Charlottesville

[Burning Petard]

"The White House" issued a clarifiction [auto correct fought me on this one] for the statement fake-neutral statement read by POTUS. It was without attribution, just 'The Whitehouse' so according to the rules announced by the POTUS, it is fake.

Meanwhile, the CEO of Merck, Kenneth C. Frazier, resigned from the President's Council on Manufacturing--because ". . . . As CEO of Merck and as a matter of personal conscience, I feel a responsibility to take a stand against intolerance and extremism."

[Karl Popper gets lots of credit for his concept of falsification. I think much of that is to distract from his other more discomforting and also more important ideas.]

snailgate

[Big RR]

Meade--in referring to Trump after the sentence you stated "If he believes any of that" (note: I am presuming you meant to type "believes", but even if you meant "belies" I don't think it makes a difference), which I interpreted to mean any of the three previous examples of what you listed free speech as not encompassing. If that was not what you intended, I concede I misunderstood you, and if you meant "free speech does not include language used as incitement to violence, assault and homicide", we are in agreement, at least to the extent it incites such in the immediate future.

[BoSoxGal]

Well, I just learned that some of the same pukes are coming to Boston Saturday to hold a 'free speech' rally, with many of the same speakers who attended Charlottesville - though this group claims they aren't affiliated.

https://www.facebook.com/BostonFreeSpeech/

I read in the Herald that Mayor Walsh is exploring means to keep them from coming, but legally I don't think he can. So, I'm contemplating whether to join the counter-protest - but knowing Boston, I'm a little worried about what might happen here.

It's sickening what is happening in this country right now.

[Lord Jim]

Talk about political tin-ear timing...

This was released yesterday:





Yes President Trump...

Do your job...

[Lord Jim]

Trump did manage to find the time to issue a swift denunciation of somebody this morning...

The Merck CEO who quit his advisory council in protest over Trump's reaction the Charlottesville attack:

Trump Attacks Merck Chief Kenneth Frazier for Quitting Advisory Panel

President Trump is facing heated criticism over not publicly condemning white nationalists for inciting this weekend’s bloody confrontation in Charlottesville, Va., but on Monday he criticized the head of Merck pharmaceuticals for quitting a federal panel in protest of Mr. Trump’s equivocal response to the violence.

Merck’s chief executive, Kenneth C. Frazier, resigned from the president’s American Manufacturing Council on Monday, saying he objected to the president’s statement on Saturday blaming violence that left one woman dead on “many sides.”

“America’s leaders must honor our fundamental views by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal,” Mr. Frazier said in a tweet announcing he was stepping down from the panel. Mr. Frazier is one of just a handful of black chief executives of a Fortune 500 company.

Less than hour later, Mr. Trump, responded on social media as he departed his golf resort in Bedminster, N.J., for a day trip back to Washington.

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump

Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council,he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!
5:54 AM - Aug 14, 2017

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/us/p ... otest.html

ETA:

It looks like Trump is finally giving in to the pressure, and will be out to say something soon...

I'm sure it will be gracious, poignant and sincere...And that he'll follow it up on Twitter...

[ex-khobar Andy]

I followed up on Guin's link. I randomly selected one Joe Biggs to look up. Never heard of him. Found his Twitter feed.

Quote. "David dukes (sic) is a leftist puppet." OK, that tells me what I need to know.

[Sue U]

Well, I just learned that some of the same pukes are coming to Boston Saturday to hold a 'free speech' rally, with many of the same speakers who attended Charlottesville - though this group claims they aren't affiliated.

https://www.facebook.com/BostonFreeSpeech/

I read in the Herald that Mayor Walsh is exploring means to keep them from coming, but legally I don't think he can. So, I'm contemplating whether to join the counter-protest - but knowing Boston, I'm a little worried about what might happen here.

It's sickening what is happening in this country right now.

Apparently, what is fueling a good portion of the so-called "alt-right" is a rather pathetic need to see themselves as powerful men (and it is overwhelmingly men), because they harbor a deep sense of grievance and insecurity over their inability to make themselves attractive and form sexual relationships with women. (Hence all the "cucking" in their parlance.)

With this in mind, I would think the most effective counter-demonstration would heavily feature signs and banners saying things like "I See Why You Can't Get A Date," "Hot Chicks Won't Fuck Nazis" and "Sorry About Your Penis."

[BoSoxGal]

I'm off to Target for poster board!

[Sue U]

Also too, if I may quote the eloquence of Jello Biafra:

Nazi punks
Nazi punks
Nazi punks
Fuck off!

[RayThom]

Here's Lord Dampnut FINALLY condemning the hate groups that caused all the tragedy in Charlottesville over the weekend. Unfortunately, he had to praise himself prior to getting down to being presidential 2:45 minutes into the speech. You can see how pained he is trying to get the words out.

[Lord Jim]

he had to praise himself prior to getting down to being presidential 2:45 minutes into the speech.

With all the broadcast networks interrupting their programming to carry his statement, you didn't really think he'd pass on the opportunity to open with an infomercial about The Great Donald Trump, did you?

And yes, he looked like he'd rather be in an interview with Mika Brezinski and Megyn Kelly then standing up there hostage-like, reciting the statement he was given to read...

And he left out a few things, (he still couldn't get out the words "domestic terrorism", nor could he bring himself to say that he didn't want the support of racists...as many other Republicans have done...)

