Ten years since it became clear that Trump could become President and the liberal media still hasn't worked out how to deal with a politician who bulldozes through the (then-) usual rules of engagement. How do you write in a 'balanced', 'impartial' way about someone who lies so brazenly. Well, you can't do it in a balanced way, otherwise you're balancing truth and lies. The impartial way of doing it is to describe lies as lies, but for some reason, the BBC, NYT and others don't seem to have the stomach for it. They've let us down so badly.
As you say, it's politicians as well as the media. As I'm typing this, I've just heard John Healey describe Trump's lies about NATO troops in Afghanistan as 'unhelpful'. 'Unhelpful'!
First off... absolutely bang on Ian. I couldn't agree more. The sane-washing of a fucking crazy, lying psychopath has been a feature of MSM since 2016. It's infuriating!
Europe, (and the rest of the world), has hopefully now realised, we should never allow ourselves to become completely dependant on another world power. No matter who is in the White House at any one time, that will change. The long-term strategy has to take account of that volatility. If the EU/UK is not working on a decoupling plan right now, we are going to watch this all play out again.
Back to MSM. Maybe it's me, but it seems like they go out of their way to platform the "Britain is broken brigade". Look, I'm a massive critic of the two "main" parties - and there's no doubt they've both fucked up. But are we broken? Are we? It feels to me like MSM is amplifying that message - and thus, potentially creating a self-fulfilling prophesy. They really need to stop it!
And before anyone pitches in with: "the shit state of this", or "the Tories fucked up that", or "Labour has done so many u-turns, it doesn't know where it is any more". YES I KNOW. YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL ME. That's different to our entire nation being "broken".
👏👏👏👏so well said I’m trying desperately not to swear on SM but f…ing hell the politicians and journalists that are not calling out the lies are as bad as b….y Trump you do NOT appease a lying psychopath who has corrupted every dam thing he’s touched be that young girls or a once great nation because if you do the you too are a liar !
A good comment that I fully support! The only thing I think could be rephrased: Europe finally starts to realise that their approach so far has been weak. Also; Europe realises that going at Trump nation by nation is asking for a fist in the face, so why not invite Canada, Australia and Mexico to join these developments as well?
A majority of UK media, almost all right wing politicians and every single right wing agitator and thug, have all long since passed the point where the grift about attacking this government whenever the opportunity arises, takes precedence over simple national interest and patriotic pride.
Badenoch and Farage fed the Chagos line to Trump and then jumped on his gobshitery to attack Starmer for a policy that the Tories in particular were so onboard with that they negotiated it.
I'm sure we have a word for people that do this. Begins with T.
Impossible as it may seemingly be, we've got to stop being excited and agitated every time he shits out another disgusting and abhorent opinion or policy.
That starts with our media. Stop hanging on his every word, start calling him out to his face, stop simpering at his every utterance, stop the "What's he like, eh?" eye rolling and smirks. Stop platforming the shysters that amplify and justify him here in the UK.
Journalists, take the piss to his face instead of just having smug liberals monetise it in late night chatshow echo chambers.
Intern Harry Cole & Chris Mason. Start interrogating Farage and his many grifts in the same way journalists would harrass Angela Rayner for driving at 31mph in a 30.
I really wish people would stop being polite about Trump. Desperate for someone at a press conference or speech to lose it & shout 'Oh shut the fuck up you stupid, lying, deluded, revolting old man!'
You're not alone. Jeff Tiedrich (of this parish) has suggested we should give a lifetime Pulitzer to the first journalist to ask "What the fuck is wrong with you?" at a Trump press conference.
We need someone to point out that the emperor is naked before we can bring the tailors that made him possible to justice.
Being American has become shameful. I suppose that my Mum was British helps....my parents met during WWII and made the States their home. I'm 65 years old and never would I have thought this madman could be elected, not held accountable for an insurrection amid so many other transgressions and then be re-elected. I have joined all the No Kings protests, written postcards, emailed, posted facts to social media, called my representatives and voted. I live in a blue state but even that does not protect you. Being white I suppose does...how sad is that? Everyone needs to stand up against this dangerous fool. The Republicans cowardice and abdication of their duties will be written and remembered - if we survive them. So I humbly ask that you stand with us (old folks mainly) who are marching and saying no and say no to him. He's just a bully. Having children of my own, a grandchild and a teacher of children under six, I've seen enough temper tantrums in my lifetime to realize he's just an insecure spoiled man who only wants what he wants. I am so sorry but I will continue to say no. People are being killed, abducted from the streets, separated from their families and sent to foreign countries for going to work. Haven't heard of any gang dealers or criminals being arrested. All ICE has to do is consult any police department and they'll tell you where the gangs are and they aren't all illegal. It's a tragedy for us all to endure, some more safely than others. And now, at the age of 65, because I disagree with the President, I'm considered a domestic terrorist. What I do know is right from wrong and I learned that from good people who knew better and did better.
