wanders, he says lots of stupid, even weird things.
Kamala has shown her qualities loud and clear these past few weeks, but her humility is quietly shining from the past almost four years as she served Joe Biden as his VP. I never saw her seek to grab the spotlight; she just did the bidding that was asked of her. When asked to step forward, though, Oh, Boy! The glow from her excellence captured Americans thirsty for someone to follow. Wow! Her humility is a great, attractive quality!
Great observation, Janet! It's a refreshing lack of arrogance, and Tim Walz enhances it.
I couldn't agree more, Janet. I just keep thinking..."finally, some normal people that I can relate to!" Having spent the last 8 wondering, "who the heck are these people and where did they come from?"
That doesn't include Biden and Harris, right?
No, Sue! They are the breath of fresh air blowing through the country!!
I figured as much ;)
We watched NPR’s Washington Week on Friday night. One of the guest commentators was a reporter who attended the Trump staged news conference at his club in FL. According to the reporter who attended the Trump press conference, he and his fellow reporters had decided to attend a "press briefing" by the Trump campaign in FL. Apparently briefing such as this one are routine occurrences in the world of campaigns. When Trump learned that there was going to be this group of reporters in FL and nearby, he ordered his staff to send some buses to fetch the reporters for Trump’s impromptu press conference. The reporters arrived and were given campaign materials and brought to the press conference room. The Washington Week reporter explained that the press conference was an example of the poorly planned Trump campaign organization events that had occurred in 2016 when candidate Trump often stepped into address reporters himself without his campaign operatives awareness of the events, and his campaign staff often found themselves cleaning up the lies and incoherent ramblings made by Trump during those press conferences. This account causes the Washington Week listeners to wonder if any of the reporters who attended the Trump impromptu press conference will do follow-up reporting pushing back with an explanation of how they found themselves becoming duped reality television actors in a Trump world staged version of an Apprentice campaign press conference in 2024. The O’Donnell report of the event on his program makes those reporters look like fools or worse willing participants.
Puppets?
Useful idiots?
Better!
The reporters at the Trump Maralogo free publicity interview have now become the story.There should be a list of the invited access reporters somewhere. Maybe there is a phone image of them that was taken to show the "yuge" turnout of the press. They should be identified and their credentials as journalists checked.
Would find the list of reporters and who they represent enlightening. I imagine it’s a matter of time until it surfaces. Maybe the Guardian will deliver it.
Agreed. Can someone direct us to which companies they work for?
Robert, I watched the Harris-Walz rally today and it appeared to be standing room only. The attendees loved what they had to say but before they came on, Mark Kelly and Gabby Giffords greeted the crowd. They all started chanting “Gabby! Gabby!” It was very touching and she was just beaming. Trump’s so-called rally was abysmal with a lot of emptiness, kind of like his brain. I hope there’s an investigation about those reporters too.
I do want to ask you one thing: Why did Schiff throw Biden under the bus and ask him to not run? He was one of the first to do so and I have a very bitter taste in my mouth. I understand he is the Dem pick for Senator against Garvey, but I found his arrogance too much for my liking. So please explain it to me, will you?
Marlene, with all due respect, but please look at where we are now and where we were four weeks ago. That's why Adam Schiff asked the President not to run. And not sitting it out and waiting to see from where the wind blows but doing so as one of the first representatives within the Democratic Party took lots of guts. He put country over party, his longtime loyalty to the President and quite possibly also any consideration of his own political future.
I believe your perception is a valid one, Stefan. When calls for Joe to step down were brewing, my first thought was it was a betrayal. It was abandoning ship without a lifeboat accessible to latch onto. I have since read that once Biden decided to step down, he indeed provided us the "lifeboat" that is Kamala Harris. I don't know for sure but suspect that Adam Schiff among others were part of the plan that made the transition to Kamala as smooth as it ended up being.
I had the same thoughts, Lynell. So grateful for such a smooth transition and for all those who made it possible.I’m especially grateful for President Biden.This joyful pic (at end of post) of him welcoming World Series Champs Texas Rangers to the White House brought tears to my eyes. 💙
https://open.substack.com/pub/whatdidbidendotoday/p/what-did-joe-biden-do-today-617?r=fqsxl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
"What Did Joe Biden Do Today?" shows all of us that he is still fully functional as president, in many small and big ways. His decision to bow out was heroic and so far is producing unexpectedly wonderful results.
