The Race For 2024

[Ford]

Trump just came out with a new line of virtual trading cards, showing a slimmed-down Trump, looking a bit like Max Headroom, dancing, wearing boxing gloves, etc, etc. $99 each. If you buy a certain number, you get a sliver of the suit he wore to the Biden debacle debate.
Echoing everyone above -- so we have fellow citizens who would not only vote for this rodent, but revere him enough to send him $99 for a virtual card. (I'll admit here, I don't even know what that gets you -- a download of an image on your phone?) Everything connected with this mentally unwell man is a sick nightmare.

IIRC from the commercial I saw, buying 15 of the $99 jpegs will get you a physical card which may come with a piece of cloth from the suit (shades of Robert Tilton and his prayer cloths) and might be signed by Fragilego Mussolini himself. If you buy 75 of them (drop over 7 grand on images) then you'll be invited to a dinner at one of his Florida properties. Mar A Largo? No, and the way it was worded seemed to indicate that it wasn't actually a dinner WITH Trump. I'm guessing that airfare, hotel, and transportation are NOT included.

As to why someone would buy this stuff? The True Believers probably think the money goes straight to the "Save America" PAC and will help pay for ads and other campaigning stuff, but recent reporting suggests that all the money that comes in is being funneled through a couple murky LLCs registered in Delaware, and it seems that the amount of money that goes to the campaign is considerably less than what comes in. So if you fork out 7500 bucks, you may get to be in the same room with Trump for a moment (or not) and your money is more than likely either paying legal bills (tens of millions in legal bills) or lining the pockets of Trump's inner circle. Alina needs a new pair of shoes!

 

[Swammerdami]

Speaking of RFK, Jr., is it true that at the end he was just auctioning himself off to the highest bidder? If one candidate offered him Sec'y of Interior and the other Sec'y of Agriculture, he'd have gone for Interior whether that offer came from the Reds or the Blues? I'm not sure the Thesaurus even has an adjective to describe this kind of politics.

In the event, Harris offered him nothing so he went with Trump who apparently will appoint RFK, Jr. Special Investigator to reopen the Warren Report on the death of his Uncle John.

 

[ZiprHead]

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Well at least in that mindset, there would at least be a factory... unlike Foxconn in Wisconsin, which took tax breaks... and nothing.

Also, is Vance saying he doesn't want Americans working in factories? If it is a Chinese company why would that matter? Are we afraid they'll steal IP even more than in China?

 

[Derec]

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

I’ve seen hunters do this around a deer carcass. Never saw it at a cemetery. Never imagined seeing it at Arlington.

But I guarantee I’ll be snapping one at Fuckhead’s grave.

 

[ideologyhunter]

I think Trump intends to be buried on the moon, beside Trump Lunar Golf Course.

 

[ZiprHead]

Fact-checking Donald Trump's claim that wind turbines kill whales - BBC News

The former president blamed wind farms for a spike in whale deaths - but his claims don't stand up.

www.bbc.com

 

[ZiprHead]

I’ve seen hunters do this around a deer carcass. Never saw it at a cemetery. Never imagined seeing it at Arlington.

But I guarantee I’ll be snapping one at Fuckhead’s grave.

View attachment 47512

Trump campaign staff had altercation with official at Arlington National Cemetery

Two members of Donald Trump's campaign staff had a verbal and physical altercation Monday with an official at Arlington National Cemetery, where the former president participated in a wreath-laying ceremony, NPR has learned.

A source with knowledge of the incident said the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump staffers from filming and photographing in a section where recent U.S. casualties are buried. The source said Arlington officials had made clear that only cemetery staff members would be authorized to take photographs or film in the area, known as Section 60.

When the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump campaign staff from entering Section 60, campaign staff verbally abused and pushed the official aside, according to the source.

In a statement to NPR, Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign's spokesman, strongly rejected the notion of a physical altercation, adding: "We are prepared to release footage if such defamatory claims are made.

"The fact is that a private photographer was permitted on the premises and for whatever reason an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump's team during a very solemn ceremony," Cheung said in the statement.

The Trump campaign declined to make that footage immediately available.

In a statement to NPR, Arlington National Cemetery said it "can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed."

"Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate's campaign," according to the statement. "Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants."

 

[Copernicus]

Trump's cemetery photo op is just another example of the nation's most famous scofflaw showing that rules and laws don't apply to him. This crime is so minor compared to what is already on his rapsheet that nobody really cares

 

[laughing dog]

Fact-checking Donald Trump's claim that wind turbines kill whales - BBC News

The former president blamed wind farms for a spike in whale deaths - but his claims don't stand up.

www.bbc.com

No, remember with Trump that every accusation is a confession, and that story explains a lot!

