You shouldn't have to explain that Carlson piece. Anybody who actually reads it should comprehend what it's actually saying, and anyone who attacks you for its very existence will not be swayed something like this. If anything, they'll dig in on you even further now.
It was a great, important piece in keeping with all of your recent work. The #resistance-brained trolls are going to attack anyone for even considering Carlson anything other than a dangerous, anti-American white supremacist. We've absolutely lost the thread of logic and reason with these discussions. Carlson is worth protecting, and I don't even watch his show. I think he's kind of an asshole.
As an addendum: if anyone hasn't read this great piece about Jonathan Cook about the constant attacks from the (former) left on Greenwald (and Taibbi), it really breaks down this phenomenon, where there is no way to argue with silly smears (in particular the recent ones by Nathan Robinson/Plantation Ridder, "the world's thickest brain"): https://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog/2021-06-22/greenwald-trump-happened/
I’ve said this here, and in other places, before: the #Resistance will never, ever forgive Matt and Glenn for being right about Russia. Seeing integrity and journalistic standards actually shames them.
These self identified "resistance" folks are re-living a 1960's ideal that never was. Protesting is good no matter what is being protested. Babbling on and on about American Imperialism and other cliched pseudo-intellectual conversations has replaced actual critical thinking and research. Most never know what they don't know and bask in their lack of actual knowledge. Emotion replaces facts and reality. The modern day leftists is a ball of anger and angst all wrapped in a poor education.
Anyone seeking information and truth MUST stay far away from the MSM and cable news. Emotional validation is their drug of choice. Hate is an emotion that needs constant validation and support lest it burn itself out in a flash of unbalanced thinking. MSM and cable news feeds individuals hate and fear while selling you crap you don't need.
Critical thinking skills are at a premium. Such is the world in which we now live.
It also implies their opposition are Nazis, which is quite the acceleration for the accepting, virtuous folks they believe themselves to limitlessly be.
That's exactly right. Psychologically speaking, Matt and co's standards only serve to illustrate their lacking of, which triggers shame, followed by embarrassment, followed by anger and lashing out. It's very akin to their projection with Trump - they're all narcissist, and he simply mirrored back what they don't like about themselves. In fact, the "tactics" that Matt outlines in this very article are straight out of the Narc playbook and this is not figurative speech.
And yet, as I read or heard somewhere, "Where there is shame, there remains hope" The shame means they comprehend right and wrong, and recognize they were wrong. Now if only they ever grow up enough to admit to it ...
As an addendum to the addendum, this piece by Michael Tracey on Bill Cosby maybe breaks down the is phenomenon even better, wherein he explains that the ideological incoherence is a feature, not a bug:
That Tracey piece was great. Imagine if Bill Cosby's release had been headlined by the left as "Black Man's Conviction Overturned After Court Finds Due Process Rights Violated." Because that's what happened.
Exactly! Or if the headline said "First Black Star on Television and Civil Rights Hero Convicted and Imprisoned Via Illegal Methods." Of course we wouldn't see this headline during our racial "reckoning." (Similarly, Spike Lee tried to defend his friend, and fellow Knicks' fan Woody Allen, during the height of the protests last summer saying that he believed in his friend. He was so hounded that he had to repeatedly apologize within 24 hours. Spike Lee! It's the perfect place where the excesses of MeToo become instersectional, if you will, with the excesses of BLM.)
I'm glad Tracey called out Amber Tamblyn here. At the height of the MeToo kerfuffle — of which she was one of the loudest celebrity voices — people continually asked her if she believed in due process. She finally answered them in some weird, mumbly way (on Twitter, natch) by saying “People keep asking me if I believe in innocent until proven guilty. When it comes to sexual assault, I believe in suspect until proven innocent. Goodnight.”
This is the twisted, inside-out version of liberalism we're dealing with here. As Tracey correctly points out, it's equal parts messy, confusing and dissonant by design.
It was a high profile celebrity whose rights were violated. Cosby should never be confused with an actual Black person. His privilege and hubris were off the charts even for a rich white person. For a career prosecutor looking for a target of opportunity, that might net him some higher political office, Mr. Cosby was an irresistible trophy. Due process is violated in almost every case that some prosecutor needs for his political advantage. Innocent individuals have been executed to serve the political careers of many prosecutors. Has ANY prosecutor ever gone to jail for their violations of due process? Nifong from the fake Duke prosecution was the highest profile prosecutor ever exposed for his over the top political prosecution of some white students based on the lies of an "exotic dances." He got off pretty unscathed given the nationwide division caused by his egotistical pursuit of those "privileged" white students who turned out to be totally innocent of the horrendous charges leveled at them. Most were from working class parents who never understood the symbolism being pushed by the academics and other elites wanting to make their children the fall guys for every racial crime ever.
Looking at the Cosby case from a strictly legal perspective (as opposed to a Hail Mary pass to punish a true deviant predator), and your headline would be correct-upon his conviction Cosby’s lawyer said he was confident the case would be overturned and he would set a precedent in the SC if things got that far.
I agree. He's truly fearless, and he's become the most hated man on the left for it. During his coverage of violence during last summer's protests, the nasty comments on his Twitter posts were authored by a who's who of democrat-aligned media personalities whose brains have been swallowed whole by the internet.
When I saw Naomi Klein respond to one of Tracey's very unpopular (but very true) musings with a "fuck off Troll!," I knew it was all over.
The reason why my libtarded neighbors still believe in “mostly peaceful” protests is because Tracey was only journalist to revisit the ravaged neighborhoods and do a devastating story on them. All other journalists were too terrified, or else themselves cult members.
What's the point of calling people names like "libtard"? Did you miss the whole point of the article?
It's so fucking painfully lame and trite to read or hear shit like this. Do you have your own brain or do you routinely regurgitate bs you hear on TV or online? Try to have a fucking original thought in your head and if you don't, just sit there quitely, shut the fuck up, and listen/watch the adults do it.
Just in case you haven’t read in the dozens of outlets where the news came out a long time ago, after careful study 93% of the protests were found to be peaceful. You need to understand this, especially when you put quotation marks around “mostly peaceful” as if it wasn’t true when it is true. So if you’re just going to cherry pick facts that make you feel good then why don’t you be careful to look both ways before you go fuck yourself!
I think Tracey can be hit or miss myself, and that he occasionally relishes occupying the “troll” role he’s continually saddled with.
This Cosby piece - and his follow-up from a couple of days later - absolutely hit it out of the park. They’re about way more than Bill Cosby, and if you fall into old school class-first lefty politics, they’re a sign of hopefully great work to come.
That piece lost me at "Cosby is 84 and a threat to no one and there's no other possible reason to imprison him". I don't mind if you don't agree with deterrence, but to not even be able to come up with it as a concept?
I respectfully disagree. I think it's referred to as fighting the good fight, where the weapons are reasoned, tempered, exposition. This follow up piece is a great example of staying the course! Because while some will never be persuaded - getting through to some, if not many, IS possible!
I think the follow-up piece is great, and a pretty necessary addendum to yesterday's piece, and I 100% get why he wrote it, and I'm glad it exists.
My main point is that the group of "what happened to you Matt?" types are not going to be swayed by anything. Saying that Tucker Carlson deserves his free speech and free press rights, that Facebook shouldn't censor private messages, or that maybe Trump wasn't always an secret agent of the Russian government is enough for the Democratic Party-aligned hive-mind to brand Taibbi as a primary agent of wrongthink, and that he should be next in line for the gulag (after Carlson, that is).
I'm glad the rest of us have him to read, and I gladly pay for the privilege.
Understood. First, I should have replied to your first post, in which the first paragraph is what I was refuting. And that's not even true - I'm very empathetic to the sentiment. He *shouldn't* have to. You're right, but that's not the world we live in, as they say.
You're also right about those that will not be converted. In social research, it is said that a person can only be moved over two spots on a 5 point likert scale. Therefore someone on the extreme side of any issue, can only ever be moved to the middle (neutral), which is also very rare. At the same time, those who would actively smear him, may be persuaded to stop that, even if theirs opinions don't actually change.
But you don't write this piece for them. You write this follow up for those who are on the fence. For those people who read the first piece yesterday and were genuinely compelled by the reasoning, only to then read all the criticism and brush it off as a smooth-talking manipulation. Again, I presume he's fighting for the hearts and minds of those willing to align with reason and harmony.
I don't disagree with any of this. One of the reasons I prefer reading Matt to a lot of other old school leftists who critique both the democratic party and the remnants of an American leftist politics, and who can be intentionally over-provocative or nakedly contrarian, is Matt's thoughtfulness and levelheadedness. Matt is one of the few writers left that you can email to a close friend fuming about the Twitter outrage of the week without heavy blowback (usually).
That said — and why I made this point in the first place — defending Tucker Carlson, even if it's just Carlson's basic civil liberties and not his content, is perhaps a bridge too far for a lot of people after an orchestrated campaign to make him look like the "new king of America's angry white voters."
I got into another discussion with someone further down in this comment section who keeps claiming that they're against censoring Carlson, but want everyone to admit loudly and strongly that Carlson is a "bad actor." If not censoring Carlson is important — and is the story we're all discussing here, not his ideology — why is it also important that we all recognize how he's some sort of nonredeemable stain on America? Doesn't it seem that trying to force that mode of thought is calling for his censorship?
(As an aside, I see people I know, and like, in the NYC art community on Twitter casually talking about Glenn Greenwald's "fascist" politics, as if that's a given. This group is so far gone on a shared, anxious in-group politics, that they'd all gladly vote to get rid of the first amendment at this point. There's no reasonable discussion possible, or allowed, on the topic of "not agreeing with everyone we agree with.")
As I was reading, I was thinking to myself that this person *totally* accepts that free speech is a good and censorships is bad - in theory. lol
As they continued on, it was as if there's still some nagging voice in them that doesn't trust people to make their own determination. It's the same kind of person who wants to slap a warning label on everything.
