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Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 02:02 PM Jul 2017

A "President" beating up the 1st Amendment is never funny.

Not even to a single representative/entity of the 1st amendment. Not even when it is done symbolically.

No. No. No. It's not a 1st amendment right of a "President" to be able to embrace violence against the 1st amendment.

A president swears to uphold the Constitution, not promote its collapse.

This was not Trump using his own first amendment right because Trump is no longer an ordinary citizen. His actions have consequences on a nationwide scale.

A "President" that promotes harm to the Press is a president that promotes harm to the Constitution. Such a president is a "President" that is promoting harm to our democracy.

It's not funny.

It is never funny.

If Trump wanted to be a comedian (albeit a bad one), he should have stuck to reality shows.











39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A "President" beating up the 1st Amendment is never funny. (Original Post) Solly Mack Jul 2017 OP
I'm suffering from not "compassion fatigue,"... Pacifist Patriot Jul 2017 #1
I get up every morning knowing there will be a new low from Trump Solly Mack Jul 2017 #2
Indeed Pacifist Patriot Jul 2017 #3
It's no longer a matter of politics. It's a matter of morality. Maybe always has been. Thirties Child Jul 2017 #26
I would say decency, but yes, I agree. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #31
Groper Don the Con will destroy any institution that does not defer to his malaise Jul 2017 #4
Or we will. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #5
I think this is the sternest test of the American Political System malaise Jul 2017 #9
Oh, Trump in office is a symptom of an already weakened democracy that has been systemically Solly Mack Jul 2017 #12
Well given that he's in power as a result of a coup malaise Jul 2017 #14
The easy acceptance of a coup doesn't happen overnight. Too many of our fellow citizens were Solly Mack Jul 2017 #16
Well Fox and RW radio has done a fine job brainwashing malaise Jul 2017 #17
Yes, and the GOP has too. The words they use to campaign with, the policies they come up with Solly Mack Jul 2017 #20
Yes indeed malaise Jul 2017 #25
I agree. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #28
I am chump weary. gademocrat7 Jul 2017 #6
I'm disgusted. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #8
What is WRONG with that dumbass? louis-t Jul 2017 #7
I feel like everyone that could have gotten him help along the way decided to look Solly Mack Jul 2017 #10
He's said (tweeted) in the past that the press is the "enemy of the people". LudwigPastorius Jul 2017 #11
Tyrants, or wannabe tyrants, always attack the Press. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #13
Thank you Solly Mack! spanone Jul 2017 #15
I think they might have - but maybe they thought as time went by our democracy Solly Mack Jul 2017 #18
this will test this nation. do we want to be a nation of assholes or........ spanone Jul 2017 #21
We'll see. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #23
i hope so too. meanwhile his cabinet is destroying all they can spanone Jul 2017 #24
They are and that's part of the Mercer/right-wing plan. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #29
Good thing the majority isn't stupid enough retrowire Jul 2017 #19
The majority doesn't have to find it funny. It doesn't take a majority to instigate violence. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #22
Agreed Gothmog Jul 2017 #27
Yep. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #30
This is disturbing on a level I can barely fathom. I just can't Upthevibe Jul 2017 #33
I can't recommend your post highly enough. Spot on. suffragette Jul 2017 #32
Trump is nothing but an affront to all the ideals and ideas America is supposed to stand for. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #34
They just Soxfan58 Jul 2017 #35
They do tend to jump right into violence. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #36
our first amendment allows us to say our President sucks IronLionZion Jul 2017 #37
and if he had simply stuck to saying "fake news!" etc., I wouldn't have made my comments. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #38
DURec leftstreet Jul 2017 #39

Pacifist Patriot

(24,647 posts)
1. I'm suffering from not "compassion fatigue,"...
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 02:15 PM
Jul 2017

But from "appalled fatigue."

I suppose it means I haven't reached the numbness of normalization, but damn I can barely take the new depths each and every day.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
2. I get up every morning knowing there will be a new low from Trump
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 02:24 PM
Jul 2017

and a new attack from the GOP as a whole.

As well as the mindless scramble by some to normalize the behavior of both.

America's democracy has an illness.

We won't get better pretending Trump is normal or pretending that the GOP killing people through their policy ideas is simply a matter of holding differing views on how to solve a problem.

The GOP has been a toxic danger to Americans for a long time now. They current figurehead is a danger in his own right.

They give lip service to civility while offering up arsenic laced tea. Then blame you for not taking a swallow.

malaise

(267,797 posts)
4. Groper Don the Con will destroy any institution that does not defer to his
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 02:26 PM
Jul 2017

authoritarianism - he will learn the hard way.

malaise

(267,797 posts)
9. I think this is the sternest test of the American Political System
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 02:50 PM
Jul 2017

and its institutions (certainly in my lifetime). That said the Con is a ignorant light weight.
I think there's a more systemic problem associated with foreign policy which hits all empires. It's what happens when the foreign policy you've practiced overseas comes back to bite you.

