Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Felya]

How was caving not an option when that's exactly what they did? A handful of Democrats didn't cave, which still gave McConnell exactly what he and his caucus needed.

How? The same way a bug, can be a feature. Trump and Democrats thought they could shame republicans into going along with 2k. McConnell added the other two provisions that Trump asked for, then served it back to democrats. Who caved, when this was the whole point of the game?

Edit: Just to be clear... Democrats didn’t cave... they got out played.

Edit 2: Do you think most people understand what Section 230 entails, beyond being support for big tech? Do you think most people would consider a special council into the election, be worth 2k?

Edit 3: This is a misconception I keep pointing out. What you see now, is the norm under Mitch. This isn’t compromise by the democrats to go further right... it’s repeatedly getting owned, when trying symbolic gestures that go beyond encromentalism. It’s not that democrats are compromising... they are losing...

[Levelfive]

How? The same way a bug, can be a feature. Trump and Democrats thought they could shame republicans into going along with 2k. McConnell added the other two provisions that Trump asked for, then served it back to democrats. Who caved, when this was the whole point of the game?

Edit: Just to be clear... Democrats didn’t cave... they got out played.

There's no material difference between caving and getting "outplayed" here. It went something like this:

Dems: "Oho, we'll make you take an uncomfortable vote!"

McConnell: "Oho, we'll make YOU take an uncomfortable vote."

Dems: "Ok, you win."

They basically prevented Bernie from using Senate rules to Dems' advantage, like McConnell always does, and they didn't bother also involving themselves, as politicians, in politics. They got outplayed by caving.

[Felya]

There's no material difference between caving and getting "outplayed" here.

There is... it means they didn’t understand the game.

[Levelfive]

There is... it means they didn’t understand the game.

If you need a semantic win, I won't stand in your way.

[Felya]

If you need a semantic win, I won't stand in your way.

Way to be anti-semantic... noted...

[Levelfive]

Way to be anti-semantic... noted...

Did I laugh out loud? Yes. Yes, I did.

ETA: Damn you.

[Breccia]

Not that @Benggaul 's numbers haven't been whimsical and cheerful enough (gag) but I feel the need to add more Shit to the Show.

1) Depending on the exact source you use, the US hit a COVID death record the last two days. Well past 3,000 no matter which source you use.

2) Trunp's own testing czar admits in public the vaccine rollout could be going better. Incidentally, he also says Jan/Feb will be better. I'll remind everyone, Trump immediately took credit for unemployment dropping from 42% to 5% the very day he was inaugurated. Spicer, "the numbers weren't real", etc etc. I therefore say the same thing happens with the vaccine rollout and all Trump supporters are required to back my play. Oh, unless then can quote themselves disagreeing with the unemployment numbers Spicer thing. It's both or neither, rabid fanbase.

3) Biden's inauguration will include lights/bells for all those we've lost to COVID. Just putting it out there, but if he rings one bell per victim and 100 bells per second, by inauguruation, it'll take over an hour.

4) The UK mutant virus is now in California. Something something "airtight" something something "CHINA VIRUS CHINA VIRUS CHINA VIRUS"

California's medical structure is at the breaking point.

5) Biden is increasingly and more publicly upset by Trump's lack of transition, which in addition to Trump's lack of ability and lack of desire to help with the lethal outbreak he personally caused, is slowing down/stopping Biden from hitting the ground running as well.

Not COVID-related: Trump has suddenly changed plans and is returning to Washington today. Normally this wouldn't be a yuge deal: the President is on call 24/7/365. And we do have a lethal outbreak. So his return is not just the status quo, but arguably even good news for the country -- depending on if you think having Trump back at the helm helps or hurts.

*ahem*

However.

A bunch of people bought tickets to the Mar-a-lago New Year's party, ready to enter a packed crowd of maskless people, under the implication Trump was going to be there -- this is a nearly literal last-minute change. Trump has, once again, conned his own followers, lying to them to get their money. After decades of this happening and four years of it being front-page news worldwide, I have zero to negative sympathy for anyone buying such a ticket. Anyone who buys anything Trump sells is putting themselves in a situation where they could be throwing their own money away, they should know that ahead of time, and if not it's their fault for not paying attention. Happy fucking new year, gullible marks.

- - - Updated - - -

In addition to PolitiFact's Lie of the Year (downplaying COVID) they also posted a New Year's Eve-esque countdown of top ten most read fact checks of 2020.

Yell it with me!

TEN: Biden says WHO offered Trump COVID testing kits and Trump refused them. The offer was never made.

"Whoa, you're citing a Biden one?"

Well, he lied, so...yes. It'd be hypocritical if I didn"t. Besides, keep reading.

NINE: The USPS is losing money because they have to pay all their pensions forward.

Half-True.

EIGHT: Trump says he inherited a flawed COVID test from Obama.

COVID didn't exist under Obama.

SEVEN: Trump says Biden called the China travel "ban" racist.

Mostly False. Biden says Trump was just racist in general.

SIX: Trump says Obama left a bare stockpile of medical supplies.

False.

FIVE: Soros pays fake protestor actors.

False.

FOUR: A lie from someone I've never heard of about fatal police shootings of unarmed people.

THREE: The DNC removed 'Under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance.

No they didn't. And that shit was televised live.

