Trump opened the door for con men to make their mark in US politics. He kept fact checkers busy with a firehose of lies in the run up to taking the Presidency, during it and even afterwards. He has also been a con man who has various prosecutors on his trail. But at least there was some truth in his stories. He may or may not be a billionaire, but he’s pretty wealthy. His wealth may be mostly inherited rather than him being a self-made business genius, but at least he did run a business. He may not have been a star pupil at Wharton Business School but at least there’s no doubt he went there. But George Santos won a seat in the US House of Representatives with a string of lies that had no basis in fact whatsoever. It makes you wonder how his opponent failed to prove this during the election campaign.
Here’s a probably partial list of his lies: Things George Santos Is Accused Of Lying About (That We Know Of So Far) (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/george-santos-list-of-lies_n_63caccb5e4b0c8e3fc76e71a), HuffPost.
When a guy lies about his own name, you know something’s off.
Of course the Republicans won’t chuck him out of Congress as their majority in The House of Representatives is too thin. McCarthy even put him on 2 Committees, 1 to do with science and the other with business. Certain scientists welcomed his appointment, saying they finally have a celebrated Astronaut and Nobel Prize winner on the Science & Space Committee ;D
The weird thing is that Santos hasn’t broken any US laws.
It will be interesting if the Brazilian authorities decide to extradite him.
You have to feel sorry for the folk he’s supposed to represent … but if more of them got off their butts and bothered to vote, Santos wouldn’t be in Congress.
https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/george-santos-catch-me-if-you-can/48325/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQLExNOaNy0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQLExNOaNy0
I watched it last night! Quite a fan of Bill's work.
https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/george-santos-catch-me-if-you-can/48325/
Trump has paved the way for those cut from the same cloth - liars and grifters.
Trump has paved the way for those cut from the same cloth - liars and grifters.
You don't believe that.
I think it largely depends on how one thinks about lying. Most, if not all politicians lie, and it becomes IMO a matter of opinion as to whether Trump is simply the most extreme example of standard politician behaviour, or whether he stands apart as a new and distinct breed. My personal view is that he tends towards the latter.
I can’t speak on Baggers’ behalf, but I believe it.
There used to be a time where politicians would be ashamed when they were caught out in lies and their parties would cut ties with them if those lies were big enough. But Trump showed you don’t even need to apologise for your lies: instead double down and boast about annoying those on the other side of politics.
Trump ended up pushing the stop the steal lie and made it a loyalty test. He ran Republicans who wouldn’t push the lie out of Congress. And he made it the centrepiece of his re-election campaign while refusing to reveal any policies other than saying he’d make America great again again. How could you not draw a line from Trump to Santos?
I think it largely depends on how one thinks about lying. Most, if not all politicians lie, and it becomes IMO a matter of opinion as to whether Trump is simply the most extreme example of standard politician behaviour, or whether he stands apart as a new and distinct breed. My personal view is that he tends towards the latter.
Trump stands apart because when he gets caught out lying he doubles down, historically politicians would resign when caught out lying!
Once Trump realised he could get away with it, he became an order of magnitude worse, now he doesn't even try to conceal that the stuff he says is false, Trump has almost become a parody, like he is campaigning to be the next Presidential Clown!
We could refer to him as Trumpo the Clown, but I suspect that is exactly what he wants so he can play the victim to his fan base and claim that everyone's lack of respect for him is proof he is victimised.
When in reality everyone's disrespect is proof Trump has been caught out lying!
I just do not get the US population, a large portion of them seem willing to be defrauded, it's like they want it to happen so they can blame their circumstance on somebody else, like "My crap life was because of my circumstance and out of my control!" Maybe some are so dumb they think "If I vote for Trump he may reward me with a pocket full of cash!", when in reality at his hotels Trump will replace higher paid local staff with low wage Sth American or Mexican imports.
But Trump is not alone, we have seen this behaviour in celebrities as well, they know they have a loyal fan base that will forgive pretty much everything.
Trump's biggest weakness is his hubris, give him enough rope and he'll hang himself, in the process he'll drag down his fellow citizens trying to save his sorry ass!
I can’t speak on Baggers’ behalf, but I believe it.
There used to be a time where politicians would be ashamed when they were caught out in lies and their parties would cut ties with them if those lies were big enough. But Trump showed you don’t even need to apologise for your lies: instead double down and boast about annoying those on the other side of politics.
