What has worked for Dems, and so many who like it, is the
Democrat Demonization Strategy.
Take a Rep opponent, smear him or her with lies about how terrible they are as people, and thru this process of demonization, make it socially difficult for others to support or defend the ones being demonized. With those who are Deluded also believing they are morally superior in affirming the demonization.
Like the Nazis did against the Jews, and now so many Dems are doing against Israel, Bibi, and Jews.
As Dem media does against the very imperfect Trump, yet Arnold Kling repeats the criticism as if it true and unique, rather than true about all successful politicians.
This Demonization Strategy was used against Bush (literally Hitler) and mislabeled Bush Derangement Syndrome, and now Trump DS.
People like to hate, and like to demonize, which is why this anti-rational Demonization Strategy works so well. With thinkers finding, in the marketplace of rationalizations, lots of reasons to accept and support the demonization.
Kling offers zero arguments, much less evidence, that Trump is more narcissistic or more dishonest than Biden, HR Clinton, Obama, or Bill Clinton. On the policies Trump proposes, especially immigration, Trump is more honest than Harris or any other recent Dem candidate.
Loyalty: All true, but understandable considering his time in office. He was lied to, slow rolled and so on. Loyalty is in short supply in D.C. And it is a great attribute when well aspected.
Great column. Your clear-headedness is in short supply.
TIME magazine published an article stating specifically how the election had been rigged.
joe r biden has been a nasty piece of work since 1972. just del corp bagman, as vp bought by chinoise and ukes. meanwhile orangemanbad merely did sketchy real estate deals for which he might be on the hook.
“‘None of the above’ has been polling very well for many years, and the Democrats are finally putting it on the ballot.”
Sorry, this is not true. Dems are doing what they have done for years, which is hiding their leftism from the voters in the months leading up to the election.
This is not different from the recent past, even if it’s a bit more extreme the lengths to which the *media* is going to cover up Kamala’s spoken in public very leftist policy positions. They are in fact quite easy to find if you just look.
This is the 2nd time in a row you have failed to point out that the media is complicit. But where you had a bit of a leg to stand on when it came to your prior post (Biden’s entourage - which *includes* Kamala Harris - hiding his lack of mental acuity from the American people), in this case the media is much more than 50% responsible here.
The other day I was reminded of this quote from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
“The President...is very much a figurehead — he wields no real power whatsoever. He is apparently chosen by the government, but the qualities he is required to display are not those of leadership but those of finely judged outrage. For this reason the President is always a controversial choice, always an infuriating but fascinating character. His job is not to wield power but to draw attention away from it....only six [people] know whence ultimate power is wielded."
ps. My government lawyer friend from a top 20 school who is calm and rational said that more than one member of the media were saying Trump may not have been shot (hit) at all. We are in serious trouble if we think what we all saw is an example of Oscar-worthy acting. Very depressing if this is where we are.
"As the clock ticks down toward election day, she has not defined her mission or declared a sense of purpose for her candidacy."
Clearly you haven't seen her ads. She's going to fix the problem faced by middle class America. And restore a woman's right to choose.
Given how little I like Trump, it surprises me that ending support of Ukraine might be my biggest complaint. Killing TPP would have been the biggest in 2016 except Hillary turned against it too.
She's going to fix the problem faced by middle class America alright, good and hard -- by getting rid of it. That's what the US establishment has been doing for decades, which is why Trump is so popular with the working class.
I don't think politicians have been a significant force regarding the middle class plight and last time I didn't see Trump doing anything that made a difference but I agree much of the middle class has liked his message.
Regardless, my comment was meant with sarcasm. She says nothing of what she would do regarding policy.
Speaking of trashiness and vulgarity, is sleeping your way to the top, like Kamala did, considered just the accepted normal thing to do these days? You gotta give head to get ahead. It does seem like a very Democrat way of thinking.
Well, considering that's how Hillary made her way to the top of the Democratic ticket in 2016, it appears that it is a very Democrat way of thinking. Except that Bill had to go elsewhere for someone to 'give head.'
Walz seems a lot like Biden, though younger. Probably similar intelligence. No thinker (not that he's unique there). A susceptibility to what the youngsters tell him, an insecurity and a desire to remain on the forefront of the left. This comports anyway with what numerous colleagues of both parties have described as the almost automaton-like shift in his politics when his constituency changed. One such quote from a GOPer ended with the word "wacko" though was no different in spirit than those from Democrats.
The difference is one of birth year.
With Biden, no matter how much of an airhead, or how greedy, or how much of an insecure narcissist - there was just something about his being from the Before Time that made you feel he wasn't going to do anything really terrible and irreversible. He wasn't even a Boomer! He was a Silenter! He had lived in a different world.
I kind of thought that about him. I admit the reality didn't turn out that way - but the events of the last couple months go a ways toward explaining my disappointment.
"I'm going down to Yasgur's farm
Think I'll join a rock n' roll band
I'll camp out on the land
And try and set my soul free"
A lovely song about the Woodstock festival some may recognize.
What has worked for Dems, and so many who like it, is the
Democrat Demonization Strategy.
Take a Rep opponent, smear him or her with lies about how terrible they are as people, and thru this process of demonization, make it socially difficult for others to support or defend the ones being demonized. With those who are Deluded also believing they are morally superior in affirming the demonization.
