[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Mr. "Techno-Optimist" himself---Marc Andreessen, the VC billionaire who ruined the term with his ridiculous "techno-optimist" manifesto---has now endorsed Trump, after Trump picked Vance. Andreesen previously said he wouldn't vote for because Trump "doesn't believe in science". Now he claims the only thing he cares about when endorsing a political candidate is whether they're good for "Little Tech". So: antitrust action against big tech to help little tech, as Vance had advocated...

Trump has been railing against Facebook. Says he wants to put Zuckerberg in prison.

Musk, Thiel, Andreessen, and other ultrawealthy tech pseudo-libertarian Trump supporters probably see Trump/Vance as an opportunity to gain advantage vs other tech companies by having the government go after them on the pretext of antitrust. Meanwhile, I'd expect Trump's cronies and supporters to get massive government subsidies.

Trump probably wants to reign in big tech because their wealth and influence are a threat to his authoritarian power. Attacking them for "wokeness" seems like it's largely another pretext, just like antitrust.

Of course Facebook also limits his ability to spread disinformation. On that note:

Quote

In Private Speech, J.D. Vance [...] Praised Alex Jones as a Truth-Teller

Spoiler

"If you listen to Rachel Maddow every night, the basic worldview that you have is that MAGA grandmas who have family dinners on Sunday and bake apple pies for their family are about to start a violent insurrection against this country," Vance said. "But if you listen to Alex Jones every day, you would believe that a transnational financial elite controls things in our country, that they hate our society, and oh, by the way, a lot of them are probably sex perverts too."

[...] "Sorry, ladies and gentlemen, that's actually a hell of a lot more true than Rachel Maddow's view of society."

He said that every person in attendance [...] believed "something that's a little crazy." [...] "I believe the devil is real and that he works terrible things in our society. That's a crazy conspiracy theory to a lot of very well-educated people in this country right now."

J.D. Vance Praised Alex Jones as a Truth-Teller in Speech to Leonard Leo-Backed Group — ProPublica

Now that's some impressively slick bullshit... in the VP debate he'll probably talk-lie circles and spirals around Kamala Harris (if we end up stuck with Biden/Harris... though on that front the latest good news is that Democratic Representative Adam Schiff just called for Biden to drop out---here's hoping it isn't all too late).


[Edit: to be clear, Schiff called for Biden to drop out of the race, not for him to step down from the presidency.]

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 17 July 2024 - 06:31 PM

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

And we have a winner! motive:

Quote

[The gunman] searched for both Trump and [...] Biden—as well as Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray—in the days before the shooting.

He also searched for the phrase "major depressive disorder," [...]

[... and] public appearances scheduled for both Trump and Biden[...]

[He] posted on gaming platform Steam before the incident, warning users that "July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds."

Trump Gunman's Search History Shines New Light on Shooting (thedailybeast.com)

He was depressed, probably wanted to commit suicide... and become famous by killing a major political figure. Go down in history, etc. Politics probably contributing to his depression (that's relatable enough for most people these days... at least in the United States).

And some hope:

Quote

the White House and the Biden campaign are in a new place, multiple Democratic officials told CNN.

[...] "He's being receptive. [...] He's gone from saying, 'Kamala can't win,' to 'Do you think Kamala can win? " the adviser said. "It's still unclear where he's going to land but seems to be listening.

https://edition.cnn....aign/index.html

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 18 July 2024 - 10:51 AM

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Obama are all urging Biden to drop out.

He's probably going to do it.

It might be this weekend, most likely on Sunday. The current plan is reportedly for him not to resign from the presidency and not to endorse Harris.

Mark Halperin on X: "BREAKING NEWS: Multiples sources outline the apparent state of play on Biden at this time: * plans to announce withdrawal from nomination as early as this weekend, with Sunday most likely * Jon Meacham polishing up remarks * Biden with NOT resign the presidency * Biden will" / X

Biden tweeted:

Quote

"I'm sick"

Two minutes later

Spoiler

came the punchline:

"of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election. And if you agree, pitch in here." some Democrats were "infuriated" by the tweet. "They need to read the room," one said

https://slate.com/ne...rris-trump.html

Meanwhile, over at the Republican National Convention:

Quote

Trump Blows a Kiss as Hulk Hogan Rips His Shirt Onstage in Surreal RNC Scene

"Over my career, I've been in the ring with some of the biggest, some of the baddest dudes on the planet. Donald Trump is the toughest of them all." [...] Hogan, 70, hailed [Trump] as his "hero" and a "gladiator"

Donald Trump Blows a Kiss as Hulk Hogan Rips His Shirt Onstage in Surreal RNC Scene (thedailybeast.com)

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 19 July 2024 - 05:12 PM

[amphibian]

I don't think Biden's resigning.

