RNC - what a s**t show

[Hoss]

It's exactly what I expected.  As will be the DNC convention.

Oh, I'm pretty sure it will be quite a show.  However, I don't expect norovirus nor anyone calling the opposing party's nominee 'a worshipper of Lucifer'.  This has been quite a week sofar.

[AquaMan]

I expected them to tout their own candidate rather than pillory Hillary and invoke the muslim Obama theme. Really, I expected them to say what they believe in rather than do a negative sell. Very negative. But like most salesmen, Trump is aware of how effective the negative sell can be.

To be succinct, I expected them to behave like adults with some professionalism rather than a Jerry Springer show.

[Hoss]

I chuckled at this:

BREAKING NEWS ALERT!!!

(AP) Springfield, Illinois:

The corpse of Abraham Lincoln broke out of its' grave at Oak Ridge Cemetery, stole an ax from a nearby Home Depot, and is now making it's way towards Cleveland. Citizens are advised to avoid all contact with the corpse and immediately remove all Confederate flags from public view.

Live Updates when available....

[cannon_fodder]

I love that Ted Cruz announced that he thought Republicans should vote their conscious, for the person they think will best lead the country, and the candidate who will uphold the Constitution - and he was booed off the stage.

Also, the guy who wrote "The Art of the Deal" did an interview with the New Yorker. Pretty interesting stuff. Well, not really. Just spending most days with the guy for 18 months reinforced every stereo type of Trump there is. Pure egotist. Attention span of a gnat. Anti-intellectual (Trump couldn't recall the last book he read and only reads stories about himself). Habitual liar - particularly about what he himself did or says.  Attention whore. And a thin skinned bully. 2016.

[Hoss]

I love that Ted Cruz announced that he thought Republicans should vote their conscious, for the person they think will best lead the country, and the candidate who will uphold the Constitution - and he was booed off the stage.

Also, the guy who wrote "The Art of the Deal" did an interview with the New Yorker. Pretty interesting stuff. Well, not really. Just spending most days with the guy for 18 months reinforced every stereo type of Trump there is. Pure egotist. Attention span of a gnat. Anti-intellectual (Trump couldn't recall the last book he read and only reads stories about himself). Habitual liar - particularly about what he himself did or says.  Attention whore. And a thin skinned bully. 2016.

That author was guest on Maher's live show from Cleveland last night.  He was pretty emphatic about all you just said.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I expected them to tout their own candidate rather than pillory Hillary and invoke the muslim Obama theme. Really, I expected them to say what they believe in rather than do a negative sell. Very negative. But like most salesmen, Trump is aware of how effective the negative sell can be.

To be succinct, I expected them to behave like adults with some professionalism rather than a Jerry Springer show.

Lol... Love your satire!!!

[Conan71]

[Hoss]

Think I'm stealing that for FB....that's awesome stuff right there.

[dbacksfan 2.0]

[Hoss]

Saw that on my sister-in-law's FB feed about 10 minutes ago.  Hilarious

[erfalf]

Saw that on my sister-in-law's FB feed about 10 minutes ago.  Hilarious

While it's still funny, you know that's photo shopped right?

[erfalf]

From what I heard last night (not all of that hour plus rambling), it sounds like Trump is "feeling the Bern". Or better yet, he think those that do feel the Bern will be feeling like voting for him instead of Clinton. It sounds outlandish and probably is because of the brainwashing that goes on in this country, but Trump and the Bern have quit a bit in common. Their economic protectionism in particular. It seems Trump as well is a bit of a libertarian when it comes to all the LGBTQ issues, similar to Bern. While not to the same degree, Bernie is certainly much more of a restrictionist than Hillary would be on immigration. They both love women (apparently enough to marry a handful each).   Crazy hair. Both are certainly off script most of the time.

But all the press must be right, Trump is a Nazi and want's to enslave blacks, and deport non-white's.

Peter Thiel (who has some radical ideas of his own in regards to self-governing) even got up and gave his shtick, which I imagine resonates well with most conservatives. Simply put, the fake "culture war" is just a distraction from the real issues that effect most of our lives. Peter is a gutsy guy to be showing his face their considering his line of work. It certainly flies in the face of virtually all of his peers and likely costs him investment opportunities in his VC efforts.

[Hoss]

While it's still funny, you know that's photo shopped right?

Your point being?....

[AquaMan]

From what I heard last night (not all of that hour plus rambling), it sounds like Trump is "feeling the Bern". Or better yet, he think those that do feel the Bern will be feeling like voting for him instead of Clinton. It sounds outlandish and probably is because of the brainwashing that goes on in this country, but Trump and the Bern have quit a bit in common. Their economic protectionism in particular. It seems Trump as well is a bit of a libertarian when it comes to all the LGBTQ issues, similar to Bern. While not to the same degree, Bernie is certainly much more of a restrictionist than Hillary would be on immigration. They both love women (apparently enough to marry a handful each).   Crazy hair. Both are certainly off script most of the time.

But all the press must be right, Trump is a Nazi and want's to enslave blacks, and deport non-white's.

Peter Thiel (who has some radical ideas of his own in regards to self-governing) even got up and gave his shtick, which I imagine resonates well with most conservatives. Simply put, the fake "culture war" is just a distraction from the real issues that effect most of our lives. Peter is a gutsy guy to be showing his face their considering his line of work. It certainly flies in the face of virtually all of his peers and likely costs him investment opportunities in his VC efforts.

