Althouse: "Trump offers no moral leadership, seems to have no interest in unifying this nation. No evidence that the presidency has awakened his conscience in the least."

August 8, 2019

"Trump offers no moral leadership, seems to have no interest in unifying this nation. No evidence that the presidency has awakened his conscience in the least."

"Indeed, we have a president with a toxic tongue who has publicly and unapologetically embraced a political strategy of hate, racism and division."

Said Joe Biden, yesterday, quoted at The Hill, where I'm also seeing these responses from Trump:

1. "Watching Sleepy Joe Biden making a speech. Sooo Boring! The LameStream Media will die in the ratings and clicks with this guy. It will be over for them, not to mention the fact that our Country will do poorly with him. It will be one big crash, but at least China will be happy!"

2. "My critics are political people. They’re trying to make points. In many cases, they’re running for president and they’re very low in the polls."

To summarize: Biden looked for moral leadership and Trump said, hey, think about ratings, think about polls.

ADDED: In one way, Trump reinforced Biden's point. Trump isn't about finding what is true and good and leading the people to a higher ground. Trump is about entertainment. What's good TV? What polls well?

And that shows how, in another way, Trump undermines the idea that Trump is about "hate, racism and division." Trump is being exciting and interesting and entertaining. He's reacting to the response — positive and negative — that he gets from the crowds and from media and continually reprocessing the material to keep people interested and excited.

If it's hate, racism, and division — or something some people hear or pretend to hear as hate, racism, and division — it's because that's what he's learned excites and interests and entertains. He tries moral leadership too, but that's not heard and amplified. Not good ratings.

103 comments:

Jaq said...: "unapologetically embraced a political strategy of hate, racism and division.”

That should go in the dictionary next to projection.; 8/8/19, 5:47 AM
Rusty said...: The last person I'd take advice about moral leadership would be a democrat.; 8/8/19, 5:51 AM
wendybar said...: I call BS. Listen to the divisiveness coming out of BIDENS mouth. AND every other candidate. They are spewing hate and division while blaming Trump for doing the same. We aren't deaf.; 8/8/19, 5:53 AM
Jaq said...: Yes, Trump is leader of a “nation of shopkeepers” and Biden, like Mussolini, wants the kind of true greatness that only a unified nation with higher goals and a national purpose can achieve! Obama/Biden already invaded North Africa, so he is not shitting around when he re-engages this argument that has been kicking around at least since fascism took up the cudgels against liberal democracy.

Give me a nation of shopkeepers any day. Shopkeepers are not interested in foreign wars or restricting other people’s freedoms, or taking their money through burdensome taxation for hair brained projects that never pay off.; 8/8/19, 5:59 AM
rehajm said...: Yes, Biden and the left are doing the crybully thing. Bullies don’t like people who fight back...and who was it that said you have argue morality or patriotism when you have no other argument to make?; 8/8/19, 6:01 AM
Jaq said...: Talk about atavism! (I was, wasn’t I?) This is atavistic fascism reappearing once again, like teeth in a hen, in the Democrat Party. What was their fascistic slogan last time? “Stronger Together”? You can’t break a stick when it’s in a bundle, right Joe?; 8/8/19, 6:02 AM
rhhardin said...: A call for moral leadership isn't a call for moral leadership. It's a move that appeals to women.

The last thing you want is moral leadership anyway.; 8/8/19, 6:03 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: I've deliberately tuned this out.

I won't engage in a battle over toting up the martyrs.

I'm going to enjoy a nice, peaceful day of practice, gardening and riding my bicycle.

The grandkids are taking swimming lessons. They get a big kick out of it when I stop by to watch them.; 8/8/19, 6:05 AM
rhhardin said...: Trump isn't about finding what is true and good and leading the people to a higher ground

Zingers work by finding the truth. The mot juste effect.; 8/8/19, 6:05 AM
exhelodrvr1 said...: When has Trump come anywhere close to vilifying half the population, like Obama, Hillary, Biden, et al do routinely? Unfortunately, the Bush/Romney/McCain Republicans didn't push back against that rhetoric, and the Democrats started believing their own exaggerated comments. Now when someone is finally pushing back, they are shocked, shocked!!; 8/8/19, 6:07 AM
DavidD said...: I’m not sure the Democrats can claim to be trying to unify the country while at the same time disparaging anyone who disagrees with them.

