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The Brand is Crisis
Author: Raine    Date: 11/28/2016 14:10:48

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, last night.
One of my heroes in journalism, the late 20th Century muckraker I.F. Stone, is most famous for his dictum that all governments lie. Sadly, that's been true -- albeit in wildly varying degrees -- with all the U.S. presidents of my lifetime. The list includes Republicans like George W. Bush (the Iraq war, the African uranium caper) and Richard Nixon (pretty much everything) and Democrats like LBJ (Vietnam) and, yes, even the relatively scandal-free Barack Obama ("If you like your health insurance, you can keep it," even after evidence emerged to the contrary, and his promise of "the most transparent government"...not even close.) But none dared to launch what a certain German minister of propaganda (today you might call him a "chief strategist") once called The Big Lie -- a falsehood so outrageous and so without basis that it's almost futile to contradict in any conventional way.

But Donald Trump went there. Armed with his iPhone and his two thumbs, the president-elect -- who takes the oath of office in 54 days -- experienced a Twitter meltdown earlier this afternoon, and ultimately told a shocking Big Lie to the nation he plans to lead.


The lie? Here you go:




I am godsmacked. The Inquirer goes on:
This is the media's challenge -- to cover Trump's lies and yet not lose sight of the big picture either. To cover the most dangerous political figure in America's 240-year history with reckless abandon and yet with a sense of control.

The stakes are too high to calculate. But there is one other thing about Trump's big lie about the 2016 election. Ironically, before today, the case for a recount in the three states was a tad shaky. While the threat of Russian (or other) hacking has been a valid concern, little in the way of actual evidence of a stolen election has emerged since November 8. But now that Trump has alleged massive fraud, the integrity of the American system demands that the result be audited and properly certified. So let the re-counting begin.


We're being told to watch for fake news -- who needs fake news when the President-Elect of the United States has no problem telling lies so outrageous that only his true believers will think is factual?

It is the absolute right of the State to supervise the formation of public opinion.

Goebbels


This is not normal. This is dangerous. And he is trying to distract people from stories like this, These are stories that are warning everyone of what is to come.
Mr. Antonio’s combination of jobs — he is a business partner with Mr. Trump, while also representing the Philippines in its relationship with the United States and the president-elect — is hardly inconsequential, given some of the weighty issues on the diplomatic table.

Among them, Mr. Duterte has urged “a separation” from the United States and has called for American troops to exit the country in two years’ time. His antidrug crusade has resulted in the summary killings of thousands of suspected criminals without trial, prompting criticism from the Obama administration.

Situations like these are already leading some former government officials from both parties to ask if America’s reaction to events around the world could potentially be shaded, if only slightly, by the Trump family’s financial ties with foreign players. They worry, too, that in some countries those connections could compromise American efforts to criticize the corrupt intermingling of state power with vast business enterprises controlled by the political elite.


It didn't seem as important then, but Eichenwald wrote about this back in September
Many foreign governments retain close ties to and even control of companies in their country, including several that already are partnered with the Trump Organization. Any government wanting to seek future influence with President Trump could do so by arranging for a partnership with the Trump Organization, feeding money directly to the family or simply stashing it away inside the company for their use once Trump is out of the White House. This is why, without a permanent departure of the entire Trump family from their company, the prospect of legal bribery by overseas powers seeking to influence American foreign policy, either through existing or future partnerships, will remain a reality throughout a Trump presidency.


This is a dire situation already and he hasn't yet moved into office. Don't blink, don't stop caring and don't ever give up.

and
Raine
 

40 comments (Latest Comment: 11/28/2016 21:02:46 by Mondobubba)
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Comment by wickedpam on 11/28/2016 14:36:59
Morning

Comment by Scoopster on 11/28/2016 14:54:21
Mornin' all..

I was just in the bathroom having some pretty serious gas. Wanted to see if I could outdo the tweeter-in-waiting.

Comment by TriSec on 11/28/2016 14:56:18
Good morning.

Ye Olde Manager is on vacation this week, so I can play with the cool kids for a few days.

I did not reply Friday, but the Blogger known as Joe will be welcome in the TriSec compound, provided he has the proper documentation.

I note that I too posted exuberantly about Castro, but nobody cared. Then again, I'm not the President-elect.

Comment by Scoopster on 11/28/2016 14:59:37
Heh Tri - I have to put our promised celebratory smokin' of the legal greens on hold for a while.

You see, it seems I have a bit of a problem in that area, so I'm gonna be taking a break.

Comment by Raine on 11/28/2016 15:00:17
This is awesome!


Comment by Raine on 11/28/2016 15:04:36
Quote by Scoopster:
Heh Tri - I have to put our promised celebratory smokin' of the legal greens on hold for a while.

You see, it seems I have a bit of a problem in that area, so I'm gonna be taking a break.



Comment by wickedpam on 11/28/2016 15:08:23
Quote by TriSec:
Good morning.

Ye Olde Manager is on vacation this week, so I can play with the cool kids for a few days.

I did not reply Friday, but the Blogger known as Joe will be welcome in the TriSec compound, provided he has the proper documentation.

I note that I too posted exuberantly about Castro, but nobody cared. Then again, I'm not the President-elect.



The Blogger known as Joe is preparing his/her documentation

Comment by Scoopster on 11/28/2016 15:11:16
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Heh Tri - I have to put our promised celebratory smokin' of the legal greens on hold for a while.

You see, it seems I have a bit of a problem in that area, so I'm gonna be taking a break.


Oh now cmon now no frowns! Just need to focus on the things that really matter for a while.