“Fuming about the Twitter outrage of the week.” THAT’S THE PROBLEM. Fuck Twitter. Fuck social media. Are people’s lives really that empty that they have to fly into a rage over something that somebody who they don’t even know posted that they don’t like? Who cares?!? Y’all aren’t friends with them. You don’t know them. They won’t be coming over for dinner. You won’t be meeting them for drinks. So who gives a shit? I don’t care what Tucker Carlson said in his latest segment. I don’t care what Glenn Greenwald said in his latest tweet. And as much as it pains me to say this, I’m starting to get a little bored with what Matt Taibbi has to say, too. It seems to me that a lot of his articles lately are responses to things that have happened on Twitter etc. And twitter’s fucking stupid, so…
<<I see people I know, and like, in the NYC art community on Twitter casually talking about Glenn Greenwald's "fascist" politics, as if that's a given.>>
Jesus H. Christ on a crutch. I'm glad I'm not on NYC Art Twitter. I like art; I don't like Twitter.
Anyone who actually reads GG knows he spends a preponderance of his time beating up on the Bolsonaro regime. Are the cognoscenti really this shallow?
I’ve seen segments of his that have though were quite good, but he often seems to often be pushing basic division in a way that makes me uncomfortable.
That said, his attacks on ultra-corporatism and nakedly money-grubbing politicians on both sides resonate. I do hope there’s a way at this point to bridge the gap between Tucker’s viewers mad at the system with Joe Rogan’s listeners, Krystal and Saagar’s viewers and Greenwald and Taibbi’s readers for a real political alternative. I think the anger and the self-righteousness need to be toned down in some quarters, but it’s worth exploring. There has to be something better.
I think Tucker is an asshole. But I think that is beside any point that matters. I’ll listen to him. I’ll talk to people like him. Frequently will disagree. But I’ll value considering another POV.
I have no interest in trying to censor anyone. Why should I? I'm not threatened by their beliefs. Only the people who are secretly afraid that their ideology doesn't really hold water are consumed with trying to suppress other people's criticisms of it or shout down those with differing opinions.
Oh, I don't know, maybe because some people (i.e. the largest oxygen suckers in the conservative eco-system) peddle lies such as climate change denial, stolen elections, voter fraud, vaccine skepticism, etc. Is it not possible that people like me think those are detrimental to our society as a whole and not because "my ideology doesn't hold water"?
More like climate alarmism is a racket, election fraud is real (at least above the 0% you folks peddle) and one side will go to court to avoid any possibility of finding an actual answer, vaccine resistance is not exclusive to one political party, and politics is driving medical policy. On the flip side, we hear non-stop about borders are racist, math is racist, men are exactly like women if they say they are, voter laws that only allow voting for 12 hours per day for a month are racist, expecting minorities to get ID is racist, taking a private jet to avoid a vote you were elected to cast is noble, 5 years of "Trump=Hitler and or Russian operative," cops spend their days finding new ways to hunt down black people, looting is a good thing, violence is peaceful, etc. Don't think for a minute one side is cornering the oxygen-sucking market. Even with all of this, there is still oxygen enough to agree we can speak freely and openly, we can disagree violently without violence, and we can hate ideas without hating people.
So your position is that only you and your fellow travelers are smart enough to detect these lies and there's just too many stupid people in the world who would fall for them? Have you ever thought that there's people who believe the same thing about you? Oh, but that's different! Because you own Truth.
Well I suppose the basic proposal would be a much better education for most folks for a start. Also I’m not condoning shutting down anyone(excepting those “crying fire in a crowded theater”) but let’s stop giving equal weight to ridiculous arguments I.e.the earth is flat, the pandemic is manufactured news, and Elvis still lives.
I would say the irony is lost on both of you. You hide your contempt for those who disagree with you behind a thin veil of "civility" while Sevender here confuses name-calling with "honesty."
And so your answer is to shut people down and not let them speak? Deplatform them? Publicly shame them? Wreck their livelihoods for this "wrong think?" Why do you think you are so special that you think you shouldn't have to hear ideas you don't like in the public forum? Debate ideas on merits. Don't kill them. You don't get to decide what's right for everyone simply via fiat.
Oh, btw, I'm a liberal. And I will stand with conservatives all day just to fight ignorami like yourself. I don't think you even realize just how illiberal and solipsistic your world view is.
One last thing, your ideology is leaking. Better get a bucket...
Cuba has freed itself long ago from CIA-supported murderous Batista dictatorship and has stopped being a bordello operated by US Mafia and CIA for American tourists.
Could it be our embargo that keeps them from getting a lot of foods and medicines that they need not to mention technology and everything else the country needs I can explain it really easy and you’re right it ain’t Covid because their medical system is better than ours. They are even making their own vaccines of which they don’t have a shortage, what they need are SYRINGES which we are doing our best to keep them from getting!
When is the last time you were in Cuba? I have Cuban students who is certainly tell me things aren’t great over there but it isn’t a horrible hell hole that you describe… I think you’re another of those people that likes to pull facts out of their asses, damn, there are just too many of you…
Do you feel better now for having said that John Hohn? Are you practicing your moves after work so that you can be in the volunteer army that will storm the shores of Cuba? Or, as I suspect, are you just talking out of your ass?
Recent US crimes against Haiti people -- by Hillary , Condoleezza Rice/Bush, Obama -- coups, military, exploitations of one of the poorest country, UN that brought in cholera (30,000+ dead, million sick) but negated the horror for six (read slowly - six) years.
A detailed, most horrible recent history of US colonialism -- kudos to Aaron Mate (always remember how vulgarly he was attacked by TYT's despicables - Ana & Cenk)
How certain are you in the accuracy of forecasts of the economic impact of climate change? Have you checked them?
I trust you're at least aware there are groups on all sides with vested economic interests.
Tell me: did you believe them when they told you LED light bulbs would have a better carbon footprint than incandescent ones, because they would last >20 years on average? lol
Many of us on the real left believe that the Neo liberal bullshit government we have now is also “detrimental to our society as a whole”so where does this leave us? It ain’t just conservatives that are full of shit!
An excellent article Matt. I used to engage in political discussions with a co-worker many years ago. He was on the opposite side of me on almost every topic. Yet we were able to discuss things without calling each other evil. It is astonishing to me how we are unable to have serious discussions anymore. Emotional point scoring and trolling seems to be the norm.
Too many were fed emotional gobbledygook by guilty parents and ideological professors losing the ability to dialogue and dissent through analysis. It's amazing how few can articulate a cogent argument before imploding with emotional hyperbole!
This piece was unexpectedly moving by the end. The marriage analogy and the point about the downstream consequences of cancelling is really compelling. You've written about this issue a lot, but I thought this was the best iteration of your viewpoint. Interestingly, I think it was the most upbeat and positive version too.
It reminds me of the Jordan Peterson quote on fights in marriage:
“ You’re having an argument with your partner and you say, “You’re a stupid person, and you’ve always been a stupid person. And as far as I can tell, as far into the future as I can see, you’re going to remain a stupid person.
So what are they supposed to do, what are they going to do when you say that? They’re going to cry, like, if you mean it. They’re going to get angry, if you mean it. And they don’t like you very much.”
I am the most conventional, middle of the road type of Democrat. And that makes me something of a political orphan.
I was the typical, middle class media consumer.
Then I started wondering about Russia gate. And how any comparison was dismissed as "whataboutism."
Any veering from the party line got me labeled a troll or a Trump supporter in the WaPo comments. Or people called me Vlad/Igor etc and asked about the weather in Moscow.
Taibbi, Greenwald, Weiss etc are the only places that seem rational at this point. Or where curiosity is not a sin.
Weiss isn't my favorite, she has her moments, but overwhelmingly is cringe. Her Joe Rogan appearance was a hoot. Whatever you do, don't read the YouTube comments on that one, although I'm sure they've been expunged.
Yes, she was instructed by her handlers to attack Tulsi Gabbard on Joe Rogan show. She was in total disbelief that anybody can reject CIA and Israel propaganda on Syria. Bari's behavior was incredibly repulsive - she fully showed her propagandist colors.
On the other hand, Joe Rofan behaved with very high integrity -- he interviewed Tulsi earlier and as a result -- admired and liked her.
ALWAYS remember Tulsi's heroic response to Hillary's truly criminal accusations:
"Great! Thank you @HillaryClinton . You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long, have finally come out from behind the curtain. From the day I announced my candidacy, there has been a concerted campaign to destroy my reputation. We wondered who was behind it and why.
Now we know — it was always you, through your proxies and powerful allies in the corporate media and war machine, afraid of the threat I pose. It’s now clear that this primary is between you and me. Don’t cowardly hide behind your proxies".
How often you hear a naked truth from a US politician?
Recent US crimes against Haiti people -- by Hillary , Condoleezza Rice/Bush, Obama -- coups, military, exploitations of one of the poorest country, UN that brought in cholera (30,000+ dead, million sick) but negated the horror for six (read slowly - six) years.
A detailed, most horrible recent history of US colonialism -- kudos to Aaron Mate (always remember how vulgarly he was attacked by TYT's despicables - Ana & Cenk)
I remember that moment from the debates, but rereading Tulsi really dropped the hammer.
I recall every internet poll had her decisively winning the debate, and google searches for her name skyrockted. The media of course attributed it to Russian bots.
I hope Tulsi comes back in one form or the other. While there are plenty of capable leaders, few seem to be as capable and purpose-built to unite the country and confront select subversive, entrenched power centers.
Thank you - and remember Google disconnected her Web site at the moment people maximally wanted to learn more about her. Her ;lawsuit was rejected -- she couldn't prove it was malicious rather than a technical glitch ;-))
'This is a much higher number than native-born Americans, 69% of whom say they are “ashamed” of some parts of our culture (just 39% of immigrants agree).'