“Agree to all our demands so we can be unified. Unification uber Alles.”; 8/8/19, 6:08 AM
David Begley said...: China Joe talking about moral leadership? This is rich coming from the guy who has been bribed by the Chinese.

Come on, Joe. Was it moral for the Obama-Biden Administration to spy on the Trump campaign and then try to overthrow the Trump Administration?

Joe Biden is a fucking asshole, an idiot and plagiarist to boot.; 8/8/19, 6:08 AM
Rick said...: It seems like just yesterday the left believed it was inappropriate to express morality through politics.; 8/8/19, 6:10 AM
Jaq said...: “Trump undermines the idea that Trump is about 'hate, racism and division.'"

He’s dealing with an opposition that turned the phrase “There are good people on both sides” into divisive politics.; 8/8/19, 6:11 AM
exhelodrvr1 said...: "Trump isn't about finding what is true and good and leading the people to a higher ground."
How so? You're taking the media's bait hook, line, and sinker. Prison reform? Policies toward Israel? Trying to get manufacturing back to the United States?
He does approach issues from a different perspective, but that hardly equates to not "leading the people to a higher ground."; 8/8/19, 6:12 AM
Retail Lawyer said...: Neal Kinnock should be my moral leader? OK then; 8/8/19, 6:12 AM
rhhardin said...: Don't forget who the entertainment is for. Soap opera women.

There's a parasitic news media on the right, based on reporting the latest outrage that the left is up to.

If the first disappeared so would the other.

There's no market for hard news.; 8/8/19, 6:12 AM
Jaq said...: I bet those frackers and coal miners in PA, and the steel workers, and heavy manufacturers across the midwest will be happy to sacrifice their jobs for a “higher purpose.” Joe’s a mortal lock to win back those states!; 8/8/19, 6:13 AM
rhhardin said...: Moral leadership, ideally, would hammer the difference between morality and moralism.; 8/8/19, 6:13 AM
Krumhorn said...: The key to understanding the libruls is that they cannot abide being challenged. When you occupy a plane of moral superiority, you must shriek about it and be as nasty as possible in making your point. They were happy to say the same about W and his dad. They said the same of Reagan. Their patrician restraint earned them nothing. But Trump fights back. He gives at least as good as he gets. That INFURIATES the lefties and his counterpunching has triggered them into foam-flecked hot-rage INSANITY.

...which appears to be a winning strategy.

- Krumhorn; 8/8/19, 6:14 AM
Breezy said...: “Come on, Joe. Was it moral for the Obama-Biden Administration to spy on the Trump campaign and then try to overthrow the Trump Administration? “

Yes - I believe Joe was in the room during that infamous early January 2017 mtg with Comey, Rice and others. Spare me.; 8/8/19, 6:22 AM
PluralThumb said...: Trump is the man.
Business and realestate.
Sorry he's moral compass is like my attention span, that of a gold fish.
You don't make money for America and England by bending over to every human's opposition.
Or maybe that is the answer.
So why make fun of a man that made rich of Ray Ben shades. No respect for the old.
' Feel the burn ! 'is only better without the literal fire ad too much yelling.
Cut Bernie some slack also. Thank you Lord !
I vote for Shouting Thomas as having the best post in this thread. No offense to trying to be the teacher's pet or others.

Hyper Links, I have yet to figure you out.

https://splinternews.com/republican-finally-gives-an-honest-answer-about-why-he-1837000423; 8/8/19, 6:22 AM
Ignatius Acton Chesterton OCD said...: Joe Biden is a silly person.; 8/8/19, 6:23 AM
Robert Cook said...: "Joe Biden is a silly person."

He is worse than a silly person. But his comments on Trump are absolutely correct.; 8/8/19, 6:34 AM
Comanche Voter said...: Moral leadership? From Joe "handsy" Biden? I think I will look elsewhere for my moral guidance.; 8/8/19, 6:36 AM
David Begley said...: I think America can unify around the notion that an idiot who is going senile should not be President.; 8/8/19, 6:37 AM
Matt Sablan said...: Considering no one has been put in chains yet, maybe Biden isn't on target.; 8/8/19, 6:39 AM
gadfly said...: In other words, Trump is all and only about Donald Trump - and the acquisition of wealth by any means, of course. Some of us get it.; 8/8/19, 6:41 AM
Jaq said...: "Some of us get it.”

