Donald Trump’s closing argument is that he can use a teleprompter. Not necessarily that the words he reads off the teleprompter are true or intelligent, just that he can say all of them out loud and in order. In the final days of this campaign, we have returned to where we began, with an odd fixation on whether this man who aspires to the presidency can avoid saying anything ignorant, bigoted, inscrutable, or otherwise disqualifying for an hour or so at a time, once or twice a day.
“In what many around him took as a hopeful sign heading into the final stretch of the campaign, the Republican presidential nominee did not turn to Twitter to vent his frustration, as he would have in the past,” reports Yahoo News’ Holly Bailey, a campaign vet. “Though he still regularly breaks from his prepared remarks—often to attack the ‘dishonest media’ to the delight of his supporters—Trump has been more pointed in making his case about why he should win the White House.”
Less than a week before election day, his aides consider it a matter of cardinal importance that Trump recede from the public spotlight as much as possible—he is “trying so hard to keep control,” as CNN’s Bash explained Wednesday night, “because when he becomes the story in the general election it tends to be bad for Donald Trump.”
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Everything we’ve seen over the past several months points to the fact that Clinton is at her strongest when she’s disintermediated, while Trump unvarnished is a walking murder-suicide. By leaving this contrast unstated, and saying nothing at all about its implications for the presidency, the media is failing those Americans who have a choice to make by November 8.
They are too young to vote, but old enough to follow the news. For teenage girls, this gender bomb of an election is happening just as they are starting to form their identities as young women.
Hillary Clinton has campaigned with a rah-rah message for girls: “Yes, you can be anything you want — even president.” Donald J. Trump’s message to girls has been more, well, complicated. What are girls taking away from the election? Are they inspired or repulsed? To get a sense, we took a national poll and went to two high schools, one in a liberal city and another in a conservative rural county, to talk to teenage girls.
Almost a quarter of girls age 14 to 17 say that Mrs. Clinton’s candidacy has made them more likely to seek positions of leadership, according to a national online Pollfish poll conducted for The New York Times.
But the more broadly heard message is negative: Nearly half the girls say Mr. Trump’s comments about women have affected the way they think about their bodies.
If you’re one of those people who’s still confused about who Trump supporters are, let me help: They are my high school classmates — people who seemed liberal to me back then. They are my cousins – you might call a few of them rednecks. They are my mother, my father, and probably three of my four siblings. And yes, they mostly hail from rural, Red states. And I love them all. They are salt of the earth, hard-working, mostly Christian people who would do anything for me, and probably you.
But my decision to post news stories about Trump unleashed a fury I have not seen in them before. My uncle began incessantly posting wrinkly-faced, Hillary-bashing memes and “stories” on my timeline. When he started attacking my bleeding-heart liberal daughter, I pulled the plug on our Facebook friendship.
What struck me about his timeline attack were his sources: Places like Patriots Reborn, ClashDaily.com, The American Patriot, Conservative News Today, John Q. Logic, ViralLiberty.com and LibertyWriters.
And then there’s my mom. She began rebutting my posts with her own, with sources like Minuteman Militia, FreedomDaily.com and the Conservative Tribune. Now I don’t think she’s a regular reader of these “publications,” but they fulfilled her need for return fire.
I pay attention to sources, because I’ve been a journalist covering all kinds of government for about 25 years. I know the source of information is crucial. If your source cannot be trusted, your story can’t be trusted.
And I think this, right here, is a big part of what has gotten Trump where he is. As the media landscape eroded with the arrival of the Internet, all kinds of questionable websites and “news outlets” have cropped up. FOX News paved the way with its “fair and balanced” (wink, wink) reporting – which my dad listens to non-stop and recites.
No longer do people just watch the evening news and read the daily newspaper to get their news; they can pick and choose whatever kind of news matches their opinion.
Which is why I don’t want to go home for Thanksgiving this year – for the first time in my life. We are not a family that dreads Thanksgiving. We are not a family who fights. We’re a family who loves each other truly, madly, deeply.
But I know my father won’t be able to restrain himself from talking politics, no matter who wins the election, and a battle will ensue. This election has exposed a huge divide between us: They don’t trust journalists like me anymore. And I don’t think we can turn back the clock to a time when they did. Not in my family, and not in America.
If you’re one of those people who’s still confused about who Trump supporters are, let me help: They are my high school classmates — people who seemed liberal to me back then. They are my cousins – you might call a few of them rednecks. They are my mother, my father, and probably three of my four siblings. And yes, they mostly hail from rural, Red states. And I love them all. They are salt of the earth, hard-working, mostly Christian people who would do anything for me, and probably you.
But my decision to post news stories about Trump unleashed a fury I have not seen in them before. My uncle began incessantly posting wrinkly-faced, Hillary-bashing memes and “stories” on my timeline. When he started attacking my bleeding-heart liberal daughter, I pulled the plug on our Facebook friendship.
What struck me about his timeline attack were his sources: Places like Patriots Reborn, ClashDaily.com, The American Patriot, Conservative News Today, John Q. Logic, ViralLiberty.com and LibertyWriters.
And then there’s my mom. She began rebutting my posts with her own, with sources like Minuteman Militia, FreedomDaily.com and the Conservative Tribune. Now I don’t think she’s a regular reader of these “publications,” but they fulfilled her need for return fire.
I pay attention to sources, because I’ve been a journalist covering all kinds of government for about 25 years. I know the source of information is crucial. If your source cannot be trusted, your story can’t be trusted.
