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22
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)
Last post by Lods -
You may not be a Democratic supporter, in fact you would probably be well to the left of most Democratic supporters.

What I'm saying Paul, is that because of personal views and bias we sometimes exaggerate the "demon' qualities of those on the other side while at the same time overlooking the faults of those we have an affinity for.

We can look at the same individual, and their behaviour, and judge them quite differently depending on whether we agree with them or not on issues
While I agree that a lot of the people you mention are not great people, especially the fearless leader, there would be moderate conservatives, even middle of the road voters who don't see them in the same light as you do.
That's demonstrated by election results.
Not all the people who voted for Trump are raving right wingers.
He won over a fair bit of the middle ground where elections are decided.
I suspect the polls have probably turned against him in recent times, so it will be interesting to see the effect of Kirks assassination.



23
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)
Last post by PaulP -
Quote from: Lods – on
I'm pretty sure most folks with a Democratic leaning would agree with that assessment Paul.
Just as most people with a Republican leaning would think the opposite.
And there lies the problem
Both sides are one-eyed and blinded by their own perceptions to some of the things that are actually being said by their 'team'.

It's been confrontational since Trump's first term.
Few on any side have put any effort at all into toning down some of the rhetoric.
They say the words, but in the next sentence they pass a judgement that is likely to incite a negative response.


Sorry lods, but I disagree. I can tell you quite categorically that I am not in any way a supporter of the Democrats.

If you interrogate the data on its own terms, there is no equivalence in terms of certain behaviors. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong, but IMO :

- there is no Democrat / left equivalent to Trump, a man who consistently insults minorities and opponents, lies like he breathes, calls for political violence against groups and individuals he doesn't like etc

- there are no Democrat / left equivalent to Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Hegseth and host of others, who pretty much parrot the same vulgar and violent rhetoric as their leader

- there are no Democrat / left equivalent to the Jan 6 insurrectionists and groups like the Proud Boys, MAGA movement etc. IMO, groups like Antifa do not count as an equivalent, since they are minor players and do not have the reach, scope and access to power that the right wing groups do.

- there are few if any Democrat / left equivalents to the social media influencers like Kirk and many other who also frequently engage in rhetoric that fuels hatred and violence.

The oppressor / aggressor / agitator pretty much always sets the agenda. Republicans have been targeting and abusing Democrats for years. The fact that Democrats eventually retaliate in their characteristically gormless way does not IMO imply equivalence. 

I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
25
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: PaulP – on
I think if we focus on the main topic of this thread, which is essentially Trump and America post 2016, we need to be careful about equivocating and assuming some kind of both sides equivalence. The data make it pretty clear that the Trump Republicans are much worse rhetorically and practically than the Democrats.

There seems to be a level of camaraderie between former presidents, but it doesn’t extend to Taco.  That was evident at Jimmy Carter’s funeral where Biden, Bush, Obama and Clinton exchanged pleasantries but avoided Taco.  I’m not sure whether that’s due to an understandable genuine dislike of the man, an unwillingness to be associated with his politics, or a combination.

Previous Republican presidents have generally conducted themselves with dignity and in a statesmanlike manner.  Political assassinations still occurred, but not in the context of aggressive, hate-filled speech that emanates from the White House now.  The Utah governor’s firm pushback against the MAGA calls for retribution is reminiscent of the pre-MAGA GOP.
26
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)
Last post by Lods -
Quote from: PaulP – on
I think if we focus on the main topic of this thread, which is essentially Trump and America post 2016, we need to be careful about equivocating and assuming some kind of both sides equivalence. The data make it pretty clear that the Trump Republicans are much worse rhetorically and practically than the Democrats.

I'm pretty sure most folks with a Democratic leaning would agree with that assessment Paul.
Just as most people with a Republican leaning would think the opposite.
And there lies the problem
Both sides are one-eyed and blinded by their own perceptions to some of the things that are actually being said by their 'team'.

It's been confrontational since Trump's first term.
Few on any side have put any effort at all into toning down some of the rhetoric.
They say the words, but in the next sentence they pass a judgement that is likely to incite a negative response.
27
Ladies Lounge / Re: AFLW 2025 Rd 5: Carlton vs Gold Coast at Carlton
Last post by kruddler -
The girls are doing the jumper proud. The ball movement, the hunger, the skills, the run, the passion. Our lads could learn a thing or 2.

We had more than 5 times the scoring shots than the suns by the end of it, including a couple that hit the post (and one that hit the little post) it was a dominant display that should've been even more dominant.

Brooke Vickers with her first game back in almost 2 years looked out of touch. A couple others early in their careers didn't show a whole lot, but the majority of the team are very solid. Cordner and Vellardo (and Hendry) down back intecepted everything that came their way.

Bree marked everything that came her way (could get a gig in the blokes side with hands like her)

The irish lasses' are a breath of fresh air who bring a never say die attitude that is infectious.

Sophie McKay should've had 5 and looks like a seasoned veteran, not a player playing their 5th game.

BIG test next week vs the Kangas.....but we are in form, so who knows.
28
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)
Last post by PaulP -
I think if we focus on the main topic of this thread, which is essentially Trump and America post 2016, we need to be careful about equivocating and assuming some kind of both sides equivalence. The data make it pretty clear that the Trump Republicans are much worse rhetorically and practically than the Democrats.
29
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: LP – on
Quote from: tonyo – on
I fear Australia is going down the same track, as we become increasingly influenced by media-driven one-liners and cheap-shot journalists who no longer report news, only their agenda-laden opinions.
I'm not so pessimistic, I think the extremists are still clearly in the minority pretty much everywhere globally, it's the media representation that is unbalanced.

The problem is the inaction of the silent majority, it needs to vote with it's wallet, it is the only thing that modern media understand. Stop advertising on their platforms, stop buying what they peddle, and the executives will get the message.

I'm of a similar view LP.

I think that incidents like the Porepunkah tragedy and the attacks on synagogues, Jewish businesses, Camp Sovereignty, etc are aberrations by a tiny minority that's manipulated by bad actors.  On the whole, we're a relatively tolerant bunch who can conduct political discourse without resorting to name calling.

Peter Dutton's concession speech and the remarks he directed to Albo and Ali France are good examples of that.  And then there's the fact that Dutton and Albo are good mates, despite having opposing political views.
30
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)
Last post by LP -
Quote from: tonyo – on
I fear Australia is going down the same track, as we become increasingly influenced by media-driven one-liners and cheap-shot journalists who no longer report news, only their agenda-laden opinions.
I'm not so pessimistic, I think the extremists are still clearly in the minority pretty much everywhere globally, it's the media representation that is unbalanced.

The problem is the inaction of the silent majority, it needs to vote with it's wallet, it is the only thing that modern media understand. Stop advertising on their platforms, stop buying what they peddle, and the executives will get the message.