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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGrumpy Old Man Rant
[P]erhaps you notice how the denial is so often the preface to the justification.
― Christopher Hitchens
I think we can all agree that Trump is a whiner. A sniveller running a brat campaign. A brat whimpering about how the media is mean to him. To paraphrase John, orange matter custard dripping from a dead swine's ass.
One of the more pathetic tactics used by Trump and his cult is "what-about-ism" We are all too familiar with this weak attempt to deflect attention from themselves or their hero. My children think it's a giggle, because by the time each was six years old, they knew that if I brought up one of their behaviors, the very last thing they wanted to do was say, "Yeah? But what about ____?"
It is a remarkably child-like tactic in a discussion. By engaging in it, the person is, in fact, admitting that they have indeed done whatever they are being asked about. It may seem cute to a parent if their three or four year old tries to get over with it. But there is nothing cute or respectable about an adult attempting to use it to their advantage.
Thus, I fully expect Donald Trump to engage in it in tonight's debate. I doubt he will limit himself to attempting to justify the number of covid deaths under his failed "leadership" with bullshit speculation about how many would have died if Joe Biden was president.
Enjoy tonight's debate!
5X
(3,986 posts)when I read your heading and saw the author, I said, I don't think so.
You can't start a grumpy old man rant with a quote and then a paraphrase in the text.
That disqualifies this as a rant.
H2O Man
(75,151 posts)the social norms is a favorite sport of grumpy old men. Granted, it doesn't have the full impact of our behaviors as youth -- the ones we don't want our children to learn about until adulthood. It was terrible when my sons, then teens, heard some stories .....from adults employed at their school, no less. I knew I couldn't expect to get a way with saying, "Yeah? But what about _____?"
I am really looking forward to the debate tonight. I'm fully confident that when Trump tries pulling his shit, Joe is fully prepared to nail him. I want to see Joe put a Smokin'Joe Frazier-intensity upon his opponent.
coeur_de_lion
(3,784 posts)for duty.
So sick of that ugly orange mother fucker. He can get knotted.
Bernardo de La Paz
(50,582 posts)H2O Man
(75,151 posts)coeur_de_lion
(3,784 posts)H2O Man
(75,151 posts)1-A: You are a Young Lady in my Expert Opinion. Thus, I would never allow Rudy G to be alone with you -- unless, of course, you were going to smack the shit out of him. That would be a heck of a scene in a Borat movie.
2-B: Or not to be -- that's really the only question going into this debate, isn't it? Joe Biden is calm, focused, informated, and capable. Trump is scared shitless of losing, enraged, and incapable of controlling himself. Joe has a range, Trump is limited.
coeur_de_lion
(3,784 posts)I would be smacking the shit out of him. Silly H. Give me 5 minutes with any of these clowns and I would smack them until my arm was tired or they were dead whichever came first.
malaise
(277,091 posts)Tonight is the Malarkey debate
H2O Man
(75,151 posts)of something you mentioned -- the chances that he gets frustrated and exits the stage. I was telling my cousin about that. He said that he thinks Biden can get him that upset. I think the biggest factor will be his finding that this moderator is not going to allow his greak show tonight. That lady is not going to take shit from Trump. I know his aides have told him to focus on Biden, not her, but he can't control himself.
ProfessorGAC
(69,352 posts)Rec'd.
H2O Man
(75,151 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(36,304 posts)Sorry, reflexive reaction to whataboutism.
H2O Man
(75,151 posts)My face hurts from laughing so hard. Well done!
Hermit-The-Prog
(36,304 posts)Your reaction gave me some giggles.
Every time a GOPer starts down the whatabout trail, they should receive a screech of, "Benghazi!"
Whatever happened to that pointy haired critter so obsessed with Hillary? Oh, yeah, he lost.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigation_into_the_2012_Benghazi_attack
RainCaster
(11,440 posts)Another of those things we are getting tired of hearing about.
bucolic_frolic
(46,412 posts)I just cannot watch putrid Trump at all.
H2O Man
(75,151 posts)I have family and friends that simply cannot watch him any more. They have all voted already, and several are very active in other campaigns. I have times where I benefit from taking a few days off from "the news," and appreciate others doing what is best for them. Because this guy is responsible for not only the non-response to the virus, but also for the social stress level.
warmfeet
(3,321 posts)he is a full blown crybaby. A tiny, delicate, little snowflake that cannot handle any criticism at all.
Send him to our sun. I will gladly pay more in taxes for this cause, and any other cause to improve humanity. First things first, get rid of the orange dotard.
GOTV!
H2O Man
(75,151 posts)He makes such pitiful attempts to project being a tough guy. That he ain't. He is a failure as a human being.
Illumination
(2,458 posts)H2O Man
(75,151 posts)Malaise and I are hoping for a more public melt-down of Trump this evening. It is one of those things where we will always remember where we were when it finally happens.
Can you imagine what DU will be like then? Can't wait.
Illumination
(2,458 posts)someone I knew that was really abusive. Especially when he drank it changed his personality. Trump really creeps me out & gives me very bad vibes! His body language is also so darn irritating! Biden on the other hand, smiled a lot. Especially when Trump was lying. Substance wise I thought Biden did well. You're right...this is history like none other!...
Response to Illumination (Reply #11)
H2O Man This message was self-deleted by its author.
panader0
(25,816 posts)H2O Man
(75,151 posts)I've had an interesting day. I got a package in the mail today, from a man I worked with many years ago when he was a kid. He's a grandfather now, and hasn't had a single run-in with the law since then. We re-connected on the internet a few years ago, and I wasn't surprised that he was kind of a red neck, in the better sense of the term. Pto-Trump. His mother-in-law, a very nice lady, recently died a terrible death from the virus. In his note, he said his eyes have been opened. He sent me ten artifacts he found around his property in a distant state, reminding me of when I'd take an angry teen artifact-hunting, were we could talk on a level different than from behind a desk in an office.
world wide wally
(21,804 posts)Policy
PWPippinesq
(195 posts)My husband is watching some series with chases and shoot 'em ups and my son has retreated to the basement. I've settled in to do my civic duty - watch this train wreck of a candidate and a human being and report to my family and friends who couldn't stomach it. I'm lucky that I've always had a cast iron constitution. Just doing my duty.