That’s what deluded people always think.; 8/8/19, 6:42 AM
Jaq said...: "But his comments on Trump are absolutely correct.”

Said a guy who thinks that the communists have the right idea and you just need to overlook the bad parts because they want something better for the world. You can trust them! It’s coming any year now!; 8/8/19, 6:44 AM
Hagar said...: Joe Biden is talking crazy. Does he have Nicolle Wallace advising him?

But this is Joe Biden. He is an absolutely empty person with no ideas of is own. Somebody puts in a disk and it plays when prompted.; 8/8/19, 6:49 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: Biden isn't looking for moral leadership. He's trying to wring political advantage from the bodies of dead people. And how does his hateful, hysterical rhetoric unite anyone beyond deranged Democrats?; 8/8/19, 6:58 AM
Lloyd W. Robertson said...: Our mothers (sorry for the old-fashioned language) teach us to be polite. We expect people who run for office to be not only polite, but somehow edifying, even aspirational: we can do a better job of being our best selves. Now there is the added pressure of keeping up with progressive politics (I'm trying to avoid the cliche "political correctness). Maybe twenty years ago many of us told rude jokes, but now we know better. Politicians have an obligation to be as up to date as most of us, maybe even more up to date.

It's amazing that Trump does as well as he does while more or less refusing to play along. Sorry Mom, it really helps my business when I go around the neighbourhood bad-mouthing that guy. Our host is correct, Trump enjoys doing what plays well. I don't think he's any kind of racist, I don't think it's even fair to say he's willing to play Mussolini if that will win votes. I like Trump's jokes.; 8/8/19, 7:02 AM
tim maguire said...: To summarize: Biden looked for moral leadership and Trump said, hey, think about ratings, think about polls.

Yeah, no. Biden thinks he can gain in the polls by pretending to care about moral leadership. Trump points out (accurately) that Biden is full of crap.

This should get a civility bullshit tag.; 8/8/19, 7:07 AM
tim maguire said...: Robert Cook said...
"Joe Biden is a silly person."

He is worse than a silly person. But his comments on Trump are absolutely correct.

Trump has said and done all the right things to unify people, but his opponents aren't interested and aren't open. They are perfectly happy to lie about him, to misrepresent his words and deeds, and to put the most negative interpretation possible on everything he says.

And Trump knows exactly how to play them, which is why he will win. Enough of America IS unified for these people crying that Trump is a divider to sink into irrelevance.; 8/8/19, 7:13 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: Robert Cook lives and breathes to obsess over hate, racism and division.

It's you, Bobbie. You're our problem.

Quit pretending it's somebody else.; 8/8/19, 7:17 AM
David Begley said...: Practically every Dem candidate I have seen in Iowa said that he/she will unify America. Dead wrong, but it must poll well with Dem primary voters.; 8/8/19, 7:18 AM
Fernandinande said...: Joe Biden walks into a bar and the bartender leaves.; 8/8/19, 7:22 AM
Mattman26 said...: We will unify America with a cattle prod if necessary.

I love how Biden is tarring Trump with some of the worst personal failings imaginable, and Trump goes, “Bo-ring!”; 8/8/19, 7:25 AM
stlcdr said...: In one way, Trump reinforced Biden's point. Trump isn't about finding what is true and good and leading the people to a higher ground.

If you are looking for truth and goodness, then you should not be looking to politicians. Politicians also aren't leaders, they never were.; 8/8/19, 7:25 AM
Mattman26 said...: “Acquisition of wealth by any means?” I think that was Hillary.

Trump’s policies are certainly debatable, but he seems to be trying to improve the acquisition of wealth of American workers.; 8/8/19, 7:28 AM
Freder Frederson said...: And that shows how, in another way, Trump undermines the idea that Trump is about "hate, racism and division." Trump is being exciting and interesting and entertaining. He's reacting to the response — positive and negative — that he gets from the crowds and from media and continually reprocessing the material to keep people interested and excited.

