Good luck with running the shame meters up. Trump was a superpower because he had no visceral response to shame. At this point, the only way to function in politics is to have no emotional response to accusations of any kind, from any direction or even targeted at associated innocents. This cannot be good.
The first rule of politics is there are no rules, Dr. Kling. Leftists are more ruthless- it is their inbuilt advantage- and the Right had better learn this soon because they, the Right, are on the brink of never winning another Presidential or Congressional election in the US.
As for the Arabella Group, they probably are violating the tax laws if the article is accurate about their political activities (I don't know the article is accurate), but the IRS is firmly in control of the Democrat Party, like they are in control of pretty much every agency based in the DC/Northern Virginia/Maryland area. I know for a fact, though, that were the Arabella Group supporting Republicans, the IRS would have been auditing them on a regular basis, and denying them tax free status of a non-profit. If you want to try something, make all charitable donations non-deductible and taxable at the recipient level (it won't work to make certain donations deductible/taxable while others are not).
2: If what you were doing were shouted from the rooftops, so that everyone knew knew who was responsible and understood what you were up to, your tactic would backfire."
I appreciate that the two signs are essentially the impartial spectator in execution. Chalk another one up for Adam Smith.
And then people tell us there is no conspiracy to drive us towards a particular form of global governance and elections aren’t rigged, involving anonymous, well funded, well organised, powerful entities and people in the shadows.
The only rules are laws. And laws are quite malleable. There is a legal principle called impartiality. That's why Lady Justice wears a blindfold. But today's left have judges and lawyers and staff within the legal system that doesn't feel obligated to be impartial.
What do you think of Bryan Caplan's assertion that he doesn't feel bound to follow laws. While some might say that no one is above the law, Bryan Caplan boasts of being above the law. Bryan Caplan is part of a political elite that plays dirty tricks and cheats to win and he's gleefully proud of that. Kling calls this "bare knuckle politics", Caplan calls it being a "righteous scofflaw".
Sure there are rules BUT - the Democrat deep state primarily enforces them against Republicans and often conspicuously does NOT enforce them against Democrats.
"Rule of Law" means same bad actions get same enforcement. But not today in the USA.
This year there have been dozens of stories of anti-Republican unequal enforcement of rules.
The $200 million bribe to the Clinton Foundation so that Obama & Clinton signed off on Russia buying up US uranium assets comes to mind after the billions in Dark Money are discussed.
It was Bush Derangement Syndrome before TDS, and could have been called Reagan DS. Pwerful Democrats, inspired by successful colleges who have long been discriminating against Republicans, want to make "being Republican" illegal.
The Reason article claiming both sides are at fault is false. The radical Democrats continue to increase the unjust and semi-illegal -- if the cops don't care, it's not "really illegal" -- actions to demonize and attempt to terrorize MAGA republicans. Called out by the US President as domestic terrorists, for opposing terrible Democrat policies.
If the political status quo is deeply corrupt, then seeking the more "moderate" candidate may simply be a way of bolstering it and derailing needed change. Many Democrats in 2016 were eager that President Trump be the nominee since they thought him too "extreme" to win. Many voters have become disillusioned with the establishment which comprehends both Democrats and "moderate" Republicans. Progressives regard this as a "threat to democracy." I don't think that word means what they have in mind.
This seems like it's probably pretty different from those slimy fake ads for MAGA candidates, and not as bad. Reminds me of accusations from back in the day that the Tea Party wasn't a real grassroots movement. It's easy to make legitimate activism look like astroturfing just because it attracts funding.
The super pac kind of thing you’re pointing out doesn’t seem of a different kind, just bigger than previous ones.
Seems akin to me to financial firms effectively outgrowing any ability to regulate them.
Good luck with running the shame meters up. Trump was a superpower because he had no visceral response to shame. At this point, the only way to function in politics is to have no emotional response to accusations of any kind, from any direction or even targeted at associated innocents. This cannot be good.
