America’s new motto:
And here’s a horrifying example: making a tiny number of trans athletes the scapegoats for the Republican right.
Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
America’s new motto:
And here’s a horrifying example: making a tiny number of trans athletes the scapegoats for the Republican right.
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When both parties are pro-genocide, it literally is choosing between the lesser of two evils.
I missed the part where Biden proposed ethnically cleansing Gaza to turn the place into a rich people marina. I also missed the part where Trump didn’t allow Israel to use of more lethal weaponry on Gaza.
It’s amazing how much morons like Tabby are still trying to ride that dead horse.
AugustusVerger. #2
It sounds to me an awful lot like permitting a genocide, but only with conventional weaponry, is evil, while permitting a genocide with no limits on the weapons used, with the intent of turning the rubble into a playground for the idle rich is more evil.
Almost like a “choosing the lesser of two evils” situation there.
If Gaza was the only difference between the GOP and Democrats, this might be worth wasting a week or two on.
But it’s not.
This is tired, old, both sideism and yeah, it is idiotic. It is also not useful when the issues and stakes are far greater than just Gaza.
.1. One party is right now, systematically destroying the 234 year old democracy and attempting with some success to replace it with a Fascist dictatorship.
One party, the Democrats is ineptly resisting that with some notable leaders, including Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Cory Booker, Patty Murray, etc.. and not including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
.2. Trump has started a tariff trade war with the whole world.
This is likely to lead to worldwide recession.
The stock market was up 55% under Biden and set a record high.
In three months, the Trump regime has crashed the stock market and the S&P is now down 20%.
.3. One party is also threatening to invade and annex Greenland, Canada, and Panama. These threats are serious inasmuch as we’ve done this before. Reagan invaded Panama and arrested their president, Noriega not that long ago.
Greenland is undefended with 56,000 people.
We could take it over in a day or two with a plane load or two of US soldiers.
In fact, the largest military base in Greenland is already American.
One party is a pawn of the Russians and selling out Ukraine to yet again, another genocide.
This time instead of 2 million people, it is 38 million people.
If Ukraine falls, it might well just be the start.
The Russians have a very long history of adding countries to their empire and they’ve already taken over part of Georgia.
.5. to infinity.
This list could go on for pages but this is is enough to point out the blatantly obvious.
Sure, both parties have their problems.
It’s always been a choice between the greater evil and the lesser evil.
In this case the difference is so obvious and great that there isn’t any question which party has to be supported and which has to be defeated.
IIRC, Tabby Lavalamp is Canadian.
Someone needs to tell him that Trump and the head of Homeland Security keep referring to Canada as our 51st state.
Insulted Trudeau by calling him the governorm.
And threatening to invade Canada and take it over.
Then we did start a war with Canada, in this case a trade war.
I missed where Obama and Biden did anything remotely like this.
I don’t blame Canadians or anyone for disliking the USA right now.
I live here and I’m not all that impressed either.
In fact, I was at a mass demonstration two days ago.
But claiming both parties are the same is just idiotic.
Trump and the GOP did this, not the Democrats.
To the difference between the two parties it would seem to me that there is a lot about American politics that needs changing, support for Israel being only one of them. There might be little chance of substantial change with the Democrats, but at least there is a chance and there are people in the party who try to change the status quo for the better.
With the Republicans (they really should change that name to something more fitting) I see the need for a fight to keep things from getting much worse in the next years and it might be long before society can move forward again.
Semi-OT: T-Mobile US has obeyed the Mumps demands and scraped their DEI programs. Even conservative politicians here in Germany are criticising owner German Telekom for that shit move.
The headlines this morning are all self created very bad news from the Trump regime.
This is one of the worst.
Trump is threatening to raise tariffs on China by another 50%.
There is no way he can do that without causing a major recession in the USA.
It will also do some serious harm to China and the world.
I wonder where we are going to get our rare earths now?
Most of the US supply came from China up until a few weeks ago.
There is no “plan” pee se, not when El Presidente has a worldview that is set at right angles to reality. You might as well use voodoo to attempt to improve the economy. Would that qualify as a plan?
For consistently, Trump should issue his orders from inside a bunker. Das war ein befehl!
(Should be “per se”)
Democrats being in charge would be vastly preferable to what we have now. I voted blue, no matter who, in November, and I suppose I’ll be doing the same in the next election (if there is one). That being said, they’re still pretty fucking evil, which I believe is a big part of why they aren’t in charge right now.
With regard to the issue of genocide, Gaza and the West Bank are ONE of the genocides Democrats are complicit in. Their leadership couldn’t buy in to the war on trans people fast enough after the election, after they decided that their extremely tepid support for the basic human rights of trans people cost them that election. Gavin Newsom cozying up to Charlie Kirk is but the most obvious and noisome example of this.
There’s precious little evidence to support the conclusion that quietly saying “maybe we should leave trans people alone” cost Democrats the election. Yes, the Republican anti-trans hate blitz seemed to very effective for them but, when one side spends hundreds of millions of dollars screaming bigotry, and the other side’s only response is to very meekly state that they wouldn’t go quite that far, it’s obvious that the first side is going to resonate more with people.