And this is a positive attribute how?; 8/8/19, 7:39 AM
Otto said...: "Trump isn't about finding what is true and good and leading the people to a higher ground"
Always remember Ann voted fore Jill Stein and is a 60s liberal.; 8/8/19, 7:40 AM
gilbar said...: "Biden offers no moral leadership, seems to have no interest in unifying this nation. No evidence that his candidacy has awakened his conscience in the least."
fify!; 8/8/19, 7:42 AM
Ironclad said...: Moral Leadership? Really? I thought that morals meant you acted the same in the public sphere as you do in the private. Now that the FBI tapes on MLK have been outed we see that even the "great" have feet of clay (or in his case - much worse).

The only public person that I know that would meet the criteria was Fred Rodgers and sadly, I don't think he would have made a good politician - sometimes coarseness is needed in the real world.; 8/8/19, 7:44 AM
Bob Boyd said...: People on the conservative side don't look to politicians for moral leadership. That's not what they want from Trump. They look to their religious leaders for that.
What a fool's errand to look to a politician for moral leadership anyway, any politician.

I think that is one of the main reasons things are so divided. The Dems have adopted politics as a substitute religion. Being aligned with what the party says is how they determine who's good or bad including themselves. If your party is the good guys, then you can't accept anyone else being in office, because they are the bad guys.
Another problem with politics as religion is, the definition of what is moral and immoral is always changing and can always be changed. You can't keep up.; 8/8/19, 7:51 AM
Susan said...: The party of infanticide which also exploits human trafficking on the border to garner votes and a permanent underclass of serfs imagines they are our moral leaders.

Go whisper it in someone else's ear, Joe.; 8/8/19, 7:53 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Teh media lies. Teh left are corrupt.; 8/8/19, 7:56 AM
dreams said...: Joe Biden is old and dumb, getting older and dumber for all to see. It's time to dismiss and discard old dopey Joe.; 8/8/19, 7:58 AM
Francisco D said...: The same people who tried to make us believe that Brett Kavanaugh was a teenage rape gang leader are also trying to make us believe that Donald Trump is a white nationalist.

The reason they get so much support from Hollywood is that they live in a scripted, self-created fantasy world, not the real world. If I want fantasy, I will read Isaac Asimov.; 8/8/19, 8:02 AM
AllenS said...: Sorry, but Trump will never be able to unify people who hate him.; 8/8/19, 8:02 AM
Ceciliahere said...: I came home yesterday exhausted dealing with Home Depot. I put on TV and closed my eyes to rest. Too much yelling and screaming on all channels, so I kept clicking with my eyes shut until I landed on a soft spoken calming voice that instantly relaxed me. I started to doze off for a while, and then opened my eyes to see who was talking...Sleepy Joe! Works for me.; 8/8/19, 8:03 AM
Lurker21 said...: People are cynical about politicians and political rhetoric. They've heard it all and know it isn't sincere. And it doesn't unite us - it takes a common external enemy to do that. Politicians aren't going to unite us because they all have made some "deplorables," or "bitter clingers," or "47%" remark during their campaigns that only irritates half the country. Divisiveness is inescapably at the heart of politics, and yet, even leaders who are regarded as divisive can be unifiers when the occasion arises.

Because people are cynical about politicians and their promises, many have turned to Trump. His critics see this as a dangerous acceptance of demagoguery and a move towards one-man rule, but I think you're right. Trump isn't about centralizing power. What he wants is attention. I'm not saying that he may not have beliefs and values. It's just that he's from the entertainment world and power isn't his chief focus on life. Policy also has to share his attention with concern for ratings and the desire to be in the spotlight. It's not what the country was used to, but it's not totalitarian.