This post has been edited by amphibian: 19 July 2024 - 06:24 PM

[Abyss]

amphibian, on 19 July 2024 - 06:22 PM, said:

I don't think Biden's resigning.

Why end a presidency in shame when you can end it spectacularly in flames?

[Cause]

I don’t see how him dropping out can strengthen rather than weaken the democrats hands

[Vengeance]

This is the stupidest time line

[Primateus]

I have to ask a serious question here, and I'm sorry for being crass and what not, but...




Vs




Is there a difference? I mean, aside from President Camacho having actual Charisma. But aside from that, if there's a difference, I don't see it!?

This post has been edited by Primateus: 20 July 2024 - 08:35 AM

[Tsundoku]

Something from earlier this month regarding the SCOTUS Presidente Por Vida obscenity:

Stonekettle Station

The Republic Is Dead, Long Live The Republic

https://www.stoneket...e-republic.html

It's about a 10 min read (well, for me anyway, you guys might be faster) so I haven't snipped and pasted here.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

amphibian, on 19 July 2024 - 06:22 PM, said:

I don't think Biden's resigning.

He probably won't resign... if he drops out.

If he doesn't drop out, he will probably resign... if he doesn't drop dead or into a coma (etc.).

[Edit: if he doesn't drop out and he wins, that is!]

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 21 July 2024 - 01:07 AM

[Tsundoku]

I KNEW he'd use the "I took a bullet for democracy" line.

Trump tells thousands at Michigan rally he 'took a bullet for democracy'

https://www.bbc.com/...es/c4ngwzd4y83o

"Last week, I took a bullet for democracy," he said. "What did I do against democracy?"

[Mezla PigDog]

Cause, on 20 July 2024 - 02:40 AM, said:

I don’t see how him dropping out can strengthen rather than weaken the democrats hands

It takes back the narrative, assuming the Dems can then nominate someone in a sensible way and that person can nail Trump in debates. The Trump campaign is built to fight Biden so will be on the back foot.

There are a lot of people screaming out for another option and a new Dem nominee would be aimed at winning those voters on top of the guaranteed "no Trump" votes. It could backfire of course. And I don't know how anyone who doesn't like Trump would not automatically vote for any Dem candidate. But it's America.

This post has been edited by Mezla PigDog: 21 July 2024 - 07:32 AM

[amphibian]

The painful thing is that despite being very much not perfect and extremely slow to act in Gaza, Biden is legit the best president of my lifetime.

And the crypto funded moderate Democrats hounded him into giving up what is likely an easy cruise to a second term. Just an absolute fumble with no backups in place.

Here's hoping Harris picks Sanders to be her VP. He's the biggest small money fundraiser in modern politics and a hell of a communicator.

Just an unfathomable series of bullshit. Biden drops out, but not the 34x felon and rapist???

The NY Times running an Op Ed the editors solicited about the Dems nominating Mitt Romney??

Just deeply unserious, dumb shit over and over again.

This post has been edited by amphibian: 21 July 2024 - 06:09 PM

[Aptorian]

Breaking news: Biden dropping out:

https://www.theguard...-latest-updates

Thank fuck for that. Now we get to see if the majority of Americans will pick a brown woman over a wounded orange.

[Vengeance]

This is such a shit show. I voted for Biden and Harris. Any other candidate is a direct slap to the face of the hundreds of millions of Democrats who voted in the primarys. This is bullshit.

[Tiste Simeon]

Sanders/AOC would be ideal but I'm not sure that's going to happen.

[the broken]

Urgh... it's a really bad move, especially now. Like they're trying to lose.

[worry]

Billionaire tech bros might be even dumber and more out of touch than your average billionaire, which is a marvel. At least the right wing ones know to put on a cowboy hat and pretend you relate to the people you're bilking.

I don't know who Harris will pick for Veep -- and it better be Harris, this whole "mini primary" idea is an even worse Silicon Valley-brained nightmare -- but I personally doubt it's Bernie, as uniting an idea as that may be.

[Mentalist]

This timeline is just going to keep getting wilder, huh?

Can Harris get Dems the youth vote? Or is this gonna be 2016 all over again?

[Vengeance]

She is polljng better with the younger crowd. If there is a convention fight and she loses the Dems will lose the black, women, and Hispanic vote. Which would kill the dem party.

If she chooses whitmore then we have two women and you have a solid shot at locking MI up. Mayor Pete would also be a good choice he has done a great job as Transportation sec.