Then there’s the Democrats’ total surrender on immigration, and their eager participation and the inevitable genocide against brown people. They’ve been doing pretty much what Republicans wanted to do to immigrants for decades now, for absolutely no good reason. I would argue that their refusal to take a rational, compassionate stance on immigration has aided and abetted Republicans’ turn towards greater and more extravagant cruelties, as Republicans have attempted to create
Absolutely no one respects cowards who are willing to sacrifice millions of lives to advance their own political agendas. Nor should they. Democrats are far less evil on the issue of LGBTQ+ rights, and they’re not quite as bad as Republicans in terms of wanton cruelty towards immigrants or the systematic extermination of Palestinians, but they’re far from good on any of those issues.
So, they’re less evil, genocide-wise than Republicans, be still pretty fucking evil. I support Democrats on the basis that there’s really no other viable, less evil option. Saying this is not remotely the same thing as saying that there is NO difference between the two parties. It’s simply a recognition of the reality we’re forced to deal with. I strongly believe that if Democrats took a strong stand for what’s right, instead of settling for being less evil, they’d do better in elections. I might be wrong and, given how incredibly evil Republicans have become, I have no leverage to attempt to push Dems towards such a stance.
Lastly, I’d also add that yes, there are some genuinely good Democrats (AOC, Elizabeth Warren, Jasmine Crockett for example) but they’re far from the majority. So they still average out to less evil than the Republicans.
I’d urge you to watch that John Oliver piece—he’s never been better.
One of the most emotional presentations I’ve seen.
John Oliver is a national treasure. I appreciate PZ showcasing him and Rebecca Watson. They are so decent caring and they put a lot of careful effort into research and presenting facts to blow these self-righteous rtwingnut xtian terrorists out of the water. We need a society that values diversity, equity, and inclusion instead of condemning it with their tiny bigoted minds.
I missed the part where Biden and the Democrats did anything to stop the slaughter and didn’t keep giving Israel all the weapons they need.
It’s amazing how much dipshits like Augustus are able to brush aside thousands of dead Palestinians, doctors, aid workers, and reporters.
Thank you for getting it.
I would have voted straight down ticket Democratic if I was American. I know how much worse it was going to get under actual fascists. The problem is that in losing, the lesser evil is learning the wrong lessons and convincing themselves that the secret is to be more evil. The number of Dems saying out loud that they should throw trans people under the bus should worry everyone in a two party system. What’s idiotic is not forcing the party to be less evil instead. I’d love to be wrong and see massive primarying of Democratic incumbents before the midterms.
I am. I also seem to need to put pronouns in my bio. And I’ve spent several weeks wondering where in Europe I should flee to if the tanks start rolling, so thank you for that lovely bit of condescension.
Claiming I said something I didn’t is also idiotic, so considering only one of us did one of these things…
Don’t get me started on Obama, a man who never met a drone he didn’t like. At least he didn’t start a trade war though.
But yes, I am Canadian so I don’t put a higher premium on American lives over Palestinian lives or the countless other lives lost to American imperialism and capitalistic imperatives over the decades. And after all this ranting, I also don’t want to dismiss the ongoing genocide of indigenous people within my own borders. It’s easy to see how a society built on racist expansionism and too many people unwilling to see that history for what it is can fall to fascism.
Anyway, have a nice day.
Biden stopped arms shipments to Israel just before his term ended. Trump eagerly continued them and extended the choice of weapons on offer.
Anyone who equates the two anyway is a stinking ruZZian stray dog getting his lines directly from the Kremlin.
I keep thinking of this old country song, lamenting the good old days (MAGA) where people worhipped the flag and rung the liberty bell – which is all about protesting freedom and progress. Like it literally laments women not wanting to spend their lives in the kitchen. Dude! Where’s their Liberty Bell?
You’re not lamenting “freedom”. You’re lamenting the status quo where you ruled the roost and everyone else knew their place. You’re singing an ode to fascism.
@Tabby Lavalamp :” I missed the part where Biden and the Democrats did anything to stop the slaughter and didn’t keep giving Israel all the weapons they need.”
Clearly you did. Perhaps, no, make that definitely you shpould’ve paid more attention.
Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-makes-2000-pound-bombs-available-israel-undoing-bidens-pause-2025-01-25/
Even if he did, that would have been after well over a year supplying weapons that were obviously going to be used in clear contravention of both international and domestic law. But I can’t find any confirmation that he did. Indeed, the relevant action I find nearest to the end of his term is described in this article from Haaretz: The Biden administration’s decision to undertake one final weapons sale to Israel will most likely cause the U.S. president to leave office with the state of the conflict at a stagnated low point. His advisers will do their best to frame it differently. Can you justify your claim?
StevoR@16,
While Biden paused the delivery of 2,000 pound bombs,he still kept providing 500 pouns ones, which Israel was using (and he must have known this) to slaughter large numbers of civilians. There’s no honest doubt that he acted as an accessory to war crimes.