Explicit talk about unifying the country is taken as so much bs from politicians, because we know that they got where they are by playing on the divisions in the country. The idea of a country striding forward in one direction behind its leaders can also have an ominous sound to it. I don't see a totalitarian danger there either, but the politician as unifier isn't necessarily better than one who admits that divisions exist and tries to work within their constraints.; 8/8/19, 8:07 AM
narciso said...: Like when he allied himself with eastland and helms; 8/8/19, 8:09 AM
Leland said...: Morality is about right and wrong. It isn't the question of whether Trump is moral or not; it is whether his morals are the same as the Democrats. Trump understands this and so does his supporters. When Biden talks about embracing a strategy of hate; Trump supporters look at the people being assaulted for being Republican and daring to have a meal in public or just read about Antifa. When Biden talks about embracing a strategy of racism; Trumps supporters look at Democrats calling anyone who voted for Trump "White Supremacists" and then look at Antifa mugshots. When Biden talks about embracing a strategy of division; Trump supporters wait for the backlash for Rep. Pressley statements about not needing brown people without brown voices or black people without black voices. There is a party identifying people by color and then assuming they should all behave a certain way. That party is not Republican. Trump makes this point, and when he does and the Democrats howl in rage; his supporters know he hit home. That's why Trump's approval numbers are going up.; 8/8/19, 8:12 AM
Big Mike said...: I certainly hope Sleepy Joe isn't trying to offer himself as an example of moral leadership. Not long ago wasn't he bragging -- bragging! -- about using the threat of withholding US foreign aid to the Ukraine to shut down an investigation into illegal activities on the part of his son and his son's cronies? Why yes he did.; 8/8/19, 8:36 AM
Big Mike said...: Nothing says "we want to unite all Americans" like producing a movie that depicts wealthy members of the left-wing elite rounding up deplorable Trump supporters to hunt down for sport. Trailer here.; 8/8/19, 8:41 AM
narciso said...: Apparently soros was deep in this mess, surprise, he had his designs on the Ukrainian govt; 8/8/19, 8:41 AM
Michael K said...: When that movie about hunting and killing Trump supporters comes out next month, that will bring the country together.

At least half of it,; 8/8/19, 8:45 AM
Static Ping said...: I do not remember the Obama/Biden ticket being especially uniting. In fact they went out of their way to be cruel whenever possible. The part where they forced nuns to buy birth control was especially malicious.

At least Obama had the reputation, even if it was not warranted, of being very smart. Biden is dumb Obama.; 8/8/19, 9:00 AM
JAORE said...: "The party of infanticide which also exploits human trafficking on the border to garner votes and a permanent underclass of serfs imagines they are our moral leaders."

Brava.; 8/8/19, 9:12 AM
Jaq said...: I don’t see Trump getting us entangled in foreign military adventures. Iran tried its best to gin up a war, probably to drive up the price of oil, but Trump declined.

Obama Biden poured gasoline on the civil war in Syria and invaded Libya. How many refugees did those military adventures create? But Cookie would rather see wars started by Democrats than suffer the idignity of a Republican in office who is an actual peace monger.

Trump says “Let’s talk. If you want a war with me though, I won’t hold back, my suggestion is that we talk about it some more.” Talk softly about your big stick.; 8/8/19, 9:20 AM
Pianoman said...: Oh, so now the Left wants to "unify the nation"?

Funny, they sure don't act that way.

I saw the blip about Frank Whatever-His-Name going on about how 8-Aug is some kind of Nazi holiday or something, and that this is Proof That Trump Is Worse Than Hitler (TM).

"Unifying the nation", indeed.; 8/8/19, 9:22 AM
Oso Negro said...: "If it's hate, racism, and division — or something some people hear or pretend to hear as hate, racism, and division — it's because that's what he's learned excites and interests and entertains."

That sentence offers a fair amount of air cover for the people who believe that preferring one's own culture to that of another is necessarily "racist" or "divisive." Trump loves America and American culture, and isn't going to shut up about it. If you are a person who has spent most of her life in a city or workplace that finds that sort of thing to be lowbrow at best, and fascistic at worst, I suppose you are doing fairly well to keep an open mind about Trump. People don't get tired of hearing the same old song, if it's a song they love. The Rolling Stones peaked creatively in 1971, but they will sell out their concerts as long as they can show up.; 8/8/19, 9:25 AM
GRW3 said...: They're still all wrapped around the axle because he won't give them any opportunity to criticize him without responding in kind. Lots or hand wringing about his interactions yesterday with Dayton mayor and Ohio Senator and news media in general. No self awareness that about how they were blaming him for Dayton and ignoring that Dayton boy was a left wing prog, gun control advocate, Elizabeth Warren supporting, Antifa fanboy. Not a Trump supporter.; 8/8/19, 9:25 AM
Sammy Finkelman said...: I love how Biden is tarring Trump with some of the worst personal failings imaginable, and Trump goes, “Bo-ring!”

