Hate Sells category archive
The Unswayables 0
Werner Herzog’s Bear offers a theory as to why Donald Trump’s cult is so loyal to a man who has repeatedly demonstrated that he is loyal to no one and nothing. Here’s a bit (emphasis added):
Trump and his MAGA slogan symbolize the maintenance of all kinds of hierarchies. His name on a sign means support for men in charge, white people in charge, LGBTQ people in the closet, Christianity assumed, and immigrants deported. While not all Trump supporters fit all of these categories, each has at least of one these hierarchies in mind when it comes to their support. Trump could indeed shoot someone on 5th Avenue and not lose support because what he does is literally meaningless. All of his meaning is symbolic.
I commend the entire piece to your attention.
(Missing link found.)
Hate Fair 0
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Soleil Ho visited her family in rural Illinois and accompanied them to the local state fair and found herself surrounded with persons bearing Trump paraphernalia. She found the experience somewhat–er–disconcerting. Here’s a bit from her article (emphasis added):
(Broken link fixed.)
Tales of the Establishmentarians. 0
The Establishmentarian who worships a false idol.
Twits Own Twitter X Offenders
0
As you may have heard, Elon Musk has sued a number of advertisers for not advertising on Xcretion. At Above the Law, Joe Patrice comments. A snippet:
“Too bigoted to fail,” if you will.
A Questioning of Identity, Reprise 0
Rebecca Watson takes a long look at the ginned up who-shot-john about Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Here’s quote:
So know this: witch hunts don’t just kill witches. I mean, they don’t kill any witches but you take my point: a witch hunt is a witch hunt because it finds witches wherever it can, and a trans hunt will do the same.
Or you can read the transcript.
Olympic-Grade Weirdos 0
Grung_e_Gene points out that the gaming has begun.
How Can You Tell Someone Is in a Cult? 0
At the Portland Press-Herald, Peter Rowland offers some indicators.
In a Quandary? 0
Michael Hiltzik offers a way out:
1. Examine closely the position taken by Elon Musk, and;
2. Go the other way.
Follow the link for his reasoning.
This New Gilded Age 0
Farron discusses Donald Trump’s attempts to pretend that he didn’t know anything about the “Heritage” Foundation’s Project 2025.
The Cult of Poisonality 0
Michael in Norfolk has a few questions about the Trump and his cultists.
Follow the link for context.
The “Wallace Conundrum” 0
At AL.com, Kyle Whitmire tries to figure out the core beliefs of major figures in today’s Republican Party and concludes that there’s no there there. Methinks he may be onto something.
A snippet:
They’re the political Shape Shifters.
Such changes shouldn’t be confused with changing one’s mind. Healthy minds evolve to incorporate new information, evidence or experience. In contrast, Shape Shifters change to fit new attitudes or new audiences — for approval.
Follow the link to find out why he dubs this the “Wallace conundrum.”
The Disinformation Superhighway 0
Using the shooting at Donald Trump as a starting point, the Seattle Times’s Melissa Davis looks at the speed with which dis- and misinformation spreads over “social” media. A snippet:
And the rumors don’t slow down.
I commend the entire article to your attention. And, remember, “social” media isn’t.
Stray Thought 0
“Yes, but will it hold up in court?” is no longer a valid rhetorical question.
We have seen that, with the application of enough juice for a long enough time to the correct vulnerable points, anything, regardless of legality or morality, will hold up in court.
Freedom of Screech in This New Gilded Age 0
Self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” Elon Musk threatens to take advertisers to court so as to force them to place their advertising speech on Twitter X, because he is absolutely in favor of freedom of speech, or something.
Yeah, I know, it sounds absolutely insane. Follow the link and decide for yourself.
“When People Show You Who They Are, Believe Them the First Time”* 0
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gene Collier takes a close look at the implications of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. He finds it–er–less than attractive.
Indeed, he characterizes it as a “MAGA Manifesto.”
Follow the first link for 900 pages of secessionist propaganda said project.
Follow the second to learn why Collier sees it as a “MAGA Manifesto.”
Aside:
I not exactly sure what heritage the “Heritage” Foundation is celebrating, but it sounds not unlike the legacy of one of my late relatives.
_____________
*Maya Angelou.
A Notion of Immigrants 0
Robert Reich points out that immigrants have long been “America’s secret sauce for economic growth and prosperity,” while they long have also been targets for those who sow hate.
Or you can read the transcript.