Comment by Scoopster on 11/28/2016 15:13:03
Comment by Mondobubba on 11/28/2016 15:14:03
Comment by Mondobubba on 11/28/2016 15:16:47
Quote by TriSec:
Good morning.

Ye Olde Manager is on vacation this week, so I can play with the cool kids for a few days.

I did not reply Friday, but the Blogger known as Joe will be welcome in the TriSec compound, provided he has the proper documentation.

I note that I too posted exuberantly about Castro, but nobody cared. Then again, I'm not the President-elect.


I liked you comment about el Maximum Leader's passing on the book of the faces.

Comment by TriSec on 11/28/2016 15:24:51
Quote by Scoopster:
Heh Tri - I have to put our promised celebratory smokin' of the legal greens on hold for a while.

You see, it seems I have a bit of a problem in that area, so I'm gonna be taking a break.


Oh, dear.

Comment by wickedpam on 11/28/2016 15:26:58
Quote by Raine:
This is awesome!




Comment by Raine on 11/28/2016 15:38:47
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
This is awesome!


I needed this today, this morning.



Comment by velveeta jones on 11/28/2016 15:47:20
Morning.
Can we start impeachment on 1/21?

Comment by Raine on 11/28/2016 15:51:41
Crap, I just saw a report that there are 7 victims and still an active shooter at Ohio State in Columbus.

Comment by Raine on 11/28/2016 15:52:01
Quote by velveeta jones:
Morning.
Can we start impeachment on 1/21?

Vel!

I miss you.

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/28/2016 15:52:09
Quote by Raine:
This is awesome!


When I work up this morning, I wondered what a Wes Anderson directed long-form TV commercial would look like. Now I know.

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/28/2016 15:53:44
Comment by BobR on 11/28/2016 16:04:20
So I have a broken toe.

Thanks, Obama...

Comment by Raine on 11/28/2016 16:05:44
Quote by BobR:
So I have a broken toe.

Thanks, Obama...



Comment by Scoopster on 11/28/2016 16:06:17
Comment by Will in Chicago on 11/28/2016 16:07:09
Good morning, bloggers!!!

I believe that incredible claims require incredible facts to back them up. Donald J. Trump has presented no evidence of massive voter fraud. We must presume that the President-Elect will continue to lie to strengthen his position and endear himself to his followers.

So, we will have many challenges in coming years. Strap in, folks!! It's going to be a long, hard, bumpy ride.

Comment by TriSec on 11/28/2016 16:14:16
All I know is that I'll be listening to a lot of music for the next four years. Shostakovich today.

Comment by BobR on 11/28/2016 16:15:02
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Good morning, bloggers!!!

I believe that incredible claims require incredible facts to back them up. Donald J. Trump has presented no evidence of massive voter fraud. We must presume that the President-Elect will continue to lie to strengthen his position and endear himself to his followers.

So, we will have many challenges in coming years. Strap in, folks!! It's going to be a long, hard, bumpy ride.

The funny thing about his claim, is that it in essence demands recounts to find the illegal votes - while he is simultaneously raging about the demands for recounts in WI, PA, and MI (as noted in the blog)

Comment by BobR on 11/28/2016 16:19:16
Quote by Raine:
Crap, I just saw a report that there are 7 victims and still an active shooter at Ohio State in Columbus.

Unhappy Michigan fan?

Comment by Scoopster on 11/28/2016 16:48:47
Quote by BobR:
So I have a broken toe.

Thanks, Obama...

I saw that pic you posted - looks pretty serious! If you hadn't said it I would've guessed you also broke some bones in your foot.

Comment by wickedpam on 11/28/2016 16:51:51
Quote by BobR:
So I have a broken toe.

Thanks, Obama...


Ouch!

Comment by livingonli on 11/28/2016 16:56:20
That sucks, BobR. Hope it heals soon.

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/28/2016 17:01:59
Quote by BobR:
So I have a broken toe.

Thanks, Obama...


Donde los yikes! I saw the picture and winced.

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/28/2016 17:02:36
Quote by Scoopster:

Ooooh neato!


High scores are a western decadence.

Comment by Scoopster on 11/28/2016 17:18:06
Comment by wickedpam on 11/28/2016 17:20:26



I was just going to post that. Didn't sound like the guy wanted to cast for Hillary either.

Comment by Raine on 11/28/2016 17:40:13
Quote by wickedpam:



I was just going to post that. Didn't sound like the guy wanted to cast for Hillary either.

What a phuggin patriot.

BTW, Lisa Bloom has said she will represent Pro Bono any Elector that votes for clinton and is sued.

Comment by Raine on 11/28/2016 20:11:38
Comment by Mondobubba on 11/28/2016 20:12:14
So a friend of mine's fella has the same name as a former producer of SMS.

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/28/2016 20:12:57
Quote by Raine:

Thanks for this!

I am reading it now.



Be sure to read the two essays he links. Both of them are excellent as well.

Comment by Raine on 11/28/2016 20:24:51
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:

Thanks for this!

I am reading it now.



Be sure to read the two essays he links. Both of them are excellent as well.
The essay from ThinkProgress is absolutely amazing.


I;m really concerned about this. B*sh was a dolt and an idiot -- and the war thing STILL pisses me off, but this is something much more ominous, Mondo.


Comment by Mondobubba on 11/28/2016 21:02:46
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:

Thanks for this!

I am reading it now.



Be sure to read the two essays he links. Both of them are excellent as well.
The essay from ThinkProgress is absolutely amazing.


I;m really concerned about this. B*sh was a dolt and an idiot -- and the war thing STILL pisses me off, but this is something much more ominous, Mondo.


Oh God, yes it is.