Trum wants people not to lisen to Biden and he says that rather than trying any kindof aresponse or denial.

Incidently, Biden said the neo-Nazis in Charlottesville said "Jews will replace us."

They actually said "Jews will not replace us"

Something Trump couldn't possibly agree with since all his grandchildren are either Jewish or have significant Jewish ancestry.

8/8/19, 7:25 AM; 8/8/19, 9:29 AM
Sammy Finkelman said...: @Big Mike. That sn't exactly what haopened. It ws the policy of the Obama Administration that that prosecutor was corrupt and should be dismissed. That's why Biden bragged about t. And his son wasn't under invesigation - the company hat had hored him was, I tink.; 8/8/19, 9:31 AM
Drago said...: Sexual assault lies destroyed.
Collusion lies destroyed.
Obstruction lies destroyed.
Racism lies falling completely flat.

I guess white supremacy lies were the next inevitable lefty/marxist/dem/LLR-left step.

I wonder what comes next?

I also wonder if the dem/lefties responsible for planting hoax "nazis" into Trump events in 2016 and attempting to plant "russian agents" into the Trump campaign are conjuring up ever more creative stunts for 2020?; 8/8/19, 9:44 AM
n.n said...: Obama spied, Clinton colluded, Biden obstructed...

Trump reacts to civil rights violations, including trials by press, violence perpetrated by [anti-] fascists, diversitists, and other disruptions.

Biden lost his religion and converted to Pro-Choice.; 8/8/19, 9:46 AM
Mattman26 said...: By the way, who is looking for a president to lead him or her to a higher moral ground? I bet approximately nobody. But plenty are looking for a president to lead those other benighted fools to one.; 8/8/19, 9:51 AM
bagoh20 said...: Show me were Trump ever said anything as divisive as what the left is spewing from every mouth out there every day for 3 years now.

If he sang Kumbaya on national television with a group of Black Hispanic transgender abortionists, they would call it "divisive", and of course "racist".; 8/8/19, 9:52 AM
bagoh20 said...: I hope when the debates happen that Trump reminds everyone what his opponent has said about him and his supporters. No matter which Democrat it is, he has tons of examples that are worse than anything he has ever said, and he can always point to the fact that they attacked first in every case.; 8/8/19, 9:55 AM
Michael K said...: Incidently, Biden said the neo-Nazis in Charlottesville said "Jews will replace us."

They actually said "Jews will not replace us"

Something Trump couldn't possibly agree with since all his grandchildren are either Jewish or have significant Jewish ancestry.

This is one more leftist lie. Watch the video., These are young white men chanting "YOU will not replace us ," in response to all the abuse directed at men, especially white men.; 8/8/19, 10:09 AM
Michael K said...: Then next big thing, I suspect, is that Trump will get the troops out of Afghanistan.

That will cause a burst of warmongering by Democrats.

The Taliban said it’s nearing a peace deal with the U.S. to bring an end to the foreign military presence in Afghanistan, though it ruled out a halt to hostilities for now.

“We are getting close,” Mohammad Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban’s Doha-based political office, said by phone on Thursday. If the U.S. makes “a reasonable and convincing proposal, the peace agreement will be concluded soon.”

The fundamentalist Islamic movement and the U.S. are due to resume negotiations soon in the Qatari capital after adjourning their seventh round of meetings earlier this month. U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani agreed Wednesday in a phone call that “now is the time to accelerate efforts to reach a negotiated end to the war,” according to a State Department statement.

I thought we should have been out of there ten years ago.

This is ridiculous. Pakistan is protecting the enemy and our troops are restricted to idiotic limits, such as warning hostile villages before attacks. We should leave.

Then, if things deteriorate, Pakistan may become the target instead of Afghanistan.; 8/8/19, 10:17 AM
Fen said...: The same people who tried to make us believe that Brett Kavanaugh was a teenage rape gang leader are also trying to make us believe that Donald Trump is a white nationalist.