Maybe if you've been told for decades now, accelerating over recent years, that your white man culture is white supremacist and shit, and deserves to be torn down your your pink ears, along with its history, as it is currently being...you wouldn't be so proud of it, either. Immigrants CHOOSE to move to America, so OF COURSE it's going to be the 'greatest country in the world' to them. They HAVE to believe that, otherwise why even bother moving from where they are?
There's a great old Australian film about the outback and what it does to people called Wake In Fright. Watch it, it's on Youtube. Donald Pleasence has a great line in it. A genteel Englishman is sneering at the alcohol-swilling, macho backwards outback town he finds himself in. Of the desperately boozed-up locals, and how proud they are of their small town, Pleasance, playing an alcoholic doctor, notes that "Discontent is a luxury of the well-to-do. If you've gotta live here, you might as well like it." Which sums things up quite nicely, for any and all strata of society, and any and all countries.
You can love where you live *and* be ashamed of parts of it. It's ok to acknowledge being ashamed that we tortured people during Bush 2's catastrophic tenure for example. Don't really think that's a particularly provocative opinion.
Lol...in 2003, someone in military intelligence stormed into a room and asked, "has anyone ever heard of this crazy concept called, t o r t u r e?" It is abhorrent, but it has existed for all time and has been employed by every administration since our founding. Right now, in a room somewhere on this planet, someone is having a very bad day answering questions posed by US intelligence. It is in no way provocative to oppose it, but it is naive to think GWB was the initiator and disingenuous to pin it on one side of the political spectrum.
Being ashamed that we codified torture as official US policy doesn't obscure other grossness from our intel services, past, present, or future. It's just an example of how you can like where you live and have serious problems with how your government acts in your name.
What's outrageous to me is, so many CIA programs are out there you can find proof of and read about, and they don't even try to cover them up (one such example is MKULtra, right there on Wikipedia). So if people don't get how psychopathic and evil our intel agencies are, it's because they're not looking.
Didn't love Obama's tenure but the "we torture people now" era was the first time I was ever truly ashamed for my country. The fact that there were oodles of people willing to defend our policy of torture was really depressing.
Well, 'we' always tortured people but at least Bush didn't brag about it (that I recall). They were horrified and scrambled to cover up Abu Ghraib and the photos. But Obama said "we tortured some folks" (to make it all sound nice 'n' neighborly). I put them in the same boat. Just Obama seemed even more deceptive, whereas Bush's puppet status was pretty obvious.
What morally appalled me about Obama was the handwave.
GWB: [his administration tortures people] [he strenuously denies it] [a certain pro-torture demographic digs it because other Americans torturing people in a faraway land gets their rocks off]
Obama: "Yeah, we tortured some folks." It's the equivalence of "nothing to see here," except it's "there's a thing to see here, but we prefer not to look at it."
I believe if you took most of the stuff Carlson says, tone down the hyperbole, and have Rachel Maddow snark it out as gospel on her show, the left would probably be OK with it.
Really Matt you don't have to explain why you defended Carlson's right to...ah...y'know....give his opinion. I really didn't think that meant the two of you were going to race off to the prom together.
Even if I didn't agree with some of what Carlson says, I wouldn't want him silenced. Heck, I think watching Rachel Maddow has all the news value of listening to a car alarm blare for an hour yet I wouldn't support her gagging.
I pay for this shit because I know that you piss people off on both sides of our dysfunctional little political romper room.
The condition that seems most prevalent in preventing honest dialogue among all sides, is a failure to recognize the complexity of nearly every policy decision and to admit to oneself that, although you have a feeling or belief in what is the best thing to do in any given situation, you never "know" that something is right or that an alternative is wrong. For almost any situation, two people that agree 100% on a desired outcome (e.g., minimizing or eliminating the effects of racism), will each have a good faith belief that their plan of attack is the best way to get there. Differing on a path to the solution should never be judged immoral. Similar problems arise with the even higher degrees of complexity introduced when the concepts of limited resources and the ranking of priorities are introduced. Unfortunately, in much current debating, approaches to these issues from a standard of less than 100% certainty is either ignored or viewed as weak/ foolish.
Obviously there are a lot of people with a wide range of issues involved in shouting down and attempting to stifle free expression. I think a lot of them do assume bad motives must be behind any disagreement with their orthodoxy. But worse are those who do not believe in your bad motives or do not care but use these harsh charges cynically to shut down legitimate debate through intimidation.
Thank you -- we live in a major kleptocracy regime - at ALL levels. There is also a major and historic crime in progress in which both Joe Biden but also Jim Acosta types, play a leading role.
Despite of Glenn’s, Aaron’s, Max’s, Jimmy and Matt's and of so many others' years of debunking, the scam of the century – the Russia-gate hoax, now in its 5th-year and ongoing -- that major crime is not even acknowledged yet, since its major players (Biden, Pelosi, Schumer) sit in power.
Now that incompetent and dangerous Trump is gone it should be addressed – hopefully very fast. The suspense is:
WHO will be the first current or former Democrat Congresswoman/man or Senator to publicly acknowledge and confirm the scam of the century -- the Russia-gate conspiracy – concocted by Hillary-Obama-Biden? There is no possibility of "unity and healing" in the US until that.
Most of "our" representatives are millionaires, some even billionaires, especially among “hidden” but controlling DNC oligarchs – some might be tempted to confirm the obvious truth, many of their family members or close friends or lovers might provide detailed testimonies, etc.
My personal hope is that heroic Tulsi Gabbard might state it, now that despicable Trump has defeated himself and is gone. Her brilliant and epic response after Hillary criminally called her -- “Russia’s asset” is still ringing in my ears:
“Great! Thank you @HillaryClinton . You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long, have finally come out from behind the curtain. From the day I announced my candidacy, there has been a concerted campaign to destroy my reputation. We wondered who was behind it and why. Now we know — it was always you, through your proxies and powerful allies in the corporate media and war machine, afraid of the threat I pose. It’s now clear that this primary is between you and me. Don’t cowardly hide behind your proxies”.
By far the highest interest of Biden government and its oligarch cabal is that Russia-gate immense hoax – the scam of the century -- will NOT / will NEVER be fully exposed. The entire anti-Russian fairytale is a deliberate fabrication -- the worst scam in US history is DNC/CIA Russia-gate hoax. They lost to a TV host and instead of reflection, they latched onto a moronic conspiracy theory -- this includes the completely (proven) false accusations that Russia gave WikiLeaks Hillary's emails (hence the TOTAL silence on Assange persecution and torture). The publisher of our century and the leading free speech advocate, Julian Assange must be silenced -- ALL the plotters/players agree...
There has been collusion between media, Democrat party, Hi-Tech companies and the deep state (CIA, FBI, NSA) for now five years. The Russia-gate hoax and impeachment “entertainments” were concocted by Obama, Hillary, Biden, Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff, Maxine Waters, Jamie Raskin, etc. and their intelligence and DNC executives on behalf of their Wall Street and military industry donors. That lying war-mongering team is now back in power – note that Kamala Harris (and her sister) and Neera Tanden are Hillary's protégés; Pete Buttigieg was promptly rewarded for his role of election theft in Iowa, etc.
Remember, Clapper, Brennan & Hayden trio were among Obama's 50 intelligence officials stating that Hunter-laptop is -- a classical “Russian disinformation”.
-- They were also key promoters of the by now five-year Russia-gate hoax.
-- They were also key intelligence executives in Obama/Biden/Hillary government – the government which hunted Snowden (forcing Bolivian plane with Bolivia’s president to land to search it) and armed Al Qaeda (including brazen “white helmets” hoax) and staged ALL chemical attacks in Syria to remove its government.
When asked about Hunter's corruption laptops - Pelosi brazenly stated "All roads lead to Putin"; commenting on Capitol invasion Schumer said - "worse than Pearl Harbor and 9/11"...
Lying Russia-gate team is fully back in power and working at full speed -- massive censorship is mandatory for them to preserve power.. Once again -- WHO among Democrat politicians will be the first whistleblower, demolish the silence and misinformation barrier, and confirm what most of the population already knows for years -- the Russia-gate hoax and the bipartisan anti-Syria alliance with Al Qaeda in massive crimes against humanity are the largest crimes against democracy in the US. which is rapidly morphing into United Soviets country (while "bad" Russia has not been Communist for 30+ years).
Recent US crimes against Haiti people -- by Hillary , Condoleezza Rice/Bush, Obama -- coups, military, exploitations of one of the poorest country, UN that brought in cholera (30,000+ dead, million sick) but negated the horror for six (read slowly - six) years.
A detailed, most horrible recent history of US colonialism -- kudos to Aaron Mate (always remember how vulgarly he was attacked by TYT's despicables - Ana & Cenk)
I remember watching SNL in 2004 when a Robert Smigel sketch called the middle red states "Dumbfuckistan." The New York audience howled with laughter, and the political web sites all loved it. A dozen years later, Hillary was dog whistling the same point when she called them "deplorables." It comes from both sides, obviously. But I think we've been on this road far longer than we like to admit. I have no idea how it gets better.
What I worry about is when those folks stop being proud and start getting angry. We aren't too far from that moment, and the Boomer selfiethon at the Capitol wasn't it.
I'm from flyover and have lived and worked in NYC. This Smigel orientation is the norm in NYC. For whatever reason, many of these folks despise much of America, particularly Christian and rural America.
I grew up in flyover and I know the wisdom and steady spirits of midwest people. Trump had rallies all summer and all were orderly and peaceful, unlike the BLM riots. Of course people are angry.
I first heard about the fact that it's no longer 'safe' to air your opinions in the US from young steelworkers who just happened to be on the same train to Munich that I was on. That was in 2010. It's frightening to watch America devour itself from up here in Canada, where we are daily subjected to the idiotic statements of our woke Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. But look again. Trudeau has recently passed laws that force you to address anyone who asks with wrong pronouns and also forbids you to air your honest opinions on race. Welcome to Canada...where things are even less free.
