Various odds and ends today with the connecting theme being messaging, because, let’s face it, Democrats as a whole (with certain positive exceptions - looking at you AOC and Jon Ossoff and JB Pritzker) are really bad at it.
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First, let’s talk about this Hasan Piker guy. Personally, I have no idea who he is or what he says. He’s some kind of online streamer dude, right? Twitch, right? And you know what? I. DON’T. CARE. How hard can it be for a candidate - when asked about him - to respond with something along the lines of: “I don’t know him. I’ve never listened to him or read his stuff. There are all sorts of people spouting off on the internet and podcasts. So what?! He doesn’t speak for me or anyone other than himself. I’m focused on the most corrupt President and his complicit Republican congressional majority in our history, and how they are more focused on enriching themselves, building ballrooms and arches, and holding on to power than doing literally anything to help the American people afford groceries, gas and healthcare. Maybe you should ask those who push him why they are focused on some random gamer guy with a following rather than making things better for the rest of us.”
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Second, let’s move on to trans people and this bizarre story of a former NBA player (and MAGA supporter) trying to get his 15 minutes of fame by claiming he wants to qualify as a female to play in the WNBA:
Enes Kanter Freedom Hits Wall in Absurd WNBA Feud: Full Timeline of Former NBA Player’s Publicity Stunt
A look at Enes Kanter Freedom’s self-made feud with the WNBA, which boiled over when he was removed from Sunday’s Sky-Fever game.
SI
He’s just a washed-up, has-been idiot trying to push the trans culture war issue and the essentially non-existent issue of trans women in sports (there are exactly ZERO trans women in the WNBA and less than 10 trans people in NCAA sports out of 510,000 athletes). Again, how hard can it be for a Democratic candidate to respond to a question about trans people with something like, “Let me put it simply and clearly - I support every single person’s right to have the freedom to live the life that is right for them. Period. What I don’t support are policies promoted by my opponent to transfer the hard-earned wealth of American workers up to the billionaire Epstein Class. I’m not going to get drawn into a false culture war that others are using to cover up their corruption and pillaging of our country.” Not perfect, but you get the idea.
PS: Enos - if you want to go through chemical castration, estrogen treatments and surgery in order to play in the W, have at it big guy!
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Next up, let’s talk about the Iran War. This one should be so simple, especially since he was warned about the stupidity and consequences of attacking Iran before he decided he was smarter than everbody else.
The Warnings That Came Before a War Now Reaching the Six-Month Mark
After military and diplomatic efforts, President Trump pins his hopes on economic warfare
WASHINGTON—Days before going to war with Iran in February, President Trump summoned his intelligence chief to the Oval Office to ask whether a full-on assault was a good idea.
Iran was at its weakest point in decades, senior aides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told him, providing Trump the rare opportunity to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and bolster his legacy as a peacemaker. The question was whether a large-scale attack would work and possibly topple the regime.
Then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard outlined assessments from America’s intelligence apparatus. According to people familiar with the meeting, she told Trump that killing Iran’s supreme leader would likely usher in a more hard-line regime open to acquiring nuclear weapons. Tehran would rush to close the Strait of Hormuz, destabilizing the global energy market. And it would strike U.S. forces and partners in the Middle East, prompting questions about American resolve and reliability with allies.
The notes of caution echoed warnings Trump was receiving from all corners. Top military leaders told the president that a war would lead to casualties, concerns about the weapons stockpile and readiness problems for an overstretched force, The Wall Street Journal reported.
I mean, even Tulsi f*^king Gabbard knew this was stupid. How hard can it be to simply say, “This war is Trump’s folly and should always be remembered as such. He was told this wouldn’t work - that it would increase energy prices, weaken our vaunted military to the breaking point, and cost American lives. But he and his ego just didn’t care. Neither did his Republican supporters in Congress. The result is higher prices for Americans at home and humiliation for America abroad, all while mega oil corporations, Trump and his family making gobs of money. Trump’s Folly will be remembered as the worst military decision in American history.”
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Finally, let’s move on to tariffs and trade. Mister Mix wrote about the Canadian fiasco this morning. It’s well worth the read. I’ll get right to it. Howa bout, “Trump’s illegal tariffs are a tax paid by American companies and passed on to the American people. It’s one of the biggest tax increases in history resulting in crushing higher prices for every single person living in the United States. And, to boot, he’s picking an idiotic and unnecessary fight with our closest ally and most reliable partner in Canada to distract from his failures everywhere else.”
C’mon Democrats. How hard can it be?
The Beatles - The Word