And I think this, right here, is a big part of what has gotten Trump where he is. As the media landscape eroded with the arrival of the Internet, all kinds of questionable websites and “news outlets” have cropped up. FOX News paved the way with its “fair and balanced” (wink, wink) reporting – which my dad listens to non-stop and recites.
No longer do people just watch the evening news and read the daily newspaper to get their news; they can pick and choose whatever kind of news matches their opinion.
Which is why I don’t want to go home for Thanksgiving this year – for the first time in my life. We are not a family that dreads Thanksgiving. We are not a family who fights. We’re a family who loves each other truly, madly, deeply.
But I know my father won’t be able to restrain himself from talking politics, no matter who wins the election, and a battle will ensue. This election has exposed a huge divide between us: They don’t trust journalists like me anymore. And I don’t think we can turn back the clock to a time when they did. Not in my family, and not in America.
John H. Sununu at the Trump rally - "Bill was referring to Hillary when he said 'I did not have sex with that woman'".
Shout of "Execute Her" a little later on.
In other words just a regular Friday in Trumplandia.
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"When asked for comment about her candidacy, an official write-in candidate for US President in Maryland just asked me to be her running mate" - NBC reporter
This is a fantastic documentary. I only wish the film maker had dove deeper into he brain science behind the causes as it would really show the power of disinformation, fear and repetition on our brains. There is quite a bit of neuroscience research to backup the damage that over consumption of these sources of fearful information has on our brains. This documentary shows a real world example of the damage over consumption of these messages can have on our brains and bodies. Thanks for posting the link!
Trump wants to "Drain the Swap" and eliminate corruption. Chooses Chris Christie to head his transition team and select Trump's White House Staff. Today two of Christie's top aides from NJ convicted on federal charges. And remember Trump wanted Christie as VP but his kids talked him out of it.
He. Only. Hires. The. Best. People.
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
What strikes me as odd in this is that the anti-trump people are shocked at how anyone could support trump. The feeling is shock. Disbelief.
But the anti-Clinton people seem to actually HATE her as a person. And there are people who seem to have made it their life's purpose to destroy her chances. And some of those people are in high profile positions.
I suspect that we see another round of email or wikileak-style anti clinton documents over the weekend (most likely Sunday night) or Monday morning.
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"OOOOOOHHHHHHH those Russians" - Boney M
What strikes me as odd in this is that the anti-trump people are shocked at how anyone could support trump. The feeling is shock. Disbelief.
But the anti-Clinton people seem to actually HATE her as a person. And there are people who seem to have made it their life's purpose to destroy her chances. And some of those people are in high profile positions.
I suspect that we see another round of email or wikileak-style anti clinton documents over the weekend (most likely Sunday night) or Monday morning.
Probably. But I suspect it's tonight. It's getting a little late for that stuff.
Trump wants to "Drain the Swamp" and eliminate corruption.
Great use of language by the way, reminiscent of Rob Ford's "stop the gravy train!" Clear, descriptive, and simple enough that the average American can understand it.
if I wasn't so scared that we'll all die, I almost at this point want to see Trump elected so that he can proceed with sending America back to the Stone Age, and everyone down there gets what they asked for.
Hillary is more than capable of keeping the motor running, but she seems to have so many enemies at every level that all her time and energy will be wasted fighting fires that people in her own government and agencies will be starting.
[A] large contingent of country music fans who’ve since turned the CMA’s Facebook page into Yahoo! comments on steroids. The detractors cite Beyoncé and Dixie Chicks’ pro-liberal views, including Bey’s support of Black Live Matters, as reason why neither should have any part in a night celebrating country music. That and the fact that Beyoncé didn’t look or sound like the evening’s other performers.
I think that the whole concept of Donald Trump winning or Hillary winning will cause this civil waresque scenario of mass rebellion and mass murder on the streets is overblown.
I think that they'll be some resentment from either of the losing side but no constitutional crisis. And Americans will forget about the hurt feelings as the road to the superbowl starts up.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Hillary is more than capable of keeping the motor running, but she seems to have so many enemies at every level that all her time and energy will be wasted fighting fires that people in her own government and agencies will be starting.
She'll definitely have her work cut out for her if she wins. Trying to heal the massive divide in that country seems like an impossible task at this point. All she can really do is try, and she will. But yea, it's likely going to be all-out war on Clinton for the next 4 years, and it'll be a miracle if she gets anything accomplished while being continually attacked by Republicans calling for her impeachment. Not to mention she'll also be in a battle with the FBI. It's gonna be a rough ride.
Clinton ad using psychology to try and get out the vote.
"He conducted an experiment involving 180,000 Michigan households for the 2006 primary elections. About half of the group was the control group, and did not receive any mailed communication. The other half was divided into four groups, each targeted with a different mailing.
People in the first group got a letter reminding them of the importance of doing their civic duty and voting. The second group received the same message, but they were also told that voting records were public records, and that their turnout was being studied. The third group got a letter listing whether or not they had voted in the last two elections, and were told that after the election, another letter would be sent to them indicating whether they voted in the upcoming election.
The fourth group received a letter listing whether their neighbors had voted in the previous two elections, and told them that after the election, another letter would be sent out to them and their neighbors with a check mark next to their names indicating whether or not they had voted."
She'll definitely have her work cut out for her if she wins. Trying to heal the massive divide in that country seems like an impossible task at this point. All she can really do is try, and she will. But yea, it's likely going to be all-out war on Clinton for the next 4 years, and it'll be a miracle if she gets anything accomplished while being continually attacked by Republicans calling for her impeachment. Not to mention she'll also be in a battle with the FBI. It's gonna be a rough ride.
That's the thing. Clinton would try to bring the country together (although I doubt she would succeed). I don't think Trump would even try.
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