Justin Castro is a disaster, and Canada is one of the ground zeros for totalitarian takeover aka The Great Reset. Because people don't even fight back.
Vida Galore, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk... ice cream. Ice cream, Vida Galore, children's ice cream. It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Justin Castro Commie works.
Yes, medicating an entire population with literal industrial waste composed of a completely different compound than the one studied decades ago because it’s a highly profitable way to dispose of it even though it does have some adverse effects is clearly beyond question because HA HA WE HATE HER NO ONE LIKES HER NO ONE SITS WITH HER, LOOK WHAT SHE’S WEARING OMAGERD SCRUNCHIES ARE SOOOO 2020 HAHA.
Matt, this is your best piece ever and it needs to be printed in every publication everywhere. Name calling and blaming are part of an arrogance that makes both sides blind.
I didn't comment on your previous article concerning Tucker Carlson because I thought it was fair and balanced as we used to say in a far away galaxy, and would have been supported by those who support SubStack. Not so from your intro to today's essay, which is remarkable. Carlson is a reasonable voice from the Conservative side of the country. He's NOT Alex Jones or in any way equivalent. In your essay today you conflate the conservative opposition to ILLEGAL immigration with opposing immigration as a whole. This is simply not true, and the failed states Carlson referred to was in reference to the Latin America diaspora that challenges our immigration policies and southern borders. To take note of the vacuum Carlson is speaking into, name ONE Democrat congressperson or spokesperson in the media who dare to even use the qualifier "illegal" immigration let alone speak against it. They avoid the descriptive in order to pretend that all immigration should be viewed the same, which it should not. This deceptive and deceitful presentation is the kind of bias Carlson challenges, and does it well. We need the balance in our politic, not the virulent accusatory posturing that poses for reason. I continue to support your site, as well as Glenn Greenwald's AND Tucker Carlson's so that we might keep our perspective open and sharp.
I disagree that Taibbi was in any way comparing Tucker Carlson to Alex Jones. But I liked your post anyway, because the Taibbi comment about the educational status of Nigerian immigrants is a red herring. You are precisely right. While there are a variety of different immigration programs, legal immigrants, aside from refugees and asylum applicants, are largely people selected for their education, wealth and/or self-sufficiency. Of course our country benefits from this type of legal immigration. That is not controversial in any conservative circle and it's not what Tucker Carlson is referring to.
I wasn't suggesting Matt made the comparison. He stated the comparison in his essay, which is why I followed on his reference. Thanks for helping to clarify.
The more apt critique of that tweet, which must be stated to all journalist and serious thought merchants is - get the fuck off Twitter! Post a link to your article, with a non-clickbait headline and leave it at that. Effective communication cannot be attained in 200 characters or less (or whatever it is now). The idea that you will accurately convey what you want with such limitations is absurd. As Matt points out, you will only do your message irreparable harm.
I don't know. Some, overwhelmingly on the left, are aiming to"modify" the First Amendment, to regulate the type of information we get to see and hear. We're a liberal democracy. Suppressing opposition -de-platforming, another word I hate, ostracizing, ruining lives, firing if they can, or with rifle butts, is wrong because it's wrong. It's dehumanizing. The difference between de-platforming and a rifle butt is one of degree, isn't it? A marker for a two-bit, fascist frame of mind.
Suppression is wrong not because a successor may be "even worse," or because in some way it may make the job of putting over an authoritarian ideology a tad harder, but because the targeted commentator has a right to opine and the people who listen to him the right to listen. Zealots have no right to flip the switch.
I've always objected to limiting arguments against cruety to animals to its impact on humans -- "it brutalizes humans," or violence toward animals can to violence toward humans. It stands on its own. It's wrong because it hurts animals.
I think we've got an entitlement problem here, people who think they are the center of the universe, a mass-pathology with split-second conversions that is unappeasable. That's pretty dangerous. With all of the institutions captured, it should alarm that "they" want the one uncaptured mainstream platform gone. Going after one mainstream commentator after another until none is left, no opinion but theirs, is the antithesis of everything the U.S. stands for, and it's not somewhere I want to live. It's anti-First Amendment. That's what the Dark Age was all about. Our way, only and always.
I can attest that alligator and rattlesnake are delicious. Never ate bear, but I hear good things. There is a vast spectrum of carnivorous/omnivorous marine life (fish, crustaceans) which are commonly eaten by humans.
You are of course entitled to your personal preferences, but this may be where our beliefs differ. I do not make any distinction between "human" and "animal" because humans are animals. Homo sapiens is a great ape, family Hominidae. We're in the food chain.
Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you.
Human primates is pedantic.. You got the point. We're in the food chain, yet declare ourselves the only "moral" animal. And that's a joke. It is magical to know a black bear, not eat one, and cows are cool and laid back and gentle as can be' with 4-inch long eyelashes. And so on.
For years I thought the line in Thick as a Brick was "they make their animals meals." It wasn't, but it should be.
You shouldn't have to explain that Carlson piece. Anybody who actually reads it should comprehend what it's actually saying, and anyone who attacks you for its very existence will not be swayed something like this. If anything, they'll dig in on you even further now.
It was a great, important piece in keeping with all of your recent work. The #resistance-brained trolls are going to attack anyone for even considering Carlson anything other than a dangerous, anti-American white supremacist. We've absolutely lost the thread of logic and reason with these discussions. Carlson is worth protecting, and I don't even watch his show. I think he's kind of an asshole.
As an addendum: if anyone hasn't read this great piece about Jonathan Cook about the constant attacks from the (former) left on Greenwald (and Taibbi), it really breaks down this phenomenon, where there is no way to argue with silly smears (in particular the recent ones by Nathan Robinson/Plantation Ridder, "the world's thickest brain"): https://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog/2021-06-22/greenwald-trump-happened/
I’ve said this here, and in other places, before: the #Resistance will never, ever forgive Matt and Glenn for being right about Russia. Seeing integrity and journalistic standards actually shames them.
"Resistance" is such a funny word they chose, when they represent the establishment 100%.
These self identified "resistance" folks are re-living a 1960's ideal that never was. Protesting is good no matter what is being protested. Babbling on and on about American Imperialism and other cliched pseudo-intellectual conversations has replaced actual critical thinking and research. Most never know what they don't know and bask in their lack of actual knowledge. Emotion replaces facts and reality. The modern day leftists is a ball of anger and angst all wrapped in a poor education.
Anyone seeking information and truth MUST stay far away from the MSM and cable news. Emotional validation is their drug of choice. Hate is an emotion that needs constant validation and support lest it burn itself out in a flash of unbalanced thinking. MSM and cable news feeds individuals hate and fear while selling you crap you don't need.
Critical thinking skills are at a premium. Such is the world in which we now live.
The wokesters are totally reliving the late 1960s-as they were in China!!!!!
No, they picked it up from the last three Star Wars films.
Well said, you nailed it.
It also implies their opposition are Nazis, which is quite the acceleration for the accepting, virtuous folks they believe themselves to limitlessly be.
just another word thats lost all meaning
Yes, one of many.
That's exactly right. Psychologically speaking, Matt and co's standards only serve to illustrate their lacking of, which triggers shame, followed by embarrassment, followed by anger and lashing out. It's very akin to their projection with Trump - they're all narcissist, and he simply mirrored back what they don't like about themselves. In fact, the "tactics" that Matt outlines in this very article are straight out of the Narc playbook and this is not figurative speech.
And yet, as I read or heard somewhere, "Where there is shame, there remains hope" The shame means they comprehend right and wrong, and recognize they were wrong. Now if only they ever grow up enough to admit to it ...
Problem is, these people never feel shame. Shame is just a weapon that sociopaths wield against the decent.
As an addendum to the addendum, this piece by Michael Tracey on Bill Cosby maybe breaks down the is phenomenon even better, wherein he explains that the ideological incoherence is a feature, not a bug:
https://mtracey.substack.com/p/bill-cosby-and-the-incoherence-of
That Tracey piece was great. Imagine if Bill Cosby's release had been headlined by the left as "Black Man's Conviction Overturned After Court Finds Due Process Rights Violated." Because that's what happened.
Exactly! Or if the headline said "First Black Star on Television and Civil Rights Hero Convicted and Imprisoned Via Illegal Methods." Of course we wouldn't see this headline during our racial "reckoning." (Similarly, Spike Lee tried to defend his friend, and fellow Knicks' fan Woody Allen, during the height of the protests last summer saying that he believed in his friend. He was so hounded that he had to repeatedly apologize within 24 hours. Spike Lee! It's the perfect place where the excesses of MeToo become instersectional, if you will, with the excesses of BLM.)
I'm glad Tracey called out Amber Tamblyn here. At the height of the MeToo kerfuffle — of which she was one of the loudest celebrity voices — people continually asked her if she believed in due process. She finally answered them in some weird, mumbly way (on Twitter, natch) by saying “People keep asking me if I believe in innocent until proven guilty. When it comes to sexual assault, I believe in suspect until proven innocent. Goodnight.”
This is the twisted, inside-out version of liberalism we're dealing with here. As Tracey correctly points out, it's equal parts messy, confusing and dissonant by design.
It was a high profile celebrity whose rights were violated. Cosby should never be confused with an actual Black person. His privilege and hubris were off the charts even for a rich white person. For a career prosecutor looking for a target of opportunity, that might net him some higher political office, Mr. Cosby was an irresistible trophy. Due process is violated in almost every case that some prosecutor needs for his political advantage. Innocent individuals have been executed to serve the political careers of many prosecutors. Has ANY prosecutor ever gone to jail for their violations of due process? Nifong from the fake Duke prosecution was the highest profile prosecutor ever exposed for his over the top political prosecution of some white students based on the lies of an "exotic dances." He got off pretty unscathed given the nationwide division caused by his egotistical pursuit of those "privileged" white students who turned out to be totally innocent of the horrendous charges leveled at them. Most were from working class parents who never understood the symbolism being pushed by the academics and other elites wanting to make their children the fall guys for every racial crime ever.
