Blue and true
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Brilliant news.
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Donald Trump
- Thread starter kaz7
- Start date
Brilliant news.
MillionMilesAway
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What's the margin of error on that? What about the other 9% (only 2% in 2020).
3.4 % margin of error.
Much of the reaction is based on it being Anne Selzer in Iowa - her record there is extremely good.
3% RFK (down from 9 in June, 6 in September)
1% Libertarian Chase Oliver
1% someone else
3% aren’t sure
2% don’t want to say
yes, it does add up to 101%
BlueMoonAcrossThePond
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With respect, this view is extremely reductionist.Because supporting him makes them feel like they are causing pain to the women (and men) they don’t like.
It is getting a little tiresome explaining this over and over (apologies — I know you’re just mystified because all logic seems against any normal human supporting him). But their support is all about “owning the libs”, or “the woke” or “the elites” or whatever. That’s it. That why the worse he gets, the more they dig in their heels. Things become clearer when you think about this as a spite vote.
Some of those folks with a brain, conscience, self-awareness and courage, however, are starting to figure it out. I hope there are enough of them.
Yes, "own the libs" is an important factor. But one needs to explore the topic in much more detail to understand why Trump is so popular.
Why do Republicans want to "own the libs"? - for starters.
There is at least one recent Amanpour video that explores this very topic. And a book (What's the Matter With Kansas by Thomas Frank - somewhat dated, published in 2004) that I have not had time to read but would like to. And these resources of course only begin to scratch the surface.
As a person whose father grew up in rural Missouri, I have my own views - which are somewhat different than those of Sarah Smarsh's - the author interviewed in Amanpour and are more in line with the synopsis of Frank's work I read.
This topic is so complex that I cannot possibly do it justice in a single post - both for lack of space and because, frankly, I have not studied the topic in depth.
I conclude with this: the surge in populism which American is now experiencing is far from unique. The exact thing is happening in numerous democratic countries across the world. That populism is on the rise world-wide is not a coincidence, and, has little to do with "owning the libs" - or the geographically-adjusted equivalent.
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bluethrunthru
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very funny
MillionMilesAway
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BlueMoonAcrossThePond
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If Trump wins the trifecta, President, House and Senate, there's no stopping him. In this scenario, no branch of federal government will act as a curb against whatever Trump wants. It's a doomsday scenario, but one that is entirely possible, though I think, unlikely.It's a country that allows teenagers to buy firearms over the counter at the supermarket, rationality isn't really their thing. Thankfully he has more chance of winning a Nobel Peace prize than he does of enacting his policies.
SWP's back
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Trump is hugely unpopular with the majority of women though and it’s having knock on effects that Darwin would smile at.I can sort of understand the macho right wing huntin', shootin', fishin' redneck male voters being all over Trump, but what I don't get is why so many women seem to idolise him, despite him being a complete misogynistic c*nt.
Trump is hugely unpopular with the majority of women though and it’s having knock on effects that Darwin would smile at.
Given the Republican convention is a notorious safe space for stepping out of the closet I reckon they'll ultimately make do without their beards
SWP's back
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This would literally be the end of any other politician but his fans couldn’t care less.
BlueMoonAcrossThePond
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What (Some) Rural Conservatives May Believe - Based On Personal Experience
Skip this post - if you dislike speculative commentary - which might well fail to apply in general. This post is based on my own, personal, childhood experience.
To set the stage, my father grew up in rural Missouri, pre-depression. Born in 1928. This post is mostly about my father, and the inferences I draw about what some rural Americans may believe... but in full fairness, my mother's upbringing and origin of birth also impacts my view.
My mother was born in Guam. Also in 1928. She experienced the brutality of WWII first hand. Her father was a drunkard who died early. Her mother was temperamentally-challenged - often subject to near hysteria, often yelling at the slightest provocation. My mother eventually became similar.
WIth that out of the way...
Skip this post - if you dislike speculative commentary - which might well fail to apply in general. This post is based on my own, personal, childhood experience.
To set the stage, my father grew up in rural Missouri, pre-depression. Born in 1928. This post is mostly about my father, and the inferences I draw about what some rural Americans may believe... but in full fairness, my mother's upbringing and origin of birth also impacts my view.
My mother was born in Guam. Also in 1928. She experienced the brutality of WWII first hand. Her father was a drunkard who died early. Her mother was temperamentally-challenged - often subject to near hysteria, often yelling at the slightest provocation. My mother eventually became similar.
WIth that out of the way...