@ ^ KG : Nor is there any honest doubt that Trump is vastly many times worse and that as in every other improtant area thsoe who chose Trump here – directly or indircly via third party or taying home – chose wrong. (Glares aagin at Vicar, behodler and the Purity Disunitry mob.)
Let’s be very clear. After October 7th 2023 ANY President of the USA would’ve stood by and supported Israel following that Hamas attack. Obama would’ve. Clinton (Either Clinton) would’ve. Bush (either Bush) would’ve.
However, Biden called for restraint. *
Biden criticised Netanyahu.**
Biden paused and withheld some arms supplies to israel.***
Trump, OTOH, claimed Netanyahu was being too restrained and urged him to finish the job. Of genocide to be clear. +
Trump is a huge supporter of Netanyahu and vice-verse welcoming him to the White House twice already. Not much criticism or calls for restraint and a greenlight to break the ceasefire from Trump.
Then there’s Trump’s blatant Gaza riveria without Gazans plan.
Kamala Harris called the Palestinian’s suffering “heart-breaking”++ and she and Biden worked hard for a ceasefire and support a two -state solution.
Trump used the very word “Palestinian as an insult – in his televised debate and applied by him to Biden. We all heard that didn’t we? But some seem to have memory-holed or overlooked it when they should’ve thought better and put it front of their minds when voting.
The reichwing consistently attacked Kamala as far too critical of Israeli conduct and not sufficiently pro-Israel in the election campaign.
Trump greenlights everything Netanyahu wants including annexing land in Gaza and elsewhere including moving their embassy to Jerusalem and I predict along with others will very soon give Israel the West Bank too. The Repugs are already calling that Judea and Samaria.+++
The two parties are NOT remotely the same at all here. But it was Biden and kamala who suffered for doing what any POTUS was always going to do.
irony is the Abandon Biden / Harris mob have actually abandoned Gaza to Netanyahu and Trump’s not-so tender lack of mercies. They have destroyed their own cause and the blood of Gazans and probly more Palestinians is on their hands now. As predicted and as some of us warned them.
.* See if you can – kinda paywalled~ish but can read first line which is :
Source : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/11/israel-palestine-latest-news-updates-hamas-gaza-day-5-live/?utmsource=email
.** See :
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/09/politics/biden-trump-threat-to-democracy/index.html
Which notes :
.*** See link in #16.
See :
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-israel-gaza-finish-problem-rcna141905
Plus from same source further down :
++ See :
https://www.timesofisrael.com/harris-i-wont-stay-silent-on-gaza-suffering-israel-charges-shes-harming-deal-chances/
+++ See :
https://www.newarab.com/news/us-bill-seeks-rename-west-bank-judea-and-samaria
Plus we have Mehdi Hasan’s excellent summary on why Trump is the most anti-Palestinian POTUS ever here. (Bit over 5 minutes long.)
I agree. If I’d had a vote, I’d have voted for Harris, as I’ve said repretedly. But when Israel made clear it was pursuing a genocidal policy, Biden was both morally and legally obliged to halt arms supplies. Arguably, Harris was morally and legally obliged to resign if she could not persuade Biden to do so, although that’s much less clear. Certainly, she was morally obliged to dissociate herself from Biden’s policies once she was candidate – and if she had done so, might have won.
KG @20,
“Certainly, she was morally obliged to dissociate herself from Biden’s policies once she was candidate – and if she had done so, might have won.”
Completely agree, this insisting on continuing the genocide, and the whole Cheney and McCain endorsement business, is what sank her campaign. A little vote manipulation from Elno in Wisconsin and possibly elsewhere not withstanding.
@ 20. KG. : “Certainly, she was morally obliged to dissociate herself from Biden’s policies once she was candidate – and if she had done so, might have won.”
Or perhaps more likely given what happend to Jamal Bowman, Cori Bush and, in England, Jeremy Corbyn she would’ve lost by a lot more and been demonsied as anti-Semitic and even more demonised as anti-Israeli than she already was. We won’t know for sure becoz moot question now but I’m sur eshe wa s advise d and warned by experts and the political reality is that going against the Israel lobby makes it extremely hard to win elections in the USoA as well as other places.
Kamal had to perform a difficult metaphorical balancing act. Clearly in the end she failed in some ways but the alternatives? Would they have really succeeded? Could they have? If she’d won would she have, well, we never know now will we? Tragically for the whole planet.
@ 21. rorschach : Oh and the Voter Suppression. Always remember that voter suppression becoz it was what ultimately robbed her of the Presidency in the end.
See : https://hartmannreport.com/p/trump-lost-vote-suppression-won-c6f
Uniformity, Injustice and Exclusion is good but I think Bill Seymour’s coinage – Discrimination, Inequity and Exclusion (DIE) – works even better. See :
https://proxy.freethought.online/seymour/2025/02/08/discrimination-inequity-and-exclusion-die-2/