Looking at the Cosby case from a strictly legal perspective (as opposed to a Hail Mary pass to punish a true deviant predator), and your headline would be correct-upon his conviction Cosby’s lawyer said he was confident the case would be overturned and he would set a precedent in the SC if things got that far.
Tracy needs wider readership. He annoys me in some ways but the net balance is positive.
I agree. He's truly fearless, and he's become the most hated man on the left for it. During his coverage of violence during last summer's protests, the nasty comments on his Twitter posts were authored by a who's who of democrat-aligned media personalities whose brains have been swallowed whole by the internet.
When I saw Naomi Klein respond to one of Tracey's very unpopular (but very true) musings with a "fuck off Troll!," I knew it was all over.
The reason why my libtarded neighbors still believe in “mostly peaceful” protests is because Tracey was only journalist to revisit the ravaged neighborhoods and do a devastating story on them. All other journalists were too terrified, or else themselves cult members.
That's why I started reading Andy Ngo. I don't care if he's a conservative he's doing the work to expose those dirtbags.
What's the point of calling people names like "libtard"? Did you miss the whole point of the article?
It's so fucking painfully lame and trite to read or hear shit like this. Do you have your own brain or do you routinely regurgitate bs you hear on TV or online? Try to have a fucking original thought in your head and if you don't, just sit there quitely, shut the fuck up, and listen/watch the adults do it.
Fucking ape.
Just in case you haven’t read in the dozens of outlets where the news came out a long time ago, after careful study 93% of the protests were found to be peaceful. You need to understand this, especially when you put quotation marks around “mostly peaceful” as if it wasn’t true when it is true. So if you’re just going to cherry pick facts that make you feel good then why don’t you be careful to look both ways before you go fuck yourself!
My favorite was some CNN showing a burning building calling it 'mostly peaceful'.
I absolutely agree with this.
I think Tracey can be hit or miss myself, and that he occasionally relishes occupying the “troll” role he’s continually saddled with.
This Cosby piece - and his follow-up from a couple of days later - absolutely hit it out of the park. They’re about way more than Bill Cosby, and if you fall into old school class-first lefty politics, they’re a sign of hopefully great work to come.
(And this is an excellent follow-up to an excellent piece.)
That piece lost me at "Cosby is 84 and a threat to no one and there's no other possible reason to imprison him". I don't mind if you don't agree with deterrence, but to not even be able to come up with it as a concept?
Thanks to Viagra, that’s not true.
I respectfully disagree. I think it's referred to as fighting the good fight, where the weapons are reasoned, tempered, exposition. This follow up piece is a great example of staying the course! Because while some will never be persuaded - getting through to some, if not many, IS possible!
I think the follow-up piece is great, and a pretty necessary addendum to yesterday's piece, and I 100% get why he wrote it, and I'm glad it exists.
My main point is that the group of "what happened to you Matt?" types are not going to be swayed by anything. Saying that Tucker Carlson deserves his free speech and free press rights, that Facebook shouldn't censor private messages, or that maybe Trump wasn't always an secret agent of the Russian government is enough for the Democratic Party-aligned hive-mind to brand Taibbi as a primary agent of wrongthink, and that he should be next in line for the gulag (after Carlson, that is).
I'm glad the rest of us have him to read, and I gladly pay for the privilege.
Understood. First, I should have replied to your first post, in which the first paragraph is what I was refuting. And that's not even true - I'm very empathetic to the sentiment. He *shouldn't* have to. You're right, but that's not the world we live in, as they say.
You're also right about those that will not be converted. In social research, it is said that a person can only be moved over two spots on a 5 point likert scale. Therefore someone on the extreme side of any issue, can only ever be moved to the middle (neutral), which is also very rare. At the same time, those who would actively smear him, may be persuaded to stop that, even if theirs opinions don't actually change.
But you don't write this piece for them. You write this follow up for those who are on the fence. For those people who read the first piece yesterday and were genuinely compelled by the reasoning, only to then read all the criticism and brush it off as a smooth-talking manipulation. Again, I presume he's fighting for the hearts and minds of those willing to align with reason and harmony.
I don't disagree with any of this. One of the reasons I prefer reading Matt to a lot of other old school leftists who critique both the democratic party and the remnants of an American leftist politics, and who can be intentionally over-provocative or nakedly contrarian, is Matt's thoughtfulness and levelheadedness. Matt is one of the few writers left that you can email to a close friend fuming about the Twitter outrage of the week without heavy blowback (usually).
That said — and why I made this point in the first place — defending Tucker Carlson, even if it's just Carlson's basic civil liberties and not his content, is perhaps a bridge too far for a lot of people after an orchestrated campaign to make him look like the "new king of America's angry white voters."
I got into another discussion with someone further down in this comment section who keeps claiming that they're against censoring Carlson, but want everyone to admit loudly and strongly that Carlson is a "bad actor." If not censoring Carlson is important — and is the story we're all discussing here, not his ideology — why is it also important that we all recognize how he's some sort of nonredeemable stain on America? Doesn't it seem that trying to force that mode of thought is calling for his censorship?
(As an aside, I see people I know, and like, in the NYC art community on Twitter casually talking about Glenn Greenwald's "fascist" politics, as if that's a given. This group is so far gone on a shared, anxious in-group politics, that they'd all gladly vote to get rid of the first amendment at this point. There's no reasonable discussion possible, or allowed, on the topic of "not agreeing with everyone we agree with.")
I caught that thread, lol.
As I was reading, I was thinking to myself that this person *totally* accepts that free speech is a good and censorships is bad - in theory. lol
As they continued on, it was as if there's still some nagging voice in them that doesn't trust people to make their own determination. It's the same kind of person who wants to slap a warning label on everything.
“Fuming about the Twitter outrage of the week.” THAT’S THE PROBLEM. Fuck Twitter. Fuck social media. Are people’s lives really that empty that they have to fly into a rage over something that somebody who they don’t even know posted that they don’t like? Who cares?!? Y’all aren’t friends with them. You don’t know them. They won’t be coming over for dinner. You won’t be meeting them for drinks. So who gives a shit? I don’t care what Tucker Carlson said in his latest segment. I don’t care what Glenn Greenwald said in his latest tweet. And as much as it pains me to say this, I’m starting to get a little bored with what Matt Taibbi has to say, too. It seems to me that a lot of his articles lately are responses to things that have happened on Twitter etc. And twitter’s fucking stupid, so…
<<I see people I know, and like, in the NYC art community on Twitter casually talking about Glenn Greenwald's "fascist" politics, as if that's a given.>>
Jesus H. Christ on a crutch. I'm glad I'm not on NYC Art Twitter. I like art; I don't like Twitter.
Anyone who actually reads GG knows he spends a preponderance of his time beating up on the Bolsonaro regime. Are the cognoscenti really this shallow?
Tucker is not an asshole, he is courageous, he is what we need to fix this mess
He can be both. Sometimes being an asshole is what it takes to get people's attention. You don't have to like him to take him seriously.
I’ve seen segments of his that have though were quite good, but he often seems to often be pushing basic division in a way that makes me uncomfortable.
That said, his attacks on ultra-corporatism and nakedly money-grubbing politicians on both sides resonate. I do hope there’s a way at this point to bridge the gap between Tucker’s viewers mad at the system with Joe Rogan’s listeners, Krystal and Saagar’s viewers and Greenwald and Taibbi’s readers for a real political alternative. I think the anger and the self-righteousness need to be toned down in some quarters, but it’s worth exploring. There has to be something better.
Tucker Carlson lies, like the rug on my floor, so why would anyone take him seriously?
I think Tucker is an asshole. But I think that is beside any point that matters. I’ll listen to him. I’ll talk to people like him. Frequently will disagree. But I’ll value considering another POV.
Could you tell me what this point of view is, that you value considering?
It isn't that there is mine and one other. LOL. I'm talking about not shutting down other POVs, even ones I disagree with.
I looked in my dictionary for the definition of asshole and I’m sorry… There was a picture of Tucker Carlson…
At this stage, “asshole” is a badge of honor.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/07/17/killing-castro/
His show is pretty good- you should watch.
The Left now calls everyone a white supremacist..
The Woke Left
Who is this “The Left” that you speak of?
If you look, you’d see.
What an insipidly ignorant response
Then enlighten me.
Yes sneaky little dude… trying to avoid the question that I originally asked you which was “who is this “The Left” that you speak of?
+ 10 for being John J'onzz - the Martian Manhunter.
I have no interest in trying to censor anyone. Why should I? I'm not threatened by their beliefs. Only the people who are secretly afraid that their ideology doesn't really hold water are consumed with trying to suppress other people's criticisms of it or shout down those with differing opinions.
Oh, I don't know, maybe because some people (i.e. the largest oxygen suckers in the conservative eco-system) peddle lies such as climate change denial, stolen elections, voter fraud, vaccine skepticism, etc. Is it not possible that people like me think those are detrimental to our society as a whole and not because "my ideology doesn't hold water"?
More like climate alarmism is a racket, election fraud is real (at least above the 0% you folks peddle) and one side will go to court to avoid any possibility of finding an actual answer, vaccine resistance is not exclusive to one political party, and politics is driving medical policy. On the flip side, we hear non-stop about borders are racist, math is racist, men are exactly like women if they say they are, voter laws that only allow voting for 12 hours per day for a month are racist, expecting minorities to get ID is racist, taking a private jet to avoid a vote you were elected to cast is noble, 5 years of "Trump=Hitler and or Russian operative," cops spend their days finding new ways to hunt down black people, looting is a good thing, violence is peaceful, etc. Don't think for a minute one side is cornering the oxygen-sucking market. Even with all of this, there is still oxygen enough to agree we can speak freely and openly, we can disagree violently without violence, and we can hate ideas without hating people.