Trump ended up pushing the stop the steal lie and made it a loyalty test. He ran Republicans who wouldn’t push the lie out of Congress. And he made it the centrepiece of his re-election campaign while refusing to reveal any policies other than saying he’d make America great again again. How could you not draw a line from Trump to Santos?
Just pick your team and ignore their lies.
Trump has paved the way for those cut from the same cloth - liars and grifters.
George has a long way to go before he gets anywhere near Aurangzeb's ability for fabrication:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-george-santos-lies_n_63cb15dae4b07c0c7dfc736d
I guess that if a pathological liar can become POTUS, fanboys will try to emulate him.
Just pick your team and ignore their lies.
And that’s the end of the ball game right there. Once you promote the idea that being caught lying is just a tribal thing, then truth doesn’t matter one bit. Indeed, being caught in a big lie is sure to win you praise from your tribe because it will certainly upset the other tribe. Until there can be common ground that lying is a black mark which may require the tribe to disown the liar and take a short term hit, no real debates on policy are possible. You need some common ground and agreed facts to have sensible debates.
The problem with a lie, is that its not a lie if you believe it, and that it was formed based on an interpretation of the truth.
Therefore, even if caught provided you can prove that this was what you believed was the truth based on the information you had at the time, it isnt a lie.
You have to prove someone knew what they were saying was false to actually catch them lieing.
Most politicians can't lie straight in bed, let alone when they speak.
Ultimately, it's only a lie when they admit that it was one. Anything else is speculation. Is Trump any different to the others is an important question. The answer is unclear but I would say no. In some ways he is more honest than the rest, because he makes no attempt to hide behind being a decent human being like the other politicians.
Our political model needs to change. They represent the common man, but are anything but.
it’s not true that it needs an admission from the liar to prove a lie. If that were true, there would be very few fraud convictions. And since most crimes require proof of intent, hardly any could be prosecuted given the accused could claim there was no intent.
The courts have always applied the observation that the state of someone’s mind can be inferred just as much as the state of his or her stomach.
This isn’t even a rarified legal concept. In every day life, we have to sort out lies and truth. Cheating partners and lying kids are hardly unknown in life.
Of course, we can't forget, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."
Apparently Clinton justified his porky on the grounds that penovaginal intercourse did not occur. When he finally fessed up, it was to an "improper physical relationship".
The difference in the standards expected of US and Australian politicians is interesting. Santos can get away with concocting a fictional life, family, education and career while Dominic Perrottet is held to account for wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party when he was 21.
Sorry, MBB, I do believe it... In fact, more surety than belief.
Trump lowered an already pretty low bar. In fact, he dug an enormous trench to house his low regard for honesty. And that gave the green light to those already so inclined. The man is devoid of ethics, morality and values... so lying comes easy. Narcissists create their own reality and force or inspire others to obey or follow suit. He has the psychological / emotional maturity of a 12 yr old. Guilt or even shame at lying is the response most of us feel when lying, or, being caught out lying. Narcissists are not encumbered by guilt or shame. In fact they become enraged when caught out.
Trump operates from the Stone playbook - deny, deny, deny, then throw twice as much mud back at the accuser. Interestingly, it's the same playbook Scientology operates from.
In most civilized (??) countries both Trump and Santos would have been sent packing long, long ago.
Here in Oz, Santos would have been flicked long ago, as soon as the lies were proven. The US really is in decline, serious decline, when such known obscene behaviour is tolerated... sheesh, it's even rewarded!
The problem for the Yanks is they are 'spoiled' for choices.
And I mean 'spoiled' in the terms of rot and decay.
I just do not get the US population, a large portion of them seem willing to be defrauded, it's like they want it to happen so they can blame their circumstance on somebody else, like "My crap life was because of my circumstance and out of my control!" Maybe some are so dumb they think "If I vote for Trump he may reward me with a pocket full of cash!", when in reality at his hotels Trump will replace higher paid local staff with low wage Sth American or Mexican imports.
Cambridge analytica have a large say in all this.
There very targetted propoganda feeding BS to those who are looking for it was the difference between Trump getting up or being laughed out of town. They are very good at their job. Remarkably good its scary.
There was a good doco on that, i think it could be The Great Hack (or something similar) which is on Netflix at the moment that goes into great detail on how good they are at their job.