On the scale of political ideology, an extreme socialist is not too far away from a fascist. However, respectfully, neither of these guys fit those descriptions. Bernie stayed pretty true to his script the whole campaign and, while Trump has failed to discipline himself to not speak about things he has little understanding of, he at least stayed true to his negative view of America. One is an outsider who has dedicated himself to social issues within the establishment of Congress. The other is a (arguably crooked) businessman dedicated to his own aggrandizement. So, though you stretched pretty hard, I really don't see your comparisons as accurate.

Its yet to be determined if Trump is the tip of an iceberg of political revolution or just a dog who finally caught the bus and doesn't know how to let go. Either way, the cycle of politics has to change. Under 35's have grown up with different paradigms and a cynicism nurtured by political propagandists. Whether its this election or the next, the artificial choices of conservative vs liberal are going to pass.

[cannon_fodder]

So if you want to hear the corporate spin, the carefully-crafted lies, and the media myths the Democrats are holding their convention next week. Go there.

But here, at our convention, there will be no lies. We will honor the American people with the truth, and nothing else.

This is too much! Lets look at the factual statements in his speech that followed this very claim:

Claim: I will present the facts plainly and honestly.
Fact: Donald Trump has lied more than any presidential candidate in history. Fact checkers illustrate that less than 20% of his fact based statements are true.

Claim: The number of police officers killed in the line of duty has risen by almost 50% compared to this point last year.
Fact: 8%

Claim:  58% of African-American youth are now not employed.
Fact: 38%

Claim: 2 million more Latinos are in poverty today than when President Obama took his oath of office less than eight years ago.
Fact: True! But spin. There were millions more Latinos than there were 8 years ago, the poverty rate declined. That's good news!

Claim: Household incomes are down more than $4,000 since the year 2000. That's sixteen years ago.
Fact: True! But spin. The drop under Bush accounts for $2,500 of that, and Obamas first three years account for most of the rest.

Claim: In Libya, our consulate – the symbol of American prestige around the globe – was brought down in flames.
Fact: It wasn't a consulate, it was a "Temporary Mission Facility."

Claim: That is why Hillary Clinton's message is that things will never change. Never ever.
Fact: Hillary has detailed plans to change immigration, to criminal justice, to higher education, to...

Claim [Referring to Trumps opposition to Free Trade] In this cause, I am proud to have at my side the next Vice President of the United States: Governor Mike Pence of Indiana. . .
Fact: Pence is strongly in favor of free Trade.

Claim: I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology
Fact: The Log Cabin Republicans have called the current GOP platform the "most anti-LGBT platform" in GOP history, which seems to indicate the oppression and hatred isn't foreign

Claim: there's no way to screen Syrian refugees in order to find out who they are or where they come from.
Fact: Refugees are screen by the host government, then by the UN, them by the State Department, then by the FBI, etc.

Claim: Remember, it was Bill Clinton who signed NAFTA, one of the worst economic deals ever made by our country. Or frankly, any other country. Never ever again.
Fact: True with spin, and false. Bill did sign NAFTA, after it was negotiated by GH Bush and approved by a Republican Congress. Also, Congressional studies show the agreement was a wash for jobs (neither producing the great boom or great bust each side predicted).

Claim:  Excessive regulation is costing our country as much as $2 trillion a year, and we will end it very, very quickly.
Fact: He rounded up the highest estimate, which was a "spit ball" not based on actual data. Likely hyperbole.  The statement that he will end "as much as $2T" in regulation is absolutely false.

Claim: We are going to lift the restrictions on the production of American energy.
Fact: We produce more energy today than ever before, so much "drill baby drill" was done under Obama that the USA has turned the global energy market on its head and, some argue, collapsed the price of oil and gas.

Claim: We will completely rebuild our depleted military
Fact: Adjusted for inflation, we spend as much or more (depending on what you count) on military than we did under Reagan or GW

Claim: My just released 10 point plan has received tremendous veteran support.
Fact: Recent polls indicate a record number of military personnel will vote for a 3rd party candidate

Claim: I, on the other hand, received the early and strong endorsement of the National Rifle Association and will protect the right of all Americans to keep their families safe.
Fact: Before running for office he was in favor of assault weapons bans, a mandatory waiting period, and universal background checks.

Claim: My Dad, Fred Trump. . . it's because of him that I learned, from my youngest age, to respect the dignity of work and the dignity of working people.
Fact: Fred Trump was so hated by working people (particularly minorities) that Woody Guthrie wrote a song about him called "Old Man Trump."

Claim: This was just prior to the signing of the Iran deal, which gave back to Iran $150 billion and gave us absolutely nothing – it will go down in history as one of the worst deals ever negotiated.
Fact: Repeatedly debunked talking point.

Claim: America is a nation of believers, dreamers, and strivers that is being led by a group of censors...
Fact: Trump has almost certainly sent more letters and sued more people attempting to censor people than any other politician in the history of America.

Claim: My opponent asks her supporters to recite a three-word loyalty pledge. It reads: "I'm With Her". I choose to recite a different pledge.
Fact: They chant it at rallies, they aren't asked to recite it. The campaign slogan is technically "Stronger Together."


Overall, the fact checkers give him around a 50% mark for the speech. Some higher, some lower. But only lying 50% of the time is a really good job for Trump.