But that having been said, if he had managed to say what he did say today on Saturday, he could probably have saved himself a lot of grief....

But of course the delay in finally saying what he should have easily been able to say in the first place, has long been a part of the dog-whistle technique he employs...The delay is a wink-wink to the bigots that says : "Well, I have to say this, but you know how I really feel..."

And he's probably also happy to have the media focused on anything besides Russiagate...

[BoSoxGal]

Any President who needs 48 hours and a teleprompter to come up with a clear condemnation of racism, white supremacy and neo-Nazism isn't fit to serve - but then we already know that.

His words on Saturday were his true feelings - including his refusal to denounce the racist Nazi hate groups when asked directly by a reporter. He's a good little KKK'er at heart, just like his pappy.

[Big RR]

Personally, I don't think he has any views--he just mouths what he thinks will help him or what others tell him to say--and right now that is alt right racism because, face it, who else supports him or his presidency. The guy is an empty suit who doesn't have the guts to have an opinion or even a position on any issue. He's no more of a KKKer than he is one of the common men; not that this absolve him at all from the consequences of what he says--but then he never had to learn about consequences with daddy's fortune behind him.

[Sue U]

Donald Trump: "We all salute the same great flag."

He clearly hasn't been paying attention:











ETA:

In displaying flags of the Confederacy and Nazi Germany, these genius "patriots" demonstrate their allegiance to countries and ideologies that the United States of America actually fought wars to defeat, because their spread was so fundamentally incompatible with American values (also the values of most of the civilized world). The sheer anti-Americanism of the "alt-right" should make it impossible for Trump to say anything that sounds even remotely like we all have some shared love for America. What an American president should say is that those who believe in the promise of America should fight like hell to stamp out the "white nationalists" who despise our values and who would crush our freedoms if they were ever permitted to seize state power. These fascist, racist, antisemitic, misogynistic views have no place in American culture and are anathema to everything this nation stands for.

[Bicycle Bill]

From Newsweek:

President Donald Trump’s comments on dealing with protesters are coming back to haunt him after the violence that broke out Saturday at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.  The clashes between Nazis and counterprotesters left three people dead, including one anti-fascist demonstrator who was killed when a man rammed his car into the group she was with.

The president, whose initial statement about the rally was criticized for failing to mention racism, now finds comments he made about attacking protesters being revisited.  Throughout his election campaign, Trump appeared to encourage violence toward anti-Trump protesters who showed up at his rallies, telling crowds of people that protesters should be escorted out more roughly, and offering to pay the legal fees of any of his fans who attacked them.

"If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you?  Seriously, OK?  Just knock the hell... I promise you I will pay for the legal fees.  I promise, I promise," Trump said at an Iowa rally on February 1, 2016.  At another event, Trump suggested police should be more violent with people they removed from his rallies.  “You see, in the good old days, law enforcement acted a lot quicker than this,” Trump said at a rally in Oklahoma City (as reported by the New York Times) as security moved toward a protester.  “A lot quicker.  In the good old days, they’d rip him out of that seat so fast.  But today everyone is so politically correct.  Our country is going to hell — we’re being politically correct,” he added.

His comments are now being recalled in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, with Democratic U.S. Representative Maxine Walters tweeting on Monday: “Don't forget, Trump offered to pay legal fees for those who attacked protesters at his rallies.  Will he be making that same offer now?”  She added: “Trump defined himself during campaign.  He encouraged violence against protesters at rallies.  We should not be surprised.  #Charlottesville”

In a tweet from Vets Against Trump, the group referenced Republican legislation that protects drivers who run over protesters in their car. “After ‪#Charlottesville, remember that GOP lawmakers across the country have introduced bills to legalize hitting protesters with cars,” Vets Against Trump said.  The so-called 'common-sense legislation' protects drivers “exercising due care” from civil liability if they hit someone who is protesting and blocking traffic; it does not, however, apply to a person who intentionally runs into someone.

-"BB"-

[Jarlaxle]

that free speech includes anti-Semitic and racist language

Have to disagree with you there--that is the essence of free speech IMHO, as is anti-skinhead rhetoric or anything else. Assault and murder clearly are not free speech, nor is an incitement to immediate violence (nor shouting fir in a crowded theater for that matter); but saying unpopular things, however repugnant, is the essence of free speech, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I particularly wouldn't have the government making the call as to what sort of political speech is acceptable and what is not. Accept that and you'll soon lose any semblance of democracy. Which is why, IMHO, the ACLU weighed in on the sides of the white supremacists in holding the rally in the first place.

Spot on.

[Lord Jim]

Just watched a truly bizarre press conference from Donald Trump....(is there any other kind?)

I haven't been able to completely process it....

According to Trump, Donald Trump is a man who likes to speak carefully and wants to be sure of "the facts" before he says anything...

"Not a lot of people know that"

[ex-khobar Andy]

Trump:

He said that “before I make a statement, I like to know the facts.”

Would that that were true.

[Lord Jim]

It was a truly stunning performance...

A 20 minute promo for invoking the 25th Amendment...

[BoSoxGal]

I had the TV off today, just now saw a clip of his latest bizarro and disgusting performance.

We have a president acting as an apologist for Nazis, and equating those who fight Nazis with Nazis!


I have no more words. This man is entirely unfit to serve, and most shocking of all is that so many people can't see that.