In the absence of genuine facts, people have been inventing narratives that make them feel good about Biden’s defenestration.
I’m simply relieved that the Democratic cause has worked out as spectacularly well as it has.
I'm curious too, Marlene, about why Schiff (and others) took the public position that they did, but I think that can wait for another day. I sense that they were becoming desperate to salvage the election up and down the ballot. The ends never justify the means, IMHO, but in this case may have informed a strategy that may someday be judged as brilliant.
President Biden, retiring on his own terms, timed his departure immediately after the GOP folded their circus tent, and Kamala Harris hit the ground running at top speed and hasn't looked back. And, by the way, President Biden is free now to actually do his job. A pretty tasty lemonade, I'd say.
Hello, Marlene. I hear you as Adam Schiff is concerned. I have long admired him and I was terribly disappointed about how he was among the first to call for Biden to step aside. In fact, I'm still upset with him as I am with others I have otherwise held in high regard.
Though here's the important part for me. At the time, Robert spoke out about the apparent betrayal of Adam Schiff, naming him and other esteemed lawmakers as well. I imagine that was not easy for Robert given his expressed praise and support of Schiff in the past. Though what's even more impressive to me is that Robert has placed that aside, or perhaps moved beyond his own held negative emotions. For the greater good.
So instead of picking up his shovel and pail and moving on to building another sandcastle, Robert is holding his previously planned fundraiser to benefit Schiff's campaign and those of eight other Dems. Robert has counseled us on not walking away from those who we perceive to have been unfaithful. And he modeled that.
Truth be told, there are a number of lawmakers who I've supported over time and for whom I am now withholding my support given the way it all unfolded. Modest contributions, letter writing and postcarding for them are on hold. I know I need to get over myself, to soften those ragged edges. Though there may be some remnant of hope for me. I was so pleased to register for next Wednesday night's fundraiser. A small act of moving beyond my disappointment and hurt. And perhaps to practice laying down my self-righteous nature. And as a way to honor Robert's integrity and grace.
I'd suggest that it may honor President Biden's integrity and grace, too. I think he believed he was the best candidate to beat Felonious Trump, and truly wanted to finish what he started. His exit was masterful.
Beautifully said, Jean. I've gone through the same feelings about Schiff, and also have great faith in Robert to show us the path of integrity and grace, as you so eloquently put it. Thank you.
💜🩵🩷
You might read Schiff's memoir of January 6th: Midnight in Washington. This informed my positive opinion of him and is very readable.
Because he knew first hand that Biden was not going to win and would take down the party. I thought it was a gutsy call.
I have lost respect for Schiff because of how he maneuvered the situation with Republican Steve Garvey to increase support for Garvey so as to reduce it for Democrat Katie Porter, then appeared to aggressively fundraise to Dems by emphasizing the increased threat of having a Republican in the Senate. I suppose he was being a typical politician aiming to win the nomination at any cost, and/or perhaps Katie Porter was not considered to be a strong enough candidate to run for a Senate seat.
From reporting I read, he also threw Katie Porter under the bus with a blizzard of negative advertising so that two Democrats would not be running against each other. Totally agree with your sentiments about the AZ rally and Schiff.
Thanks Robert. Let’s keep the good ship democracy afloat in the coming storm. We will use “the stars” to guide us.
When Biden was in the race, DT's strategy was, he may be ok to all of you, but think if he is incapacitated during the next four years, you will get Harris and he thought he had a winning strategy. Little did he know, that once the country met VP Harris, they would fall in love with her ( and Walz just enhances the love). So he had been reduced the worst bully you knew in third grade. The bullies I knew in third grade, grew up and out of that stage and are productive members of society. The only conclusion I can arrive at, is that Trump never developed emotionally beyond third grade. No one who loves this country should want a third grader running it- Period the end.
And some want to return the launch codes - to an eight year old.
I shudder recalling he ever had access to begin with.
