I wish I could feel kinder toward them. Or more sympathetic.

But if they've just gone over to Trump, or just wanna hate on Hillary or kick our Bravenak around, well, that's quite different.

I'm already in trouble with one friend from Catholic school who chastises me for the way I feel about - well, shall we call 'em Trump jumpers? That I should be more understanding, and less judgmental, and all that.

Well, that's just too damn bad. I find myself standing firmly with the Rude Pundit on this one... NO sympathy for those who relentlessly and willfully refuse to open their eyes and/or their minds, despite any and all evidence to the contrary.

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2016/10/yeah-sorry-but-fuck-donald-trumps.html

And I did find this, an article titled "Here's the One Frightening Psychological Characteristic that Online Trolls Tend to Share", which I found MOST instructive:

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/09/heres-the-one-the-one-frightening-psychological-characteristic-that-online-trolls-tend-to-share/

From the story:
The question for non-trolls is, behind the layer of protective anonymity, what lies at the core of the troll psyche. The findings of a few studies suggest that trolls who are mean-spirited and manipulative online have offline personalities to match, and that insecurity drives a fair amount of their trollery.

Case in point are two 2014 studies from Canada’s University of Manitoba that looked at the personalities of some 1,200 people who engage in trolling, which the researchers described as “behaving in a deceptive, destructive, or disruptive manner in a social setting on the internet” for seemingly no purpose at all. (The trolls would likely say they do it for the “lulz,” or laughs that come at another person’s expense.)

In the first study, participants were given tests measuring sadistic tendencies to get a feel for how much they enjoyed hurting other people. One a scale of 1 to 5, those surveyed were asked to rate the extent to which they agreed with statements like, “hurting people is exciting’’ and, ‘‘I enjoy hurting people.’’ They were also posed questions that gauged their levels of psychopathy, and asked about fairly mundane things, like the amount of time they spend on the internet and their favorite online activities (with trolling given as one option). The second study “assessed trolling behavior, identification and enjoyment” along a rating scale, along with a few other things.
“Both studies revealed similar patterns of relations between trolling and the Dark Tetrad of personality: trolling correlated positively with sadism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism,” the researchers wrote. In other words, those who took part in trolling generally enjoyed watching others suffer, were pathologically self-absorbed and lacked “conscience and empathy.”

“Of all personality measures, sadism showed the most robust associations with trolling and, importantly, the relationship was specific to trolling behavior,” study authors note. “Enjoyment of other online activities, such as chatting and debating, was unrelated to sadism. Thus cyber-trolling appears to be an internet manifestation of everyday sadism… Both trolls and sadists feel sadistic glee at the distress of others. Sadists just want to have fun… and the internet is their playground!”


Notice, too, the empathy thing here, in the last two paragraphs above. Remember who sneered and scoffed at the idea of empathy? This was back after John Kerry lost to bush/cheney in 2004 (under some questionable circumstances involving vote counting in Ohio, with Kenneth Blackwell - then Ohio's secretary of state and conveniently enough, chair of the state bush/cheney campaign - a male version of Florida's Katherine Harris from Selection 2000?). Answer: Dick Cheney.

OUCH! "Quit whining."

OY what a smackdown. A big bulky 70-year-old man - whining. Pathetic, isn't it.

NOBODY who whines is fit to be President.

NOT up for grabs!

Love it! +1BILLION!

Great post, apnu! Terrific photos! Thanks for posting these!

Don't get complacent!

We've still got a LOT of work to do! Take back the Senate and salvage the Supreme Court!

I Love-Love-Love the Rude one!

My condolences, nopence2020!

He scares the livin' daylights outta me. HE would usher in the closest we'd ever come, as a nation, to Christian Sharia Law. He hates gays, thinks your religion should trump (so to speak) everyone else's rights (ESPECIALLY gays), and thinks women mainly belong in either the kitchen or the delivery room. And he doesn't believe in climate change. We all followed the disaster he created for your poor state when he signed that anti-gay bill into law, that he did behind closed doors so he could have his picture taken with a whole backdrop of clergymembers, priests, ministers, friars, and nuns. He cost your state MILLIONS of dollars and a bottomless pit of bad publicity. OY! Makes me wonder who the hell voted for him there?

But I suppose he fills the bill for Donald Trump as a ticket mate, 'eh? After all, Mike Pence is just about the WHITEST white guy I think I've EVER seen!

And you're so right - "Eternal vigilance!" We can't avoid that. It has to be our sacred quest and our sole reason for being, politically speaking. When you're facing the Dark Side, you're left with no other choice. As Mad-Eye Moody warned Harry Potter: "CONSTANT Vigilance!!!!!"

Welcome to DU, Matthew Rose!

I think that's what many of us thought. No proof of course, and the media certainly isn't interested in it, or in connecting the dots.

But if you look at the pattern of BEHAVIOR we've seen...