Episode One:
===========
It's late December - Christmas time. As usual, in my early years - I'm 4 or 5 at this time - we drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where my father works as a PHd mathematician for Sandia - to my Grandfather's farm, in - well - the middle of nowhere - somewhat near Everton, Missouri.
It's a fun time for me. One day, my Grandfather, Father and I hike out into the woods on the edge of the farm to cut down a Christmas tree.
And yet, an undercurrent of... something wrong pervades. I don't remember all the details... but, at some point, there's a gathering in Grandfather's house. I'm in a side-room with my Mother, who is distraught. She tells me that Grandfather is prejudiced. When I ask Mom, what "prejudiced" means - she says that Grandfather doesn't like her.
Episode Two:
===========
I'm now 14-or-so. My cousins and I are on Grandfather's farm - or, perhaps I should say, Grandmother's farm as Grandfather passed away about 7 years ago...
So let me restart...
My cousins and I are on Grandmother's farm. My Uncle and Aunt drove to Missouri on summer vacation along with their 4 children. My Mother and Aunt are best friends, and everything is wonderful.
My Father, though, is upset with Uncle. Each year our family visits Grandmother's farm, and Father pitches in. Our farm derives its livelihood from raising cattle, feeding them on hay grown on our acreage.
My Father has learnt from his Father the ethic of hard work. Of what it means to be a man: a man must pitch in; a man must not rely on others except in need; a man must earn his keep.
Because of Father's ethic, he runs into conflict with Uncle, who is simply at the farm at his wife's behest. Father confronts Uncle and makes clear that this is no picnic... and that Uncle must earn his way.
Next day, Uncle is out with Father driving tractors, bailers, and combiners... using a pitchfork to lift 50 lb hay bales to pitch them up to Father in our barn. I too pitch in - but due to my youth I'm not helping much.
The following day, Uncle is in complete agony - in bed - unable to move. It turns out that Uncle had a back condition - which all the hard work of the previous day - flared up. Father feels bad about this.
Episode Three:
============
I'm now 15-or-so. My family drives to Missouri to visit Grandmother. As usual, this is on a Greyhound bus. It takes roughly 3 days (we now live in Livermore, CA - my father still works for Sandia - we moved to Sandia-Livermore when I was a bit short of 6). Supposedly taking Greyhound is less expensive than driving to Missouri in a car - or - than flying to Missouri and then renting a car. The trip - as usual - is fucking awful.
We eventually arrive at Grandmother's, having rented a car near the bus depot and then driving to the farm.
When we arrive, I immediately set out to the basement. It's got a pool table (I'm not much into pool) - but also a ping-pong table: and I love playing ping-pong.
My little brother - he's a year or so younger than I am - begin playing ping-pong.
Roughly 5 minutes later - Father storms into the basement. He's livid. He takes off his belt, runs at me, and proceeds to whip me 2 or 3 times across the buttocks. He's upset that Brother and I did not recognize the farm work ethic - in his mind, we were on Grandmother's farm to pitch in... and play was only to be contemplated once chores were done.
I - of course - was fucking pissed off at this - and seriously contemplated running away.
Grandmother was mortified... later, Father calmed down... and was, in fact, very sorry, for his actions.
Episode Four:
===========
Years, and years later. Father has died and so has Mother. I'm now 46 years old. Among Father's belongings, I find a diary kept by Grandmother...
In one of the entries, she confesses her like for Grandfather - she attended the same grade school as he. In the diary she reveals that Grandfather is very smart - which she likes - but that he intentionally hides his intelligence - to fit in among his peers.
===
Takeaways as to what some rural conservatives may believe...
From Episode One:
Rural Americans are prejudiced against others that do not look like them. Even those who are far more open-minded on this issue than others (e.g., my father who married an asian-looking woman from the pacific island of Guam) are prejudiced even if they don't realize this.
From Episode Two:
Self-reliance and work ethic are very strong. Anyone not obviously pitching in is disdained. The undercurrent of not trusting government partially stems from this.
Rural Americans don't see a need for big government. Indeed... I remember Father saying something along the lines that there are only two legitimate reasons for government, namely: 1) to protect against foreign invasion, and; 2) to deliver the mail.
From Episode Three:
Rural American's hold some of their values in extremis. Fall short of their beliefs, and you might well face attempted physical punishment.
From Episode Four:
Book-smart intelligence is disliked. Better to hide ones intelligence than to be caught out as a smarty-pants.
There's a built-in distrust of anyone claiming to know better about any topic whatsoever.