Susan and David, I've known bullies and I can even remember 3rd grade, but Trump is worse than any grade school bully I've ever known. There are eight-year olds who when give "the codes" would understand that these are dangerous things and would listen to the grown ups in the room. Not this infant. Trump is monstrous, and I hope the country is waking up to him, but 74 million people voted for him before.
What a wonderful way to start my morning. Thank you Robert for continuing to document Trump’s decline. Keep on digging, Trump! And for goodness sakes, keep on talking!
Thank you also for sharing your beautiful astronomy photographs and mini tutorials. They help to remind us that we are all part of something breathtaking.
How beautifully expressed, Mark, of Robert sharing "beautiful astronomy photographs and mini tutorials." And how ... "they help to remind us that we are all part of something breathtaking."
I want to remember this, too.
I have always figured the NYT would be sorry if they crossed him if and when he became president. Looks like the deadline for feeling sorry has moved up.
A former classmate of mine lives in AZ and is an amateur photographer and took pictures of the rally and sent them to me. He said the energy and vibe was equal to a rock concert and most importantly everyone was smiling and happy. Additionally Walz gave a better speech than he did in Philadelphia. The reality going forward is Trump can’t match the energy of the Harris campaign and his attack and negativity will stand out even more than it did before because it’s being compared to the joy of the Harris Walz campaign. Wait till we get to the convention. What Harris brings more than ever is the fact that we have a candidate that can beat Trump. It won’t be easy but it will happen.
The DNC will be phenomenal! The last time the public showed as much enthusiasm and support as the Harris/Walz team is already generating, the candidate WON!
I recommend Tom Nichols’ column “The Truth about Trump’s Press Conference” in yesterday’s Atlantic. He calls out the press for not reporting Trump’s deterioration accurately. The Atlantic, at least, is not committing the mistake of what it’s very smart editor Jeffrey Goldberg calls the “bias toward coherence” which, as Nichols explains, “leads to careful circumlocutions instead of stunned headlines.” According to Nichols, the accurate headlines for Trump’s press conference would have been “Donald Trump is not well. He is not stable. There’s something deeply wrong with him.” The Atlantic is a voice of sanity and a good antidote to the reporting in the NYT. Goldberg’s work hosting “Washington Week in Review” is also worth watching.
May you raise another $500k at your fund-raiser.
These great candidates: Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI), Senator Bob Casey (PA), Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), Senator Jon Tester (MT), Senator Jacky Rosen (NV), Congressman Colin Allred (TX), Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ), Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (MI), and Congressman Adam Schiff (CA) live in states with very different voting rules for voting and for applying for vote by mail (VBM) ballots.
It behooves your MC for the fund-raiser to make it clear that some states have (A) purged voters from the voting rolls without due notice, sometimes because they didn't vote in the past election (B) passed new Voter ID laws and/or (C) new rules for applying for vote by mail ballots so I hope your election forum will include a reminder for all voters and unregistered voters to go to Vote.0rg and either register to vote there or check that they are registered and whether new voter ID laws or rules for VBM have been passed since 2020.
Early registering and applying for VBM will make a difference.
The Felon is, and always has been, a puffer fish. Much bigger in his own mind than in reality. His "same old (sh*t)show," to borrow Kamala's phrase, is stale and lie-infested. None of us trust a word that comes out of his mouth. Plus, he craves the adulation of his sycophantic followers like a drug. His lies become elaborate self-serving delusions that his cult lap up. So, we bring him down to baby-bully-size by calling him what he and all his MAGA-ites are: weird. The most powerful word of the year! It completely punctures their balloon. The puffer fish shrinks and slinks away. Poof!
Just read the quote below in todays Heather Cox Richardson’s letter.
Good for Kamala. The press has done so much in the service of democracy. But when they are silly and not doing their jobs, it is only right that Harris (and others) not give them the time of day. Looks to me that they blew it yesterday.
“Yesterday, after journalists had begun to complain that they did not have enough access to Harris, she came to them directly on the tarmac at the Detroit airport and asked, “What’cha got?” All but one of their questions were about Trump and his comments; the one question that was not about Trump came when a journalist asked when Harris would sit down for an interview.”