-- The violence and fistfights that break out almost routinely at Trump rallies;
-- The threats, some of which are seriously terrifying, against the Arizona Republic for daring to endorse Hillary;
http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/2016/10/16/publisher-response-to-threats-after-republic-endorsement-clinton-trump/92058964/
-- The vicious anger that's expressed by Trump people in AND outside of rallies - the loud roaring "Lock Her Up" shit;
-- The CHILDREN - the LITTLE KIDS (!) who are being taught and guided by the example of their elders to yell curse words in public, while dressed in t-shirts whose inscriptions depict violence and injurious name-calling ("Jail the Bitch&quot . As my late mother-in-law used to say, "they don't suck it out of their thumbs";
-- The loud cheering and fist-waving when Trump himself insinuates that "the 2nd Amendment people" might have a way to "fix" this problem;
-- The open talk about how maybe it's time for pitchforks and torches;
-- The physical demonstrations of hatred: vandalism to signs, , ripping off bumper stickers and campaign signs;
Want more examples?
-- The overt attempts by Trump supporters to intimidate and menace - through parade floats, for example;
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/04/1577726/-Trump-supporters-horrify-Aurora-IN-residents-with-parade-float-depicting-Clinton-execution?detail=email&link_id=3&can_id=3636e71630be75717376b82e2b7b5795&source=email-michelle-obama-drops-the-mic-and-sets-the-trap-for-another-donald-trump-3am-tweet-storm&email_referrer=michelle-obama-drops-the-mic-and-sets-the-trap-for-another-donald-trump-3am-tweet-storm&email_subject=michelle-obama-drops-the-mic-and-sets-the-trap-for-another-donald-trump-3am-tweet-storm
-- Trump supporters heckling a mother with her disabled daughter;
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/10/5/1578231/-Trump-supporters-heckled-mother-with-disabled-daughter-at-rally-Secret-Service-escorted-them-out#comment_63755930
-- ARMED Trump supporters menacing Democratic campaign workers outside their offices;
http://www.salon.com/2016/10/14/armed-donald-trump-supporters-caught-menacing-democratic-campaign-office/
-- Trump supporters threatening actual violence and insurrection if he doesn't win;
http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/johnwright/trump_supporters_warn_of_armed_revolt_if_he_loses_rigged_election_call_for_clinton_s_assassination
-- Anti-Semitism - Another Journalist Faces an Anti-Semitic Attack from a Donald Trump Supporter
http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7892768.64595/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA0LzI5L2pvdXJuYWxpc3QtZmFjZXMtYmFycmFnZS1vZi1hbnRpLXNlbWl0aWMtYXR0YWNrcy1hZnRlci1wcm9maWxpbmctbWVsYW5pYS10cnVtcC1idXQtd2h5Lz93cGlzcmM9bmxfZml4JndwbW09MQ/54c1b8673b35d0c34e8fbe74Dfd9b64e2


Um... as the Mango Mussolini himself might say, "you tell ME."

I'm just looking strictly at the behavior BEING MANIFESTED here, on a distressingly frequent basis. What they DO. How they're not only talking (and threatening) but how they're acting out. Actions speaking louder than words, and all that. It plays out in front of our very eyes, on almost literally a daily basis. You NEVER saw this at any of the other candidates' rallies, whether it was other GOPers or Martin O'Malley or Bernie Sanders. And you've also NEVER seen even the barest hint of this kind of nastiness, divisiveness, aggression, menacing, confrontation, and outright violence at any Hillary Clinton rallies. It's the TRUMP people.

This all happens at TRUMP rallies. Where the object of their adoration has been known to encourage and egg on this behavior, to the point where he's actually promised to cover their legal fees if they get arrested for doing so. It's the TRUMP people.

So to me, this is just an extension of the anger and malevolence of the TRUMP campaign. From the top down. He's certainly acting out. And his followers are doing likewise. So I would not be one bit surprised if this latest incident is traced back to TRUMP people.

I miss you, Keith Olbermann!

Welcome to DU, nopence2020!

Like your screen name! And yeah, I think we need to start thinking and preparing for just such as this in 2020.

That is a CRITICAL year! Every ten-year mark is the year when the census is taken, across the country. And congressional districts are adjusted according to the changing population. The CONS have shrewdly managed to have governors and state legislatures in position on the all-important "zero years" where THEY are in control when that congressional district reapportionment happens. That enables THEM to redraw the districts so they all look like octopus cartoons, so they can stack the deck and guarantee election victories for THEIR congressional candidates. That's how they managed to take over Congress.

So, seems to me, we HAVE TO be ready for 2020. AND for all governors' races in two years. Yes, during the dreaded midterm elections when Dems are less motivated to turn out to vote - which I'll never understand. THAT negligence and lack of commitment by voters on our side has to change, too. In 2010, that's how the teabaggers got in - and they're now threatening to overrun the GOP. Actually, they may already have overrun the GOP. Seriously - just look at who the nominee is!

Beautiful post. Reminds us all of what really counts, in the long term.

I grew up being taught about "noblesse oblige" - which boils down to: much blessed, much obligated. If you are blessed with fortune or a good beginning or good looks or great talent, you OWE. You're OBLIGATED. You are obligated to give back. You are obligated to do good, to share your gifts and your many blessings for the sake of the greater good. My mother was totally enthralled with the Kennedys. SO rich, so talented and smart and gifted. Privileged and powerful and influential as can be. And NONE of them sat on it and acted entitled. Not one. They were tremendously into service. Public service. The whole idea of a selfless commitment to service to their communities, their state, their country.

And they didn't have to go there. They could have sat back and skated on their fabulous wealth and connections and glamour. They could have fanned out across the landscape on an opportunistic crusade to scam the unsuspecting out of their money. And they DIDN'T. Instead, they were ALL just the epitome of class and altruism - how they could use their fame, wealth, social standing, clout, and yes, glamour, to benefit others. They really "GOT" the whole idea of "noblesse oblige" - service to others BECAUSE your many privileges and blessings make you OBLIGATED to turn around and use those gifts for the benefit of others less fortunate or blessed than you are.

That's one thing I always liked about Prince Charles. He wears a signet ring with his personal motto on it: "I serve". One day he'll be fucking KING of fucking ENGLAND! And yet it was ingrained into him from the beginning that he was born to serve his people. And with the royal family over there so heavily involved in charity work - my view is always - "glad to see this, and they BETTER be! Because they OWE IT to their people."

You need to USE your gifts. USE them. USE them for doing good. USE them for the greater good. So others can benefit, or be helped, because you were there and did good, and used your gifts to be helpful, and to be of service.