And don’t forget that both Hillary Clinton and Stacey Abrams questioning the outcome of an election was heroic.
That's a winner.
excellent
So your position is that only you and your fellow travelers are smart enough to detect these lies and there's just too many stupid people in the world who would fall for them? Have you ever thought that there's people who believe the same thing about you? Oh, but that's different! Because you own Truth.
There is truth in your words, there are “ just too many stupid people in the world”…
And what would you propose to do about it? I've heard there are these camps you can set up......
Well I suppose the basic proposal would be a much better education for most folks for a start. Also I’m not condoning shutting down anyone(excepting those “crying fire in a crowded theater”) but let’s stop giving equal weight to ridiculous arguments I.e.the earth is flat, the pandemic is manufactured news, and Elvis still lives.
Thank you for so aptly demonstrating the absurd black and white framing of issues that people use to stifle much-needed debate.
All the issues you listed are worth drilling down into because the answers require careful and nuanced analysis.
Is this Robin DiAngelo? We might have a celeb in our midst, friends!
She's got the snark down.
You’re a mentally ill cultist. A libtarded Scientologist. We are going to hav to deal with you as a society.
I wonder if you understand the irony of your response considering the point of this post....
I would say the irony is lost on both of you. You hide your contempt for those who disagree with you behind a thin veil of "civility" while Sevender here confuses name-calling with "honesty."
I was going to write that— but not as well as you did.👍
"Deal with you as a society"?
Fuck you, too.
And so your answer is to shut people down and not let them speak? Deplatform them? Publicly shame them? Wreck their livelihoods for this "wrong think?" Why do you think you are so special that you think you shouldn't have to hear ideas you don't like in the public forum? Debate ideas on merits. Don't kill them. You don't get to decide what's right for everyone simply via fiat.
Oh, btw, I'm a liberal. And I will stand with conservatives all day just to fight ignorami like yourself. I don't think you even realize just how illiberal and solipsistic your world view is.
One last thing, your ideology is leaking. Better get a bucket...
Free Cuba, screw BLM for supporting that regime.
Cuba has freed itself long ago from CIA-supported murderous Batista dictatorship and has stopped being a bordello operated by US Mafia and CIA for American tourists.
And yet, the people are rising up. Can you explain that? Hint: it ain't Covid.
Another and much better hint -- 70-year long illegal sanctions have been intensified by the War party.
"Don't you know there's a war on?" -- The one for our minds.
"Don't you know there's a war on?" - by Patrick Lawrence - The Scrum (substack.com)
https://thescrum.substack.com/p/dont-you-know-theres-a-war-on?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo1NTc3OTQsInBvc3RfaWQiOjM4NzU1OTI5LCJfIjoiMXJwZUYiLCJpYXQiOjE2MjY0NDIzMjAsImV4cCI6MTYyNjQ0NTkyMCwiaXNzIjoicHViLTExMjE2NCIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.J4s2q4MMuXXllTpsa9n7J1gga69CwEu4Tzyq6ye9Mf8
Could it be our embargo that keeps them from getting a lot of foods and medicines that they need not to mention technology and everything else the country needs I can explain it really easy and you’re right it ain’t Covid because their medical system is better than ours. They are even making their own vaccines of which they don’t have a shortage, what they need are SYRINGES which we are doing our best to keep them from getting!
Now it is a bordello for European sex tourists, b/c the economy is so trashed by the Castro regime.
When is the last time you were in Cuba? I have Cuban students who is certainly tell me things aren’t great over there but it isn’t a horrible hell hole that you describe… I think you’re another of those people that likes to pull facts out of their asses, damn, there are just too many of you…
You meant - by the US regime for 7 decades...
Cuba has freed yourself long ago. Close and return to Cuba the last vestiges of US colonialism - Guantanamo
Do you feel better now for having said that John Hohn? Are you practicing your moves after work so that you can be in the volunteer army that will storm the shores of Cuba? Or, as I suspect, are you just talking out of your ass?
This statement cannot be repeated enough. I hope someone asks Roger Goodell about having the slogan on NFL fields during a home Dolphins game!
On a related subject -- worth distributing. An extraordinary interview !! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iT3y7MktI
Recent US crimes against Haiti people -- by Hillary , Condoleezza Rice/Bush, Obama -- coups, military, exploitations of one of the poorest country, UN that brought in cholera (30,000+ dead, million sick) but negated the horror for six (read slowly - six) years.
A detailed, most horrible recent history of US colonialism -- kudos to Aaron Mate (always remember how vulgarly he was attacked by TYT's despicables - Ana & Cenk)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iT3y7MktI
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/07/17/killing-castro/
I’ve had a gripe with the Bureau of Land Management since my trip to the Grand Canyon.
Thanks for proving the point. Gotta love it when someone self-owns.
How certain are you in the accuracy of forecasts of the economic impact of climate change? Have you checked them?
I trust you're at least aware there are groups on all sides with vested economic interests.
Tell me: did you believe them when they told you LED light bulbs would have a better carbon footprint than incandescent ones, because they would last >20 years on average? lol
Incidentally, have you seen this article connecting the Cuban protests to Climate Change?
It's alarming stuff, but we must trust the science.
https://babylonbee.com/news/cnn-says-cuban-protest-likely-due-to-climate-change
THE Science(TM), as distinct from just science.
Here's an alternative view that may make for a more colorful (pun intended) talking point.
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2021/07/16/cuba-ground-zero-for-criminal-us-regime-change-operations/
Many of us on the real left believe that the Neo liberal bullshit government we have now is also “detrimental to our society as a whole”so where does this leave us? It ain’t just conservatives that are full of shit!
In a word, no.
How do you know the election wasn't stolen? Asking for a friend.
Point of order: if you make a claim, it’s on you to prove it. It’s not on me to disprove it.
vaccine skepticism is a lie?
you have literally zero concerns about the vaccine? (I got J&J, so don't bother)
Which is better?
Many lies, or one big official one?
Censoring information you think is detrimental, rather than opposing the information with information, is systemically “detrimental.”
Apologies - comments were locked, now open.
An excellent article Matt. I used to engage in political discussions with a co-worker many years ago. He was on the opposite side of me on almost every topic. Yet we were able to discuss things without calling each other evil. It is astonishing to me how we are unable to have serious discussions anymore. Emotional point scoring and trolling seems to be the norm.
Too many were fed emotional gobbledygook by guilty parents and ideological professors losing the ability to dialogue and dissent through analysis. It's amazing how few can articulate a cogent argument before imploding with emotional hyperbole!
Net behaviour carried over into real life.
ding ding ding
This piece was unexpectedly moving by the end. The marriage analogy and the point about the downstream consequences of cancelling is really compelling. You've written about this issue a lot, but I thought this was the best iteration of your viewpoint. Interestingly, I think it was the most upbeat and positive version too.
Yes, the marriage analogy was quite discerning, and to those of us experienced in . . . uh . . . the blessed union . . . very much to the point.
It reminds me of the Jordan Peterson quote on fights in marriage:
“ You’re having an argument with your partner and you say, “You’re a stupid person, and you’ve always been a stupid person. And as far as I can tell, as far into the future as I can see, you’re going to remain a stupid person.
So what are they supposed to do, what are they going to do when you say that? They’re going to cry, like, if you mean it. They’re going to get angry, if you mean it. And they don’t like you very much.”
Prove they aren’t stupid. Point out the other person married them.
Then you laugh and get on with it.
Yes, the end was very poignant.
I am the most conventional, middle of the road type of Democrat. And that makes me something of a political orphan.
I was the typical, middle class media consumer.
Then I started wondering about Russia gate. And how any comparison was dismissed as "whataboutism."
Any veering from the party line got me labeled a troll or a Trump supporter in the WaPo comments. Or people called me Vlad/Igor etc and asked about the weather in Moscow.
Taibbi, Greenwald, Weiss etc are the only places that seem rational at this point. Or where curiosity is not a sin.
Buddy I feel for you travelling in the WaPo comments. Good lord what a sycophantic, venomous bunch, perhaps only rivaled by the NYTs.
Personally, I miss the NPR comment section, they had something there, but people talking is dangerous you know, so of course they had to shut it down.
"Or people called me Vlad/Igor etc."
They should commit Seppuku.
Except that Bari Weiss is a racist -- among other, she openly adores racist Likudnik Nathan Sharansky
Weiss isn't my favorite, she has her moments, but overwhelmingly is cringe. Her Joe Rogan appearance was a hoot. Whatever you do, don't read the YouTube comments on that one, although I'm sure they've been expunged.
Yes, she was instructed by her handlers to attack Tulsi Gabbard on Joe Rogan show. She was in total disbelief that anybody can reject CIA and Israel propaganda on Syria. Bari's behavior was incredibly repulsive - she fully showed her propagandist colors.
On the other hand, Joe Rofan behaved with very high integrity -- he interviewed Tulsi earlier and as a result -- admired and liked her.
ALWAYS remember Tulsi's heroic response to Hillary's truly criminal accusations:
"Great! Thank you @HillaryClinton . You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long, have finally come out from behind the curtain. From the day I announced my candidacy, there has been a concerted campaign to destroy my reputation. We wondered who was behind it and why.
Now we know — it was always you, through your proxies and powerful allies in the corporate media and war machine, afraid of the threat I pose. It’s now clear that this primary is between you and me. Don’t cowardly hide behind your proxies".
How often you hear a naked truth from a US politician?
And - it is even worse than I thought -- continuation of major crimes...
On a different subject -- worth distributing.