 

[laughing dog]

I’ve seen hunters do this around a deer carcass. Never saw it at a cemetery. Never imagined seeing it at Arlington.

But I guarantee I’ll be snapping one at Fuckhead’s grave.

View attachment 47512

Trump campaign staff had altercation with official at Arlington National Cemetery

Two members of Donald Trump's campaign staff had a verbal and physical altercation Monday with an official at Arlington National Cemetery, where the former president participated in a wreath-laying ceremony, NPR has learned.

A source with knowledge of the incident said the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump staffers from filming and photographing in a section where recent U.S. casualties are buried. The source said Arlington officials had made clear that only cemetery staff members would be authorized to take photographs or film in the area, known as Section 60.

When the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump campaign staff from entering Section 60, campaign staff verbally abused and pushed the official aside, according to the source.

In a statement to NPR, Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign's spokesman, strongly rejected the notion of a physical altercation, adding: "We are prepared to release footage if such defamatory claims are made.

"The fact is that a private photographer was permitted on the premises and for whatever reason an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump's team during a very solemn ceremony," Cheung said in the statement.

The Trump campaign declined to make that footage immediately available.

In a statement to NPR, Arlington National Cemetery said it "can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed."

"Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate's campaign," according to the statement. "Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants."

So why weren’t the appropriate police called?

 

[Ford]

Trump's cemetery photo op is just another example of the nation's most famous scofflaw showing that rules and laws don't apply to him. This crime is so minor compared to what is already on his rapsheet that nobody really cares

It reminds me of the photo op he did with the baby that had been orphaned in the El Paso mass shooting. Same shit-eating grin. Same thumbs-up. All it was for him was a photo op to boost his campaign.

 

[ZiprHead]

JD Vance attacks childless teachers in newly resurfaced remarks

Republican vice-presidential candidate criticizes ‘leaders on the left’ and Randi Weingarten in 2021 clip

www.theguardian.com

JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate and US senator from Ohio, attacked teachers who do not have children in newly resurfaced remarks from 2021.

In the resurfaced clip, Vance, who was speaking at a forum held by the Center for Christian Virtue, attacks “leaders on the left” and Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, for not having children.


“So many of the leaders of the left, and I hate to be so personal about this, but they’re people without kids trying to brainwash the minds of our children, that really disorients me and disturbs me,” Vance can be heard saying in the clip.

“Randi Weingarten, who’s the head of the most powerful teachers’ union in the country, she doesn’t have a single child. If she wants to brainwash and destroy the minds of children, she should have some of her own and leave ours the hell alone.”

In a post on X, Weingarten responded to Vance’s resurfaced comments, calling them “gross”, and adding that the remarks are “sad and insulting to millions of modern families, and school teachers including Catholic nuns, none of whom should be targeted for their family decisions”.

Okay. This is more than weird. Vance's obsession with childless women is just fucking creepy.

 

[lpetrich]

Albion’s Seed, Genotyped — LessWrong

Kennedy cited free speech, the war in Ukraine and “a war on our children” as among the reasons he would try to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states.

...
However, he made clear that he wasn’t formally ending his bid and said his supporters could continue to back him in the majority of states where they are unlikely to sway the outcome. Kennedy took steps to withdraw his candidacy in at least two states late this week, Arizona and Pennsylvania, but election officials in the battlegrounds of Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin said it would be too late for him to take his name off the ballot even if he wants to do so.

RFK Jr. cannot get off the ballot in Wisconsin, Michigan - "Election officials in Michigan and Wisconsin, two crucial battleground states, have denied Kennedy's request to remove himself from their presidential ballots, citing state laws."

He's trying to keep himself from being a spoiler.

Cheryl Hines discomforted by RFK Jr. Donald Trump endorsement

Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his wife’s reaction to his recent endorsement of former President Trump in the White House race was the “opposite of encouraging.”

 

[lpetrich]

Trump adds ex-Democrats Gabbard and RFK Jr to his transition team

Ms Gabbard is a former congresswoman and military veteran who ran to be the Democratic candidate for the presidency in 2020, before distancing herself from the party.

Mr Kennedy initially launched a bid to win the Democratic nomination this time around, but later ran as an independent before dropping out and endorsing Trump.

...
Ms Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress from 2013 to 2021, quit the Democratic Party in 2022, complaining of its "wokeness".

...
She was the first Hindu member of the US Congress, going on to serve as vice-chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee - before resigning to endorse the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders.

When Ms Gabbard ran for president in 2020, she championed liberal issues like government-run healthcare, free college tuition and gun control.

...
She has since staked out conservative views on issues including abortion and transgender rights, and has become a regular and outspoken guest on Fox News. She has also been accused of spreading "promoting Russian propaganda" by officials in Ukraine.

