The Trump Supporters in my life are practicing serious rationalization again. :-( They seem stuck between stages 4 & 5 in Moose's Denial list. It seems they are now willing to admit that Trump is a Liar, but they want to prove that he is "normal" and that Biden is no different. So they send me proof that Biden Lies. To which I answer, yes he is a politician... :-)
The problem is that Trump:
- lies much more boldly (pants on fire)
- repeats lies after proven wrong
- never issues a correction or apology
The letter image below has some more discussion and web addresses.
15 comments:
"Both sides do it" is what is known as a common refrain. It's an off the shelf response to just about any evil. Fox News, back in the day when it mattered, used this argument constantly. Trump in his latest defense to impeachment has been sifting throught archives and databases for embarrassing things Democrats have said or done. The QAnon lady is equated to Ilhan. Like all really effective lies, it has grain of truth. Just as with larceny, there is a little Trump in all, or at least most of us. It helps to explain why con men have their appeal in popular culture. It's why the musical isn't called "Marian, The Librarian". Many of us, have deep in ourselves a desire to "Be like Donald". To be outrageous, amoral, and to get away with it.
--Hiram
On FB one reader blamed it on hate, I replied this way...
I disagree with the hate concept.
It seems to be very human for people to "hero" worship and "villain" attack.
These folk saw a man working to reduce regulation, stand up to China, end abortions, stop the flow of unapproved immigration, etc so they started to worship him.
And once people emotionally invest themselves in this way, they seem capable of over looking many things.
And then they only watch news and communicate with the like minded, so they are safely entrenched in their cult. 🙁
That is one of the things that impresses me about Jerry.
He at least makes the effort to check in occasionally.
Usually the folks on the right seem to avoid any discussions with me.
Where as more people on the Left are okay with dialogue that makes them uncomfortable.
Actually, I check in daily, only to have my intelligence (and more) insulted. In this case, I think Hiram has a salient point. "Both sides do it"-- the "tu quoque" logical fallacy-- is very popular here when Democrats are criticized, but seemingly taboo if the target is a Republican. As I always say, if it weren't for double standards, [modern] liberals would have no standards at all.
Remember, we left off the previous conversation with my asking if Joe Biden's many lies should have disqualified him from office?
And now, you seem to criticize Trump for doing great things for the country? And for people appreciating that? Please explain to me how such a viewpoint is justified by anything other that "hate"?
You wonder why "folks on the right seem to avoid any discussion" I think it is obvious. You will brook no other opinion.
Jerry,
Trump uttered False or Pants on Fire statements 43% of the time.
And he never issued corrections...
And worse yet he just kept stating them over and over...
Biden uttered False or Pants on Fire statements 20% of the time.
The reality is that there is no equivalence... Can you accept that?
Here is an interesting piece regarding Trump's lies.
Speaking of double standards...
I always wonder what you would be saying if a Democratic President had:
- increased spending, cut taxes and doubled our yearly deficits
- let COVID run rampant and kill a half million Americans. Way higher death rate than other developed countries.
- signed off on $3.9 Trillion in bailouts (all debt)
- called his election loss fraud, attacked state / local officials and asked people to fight against the government
I mean I see that Trump did some good things in large part because of McConnell and the Senate.
- he nominated a lot of judges and the Senate approved them
- he had appointees gut regs for better or worse
- he updated NAFTA and gave it a new acronym
- he applied a lot of tariffs for better or worse
- he turned away a lot of asylum seekers and cut the refugee numbers
I would say at best he mediocre, certainly not great.
"I would say at best he mediocre, certainly not great."
So, is that objective fact, or simply your unshakeable opinion? Is there any room in your universe for a DIFFERENT opinion? That's a rhetorical question, here.
Jerry,
I would love for you to document your opinion.
"Trump for doing great things for the country?"
I have just listed what I see as pros /cons...
Ironically history and common measures are going to put him near the bottom of Presidents.
- GDP fell
- Unemployment increased
- Deficits increased
- National Debt exploded
- 400,000+ deaths from a basic virus
According to historians Trump is the worst president ever.
Historical rankings of presidents of the United States
He may come up a little with time...
But he is never going to get out of the bottom quartile for the reasons I listed...
His absolute failure to control COVID trashed any chances he had of even being good...
Lots of good things happened on Trump's watch. Hundreds of millions Americans did not die. We went three years without a pandemic. The collapse of the economy was far from complete. Social Security checks went out on schedule. Health care was extended to all Americans who live in states where Republican governors couldn't thwart it. While the trade agreements he fought for were at least signed, if not enforced. Numerour judges were found who were open minded about the merits of Brown v. Board. No Congress people were kileed during Capitol riots during Mr. Trump's presidency. The list of good thing that happened in the last administration is long, and possibly endless.
--Hiram
Yes... I did not die of a massive coronary event... :-)
"I would love for you to document your opinion."
Challenge accepted. It is my opinion that Trump did some great things for this country. QED.
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