TWO: Trump fired the pandemic response team and defunded the CDC

Overstated.

ONE: Hydroxyclhoroquine.

Happy New Lie!

As you can see from a quick browse, Trump is either responsible for, or agreed with, the majority of this list. Most of the rest were pushed by his supporters.

Now "most read fact checks" doesn't say anything other than popularity. Nobody here trusted hydroharleyquinn, even the Trump supporters who pretended to, until it was tested. Man, that one was dangerous.

[solinari6]

I thought the whole point of dems pushing the 2K$ was not to actually get people the money (that was a bonus). The point was to show Georgians that as long as Mitch McConnell rules the senate they will NEVER get any more stimulous money. And Mitch has proven them right. So there's the incentive that might push the dems in Georgia into the winners circle.

[Breccia]

I thought the whole point of dems pushing the 2K$ was not to actually get people the money (that was a bonus). The point was to show Georgians that as long as Mitch McConnell rules the senate they will NEVER get any more stimulous money. And Mitch has proven them right. So there's the incentive that might push the dems in Georgia into the winners circle.

The benefit of trying to do the right thing, believing that someone will try to stop you, is that either way you still win.

"Screw you, President Biden, we're going to fight tooth and nail for 5G infrastructure -- not run by the Chinese -- for every American!"
"Yeah, sounds good. Go for it. When you're done, I'll sign."
"Um...okay..."

- - - Updated - - -

Sen. Graham, long-time supporter of Trump, sides with him once again calling for a stand-alone $2,000 relief payment vote.

Meaning, both Graham and McConnell are on opposing sides of the same issue -- and both fighting for Trump.

And he said it on FOX News, just to drive that point home. Which is what I'm about to do with his wife.

- - - Updated - - -

On his way out the door, Trump slaps vindictive tariffs on the EU in the ongoing effort to lose as many trade wars as possible in a short amount of time.

[Gorsameth]

I disagree with your thoughts about Section 230. The results would be more than "MMO-C bans trolls for posting conspiracy theories" it would be "trolls chain-sue MMO-C for posts they disagree with, MMO-C shuts down forums entirely".

No, Democrats won't shut down social media just to call McConnell's bluff.

Nah, more likely Americans will simply be shut out while the rest keeps going as before.
Same way some sites closed themselves to Europeans when the GDPR was introduced.

[Breccia]

All Trump is doing is tanking his final days while giving Biden an easy way to make his first 100 look spectacular in comparison.

Except for pardons, yes. Biden can undo the tariffs instantly, for example.

- - - Updated - - -

Second Rep-elect, Florida Man this time, tests postive.

Hopefully she won't actually die of the disease she and her party have been chain-downplaying. If she lives, she might be a little less likely to call it a hoax.

[Belize]

If she lives, she might be a little less likely to call it a hoax.

Ooorrrrr, she'll say it was less bad than the flu, assuming she isn't hospitalized again.

[Forogil]

Ooorrrrr, she'll say it was less bad than the flu, assuming she isn't hospitalized again.

I'm not sure if you need the second part; as there are a number of stories of people in ICU-treatment calling covid a hoax.

[Belize]

I'm not sure if you need the second part; as there are a number of stories of people in ICU-treatment calling covid a hoax.

Well, it's hard to tweet/talk when you're intubated.

[AntiFascistVoter]

For anyone needing ideas for Halloween 2021!

The computer repair shop owner at the center of the Hunter Biden conspiracy continues to make his presence known on Fox News.



This guy just screams "I am reputable" and not "I hang out in 7-11 parking lots screaming at shoppers about how Joe Biden is possessed by communist demons."

He also hunts Lizard People on weekends.

[Belize]

For anyone needing ideas for Halloween 2021!

The computer repair shop owner at the center of the Hunter Biden conspiracy continues to make his presence known on Fox News.

[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eqk2veFXAAIgxSw?format=jpg&name=small[/

This guy just screams "I am reputable" and not "I hang out in 7-11 parking lots screaming at shoppers about how Joe Biden is possessed by communist demons."

He also hunts Lizard People on weekends.

Why is mr.clean dressed up like a leprechaun

[PhaelixWW]

I made it through about 45 seconds of this before I was overcome by the lies. Good luck to anyone that tries to watch the whole thing.

So many lies, I don't even know where to start....

Perhaps you were tripped up by the same line I was; I lost my willpower saving throw against the line "...and we built the Wall!" which just happened to be right at about 45 seconds.

[minteK917]

Wall construction to resume in 2025.

[AntiFascistVoter]

Why is mr.clean dressed up like a leprechaun

Ohhhh I'm stealing this idea for my next script spec.

Here's my pitch....
A post-apocalyptical dark comedy starring:
Joe Rogan (Mr. Clean)
Ben Shapiro (The leprechaun)

Basically a 2020 ripoff of Zombie Land, but they hunt Lizard People instead of zombies.
Rogan will set up all of the comedy beats with bad stoner jokes, and his quest for twinkies rare nootropics.
Shapiro will answer with nerdy non sequiturs. Have a boss fight against his inner demon, a six-foot clown dry vagina.

Anyone from Blumhouse ... call me!

[Belize]

Wall construction to resume in 2025.

I'd agree to a wall if it's the Trump kids in a chain-gang building it.