I still remember an article done on open carry at Tea Party rallies. The media cropped a close-up photo of a handgun displayed on some man's belt. Why? Because the man was black and he destroyed the media's "racist tea party" narrative.; 8/8/19, 11:18 AM
Fen said...: It's our own damn fault, because we still treat the likes of CNN and the NYTs as legitimate brokers of information. It's like we whine about the latest lie from the fish-mongerers wife, but we still flock to her corner every morning to listen to her latest gossip.; 8/8/19, 11:19 AM
policraticus said...: I keep looking for the hate and malevolence in Trump, but I just can't seem to find it. I'd appreciate some citations. He is gross, he is intemperate, he is not interested in appealing to the sensibilities of his opponents, that is for sure, but is this the same thing as being hateful, racist, bigoted and inciting violence?

Donald Trump could say, "I believe all people are free, equal and are endowed by God with a set of inalienable rights, among which are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness," and the headlines the next day would be, "EXPERTS FEAR TRUMP WANTS THEOCRACY, CITES "GOD" AS AUTHOR OF ALL RIGHTS."; 8/8/19, 11:52 AM
Unknown said...: Democratic ideas about 'tolerance' have advanced the narrative that morals are unique to each and every individual. I don't know why the electorate doesn't care about the morality of it's leadership, but it's pretty clear America does not consider morality a prerequisite for being a national leader. (I suspect and) it's tempting to say that these two things are linked. Given these demonstrable truths, it is weird to see a Dem condemning a lack of moral leadership. Is he trying to appeal to moral Americans (who overwhelmingly think abortion is killing babes)?; 8/8/19, 11:55 AM
narciso said...: well denzel, heh, I only run into cnn here, and switching between channels on pluto tv,; 8/8/19, 12:42 PM
LA_Bob said...: Robert Cook said, ""Joe Biden is a silly person."

He is worse than a silly person. But his comments on Trump are absolutely correct."

Mmmmmmmmmmmm, no.

Regarding Charlottesville, Trump said there were very fine people on both sides of the Confederate statues debate. Biden campaigns on the falsehood that Trump called neo-Nazis "very fine people". He did not. Quite the opposite.

I think Althouse's comments on Trump are much more correct. Yes, Trump plays games -- lots of them. But he is more uplifting than Joe Biden.; 8/8/19, 1:01 PM
Jupiter said...: Michael K said...
"When that movie about hunting and killing Trump supporters comes out next month, that will bring the country together."

That's an interesting situation. I have watched the trailer, and it is apparent that the "deplorables" being hunted are the Good Guys, and the "elites" hunting them are the bad guys. It ends with the "deplorable" blonde babe in a death match with the "elite" brunette criminal mastermind, and I'm pretty sure the blonde wins.

It's weird seeing all my fellow deplorables get this so wrong, thinking it's a Leftie fantasy of killing us. It's actually a Kids-in-the-Woods horror movie playing off our "They're Coming For Us" paranoia. I can't imagine how this got made in Hollywood.; 8/8/19, 1:14 PM
Calypso Facto said...: Dems, who spent the '90s telling us that morality was irrelevant to the Presidency and spent the 2000's cautioning us against Presidential Christian moralizing, now suddenly advocate moral leadership from the Oval Office? Please.; 8/8/19, 1:17 PM
Jim at said...: You'd think after awhile, they might figure out why Trump won.

I'm now of the belief they don't want to figure out why Trump won.; 8/8/19, 1:19 PM
Jim at said...: Trump is all and only about Donald Trump - and the acquisition of wealth by any means, of course.

Well, that would certainly explain why he's donated all of his Presidential salary to various causes since he took office. Thanks for the clarification.; 8/8/19, 1:26 PM
Jupiter said...: Shouting Thomas said...
"Robert Cook lives and breathes to obsess over hate, racism and division."

I think you've got Cookie confused with a typical Commie, but he's not. Cookie's schtick is to know exactly what's wrong with everything on Earth, with a special emphasis on the United States of America. Cookie is never for anything, not even The Revolution. That way, Cookie never has to play defense.; 8/8/19, 1:36 PM
narciso said...: I don't think so, it's by Jason blum, who was behind paranoia fests the purge and get out, and damon lindelof who is making watchmen even more insufferable,; 8/8/19, 1:46 PM
narciso said...: another producer is perfect world pictures, which was behind black klannsman and us, I think they are too woke to turn the tables,; 8/8/19, 1:50 PM
Bilwick said...: "Trump is all and only about Donald Trump - and the acquisition of wealth by any means, of course."