===========
It's late December - Christmas time. As usual, in my early years - I'm 4 or 5 at this time - we drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where my father works as a PHd mathematician for Sandia - to my Grandfather's farm, in - well - the middle of nowhere - somewhat near Everton, Missouri.
It's a fun time for me. One day, my Grandfather, Father and I hike out into the woods on the edge of the farm to cut down a Christmas tree.
And yet, an undercurrent of... something wrong pervades. I don't remember all the details... but, at some point, there's a gathering in Grandfather's house. I'm in a side-room with my Mother, who is distraught. She tells me that Grandfather is prejudiced. When I ask Mom, what "prejudiced" means - she says that Grandfather doesn't like her.
Episode Two:
===========
I'm now 14-or-so. My cousins and I are on Grandfather's farm - or, perhaps I should say, Grandmother's farm as Grandfather passed away about 7 years ago...
So let me restart...
My cousins and I are on Grandmother's farm. My Uncle and Aunt drove to Missouri on summer vacation along with their 4 children. My Mother and Aunt are best friends, and everything is wonderful.
My Father, though, is upset with Uncle. Each year our family visits Grandmother's farm, and Father pitches in. Our farm derives its livelihood from raising cattle, feeding them on hay grown on our acreage.
My Father has learnt from his Father the ethic of hard work. Of what it means to be a man: a man must pitch in; a man must not rely on others except in need; a man must earn his keep.
Because of Father's ethic, he runs into conflict with Uncle, who is simply at the farm at his wife's behest. Father confronts Uncle and makes clear that this is no picnic... and that Uncle must earn his way.
Next day, Uncle is out with Father driving tractors, bailers, and combiners... using a pitchfork to lift 50 lb hay bales to pitch them up to Father in our barn. I too pitch in - but due to my youth I'm not helping much.
The following day, Uncle is in complete agony - in bed - unable to move. It turns out that Uncle had a back condition - which all the hard work of the previous day - flared up. Father feels bad about this.
Episode Three:
============
I'm now 15-or-so. My family drives to Missouri to visit Grandmother. As usual, this is on a Greyhound bus. It takes roughly 3 days (we now live in Livermore, CA - my father still works for Sandia - we moved to Sandia-Livermore when I was a bit short of 6). Supposedly taking Greyhound is less expensive than driving to Missouri in a car - or - than flying to Missouri and then renting a car. The trip - as usual - is fucking awful.
We eventually arrive at Grandmother's, having rented a car near the bus depot and then driving to the farm.
When we arrive, I immediately set out to the basement. It's got a pool table (I'm not much into pool) - but also a ping-pong table: and I love playing ping-pong.
My little brother - he's a year or so younger than I am - begin playing ping-pong.
Roughly 5 minutes later - Father storms into the basement. He's livid. He takes off his belt, runs at me, and proceeds to whip me 2 or 3 times across the buttocks. He's upset that Brother and I did not recognize the farm work ethic - in his mind, we were on Grandmother's farm to pitch in... and play was only to be contemplated once chores were done.
I - of course - was fucking pissed off at this - and seriously contemplated running away.
Grandmother was mortified... later, Father calmed down... and was, in fact, very sorry, for his actions.
Episode Four:
===========
Years, and years later. Father has died and so has Mother. I'm now 46 years old. Among Father's belongings, I find a diary kept by Grandmother...
In one of the entries, she confesses her like for Grandfather - she attended the same grade school as he. In the diary she reveals that Grandfather is very smart - which she likes - but that he intentionally hides his intelligence - to fit in among his peers.
===
Takeaways as to what some rural conservatives may believe...
From Episode One:
Rural Americans are prejudiced against others that do not look like them. Even those who are far more open-minded on this issue than others (e.g., my father who married an asian-looking woman from the pacific island of Guam) are prejudiced even if they don't realize this.
From Episode Two:
Self-reliance and work ethic are very strong. Anyone not obviously pitching in is disdained. The undercurrent of not trusting government partially stems from this.
Rural Americans don't see a need for big government. Indeed... I remember Father saying something along the lines that there are only two legitimate reasons for government, namely: 1) to protect against foreign invasion, and; 2) to deliver the mail.
From Episode Three:
Rural American's hold some of their values in extremis. Fall short of their beliefs, and you might well face attempted physical punishment.
From Episode Four:
Book-smart intelligence is disliked. Better to hide ones intelligence than to be caught out as a smarty-pants.
There's a built-in distrust of anyone claiming to know better about any topic whatsoever.
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