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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy Trump lies (Garry Kasparov on Preet Bharara show)
Ever been aghast at the gall of Trump to lie every time he moves his lips? Even with videos, written statements, and real observations to prove that what he says is a lie? Why would he not be ashamed? Why would he not care that he hurts his credibility? Is he insane? Okay, that's not a fair question.
Preet Bharara had a Russian guest on his podcast talk show ("Stay Tuned with Preet" ) on 6/28/18. Garry Kasparov, a Russian chess player and vocal Putin critic. He made some interesting statements about Putin and gave some insights about what makes Putin tick and how things work in Russia.
One of the points he covered was lying. Putin lies about everything. And pushes propaganda. It's not any particular lie that's important. It's that everything is questionable. It's destabilizing.
It's not pushing a particular truth. It's making people believe you can't trust in anything. It destroys the notion of truth. If nothing is true, then everything is relative.
Putin is a merchant of doubts. Truth is relative. Everyone's corrupt. Everyone's bad. There's just Russia, surrounded by the evil countries. Only Putin can protect Russia.
It's easy to poison people with an abundance of false information. If truth is relative and can't be relied upon, then there is confusion and general doubt about everything. Chaos.
What is going on in the U.S. is absolutely like what Putin has done, Kasparov said. It seems "they" have succeeded in spreading doubts among the American public. If the public can't believe a special prosecutor, "they" have succeeded.
He also said that Putin looks strong only because the opposition is weak. It's all about looking invincible, not actually being invincible. It's all pushing an agenda, looking successful, not allowing himself to look weak, the image. Everything depends on his image of strength. (I thought about the internationally distributed photo op of a bare chested Putin on a horse.)
I thought this was very interesting, as it relates to Trump. It explains a lot.
While Kasparov was talking about Putin's blueprint of lying and making people believe that truth is relative, I thought of the book/movie "1984." There's a grueling scene where the Party "teaches" Winston to see that 2 plus 2 equals 5, if the Party says so. Or sometimes 3.
https://tunein.com/podcasts/Political-News/Stay-Tuned-with-Preet-p1018528/?topicId=122812620
(If you want to listen to Kasparov yourself, he starts talking about Russia & Putin at about 20:55.)
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)This is why the likes of Kellyanne Conway have perfected the art of the Gish Gallop. When you have so much bullshit being thrown at you (as a member of the media or as a political opponent), it's easy to get overwhelmed. And the bullshitter knows this. They know that you don't want to let the lies get a free pass but that addressing even a fraction of the lies will take up all of your time, especially when they continue to talk over you and obfuscate.
This is why I think the DNC should hire someone (maybe Fugelsang) to hold a daily press conference for the sole purpose of addressing the Republican lies over the previous 24 hours. And why Democrats should advocate strongly for media literacy to be mandatory curriculum in every school.
That way, Democrats can just focus on getting their message out. When Democrats (politicians or otherwise) appear on talk shows with Republicans, just stay on message and encourage people to tune in for the Daily Dose of Reality at 9 pm EST.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)That's really an excellent idea. A way for people to tune in at least that one time, if they don't watch the news regularly, to zero in on the week's activities and what they mean, and what was said and wasn't, and what damage to the country has happened, and that the children are still squirreled away in cages in unknown locations.
The Dems need to do more about getting their talking points straight, so that all Dems on the shows make sure to hit the highlights, using plain language agreed upon. That's what Repubs do. They all use the same words...like advertising. Then they can also talk about other things or use their own words to expound.
For instance, "Trump lied when he said ...." And another one goes on a show, "Trump lied when he said...." And so on.
My reps are Repubs. Maybe we should email Pelosi or Schumer about that.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)And it needs to be done under the banner of the DNC with some humor but mostly seriousness, as we don't want it to be thought of as just another late night talk show. It's a press conference. These Orwellian/dangerous times call for something provocative and unique.