Maybe; but it reminds me of David Friedman's classic aphorism: "Greedy capitalists make lots of money. Virtuous 'liberals' steal it."; 8/8/19, 1:58 PM
Bilwick said...: "Liberals" whose philosophy is coercive and whose basic socioeconomic policy is legalized looting and pocket-picking are in no position to lecture other people on morality.; 8/8/19, 2:01 PM
JaimeRoberto said...: A 60/40 election would be a blowout, but you'd still have 40% of the people in opposition. How is "unity" any kind of realistic goal? Maybe this needs a "unity bullshit" tag.; 8/8/19, 2:32 PM
Jupiter said...: Bilwick said...
"Liberals" whose philosophy is coercive and whose basic socioeconomic policy is legalized looting and pocket-picking are in no position to lecture other people on morality.

It is interesting, that capitalism begins from the idea that people are essentially selfish, and devises a system in which we willingly serve others in the service of that selfishness, while socialism begins with the idea that people are essentially generous, and builds an impoverished society of slaves with death camps for those who resist.; 8/8/19, 2:38 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The same people who tried to make us believe that Brett Kavanaugh was a teenage rape gang leader are also trying to make us believe that Donald Trump is a white nationalist.

Yes. The media.

Lifted.; 8/8/19, 3:03 PM
jim said...: Trump is about psychosis. You don't have to admit it, but you see it.; 8/8/19, 3:04 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The radical left and our dishonest press are about psychosis. After Mueller fell apart, You don't have to admit it, but you see it.

Fixed.; 8/8/19, 3:09 PM
Bilwick said...: "Trump is about psychosis. You don't have to admit it, but you see it." I'd admit it if I saw it but I don't. Hillary seemed more of a psycho to me.; 8/8/19, 3:22 PM
jim said...: She might be, but she's not in power.

Latest example for Trump is his "performance" on Wednesday, hard to miss that.; 8/8/19, 3:40 PM
rcocean said...: Hate-filled Trump and his trashy supporters are DIVIDING THE COUNTRY. Elect Me - Joe Biden and I will bring us together.

Biden lied about Charlotsville. He's threatened to beat up Trump several times. He's called trump and his voters racists, bigots, white supremacists, George Wallace supporters, Mexican haters, Xenophobes, bigots, etc.

Like all the MSM and other D candidates his claim of "Moral Leadership" is Bullshit.; 8/8/19, 5:02 PM
rcocean said...: I heard a local radio station interview one of the Left-wing "survivors" of Charlottsville. He recounts - the night before the violence - seeing "Hundreds" of torch bearing neo-nazi's - "covering" the hillside as far as the eye could see - chanting "Jews will not replace us".

He still has nightmares over it. His story had everything except Leni Refinstahl and Die Fahne Hoch".; 8/8/19, 5:07 PM
rcocean said...: If John Lewis could hear the Tea Party publicly call him Nigger, without any camera or audio device picking it up, I suppose a Lefty could hear "Hundreds" of Neo-Nazis chant "Jews will not replace us" without any camera or audio picking it up.

I mean, its possible.; 8/8/19, 5:10 PM
Michael K said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/8/19, 6:10 PM
Ken B said...: Biden shouted the “good people” lie. That is the most divisive and poisonous lie in American politics in years, certainly since “hands up don’t shoot”. He did it knowingly. The last thing Biden should talk about is moral leadership.; 8/8/19, 8:21 PM
Brad said...: Biden complaining that Trump has no interest in unifying is a joke. Him, and the rest of his party, have been hellbent upon dividing us since Trump was elected, rejecting the very idea that Trump had been elected. They don't attack Trump's ideas, they attack him personally, calling him - AND ANYONE WHO SAYS ANYTHING SUPPORTIVE OF HIM, OR HIS PROGRAM - "racist, sexist, bigot, blah blah blah"

Biden & the Dems have been hellbent on keeping people at each other's throats since election day 2016. When Trump does something outrageous - and he does plenty - Biden & the Dems act as if the name of the game is "Hold my Beer."; 8/8/19, 8:27 PM
DEEBEE said...: For the past three years the losers have been throwing a tantrum. And the refrain always is that Trump is doing nothing to unite us. Well act like you lost the election. Act like he is THE president, if not yours. Then perhaps a little bone can be thrown your way. Otherwise GFY; 8/9/19, 7:15 AM