By early 2024, she was singing the praises of Mr Biden's rival, Trump, who will this time compete for the White House against Ms Harris.

There is a certain problem with both RFK Jr. and TG.

The two former Democrats are also known for being staunch environmentalists.

Trump has promised to ramp up US fossil fuel production and regularly uses the slogan "Drill, baby, drill!" at his rallies.

Some 200 Republicans think otherwise:

In an open letter, former staffers for George HW Bush and George W Bush, and Senators John McCain and Mitt Romney said another Trump administration would endanger American democracy.

The Republicans wrote: "Of course, we have plenty of honest, ideological disagreements with Vice President Harris and Gov Walz. That’s to be expected.

"The alternative, however, is simply untenable."

 

[lpetrich]

How Democrats View Kennedy and Trump: ‘A Weirdo Campaign Just Got Weirder’ - The New York Times - "Democrats once seriously worried that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be a spoiler. Now, after his endorsement of Donald Trump, they see a political opportunity."

Democrats say they have a simple plan for discrediting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. now that he has dropped out of the race and endorsed former President Donald J. Trump: calling him “weird.”

It’s a playground-style strategy that the Harris campaign has already deployed against Mr. Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, and the put-downs have proved popular with the Democratic base.

The party doesn’t have to look far for ammunition. Mr. Kennedy has recently made headlines for decapitating a dead whale with a chain saw and strapping its head to the family minivan, as well as dumping a deceased bear cub in Central Park. Now the Democrats want to attach his baggage to Mr. Trump.

The DNC on Tulsi Gabbard joining Donald Trump's campaign: “Trump’s Circle of Weirdos Gets Even More Extreme.”

Before he dropped out, Mr. Kennedy was polling worse than Gary Johnson had in 2016 when he ran on the Libertarian ticket.

“Once around 15 percent, R.F.K. Jr.’s support has been in free fall — now under 5 percent — and he’s not positioned to deliver any electoral benefit to Trump,” Ramsey Reid, the Democratic National Committee’s campaign manager for its effort against third-party and independent candidates, wrote in a memo.

 

[lpetrich]

On the lighter side:

 

[lpetrich]

 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries and  2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Marianne Williamson was in the race no less than three times:

• March 4, 2023 - February 7, 2024
• February 28, 2024 - June 11, 2024
• July 2, 2024 - July 29, 2024

She first suspended her campaign after it seemed like she was not likely to win, but after the results of the Michigan primary, she restarted her campaign. She suspended it after the primaries ended, and she restarted it after the Biden-Trump debate of June 27. Did President Biden seeming so feeble make it seem like she has a chance? But when the Democratic Party united around Kamala Harris after Joe Biden dropped out on July 21, she decided that there was no point in continuing, it seems to me.

 

[LoAmmo]

One of my biggest irritants of the 2024 race is the vastly asymmetrical advantage given Trump in…what to even call it—“the consequence-free latitude to say and do wildly crazy unhinged shit in quantity, any one of which would instantly end the campaign of Kamala Harris were she the one to have said or done it.”
In just one 24-hour period—which wasn’t even some kind of unique, one-off outlier—Trump got away with any number of “offenses” which would have been fatal to Team Blue had they committed them.

If Harris/Walz had gone and shown their asses at Arlington National Cemetery (in strict violation of rules against politicizing one’s visits there), it’d have become a national shitstorm and then “game over.” Trump gets a free pass.

If Harris/Walz had posted advocating for military tribunals/public executions of political opponents, the blowback would have crippled her momentum and eroded her support past the point of viability. With Trump, it’s just, “Heh. He says things.”

If Kamala Harris had posted a crude joke about Trump which hinged on the word “blowjob,” She’d have been instantly and relentlessly excoriated not only by Fox, OAN and the like, but also—perhaps even more fervently—by the so-called mainstream media outlets as well, who are still twisting into pretzel shapes trying to normalize Trump’s insane behavior and apply a “both-sides-ism” argument that’s clearly uncalled for.

Yes, Trump’s missteps “make the news” (else, how would I have heard of them?)
But they invariably fail to gain traction and impose meaningful consequences on him, where any one of them—yet alone a daily slew of them in aggregate—would hang like an anchor around Harris’ neck. This is in large part due to the sheer prodigious output of crazy emanating from Trump; there simply isn’t gas enough to fuel the outrage bus around the clock for years on end. Part of it is media influence—Trump’s crazy is downplayed (if not outright ignored) on Fox and re-worded into benign normalcy by CNN.
Whatever the myriad reasons for this disparity, at the end of the day we have created a model in which the exact same behavior ends up good for the goose…bad for the gander. It’s fundamentally unfair, and should be resisted.
But won’t be.