An extraordinary interview !! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iT3y7MktI
Recent US crimes against Haiti people -- by Hillary , Condoleezza Rice/Bush, Obama -- coups, military, exploitations of one of the poorest country, UN that brought in cholera (30,000+ dead, million sick) but negated the horror for six (read slowly - six) years.
A detailed, most horrible recent history of US colonialism -- kudos to Aaron Mate (always remember how vulgarly he was attacked by TYT's despicables - Ana & Cenk)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iT3y7MktI
Tolerant Fellowjust now
I remember that moment from the debates, but rereading Tulsi really dropped the hammer.
I recall every internet poll had her decisively winning the debate, and google searches for her name skyrockted. The media of course attributed it to Russian bots.
I hope Tulsi comes back in one form or the other. While there are plenty of capable leaders, few seem to be as capable and purpose-built to unite the country and confront select subversive, entrenched power centers.
Thank you - and remember Google disconnected her Web site at the moment people maximally wanted to learn more about her. Her ;lawsuit was rejected -- she couldn't prove it was malicious rather than a technical glitch ;-))
We are all playing like we are a violin...
Oh yeh, forgot about that too. I’m sure it was just a glitch. Perhaps a fat finger from a low level employee.
I've seen the pile-on at WaPo for moderates like yourself. It ain't pretty. Sorry you had to deal with that.
'This is a much higher number than native-born Americans, 69% of whom say they are “ashamed” of some parts of our culture (just 39% of immigrants agree).'
Maybe if you've been told for decades now, accelerating over recent years, that your white man culture is white supremacist and shit, and deserves to be torn down your your pink ears, along with its history, as it is currently being...you wouldn't be so proud of it, either. Immigrants CHOOSE to move to America, so OF COURSE it's going to be the 'greatest country in the world' to them. They HAVE to believe that, otherwise why even bother moving from where they are?
There's a great old Australian film about the outback and what it does to people called Wake In Fright. Watch it, it's on Youtube. Donald Pleasence has a great line in it. A genteel Englishman is sneering at the alcohol-swilling, macho backwards outback town he finds himself in. Of the desperately boozed-up locals, and how proud they are of their small town, Pleasance, playing an alcoholic doctor, notes that "Discontent is a luxury of the well-to-do. If you've gotta live here, you might as well like it." Which sums things up quite nicely, for any and all strata of society, and any and all countries.
You can love where you live *and* be ashamed of parts of it. It's ok to acknowledge being ashamed that we tortured people during Bush 2's catastrophic tenure for example. Don't really think that's a particularly provocative opinion.
Lol...in 2003, someone in military intelligence stormed into a room and asked, "has anyone ever heard of this crazy concept called, t o r t u r e?" It is abhorrent, but it has existed for all time and has been employed by every administration since our founding. Right now, in a room somewhere on this planet, someone is having a very bad day answering questions posed by US intelligence. It is in no way provocative to oppose it, but it is naive to think GWB was the initiator and disingenuous to pin it on one side of the political spectrum.
Being ashamed that we codified torture as official US policy doesn't obscure other grossness from our intel services, past, present, or future. It's just an example of how you can like where you live and have serious problems with how your government acts in your name.
What's outrageous to me is, so many CIA programs are out there you can find proof of and read about, and they don't even try to cover them up (one such example is MKULtra, right there on Wikipedia). So if people don't get how psychopathic and evil our intel agencies are, it's because they're not looking.
Oh yeah. Overthrowing governments (Iran, Chile, etc.), Mockingbird, Paperclip, Operation CHAOS, etc. etc.
The shit we *know* about is supervillain stuff. Terrified about what's still under wraps.
Was reading today that Fauxi's wife wants to put drugs into the drinking water.
I can absolutely agree with that.
Thank you. Criminy. This is why they are so pro-Intel agencies. They have no clue what these people do.
Why skip Obama's 2 catastrophic tenures, for example? He delivered the death blow.
Didn't love Obama's tenure but the "we torture people now" era was the first time I was ever truly ashamed for my country. The fact that there were oodles of people willing to defend our policy of torture was really depressing.
Well, 'we' always tortured people but at least Bush didn't brag about it (that I recall). They were horrified and scrambled to cover up Abu Ghraib and the photos. But Obama said "we tortured some folks" (to make it all sound nice 'n' neighborly). I put them in the same boat. Just Obama seemed even more deceptive, whereas Bush's puppet status was pretty obvious.
What morally appalled me about Obama was the handwave.
GWB: [his administration tortures people] [he strenuously denies it] [a certain pro-torture demographic digs it because other Americans torturing people in a faraway land gets their rocks off]
Obama: "Yeah, we tortured some folks." It's the equivalence of "nothing to see here," except it's "there's a thing to see here, but we prefer not to look at it."
Can’t be ashamed of anything I’m not responsible for.
Someone wants to dump that bullshit on me? They can eat shit just as hard as the folks causing it in the first place.
100% correct.
Wake in Fright is free on tubi tv.
Two free venues to watch an excellent film in, great! "All the little Devils are proud of Hell."
I believe if you took most of the stuff Carlson says, tone down the hyperbole, and have Rachel Maddow snark it out as gospel on her show, the left would probably be OK with it.
I wish we could do this experiment. I think you might be onto something.
Really Matt you don't have to explain why you defended Carlson's right to...ah...y'know....give his opinion. I really didn't think that meant the two of you were going to race off to the prom together.
Even if I didn't agree with some of what Carlson says, I wouldn't want him silenced. Heck, I think watching Rachel Maddow has all the news value of listening to a car alarm blare for an hour yet I wouldn't support her gagging.
I pay for this shit because I know that you piss people off on both sides of our dysfunctional little political romper room.
Anything else would be a fucking bore.
The condition that seems most prevalent in preventing honest dialogue among all sides, is a failure to recognize the complexity of nearly every policy decision and to admit to oneself that, although you have a feeling or belief in what is the best thing to do in any given situation, you never "know" that something is right or that an alternative is wrong. For almost any situation, two people that agree 100% on a desired outcome (e.g., minimizing or eliminating the effects of racism), will each have a good faith belief that their plan of attack is the best way to get there. Differing on a path to the solution should never be judged immoral. Similar problems arise with the even higher degrees of complexity introduced when the concepts of limited resources and the ranking of priorities are introduced. Unfortunately, in much current debating, approaches to these issues from a standard of less than 100% certainty is either ignored or viewed as weak/ foolish.
Good observation.
"are" either ignored... Sorry cannot fix the typo
Assuming bad motives, in everyone who doesn’t agree with you, is all but the Essence of Wokeism.
Obviously there are a lot of people with a wide range of issues involved in shouting down and attempting to stifle free expression. I think a lot of them do assume bad motives must be behind any disagreement with their orthodoxy. But worse are those who do not believe in your bad motives or do not care but use these harsh charges cynically to shut down legitimate debate through intimidation.
Thank you -- we live in a major kleptocracy regime - at ALL levels. There is also a major and historic crime in progress in which both Joe Biden but also Jim Acosta types, play a leading role.
Despite of Glenn’s, Aaron’s, Max’s, Jimmy and Matt's and of so many others' years of debunking, the scam of the century – the Russia-gate hoax, now in its 5th-year and ongoing -- that major crime is not even acknowledged yet, since its major players (Biden, Pelosi, Schumer) sit in power.
Now that incompetent and dangerous Trump is gone it should be addressed – hopefully very fast. The suspense is:
WHO will be the first current or former Democrat Congresswoman/man or Senator to publicly acknowledge and confirm the scam of the century -- the Russia-gate conspiracy – concocted by Hillary-Obama-Biden? There is no possibility of "unity and healing" in the US until that.
Most of "our" representatives are millionaires, some even billionaires, especially among “hidden” but controlling DNC oligarchs – some might be tempted to confirm the obvious truth, many of their family members or close friends or lovers might provide detailed testimonies, etc.
My personal hope is that heroic Tulsi Gabbard might state it, now that despicable Trump has defeated himself and is gone. Her brilliant and epic response after Hillary criminally called her -- “Russia’s asset” is still ringing in my ears:
“Great! Thank you @HillaryClinton . You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long, have finally come out from behind the curtain. From the day I announced my candidacy, there has been a concerted campaign to destroy my reputation. We wondered who was behind it and why. Now we know — it was always you, through your proxies and powerful allies in the corporate media and war machine, afraid of the threat I pose. It’s now clear that this primary is between you and me. Don’t cowardly hide behind your proxies”.
By far the highest interest of Biden government and its oligarch cabal is that Russia-gate immense hoax – the scam of the century -- will NOT / will NEVER be fully exposed. The entire anti-Russian fairytale is a deliberate fabrication -- the worst scam in US history is DNC/CIA Russia-gate hoax. They lost to a TV host and instead of reflection, they latched onto a moronic conspiracy theory -- this includes the completely (proven) false accusations that Russia gave WikiLeaks Hillary's emails (hence the TOTAL silence on Assange persecution and torture). The publisher of our century and the leading free speech advocate, Julian Assange must be silenced -- ALL the plotters/players agree...
There has been collusion between media, Democrat party, Hi-Tech companies and the deep state (CIA, FBI, NSA) for now five years. The Russia-gate hoax and impeachment “entertainments” were concocted by Obama, Hillary, Biden, Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff, Maxine Waters, Jamie Raskin, etc. and their intelligence and DNC executives on behalf of their Wall Street and military industry donors. That lying war-mongering team is now back in power – note that Kamala Harris (and her sister) and Neera Tanden are Hillary's protégés; Pete Buttigieg was promptly rewarded for his role of election theft in Iowa, etc.
Remember, Clapper, Brennan & Hayden trio were among Obama's 50 intelligence officials stating that Hunter-laptop is -- a classical “Russian disinformation”.
-- They were also key promoters of the by now five-year Russia-gate hoax.
