Leo

Well-known member
the best phrase I've heard lately is reference to the "Fox News Cinematic Universe", referring to all the far-flung conspiracy theories that no one outside that bubble understands or cares about.

But in the 2020 general election, Trump needs to communicate with those who live outside the Fox News Cinematic Universe and are not acquainted with its deep mythology. And his self-assigned mission on Thursday night — to reengineer the 2016 campaign’s twist ending by introducing a hazily-defined, email-centric corruption scandal into the mix — only pulled him further into the weeds of the far-right fever swamp.

All this left Donald Trump — a man not known for the cogency of his extemporaneous remarks — with a task akin to describing the fourth season finale of a surreal, largely plotless television show to a crowd of people who’d never heard of the series.

“You were getting a lot of money from Russia. They were paying you a lot of money,” Trump informed Biden. “But now, with what came out today, it’s even worse. All of the emails, the emails, the horrible emails, of the kind of money you were raking in … I think you owe an explanation to the American people, why is it, somebody just had a news conference a little while ago, who was essentially supposed to work with you and your family, but what he said was damning.”

Biden declined to provide the American people with an explanation of what in the hell Trump was talking about.
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
the best phrase I've heard lately is reference to the "Fox News Cinematic Universe", referring to all the far-flung conspiracy theories that no one outside that bubble understands or cares about.
That's great yeah. And I think it's true that Trump has not adjusted his tactics to expanding that universe. Which is what he needs to do.
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
Yeah I was watching the reaction as it happened and no-one got that excited. Trump team called it for Trump, Biden's for Biden and most of the less dyed in the wool partisans seem to think it was broadly a score draw or that maybe BIden shaded it - which seems to be the slight consensus in the snap polls and stuff - but not really by any significant amount.
The main thing is thought that these things are big events and they trail them for ages and so on - but I think that now it's not even just an open secret that they don't really make a big difference to anything.
 

Leo

Well-known member
the evaluations of trump's performance are still ridiculous, though. ok, he was not a raving lunatic this time, but he lied out his ass in at least (being generous) half of what he said. years ago, one lie would be a huge albatross for a candidate, their spokespeople would be in the spin room afterwards trying to minimize the damage. now it just gets taken for granted.
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
The system doesn't work when you have a Trump. That's inarguable I think now, the question is can it be fixed in a way to contain such a liar or is that it for politics as we thought we knew it?
 

Murphy

cat malogen
I got through the first hour or so working late.

Trump dropped China in multiple times first few minutes. Deflect, deflect, deflect. Biden was more self contained but what does that really get at? A would be president too old to function other than as a supreme delegator. Still, better than a raving sociopath.

Don’t envy you @US.
 

craner

Beast of Burden
sure, but there's a general lack of chatter about news clips or next-day media analysis. I think that's a reflection of the uneventfulness,

Sometimes it takes time to realise the full significance of things, too. Or they become greater, later. For example, Trump's destruction of "low energy" Jeb Bush did seem significant at the time, but the passage of time and events has loaded it with greater symbolism.
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
I don't want to attack Biden especially, particularly in a way that seems to kinda stereotype him for his age and so on, but he does seem to lack the killer instinct, there are obvious ripostes that people can see that he doesn't get in. Either cos he's too slow or too honourable - neither of which is good in this world.
 

luka

Well-known member
Sometimes it takes time to realise the full significance of things, too. Or they become greater, later. For example, Trump's destruction of "low energy" Jeb Bush did seem significant at the time, but the passage of time and events has loaded it with greater symbolism.

  • The Getting or Leaning They are sensitive people who have developed a shell around themselves which protects them, but they must rely on others to carry them through life's difficulties. They have low energy levels and so become dependent. When overwhelmed, they develop what we typically think of as neurotic symptoms: phobias, obsessions and compulsions, general anxiety, hysteria, amnesias, and so on, depending on individual details of their lifestyle.
  • The Avoiding types are those that hate being defeated. They may be successful, but have not taken any risks getting there. They are likely to have low social contact in fear of rejection or defeat in any way.
  • The Ruling or Dominant type strive for power and are willing to manipulate situations and people, anything to get their way. People of this type are also prone to anti-social behavior.
  • The Socially Useful types are those who are very outgoing and very active. They have a lot of social contact and strive to make changes for the good.
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
Sometimes it takes time to realise the full significance of things, too. Or they become greater, later. For example, Trump's destruction of "low energy" Jeb Bush did seem significant at the time, but the passage of time and events has loaded it with greater symbolism.
Yes this can be true but is there anything particular that you're thinking of from last night that could grow in significance in that way?
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
Sure. It's a valid point either way.
But my feeling is that even before the event the debate had become such debased currency after last time that people didn't have the same anticipation as before.
 

Leo

Well-known member
But my feeling is that even before the event the debate had become such debased currency after last time that people didn't have the same anticipation as before.

maybe, but on the other hand it could have been viewed as trump's last chance to win over voters. and after his crazy performance in the first debate, would he do this time?
 

Leo

Well-known member
but on the other other hand, I think most people outside of hardcore supporters are just exhausted and can't wait for it to all be over
 
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