Something like 9 out of 10 elections around the world they have 'got their man' off the back of their targetted propoganda.
Its ironic that trumps catchphrase 'fake news' is what actually won him the election.
Cambridge analytica have a large say in all this.
There very targetted propoganda feeding BS to those who are looking for it was the difference between Trump getting up or being laughed out of town. They are very good at their job. Remarkably good its scary.
There was a good doco on that, i think it could be The Great Hack (or something similar) which is on Netflix at the moment that goes into great detail on how good they are at their job.
Something like 9 out of 10 elections around the world they have 'got their man' off the back of their targetted propoganda.
Its ironic that trumps catchphrase 'fake news' is what actually won him the election.
Watched it (The Great Hack) a while back, and, yep... scary. Very scary.
Right on queue, Trump's version of golf returns!
While the tournament was set for Saturday and Sunday, Trump wasn’t present for the first day of play, and competitors were reportedly “surprised (although not exactly shocked) to see his name at the top of the leaderboard with a five-point lead over the overnight leader.”
Trump reportedly shot a stellar round on the previous Thursday, with his self-counted 40 in Stableford play placing him five points better than second place.
Trump’s relationship with the rules of golf has long been a tenuous one, with sportswriter Rick Reilly publishing a 2019 book titled “Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump”.
Reminds me of the day Trump shot dead Bin Ladin, or that time he rescued the staff at the Iranian Embassy!
If you're honest you won't win.
No prizes for second place. ;)
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/the-top-10-kooky-myths-north-koreans-are-told-about-leader-kim-jongun/news-story/80db7a6f05eed86cec7d1a82a8ade25d
and good at sport too
https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/308/kim-jong-un-a-boss-at-sports-too
If you're honest you won't win.
Then what's the point of winning? And is it really a win?
Then what's the point of winning? And is it really a win?
Well yeah. Look at our premier.
Well yeah. Look at our premier.
I think Geelong are worthy and won fair and square :D :D ;)
Well yeah. Look at our premier.
What exactly are we looking at; the electorate seeing through the lies that the opposition and the Murdoch press concocted?
One positive to come out of the election is that we now have an opposition leader who’s up front and doesn’t have the taint of corruption about him.
Looks like the walls are closing in on George Santos, Anthony Devolder or whatever name he goes by now. One of the major lines of inquiry involves the $700,000 he said on financial declarations he gave personally to his campaign. He’s now amended that document to retract that claim but now that leaves the question of where it came from. If it came from overseas interests or from a pyramid scheme, that’ll be a big problem for him. And the FBI has apparently asked the FEC (the electoral commission) to suspend its investigation (which is civil in nature), which is regarded as a sign the FBI is opening up a criminal investigation. But the problem is that such an investigation will take a fair bit of time and Santos may be able to see out his 2 year term before the rubber meets the road.
Unfortunately for Santos, there are smaller investigations that might end up in court a lot sooner. A leading candidate is an FBI investigation into the scam he allegedly perpetrated on a veteran who needed about $3,000 to pay for his dog to be treated for cancer. Santos ran an unregistered charity Friends of Pets United (and the fact it was unregistered could lead to a charge in NY and possible tax offences if he failed to report “earnings” from the charity). He set up a GoFundMe page and raised the $3,000 but then came up with a variety of excuses to avoid paying it over. He then cut off contact and presumably kept the money. The dog died untreated.
Feds probing Santos’ role in service dog charity scheme (https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/01/feds-probing-santos-service-dog-charity-scheme-00080706), Politico.
It’s hard to see how he gets out of this one. The veteran has the texts sent to and from Santos and has a witness, another veteran and former policeman who acted as an intermediary. He also made a complaint to NY police who did nothing. Brazenly, Santos included his so-called charity in his campaign materials. It’s going to be hard for him to deny receiving the money and if he has no documentation to show he paid the money for the dog’s treatment, then he’s forked. Fat chance anyone’s going to take him at his word.
And there’s no silver lining in the story for right wingers. If Santos had scammed a black lesbian Democrat, he would have been a GOP hero. But scamming a veteran dog owner alienates the veteran community and dog lovers. And Republicans love to wrap themselves in the flag and supposedly stand behind veterans and the military, even though that’s mostly a charade.
What exactly are we looking at; the electorate seeing through the lies that the opposition and the Murdoch press concocted?
I'm sure the kid that got run over wishes it was a lie.