The first rule of politics is there are no rules, Dr. Kling. Leftists are more ruthless- it is their inbuilt advantage- and the Right had better learn this soon because they, the Right, are on the brink of never winning another Presidential or Congressional election in the US.
As for the Arabella Group, they probably are violating the tax laws if the article is accurate about their political activities (I don't know the article is accurate), but the IRS is firmly in control of the Democrat Party, like they are in control of pretty much every agency based in the DC/Northern Virginia/Maryland area. I know for a fact, though, that were the Arabella Group supporting Republicans, the IRS would have been auditing them on a regular basis, and denying them tax free status of a non-profit. If you want to try something, make all charitable donations non-deductible and taxable at the recipient level (it won't work to make certain donations deductible/taxable while others are not).
"1: If the other side did it, you would cry foul.
2: If what you were doing were shouted from the rooftops, so that everyone knew knew who was responsible and understood what you were up to, your tactic would backfire."
I appreciate that the two signs are essentially the impartial spectator in execution. Chalk another one up for Adam Smith.
And then people tell us there is no conspiracy to drive us towards a particular form of global governance and elections aren’t rigged, involving anonymous, well funded, well organised, powerful entities and people in the shadows.
Yet none dare admit who is behind it all, lest they be deleted!
"Are there no rules?"
The only rules are laws. And laws are quite malleable. There is a legal principle called impartiality. That's why Lady Justice wears a blindfold. But today's left have judges and lawyers and staff within the legal system that doesn't feel obligated to be impartial.
What do you think of Bryan Caplan's assertion that he doesn't feel bound to follow laws. While some might say that no one is above the law, Bryan Caplan boasts of being above the law. Bryan Caplan is part of a political elite that plays dirty tricks and cheats to win and he's gleefully proud of that. Kling calls this "bare knuckle politics", Caplan calls it being a "righteous scofflaw".
https://betonit.substack.com/p/the-final-freedom
Sure there are rules BUT - the Democrat deep state primarily enforces them against Republicans and often conspicuously does NOT enforce them against Democrats.
"Rule of Law" means same bad actions get same enforcement. But not today in the USA.
https://pjmedia.com/columns/paula-bolyard/2022/09/24/this-is-not-the-america-i-know-dozens-of-fbi-agents-raid-home-of-catholic-pro-life-activist-as-children-scream-in-terror-n1632019
This year there have been dozens of stories of anti-Republican unequal enforcement of rules.
The $200 million bribe to the Clinton Foundation so that Obama & Clinton signed off on Russia buying up US uranium assets comes to mind after the billions in Dark Money are discussed.
It was Bush Derangement Syndrome before TDS, and could have been called Reagan DS. Pwerful Democrats, inspired by successful colleges who have long been discriminating against Republicans, want to make "being Republican" illegal.
The Reason article claiming both sides are at fault is false. The radical Democrats continue to increase the unjust and semi-illegal -- if the cops don't care, it's not "really illegal" -- actions to demonize and attempt to terrorize MAGA republicans. Called out by the US President as domestic terrorists, for opposing terrible Democrat policies.
--
The USA needs reform of NGO / non-profits.
Your two rules for underhanded tactics also work for the new Iran nuclear deal.
Fun, I have no side. All sides seem corrupt to me.
<i>It would be nice if we could shame out of existence any organization that engages in such tactics.</i>
Once you convince yourself you're "saving democracy", what's to stop you?
If the political status quo is deeply corrupt, then seeking the more "moderate" candidate may simply be a way of bolstering it and derailing needed change. Many Democrats in 2016 were eager that President Trump be the nominee since they thought him too "extreme" to win. Many voters have become disillusioned with the establishment which comprehends both Democrats and "moderate" Republicans. Progressives regard this as a "threat to democracy." I don't think that word means what they have in mind.
Whenever I see an essay like this, this is what I link to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPqhm36sjVE
This seems like it's probably pretty different from those slimy fake ads for MAGA candidates, and not as bad. Reminds me of accusations from back in the day that the Tea Party wasn't a real grassroots movement. It's easy to make legitimate activism look like astroturfing just because it attracts funding.