Like the Nazis did against the Jews, and now so many Dems are doing against Israel, Bibi, and Jews.
As Dem media does against the very imperfect Trump, yet Arnold Kling repeats the criticism as if it true and unique, rather than true about all successful politicians.
This Demonization Strategy was used against Bush (literally Hitler) and mislabeled Bush Derangement Syndrome, and now Trump DS.
People like to hate, and like to demonize, which is why this anti-rational Demonization Strategy works so well. With thinkers finding, in the marketplace of rationalizations, lots of reasons to accept and support the demonization.
Kling offers zero arguments, much less evidence, that Trump is more narcissistic or more dishonest than Biden, HR Clinton, Obama, or Bill Clinton. On the policies Trump proposes, especially immigration, Trump is more honest than Harris or any other recent Dem candidate.
It’s the durability of an alliteration.
Superband: The Traveling Wilburys...
Loyalty: All true, but understandable considering his time in office. He was lied to, slow rolled and so on. Loyalty is in short supply in D.C. And it is a great attribute when well aspected.
Great column. Your clear-headedness is in short supply.
TIME magazine published an article stating specifically how the election had been rigged.
joe r biden has been a nasty piece of work since 1972. just del corp bagman, as vp bought by chinoise and ukes. meanwhile orangemanbad merely did sketchy real estate deals for which he might be on the hook.
“‘None of the above’ has been polling very well for many years, and the Democrats are finally putting it on the ballot.”
Sorry, this is not true. Dems are doing what they have done for years, which is hiding their leftism from the voters in the months leading up to the election.
This is not different from the recent past, even if it’s a bit more extreme the lengths to which the *media* is going to cover up Kamala’s spoken in public very leftist policy positions. They are in fact quite easy to find if you just look.
This is the 2nd time in a row you have failed to point out that the media is complicit. But where you had a bit of a leg to stand on when it came to your prior post (Biden’s entourage - which *includes* Kamala Harris - hiding his lack of mental acuity from the American people), in this case the media is much more than 50% responsible here.
Related to Max Yasgur! Nice, Arnold! Always appreciated this clip of him at Woodstock https://youtu.be/2RDxHfvFQJI?si=uqMVoTXICTVdMygH
Great post Arnold. For anyone out there…in what way are Republicans weird and why is this important?
The other day I was reminded of this quote from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
“The President...is very much a figurehead — he wields no real power whatsoever. He is apparently chosen by the government, but the qualities he is required to display are not those of leadership but those of finely judged outrage. For this reason the President is always a controversial choice, always an infuriating but fascinating character. His job is not to wield power but to draw attention away from it....only six [people] know whence ultimate power is wielded."
ps. My government lawyer friend from a top 20 school who is calm and rational said that more than one member of the media were saying Trump may not have been shot (hit) at all. We are in serious trouble if we think what we all saw is an example of Oscar-worthy acting. Very depressing if this is where we are.
This isn’t new. But it is very well written.
"As the clock ticks down toward election day, she has not defined her mission or declared a sense of purpose for her candidacy."
Clearly you haven't seen her ads. She's going to fix the problem faced by middle class America. And restore a woman's right to choose.
Given how little I like Trump, it surprises me that ending support of Ukraine might be my biggest complaint. Killing TPP would have been the biggest in 2016 except Hillary turned against it too.
She's going to fix the problem faced by middle class America alright, good and hard -- by getting rid of it. That's what the US establishment has been doing for decades, which is why Trump is so popular with the working class.
I don't think politicians have been a significant force regarding the middle class plight and last time I didn't see Trump doing anything that made a difference but I agree much of the middle class has liked his message.
Regardless, my comment was meant with sarcasm. She says nothing of what she would do regarding policy.
the whole Trump/personal loyalty thing is left wing projection
this is how THEY see the world
if I'm wrong then come up with 3 people in trumps 1st adm that he fired for lack of loyalty
or loyalists he kept around even when they proved incompetent
Speaking of trashiness and vulgarity, is sleeping your way to the top, like Kamala did, considered just the accepted normal thing to do these days? You gotta give head to get ahead. It does seem like a very Democrat way of thinking.
Well, considering that's how Hillary made her way to the top of the Democratic ticket in 2016, it appears that it is a very Democrat way of thinking. Except that Bill had to go elsewhere for someone to 'give head.'
Don't like "Almost Cut My Hair?" Geez, Arnold, you going to be yelling "Kids, Get off my lawn" next? 🤣
Walz seems a lot like Biden, though younger. Probably similar intelligence. No thinker (not that he's unique there). A susceptibility to what the youngsters tell him, an insecurity and a desire to remain on the forefront of the left. This comports anyway with what numerous colleagues of both parties have described as the almost automaton-like shift in his politics when his constituency changed. One such quote from a GOPer ended with the word "wacko" though was no different in spirit than those from Democrats.
The difference is one of birth year.
With Biden, no matter how much of an airhead, or how greedy, or how much of an insecure narcissist - there was just something about his being from the Before Time that made you feel he wasn't going to do anything really terrible and irreversible. He wasn't even a Boomer! He was a Silenter! He had lived in a different world.
I kind of thought that about him. I admit the reality didn't turn out that way - but the events of the last couple months go a ways toward explaining my disappointment.
Wow, a bit of great trivia about your mom’s maiden name; Yasgur. I got a real kick out of that.