-- They were also key intelligence executives in Obama/Biden/Hillary government – the government which hunted Snowden (forcing Bolivian plane with Bolivia’s president to land to search it) and armed Al Qaeda (including brazen “white helmets” hoax) and staged ALL chemical attacks in Syria to remove its government.
When asked about Hunter's corruption laptops - Pelosi brazenly stated "All roads lead to Putin"; commenting on Capitol invasion Schumer said - "worse than Pearl Harbor and 9/11"...
Lying Russia-gate team is fully back in power and working at full speed -- massive censorship is mandatory for them to preserve power.. Once again -- WHO among Democrat politicians will be the first whistleblower, demolish the silence and misinformation barrier, and confirm what most of the population already knows for years -- the Russia-gate hoax and the bipartisan anti-Syria alliance with Al Qaeda in massive crimes against humanity are the largest crimes against democracy in the US. which is rapidly morphing into United Soviets country (while "bad" Russia has not been Communist for 30+ years).
Update and IMPORTANT -- An extraordinary interview !! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iT3y7MktI
Recent US crimes against Haiti people -- by Hillary , Condoleezza Rice/Bush, Obama -- coups, military, exploitations of one of the poorest country, UN that brought in cholera (30,000+ dead, million sick) but negated the horror for six (read slowly - six) years.
A detailed, most horrible recent history of US colonialism -- kudos to Aaron Mate (always remember how vulgarly he was attacked by TYT's despicables - Ana & Cenk)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iT3y7MktI
I remember watching SNL in 2004 when a Robert Smigel sketch called the middle red states "Dumbfuckistan." The New York audience howled with laughter, and the political web sites all loved it. A dozen years later, Hillary was dog whistling the same point when she called them "deplorables." It comes from both sides, obviously. But I think we've been on this road far longer than we like to admit. I have no idea how it gets better.
Some things backfire. Many tee shirts read “I am a proud deplorable”
What I worry about is when those folks stop being proud and start getting angry. We aren't too far from that moment, and the Boomer selfiethon at the Capitol wasn't it.
I'm from flyover and have lived and worked in NYC. This Smigel orientation is the norm in NYC. For whatever reason, many of these folks despise much of America, particularly Christian and rural America.
I grew up in flyover and I know the wisdom and steady spirits of midwest people. Trump had rallies all summer and all were orderly and peaceful, unlike the BLM riots. Of course people are angry.
They already got angry, they've been angry. How do you think Trump got elected? Dems are very slow learners.
Ha, ha, ha! I love you. You are as direct as flyover people. 😁
I’m suddenly filled with resolve to finally begin my long awaited hip hop career.
We’ll call it… Deplorables With Attitude.
I first heard about the fact that it's no longer 'safe' to air your opinions in the US from young steelworkers who just happened to be on the same train to Munich that I was on. That was in 2010. It's frightening to watch America devour itself from up here in Canada, where we are daily subjected to the idiotic statements of our woke Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. But look again. Trudeau has recently passed laws that force you to address anyone who asks with wrong pronouns and also forbids you to air your honest opinions on race. Welcome to Canada...where things are even less free.
Justin Trudeau, who wore blackface--repeatedly--and corrected someone who said mankind to say "peoplekind." Handsome dolt.
Canadian here. This is an utterly ridiculous summation of those laws.
Lmao No it isn’t. We read Canadian news, too.
Justin Castro is a disaster, and Canada is one of the ground zeros for totalitarian takeover aka The Great Reset. Because people don't even fight back.
Vida Galore, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk... ice cream. Ice cream, Vida Galore, children's ice cream. It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Justin Castro Commie works.
I got a Berkey. There is no flouride in my life. You want that in your food for real? Why? Are your teefs rotting?
Yes, medicating an entire population with literal industrial waste composed of a completely different compound than the one studied decades ago because it’s a highly profitable way to dispose of it even though it does have some adverse effects is clearly beyond question because HA HA WE HATE HER NO ONE LIKES HER NO ONE SITS WITH HER, LOOK WHAT SHE’S WEARING OMAGERD SCRUNCHIES ARE SOOOO 2020 HAHA.
You should just give me the code now, and if those devils come back and try any rough stuff, we'll fight them together!
I'm a US citizen, so Justin Castro is not 'mine'. As for the rest of your blather - is that some lame attempt at sarcasm?
You'd move to Canada? They are just behind Australia w/complete totalitarian rule. No thanks. I'd rather be in the US duking it out at least.
You got that right. There's no opposition, no argumentation, no nothing, just sheeplike acquiesce A Nation of Sheep will beget a government of wolves.
Nah, just sheep larping wolves.
Is larping a new word? I kind of like it, but not sure what it means. Possibly the algorithm decided to make it up....
LARP = Live Action Role Play
Maybe if we go fash, someone will Anschluss you. It would be doing you a favor at this point.
I think if Trump had been re-elected, Alberta would’ve switched sides.
Just wait long enough; it will happen anyhow when the water runs out down south...
When I talk to someone I use only one pronoun: you.
Matt, this is your best piece ever and it needs to be printed in every publication everywhere. Name calling and blaming are part of an arrogance that makes both sides blind.
Every piece seems to be the best piece, ever.I thought that yesterday--then there is today.
I didn't comment on your previous article concerning Tucker Carlson because I thought it was fair and balanced as we used to say in a far away galaxy, and would have been supported by those who support SubStack. Not so from your intro to today's essay, which is remarkable. Carlson is a reasonable voice from the Conservative side of the country. He's NOT Alex Jones or in any way equivalent. In your essay today you conflate the conservative opposition to ILLEGAL immigration with opposing immigration as a whole. This is simply not true, and the failed states Carlson referred to was in reference to the Latin America diaspora that challenges our immigration policies and southern borders. To take note of the vacuum Carlson is speaking into, name ONE Democrat congressperson or spokesperson in the media who dare to even use the qualifier "illegal" immigration let alone speak against it. They avoid the descriptive in order to pretend that all immigration should be viewed the same, which it should not. This deceptive and deceitful presentation is the kind of bias Carlson challenges, and does it well. We need the balance in our politic, not the virulent accusatory posturing that poses for reason. I continue to support your site, as well as Glenn Greenwald's AND Tucker Carlson's so that we might keep our perspective open and sharp.
One of the Wokies' mantras is "no human is illegal" which is why I am guessing the blue team won't use that word.
illegal immigration conflation is a foundational lie of the modern left
I disagree that Taibbi was in any way comparing Tucker Carlson to Alex Jones. But I liked your post anyway, because the Taibbi comment about the educational status of Nigerian immigrants is a red herring. You are precisely right. While there are a variety of different immigration programs, legal immigrants, aside from refugees and asylum applicants, are largely people selected for their education, wealth and/or self-sufficiency. Of course our country benefits from this type of legal immigration. That is not controversial in any conservative circle and it's not what Tucker Carlson is referring to.
I wasn't suggesting Matt made the comparison. He stated the comparison in his essay, which is why I followed on his reference. Thanks for helping to clarify.
Thought the same thing. Carlson has welcomed immigrants, that meet the legal requirements. The country would be better off having them here.
The more apt critique of that tweet, which must be stated to all journalist and serious thought merchants is - get the fuck off Twitter! Post a link to your article, with a non-clickbait headline and leave it at that. Effective communication cannot be attained in 200 characters or less (or whatever it is now). The idea that you will accurately convey what you want with such limitations is absurd. As Matt points out, you will only do your message irreparable harm.
It seems like the essential point you're making is the same as Tiabbi.
I don't know. Some, overwhelmingly on the left, are aiming to"modify" the First Amendment, to regulate the type of information we get to see and hear. We're a liberal democracy. Suppressing opposition -de-platforming, another word I hate, ostracizing, ruining lives, firing if they can, or with rifle butts, is wrong because it's wrong. It's dehumanizing. The difference between de-platforming and a rifle butt is one of degree, isn't it? A marker for a two-bit, fascist frame of mind.
Suppression is wrong not because a successor may be "even worse," or because in some way it may make the job of putting over an authoritarian ideology a tad harder, but because the targeted commentator has a right to opine and the people who listen to him the right to listen. Zealots have no right to flip the switch.
I've always objected to limiting arguments against cruety to animals to its impact on humans -- "it brutalizes humans," or violence toward animals can to violence toward humans. It stands on its own. It's wrong because it hurts animals.
I think we've got an entitlement problem here, people who think they are the center of the universe, a mass-pathology with split-second conversions that is unappeasable. That's pretty dangerous. With all of the institutions captured, it should alarm that "they" want the one uncaptured mainstream platform gone. Going after one mainstream commentator after another until none is left, no opinion but theirs, is the antithesis of everything the U.S. stands for, and it's not somewhere I want to live. It's anti-First Amendment. That's what the Dark Age was all about. Our way, only and always.
You can stop eating animals but you can't stop the animals from eating each other.
The ones we eat, cows, chickens, quail, deer, pigs, don't eat other animals.
I can attest that alligator and rattlesnake are delicious. Never ate bear, but I hear good things. There is a vast spectrum of carnivorous/omnivorous marine life (fish, crustaceans) which are commonly eaten by humans.
I used " we" as in humans. I do not eat animals.
You are of course entitled to your personal preferences, but this may be where our beliefs differ. I do not make any distinction between "human" and "animal" because humans are animals. Homo sapiens is a great ape, family Hominidae. We're in the food chain.
Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you.
Human primates is pedantic.. You got the point. We're in the food chain, yet declare ourselves the only "moral" animal. And that's a joke. It is magical to know a black bear, not eat one, and cows are cool and laid back and gentle as can be' with 4-inch long eyelashes. And so on.
For years I thought the line in Thick as a Brick was "they make their animals meals." It wasn't, but it should be.
Cows are that way thanks to artificial evolution. Which, not incidentally, is why they are delicious too.
Just saying.