K-9

Just so we're clear, I'm not investing too much energy in combating the pinheads that post crap here. I'm needed more on the front lines, on a much larger scale. But you bring up an interesting point and that is, the left just isn't devious and/or evil enough to fight fire with fire in when it comes to false news. I'll have to look for it, but some weeks ago an analysis of false news was done and something like 75% of all false news stories planted on social media were attributable to right wing sources. While I'm not sure exactly what that says, I have an inkling.

^Yep.

All true. But with the proliferation of fake news in social media and the ever increasing percentage of people that get their news from these sources, we have to call it out. Fascists took over Europe because they were able to propagate lies through mass media and kept repeating them until they were accepted as truth. That's not being an alarmist, it's simply a regrettable fact. And the idea that it can't happen in this country is already being proved false; it is happening. Right now. As I type this. Like Steve Schmidt said, fascism didn't succeed because it was strong, but because democracy was weak. These false news narratives weaken our democracy and it is our responsibility to combat that at every turn. This is a war. When wingnuts with control of mass media outlets like Bannon keep using terms like "nationalist" like he did last week, it should raise flags for everyone concerned. Hitler had his Goebbels after all.

What a total crock of schit. Then again, crocks of schit is where you alt right wingnuts find your news so I'm not surprised. Not only did Clinton win the popular vote, but close to 8 million more people voted for somebody other than Trump. So much to be proud of.

I'm confident he's always gonna make the right play offensively. But he's often a liability on defense and I just don't think he's an NHL centerman at this point.

Oh for phuck sake, you are really trying hard to be obtuse. For the umpteenth time for clarity: All the people who voted for Trump aren't racists. They only voted for a racist. Why all the attempts at false equivalencies? All those black racists that voted for Obama didn't vote for a racist it's just that anyone who voted for Trump did, regardless whether they were racists or not. And while you're at it, take it upon yourself to learn more about him.

They didn't play NEARLY a part in that than the white males in those three states who voted for Obama played in getting him elected. It was those same democratic voters who switched to Trump that made the difference in those states in this cycle. And for someone who professes to be so sick of labels, you toss them around and wallow in them more than anyone else in this forum.

Once again for clarity: Just because you voted for Trump, doesn't make you a racist. It just means you voted for one. I get that it's tough to reconcile, but it's time to get past your guilty consciences.

Great post, Liger! Us white people don't get to decide what protests merit respect and we certainly don't get to insist racism is overstated simply because we're tired of hearing about it. Glad you pointed that out. Obama doesn't win unless he carries the "white" vote. Some would have me believe that blacks are in the majority in this country for crissakes.

How many times would Trump say, "Pocahontas?" He referred to her that way numerous times while campaigning. He's such classy gentleman that way.

I think it was deplorable in the sense that there's a time and place for everything and the man was just trying to enjoy an evening out with his family. Family members, unless they deliberately put themselves in the conversation, should be off limits. There is no reason why Pence's family had to endure the criticisms when the expectation is they were going to enjoy a night out at the theater.

Trump better grow some thicker skin. As deplorable as it was to use a theater as a venue to voice displeasure against the VP-elect, who is a certified evangelical nut job imo, it was even more deplorable for Trump to denounce it in social media and put down the cast rather than ask himself "why" and try reaching out in the hopes of forging understanding. You know, like a president (and a grownup, btw), should do. Trump, once again proves he has little interest in being a president for all the people, only for those that agree with him.

Talk about your inflammatory rhetoric. And given a national platform for it, too. This guy couldn't be more wrong and it would serve him well to learn about the word "jihad" and it's many contexts. For instance, jihad is can be one's personal battle against sin. Jihad is also something a muslim, mostly in older middle eastern cultures, might declare against anyone he is in a dispute with. Point is, it means so much more than the convenient, co-opted meaning of "holy war." David Rubin is a disgrace. https://mediamatters.org/video/2016/11/15/fox-guest-claims-congressman-keith-ellisons-allegiances-are-more-islamic-civilization/214465

It's like McCarthyism never existed here. Imagine if enough like-minded individuals held seats of high power simultaneously back then. You fan enough flames of discord with the right people in power at the right time and it CAN happen. The idea that America has somehow evolved as a species and is above all that is ridiculous. And dangerous. The sheer amount of alt right propaganda and outright lies should wake people up to that fact. Sad thing is, a huge portion of the population is just content with hearing what they want to hear.

It's the appeal to an anti-semitic demographic that's the issue, not necessarily Trump's antisemitism. Although his daughter converting had nothing to do with whether he's is or not. His own father was an anti semite. And his own WORDS suggest he is as well. Have you thought of organizing a nice "liberal media" book burning?

Another thing Putin has in common with Nazis, whose oppression of homosexuals was as horrific as many of their other atrocities. And you are are right; NONE of this is normal. But with enough people in the right places of power, it won't matter and it will be sold as normal. And half this country doesn't give a flying phuck about the possible ramifications, either. Except those who will simply wait until there's really something to worry about. That's often called, "too late."

Have Putin and Berlusconi scapegoated an entire ethnic group? Have they also blamed Jews for controlling the banks and the media? Because Trump has and that's right out of the fascist playbook.

Was Tampa Bay missing three other top 6 wingers and 2 top four Dmen when they were without Stamkos? Sabres = Lightning is a false equivalency.

I'm confused; is it brown shirts or brown people. I always get my browns mixed up.

I spent 20 years in the industry, first with COMSAT and then with Orbital Sciences and the technology has advanced to the point where it's both feasible and not nearly as cost prohibitive. But the sheer amount of bureaucratic red tape and international cooperation required, both from the government and commercial sectors involved, make it a tall mountain to climb, if not impossible to overcome.

I'm sure every day Italian and German citizens said the same thing when people raised the same kinds of concerns. The idea that it could never occur here is shortsighted. When conditions are ripe, it's quite possible. And the conditions have never been riper.

Eleven was right: we are in 1930s Italy and moving towards Germany.

This is where I'm confused. I was under the impression that non citizens are only guaranteed the right of due process. I'm not certain they hold all rights conferred by the Bill of Rights. I'll have to do some research.

14th Amendment? Makes sense and I agree. But that never stopped a bunch of bigoted xenophobes in positions of power, key positions, from rigging the game.