I just wrote to my US Representative, Jared Huffman, and requested a reply. I will also contact my Senators, Harris and Feinstein. This is what I wrote:
Dear Congressman,
I wouldn't expect you to remember this, but we met briefly after your speech at the MLK Day event in Eureka back in January. Anyway, I've written to the DNC and all I get in return are promotional emails. I'm hoping you might help me convey what I believe is an urgent need during this Orwellian era in which we find ourselves.
Like Putin in Russia, Trump and other Republicans lie every time they speak. This is by design. They wish to undermine trust, particularly trust in government. And the DNC needs to think outside the box in countering this tactic.
There's a reason the likes of Kellyanne Conway have perfected the art of the Gish Gallop. When you have so much bullshit being thrown at you (as a member of the media or as a political opponent), it's easy to get overwhelmed. And the bullshitter knows this. They know that you don't want to let the lies get a free pass but that addressing even a fraction of the lies will take up all of your time, especially when they continue to talk over you and obfuscate.
This is why I think the DNC should hire someone (maybe John Fugelsang) to hold a daily press conference for the sole purpose of addressing the Republican lies over the previous 24 hours. And why Democrats should advocate strongly for media literacy to be mandatory curriculum in every school.
That way, Democrats can just focus on getting their message out. When Democrats (politicians or otherwise) appear on talk shows with Republicans, just stay on message and encourage people to tune in for the Daily Dose of Reality at 9 pm EST.
I'm sure you get people throwing ideas at you all the time, and I imagine some of them are rather nutty. But I can assure you I'm quite sane, and I'm also worried. Any shreds of democracy that remain are at risk. Democrats need to get a bit more provocative.
Thank you for your time, and know that you'll have my vote in November.
Garrett
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)I think the daily schedule might be a problem, time-commitment-wise.
Just preparing for it takes time, then doing it...and getting that much press coverage. People might get burnt out with it, too. That's why I think weekly is plenty. I think they could hit the high spots, or most of them.
But ANY press conference would be preferable to none. I hope the press would cover it. Or run it, if the DNC released a video of it to the press, rather than a live conference.
OR...if they really don't want to commit the time, or the press isn't interested, at the least put it up on the internet.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)NBachers
(16,998 posts)have been covered up with three days' worth of lies already. Tuesday's lies are old news by the time Wednesday's and Thursday's lies and Friday's lies are accounted for.
KentuckyWoman
(6,666 posts)Sophia4
(3,515 posts)Make a video of it for Youtube.
KPN
(15,585 posts)DNC. Its spot on!
jaysunb
(11,856 posts)leftstreet
(36,076 posts)Yep
Demovictory9
(32,320 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)Kasparov is a wee bit more than "a russian chess player."
🤣
Wash. state Desk Jet
(3,426 posts)Trump is not just a liar ,he is a terrible liar and a habitual liar. It also suggests those Russians and or Putin's people saw a way to turn Trump's short comings into an asset. Converting Trump into somewhat of a liar extraordinaire ,pardon the pun ! You may have noticed his television look strong act at the republican debate in South Carolina, as you may recall ,G.W. Bush was in attendance. When Hillary called Trump out for being Putin's puppet, Trump fell out of his strong guy character and quipped out, no puppet, no puppet, yer the puppet. And so, Trump appeared weak in those moments. Bottom line, he's just a liar. No method, no rhyme and he needs no reasons, just is.
KPN
(15,585 posts)The Muslims cheering the 9/11 attack in NYC, the northern consoiracy. Trumps been at the confusion and doubt game longer than most of us realize all for a purpose.
KentuckyWoman
(6,666 posts)Putin and Trump did not create this. Masters at it yes, but they are not the architects.
We can guess at the hands that allow either of these men to be in power, but I feel fairly certain there is a group of someones who would take either of them out easily enough if they ceased to be useful.
Old Crow
(2,212 posts)I listened from the 20:55 mark and it was well worth the time. I encourage others to do the same. This interview goes hand-in-hand with the Toronto Star study showing that Trump has been telling more falsehoods, and more outrageous falsehoods, over his time in office.
yonder
(9,631 posts)So true, so true.
Az_lefty
(3,670 posts)His response was I love chaos. Seems to fit with all this.