andym
andym's JournalSenatorial candidates should play on the honor theme in the South
especially against Graham and McConnell. Honor still has some meaning there culturally and these two especially are acting dishonorably with regard to the SC. McGrath and Harrison should promise they will always uphold their word, unlike their two dishonorable opponents.
Biden's best debate strategy
First Trump has really lowered expectations for Joe by claiming he is out of it-- so he goes in perfectly situated.
Here is a debate coach's advice:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/23/opinions/debate-advice-for-biden-graham/index.html
Debate coach: The best debate advice Joe Biden will ever get
Opinion by Todd Graham
Updated 6:26 AM ET, Wed September 23, 2020
.....
"There are two styles best suited for Biden. First, he should use humor. Contrary to what may be popular opinion, Joe Biden has always been witty. Using humor to attack, mock and belittle Trump's five weapons is an assertive and clever way to both defend against attacks and take the offensive in any debate against a norm-violating Trump. Literally, mock Trump's ridiculous arguments. Biden's already been doing this. He should continue that in the debates.
The same is true with being insulted or interrupted. Biden knows this will happen. He should have a few well-timed comebacks centered, not on specifics, but on the general notion of Trump's lies and interruptions.
The best part, and my second style tip for Biden: Quotes. Use Trump's own words against him during the debate. Quote him liberally. In Trump's fun house world, there's always a tweet or previous statement where he contradicts himself. After all, as he can remind Trump, "Those aren't my words. Those words were spoken by YOU." And if Biden isn't quoting Trump, then he should be quoting those close to Trump (Republicans, family members, etc.). Imagine using quotes from Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham -- both of whom turned from Trump skeptics to his supporters -- in a debate against Trump. Imagine using former members of Trump's own administration or estranged family in a debate against Trump.
The bonus of this strategy: Biden remains above it all. And Biden can use this endlessly. "Those were the words of your former defense secretary ... your former chief of staff ... your former national security adviser ... your biggest ally in the Senate..." Wouldn't that be fun! Using Republicans and allies is more persuasive than citing Democrats when criticizing Trump to his face. He cannot so easily dismiss them as "never Trumpers...""
--MORE AT THE LINK
Trump's new running mate? Amy Barrett (symbolically)
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/22/politics/amy-coney-barrett-trump-supreme-court/index.htmlJudge Amy Coney Barrett has emerged as President Donald Trump's overwhelming favorite to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to several people familiar with the deliberations, who say the President's view was solidified during a lengthy meeting at the White House on Monday....
"A source familiar with Trump's private conversations told CNN that one of his confidants on this issue told him that this pick is so important to not only his legacy but his re-election bid that she will effectively "be your new running mate." "
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I was predicting Lagoa, but it looks like the idea of a super motivated base is what trump wants.
GOP sees Supreme Court fight as a boost to vulnerable senators as McConnell presses for vote
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/19/politics/republican-majority-strategy-vulnerable-senators/index.htmlBy Manu Raju, Alex Rogers and Ted Barrett, CNN
Updated 5:16 PM ET, Sat September 19, 202
" (CNN)Top Senate Republicans are privately arguing that it would boost their chances of holding the majority in November if their party makes a full-throated effort at confirming President Donald Trump's pick for the Supreme Court, according to multiple GOP sources, despite their past posture that such nominees should not be confirmed in a presidential election year.
Behind the scenes, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is calculating whether he has the votes to quickly confirm Trump's eventual nominee to the Supreme Court, focusing in large part on the party's most vulnerable Republicans facing voters in less than two months. The Kentucky Republican could only lose three senators of his 53-47 majority and still confirm the pick with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence.
The argument, according to Senate GOP sources, is that getting behind Trump's pick will energize the Republican base and woo conservative-leaning voters who are uncertain about backing Trump and the GOP this fall. Opposing the nominee, they argue, will only cause a backlash from their party's supporters and might not be enough to win over Democratic voters who are already inclined to back their opponents.
But moving ahead on a nomination now could anger some voters who may recoil at the GOP's heavy-handed tactics, including in Democratic-leaning states where Republicans face voters in the fall. On balance, though, Republicans say that moving ahead now would be far more beneficial to keeping control of the narrowly divided chamber."
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Could cut boith ways in my opinion. But if McConnell and friends really believe this, they will push ahead full steam.
Best guess nominee: Barbara Lagoa-- Cuban-America woman from Florida
She fulfills all of Trump's most important qualifications: she could help him win Florida (Cuban American pride) and will satisfy the fundamentalists as a conservative. Moreover, she sailed through her appointment to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals 80-15 and is only 53.
Call to action: Find, challenge publicly, report fake news, videos and photos on social media
Besides getting out the vote, sending money to Democrats and phone banking, a key action is to be vigilant with regards to fake news, videos and photos. Even a short exposure to manipulative media can cause a politically naive swing voter to waver.
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The tech companies apparently need our help because they are not up to the task:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/01/tech/trump-facebook-twitter-fact-check/index.html
Republicans are flooding the internet with deceptive videos and Big Tech isn't keeping up
By Donie O'Sullivan and Daniel Dale, CNN Business
September 1, 2020
"A series of deceptively edited and misleading videos shared by prominent Republicans have run up millions of views across Facebook and Twitter in just the past few days. And while both companies have pledged to combat misinformation, their responses to these videos followed a familiar pattern: often they act too late, do too little, or don't anything at all.
Between Sunday and Monday, high-profile Republicans, including President Donald Trump, shared at least four misleading videos online. One that circulated widely was a false video about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden posted to the Twitter account of House Minority Whip Steve Scalise. After an outcry, including from a person in the video who had words put in his mouth in order to distort what Biden was saying, Twitter took the action it takes in such instances, labeling the video as "manipulated media."
The manipulated media label is just that, however -- a label appearing below the video when people look at the specific tweet to which it has been applied. It's small and potentially missed by users, and though it may potentially make some users pause before sharing a given video, it does not actually stop them if they decide to go ahead anyway....
Neither company appears willing to apply their policies regarding medical misinformation to misinformation from US politicians that could mislead voters or undermine November's election, though (expect perhaps in exceptional circumstances, like someone posting the wrong date of the election). And if the past few days are any indication, that could mean they will continue to serve as conduits and amplifiers for a flood of misinformation."
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Challenging the fake reports/videos/photos is as much on the public, if the enablers of propaganda take limited or no action.
Might be useful to report successful actions against fakes here on DU to help everyone be vigilant and to encourage others.
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