The silence from Muslim leaders on the president’s 2024 reelection bid is speaking volumes as Biden continues to back Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
So, the obvious conclusion is that when foreign powers actually do get involved in elections, it’s not something that can ever be talked about? When high level officials take cash from foreign interests, we need to just ignore it? That sounds like a load of neoliberal “civility” nonsense to me.
I did. Twice now. Given the context, there is no other interpretation. Go ahead and downvote this too. It won’t make you right, but I bet it makes you feel like you won something.
I don’t know what country you live in but that sure is a lot of words that don’t really mean anything.
Can you please elaborate on what the “foreign agent bullshit” you’re talking about is?
And can you please also explain how said bullshit is akin to how republicans are blaming Qanaon? (And also please explain what republicans are “blaming” Qanon for, as it’s my understanding that most republicans are followers of Qanon, not critics.)
If you are a bot account I am sorry for putting you through the wringer as it’s my first day.
As someone who spent a lot of time fighting sock puppets over a decade ago: Foreign influence is only viable where there is already a domestic issue to exploit.
The sock puppets and astroturfing are a real thing. Most of the big powers are doing it. The US is certainly doing it (“hi Eglin AFB”) as much as anyone. Even private companies do it!
Whatever opinion you are arguing, unless it is ancom then there is probably a sock puppet out there arguing the same thing.
And when everyone has a voice, you should really worry about why your neighbors find the dangerous ones appealing. The reason is going to lie in the neighbor and not the voice - they have so many to choose from now, after all.
There are a lot of reasons to be suspicious about trump when it comes to colluding with foreign powers, and there is even some evidence. I agree that people often take it too far, into the conspiracy theory territory. But I don’t think it’s quite comparable with QAnon, either in feasibility, or in scope, or in the problematic effects that it may have.
Also, the American system is, at best, only semi-democratic. The politicians are the ones who determine who is in power, much more than the people who actually vote. Are the citizens really responsible for what politicians we have? Am I responsible, as a man who votes conscientiously, who has campaigned during important elections, and yet does not have any real influence in who gets elected? Is the average person, who is just barely getting by, really expected to change the system by themselves?
We need systemic change, but we have no class consciousness, and we are not likely to get there. These facts are manipulated by the people in power.
Democrats don’t want to hear it, though, because it’s a very convenient excuse for their own failings. Just like them blaming Bernie Bros, despite Bernie supporters voting for Clinton in larger numbers than Clinton supporters voted for Obama 8 years prior.
They simply don’t want to take responsibility for their own actions (and inaction).
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Hey yeah, I should stop picking on that Putin guy! 😁
I said Trump was Putin’s pet. He’s a foreign agent only by happenstance and perhaps through manipulation.
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And Trump is Putin’s pet.
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Why do you think a conspiracy is necessary for Trump to be Putin’s pet?
You seem to be convinced that I’m some kind of conspiracy theorist but I already told you I think Trump is a “Russian agent” through happenstance.
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Try not jumping to conclusions
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So, the obvious conclusion is that when foreign powers actually do get involved in elections, it’s not something that can ever be talked about? When high level officials take cash from foreign interests, we need to just ignore it? That sounds like a load of neoliberal “civility” nonsense to me.
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How is it a straw man? It’s a clear implication of your words. Explain how else your position could be interpreted.
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I did. Twice now. Given the context, there is no other interpretation. Go ahead and downvote this too. It won’t make you right, but I bet it makes you feel like you won something.
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I don’t know what country you live in but that sure is a lot of words that don’t really mean anything.
Can you please elaborate on what the “foreign agent bullshit” you’re talking about is?
And can you please also explain how said bullshit is akin to how republicans are blaming Qanaon? (And also please explain what republicans are “blaming” Qanon for, as it’s my understanding that most republicans are followers of Qanon, not critics.)
If you are a bot account I am sorry for putting you through the wringer as it’s my first day.
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As someone who spent a lot of time fighting sock puppets over a decade ago: Foreign influence is only viable where there is already a domestic issue to exploit.
The sock puppets and astroturfing are a real thing. Most of the big powers are doing it. The US is certainly doing it (“hi Eglin AFB”) as much as anyone. Even private companies do it!
Whatever opinion you are arguing, unless it is ancom then there is probably a sock puppet out there arguing the same thing.
And when everyone has a voice, you should really worry about why your neighbors find the dangerous ones appealing. The reason is going to lie in the neighbor and not the voice - they have so many to choose from now, after all.
There are a lot of reasons to be suspicious about trump when it comes to colluding with foreign powers, and there is even some evidence. I agree that people often take it too far, into the conspiracy theory territory. But I don’t think it’s quite comparable with QAnon, either in feasibility, or in scope, or in the problematic effects that it may have.
Also, the American system is, at best, only semi-democratic. The politicians are the ones who determine who is in power, much more than the people who actually vote. Are the citizens really responsible for what politicians we have? Am I responsible, as a man who votes conscientiously, who has campaigned during important elections, and yet does not have any real influence in who gets elected? Is the average person, who is just barely getting by, really expected to change the system by themselves?
We need systemic change, but we have no class consciousness, and we are not likely to get there. These facts are manipulated by the people in power.
I agree with you and I’d like to point out we’ve done studies and found that “Russiagate” in 2016 was a big nothingburger. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/09/russian-trolls-twitter-had-little-influence-2016-voters/
Democrats don’t want to hear it, though, because it’s a very convenient excuse for their own failings. Just like them blaming Bernie Bros, despite Bernie supporters voting for Clinton in larger numbers than Clinton supporters voted for Obama 8 years prior.
They simply don’t want to take responsibility for their own actions (and inaction).