When you control the planet by interfering in elections overseas and getting rid of leaders who won't do your bidding, it's hard to control the mercenaries you groomed.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
12. Oh, Trump in office is a symptom of an already weakened democracy that has been systemically
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 03:09 PM
Jul 2017

endangered by the past actions of some in government.

He's not a glitch - he's the by-product.

Though it is easier to believe that Trump is in no way the product of past actions. To believe his holding office is in no way the fault of anyone but some foreign power - but, had America's democracy been stronger, had the people not been better informed, had the education system not been dumbed down by creationists and corporations looking for worker drones, had news remained news instead of validating rumor and lies as being equal to facts and science, had war criminals been held accountable (Sorry - but once a president gets away with torturing people, future presidents know exactly what they can get away with, and they'll push for more)...had those who represent the people in government not been allowed to line their own pockets, and yes, had the US not interfered in the elections of other countries...

There are multiple reasons why...not just the blitz campaign by a foreign power.

And all those reasons why that made people susceptible to the propaganda campaign and the infrastructure being vulnerable to hacking, and why so many in Congress are willing to look the other way.

It's easier to blame only a foreign power - but while working to undo that damage caused by the foreign power attention must be paid to why America was so easily swayed to begin with.

Our democracy is not healthy. It wasn't before the election and it isn't now.





malaise

(267,797 posts)
14. Well given that he's in power as a result of a coup
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 03:15 PM
Jul 2017

you are 100% correct.

I don't think America has dealt with institutional racism seriously. The said media allowed that birther shit to continue when they should have destroyed the Con et al over it.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
16. The easy acceptance of a coup doesn't happen overnight. Too many of our fellow citizens were
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 03:20 PM
Jul 2017

already conditioned to accept it.

We were ripe for a foreign power to attack our democracy - as evidenced by the acceptance of people for it being done.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
20. Yes, and the GOP has too. The words they use to campaign with, the policies they come up with
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 03:23 PM
Jul 2017

It's been a collective effort on the right.

malaise

(267,797 posts)
25. Yes indeed
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 03:32 PM
Jul 2017

but our side has not been loud enough in opposition or in making people understand what's at stake.
Indeed too many push the 'lite' version rather than resist vigorously.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
28. I agree.
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 03:57 PM
Jul 2017

You know that tired and untrue talking point about how both sides want the same for America, they just disagree on how to accomplish it?

Well, I don't think both sides want the same thing for America.

Do both sides want to eliminate safety nets?

Evidence says both sides don't.

Do both sides want to work to reduce - not eliminate (all possible problems that could arise) - the need for safety nets? Through actual health care, actual living wages, affordable housing, better education to allow for better jobs and more jobs, etc..?

Nope. Sure don't.

And the list goes on.

Telling me that republicans want the same thing I do for America but want to go about it differently, I hear a rapist telling me he only wants to please me but will go about it differently than I would define.

We have to be bold. We have to step on toes. This is not the time to placate.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
10. I feel like everyone that could have gotten him help along the way decided to look
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 02:55 PM
Jul 2017

the other way, or pushed him off on others so he could be their problem (military school, for example), and now he has been unleashed on the entire country.

And some people are pretending it is all just so normal. Or they are taking advantage of Trump's delusions to fulfill a few of their own.

Trump is dangerous and McConnell and Ryan, and the rest of the GOP, simply don't care. They are getting what they want, so fuck America.





LudwigPastorius

(8,943 posts)
11. He's said (tweeted) in the past that the press is the "enemy of the people".
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 02:58 PM
Jul 2017

The last time a large country turned power over to a egomaniacal fascist, tens of millions died.

Let's hope what's left of our democratic institutions can limit the damage.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
13. Tyrants, or wannabe tyrants, always attack the Press.
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 03:10 PM
Jul 2017

I wish people truly understood that because the danger for not recognizing that fact is deadly.

spanone

(135,632 posts)
15. Thank you Solly Mack!
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 03:18 PM
Jul 2017

Our forefathers must be spinning in their graves....they never saw this guy coming.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
18. I think they might have - but maybe they thought as time went by our democracy
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 03:22 PM
Jul 2017

would only strengthen.

And maybe they thought they would be dead by then and not have to deal with it.

I don't know what they thought, but I don't think this is what they envisioned.

IronLionZion

(45,255 posts)
37. our first amendment allows us to say our President sucks
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 08:18 PM
Jul 2017

and he can say that we suck.

But he does not get to advocate violence and retribution because he doesn't like what we say about him.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Solly Mack

(90,740 posts)
38. and if he had simply stuck to saying "fake news!" etc., I wouldn't have made my comments.
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 08:20 PM
Jul 2017

He went beyond that. Way beyond that.

leftstreet

(36,078 posts)
39. DURec
Sun Jul 2, 2017, 08:49 PM
Jul 2017

"Trump is no longer an ordinary citizen"

Excellent reminder. And he just doesn't get that. He still promotes himself as some kind of anti-establishment, swamp draining, bucking the system anti-hero



Someone forgot to tell him he now represents not only the establishment and the system, but both the swamp and all of us peons drowning in it.

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