The BBC are not really cutting it either. Look at this 'InDepth' review of Trump's Peace Board'. They do note up front that it's the *personal* property of Trump and his heirs/assignees, but then proceed to analyse it for pages as if it's a serious long term thing, which could only be possible if it was led by the US President ex officio. As it is, it's a bad joke.
I wonder if the BBC reported Hitler in the same fawning, respectful way?
"Chancellor Hitler today outlined his concerns about the security of the Sudeten Germans and expressed his willingness to act should a suitable a solution not be forthcoming." They probably only switched to a more critical approach after war was declared. Pathetic.
In the UK there is a noticeable campaign against the current prime minister because, probably due to panic about the rise of Farage, many in the media are wanting a prime minister who has oratorical skills of Churchill but also able to apply them to peacetime government. In my view they would be better chasing the weaknesses of the Reform party. Politico has clearly been mislead by this nonsense.
Trump has done something I never, ever, in a trillion years thought possible as someone who came of age in the 1980s: he made me wish that peak Margaret Thatcher was the current British PM. Because she would have spoken frankly and directly, indeed pugnaciously, to Trump about NATO and Greenland and would not kowtow to him or back down. Are there any major European leaders at present who’ll do anything like that? I just don’t see it right now.
Pedro Sanchez has been the most frank about Trump, no doubt feeling that Spain has relatively little to lose from a possible retaliation, followed by Macron.
The weak kneed stance of media when covering Trump is inexcusable.
In the UK it may be more understandable coming from right wing outlets. Although most of their readers/viewers dislike Trump intensely.
For the rest, including the Beeb, there appears to be a nervousness to accurately describe the emperor’s new clothes. Partially explained by Trump’s cowing of academia, large law firms, the legal action against the Beeb and attacks on media institutions.
I agree that if the third political stool leg falls, the other two will follow. However, I do wish that media commentators would grow a spine and inform their readers/viewers. Perhaps then the stool could fall even faster.
Europe today today has gone back to its cowardice. From Deutsche Welle today: "I have the impression that many Americans feel the same way about this as we do," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Brussels. "You don't just give up on this trans-Atlantic alliance. We built it up over 75 years. It is the most successful political alliance that there has ever been between Europe and America."
They will not learn. One day soon it will be too late. Trump and huis staff are more ruthless, and more nimble.
I would like to hope this is just for public show & that behind closed doors, European leaders are developing a "de risk USA" plan.
Did none of them listen to Canadian PM Carney at Davos? Canada is even more intertwined with USA yet its leader has clearly said that Canada is now forging a different path.
Events may have moved on with the tangerine one's criticism of Nato involvement in recent conflicts. There was righteous - and correct - indignation from all quarters in Europe when he suggested that Nato troops were not on the front lines. For once, all parties over here were united - although Farage is strangely quiet.
This may have been the straw that broke etc. etc. It's quite funny to see MailOnline and the Sun stop criticising Starmer for a day, and lay into Trump for denigrating the Forces.
I had a look at the Washington Post for context, it was not realy mentioned, so the backlash hasn't spread across the Atlantic - yet. I hope it is picked up and amplified over there, and some respected commentators weigh in. Probably won't change anything though.
The other notable and effective presence at Davis was Newsom. Listening to him - a sort of Jon Stewart with fangs - Carney and the Scandinavian and Baltic leaders it begins to seem as though something might finally have started to be done about Mad Cnut Bonespurs. And the next thing that needs to be done is to ensure that Russia is crushed in its disgusting treatment of Ukraine and implodes as a result.
"Chris Mason was considerably worse." He always is.
Ten years since it became clear that Trump could become President and the liberal media still hasn't worked out how to deal with a politician who bulldozes through the (then-) usual rules of engagement. How do you write in a 'balanced', 'impartial' way about someone who lies so brazenly. Well, you can't do it in a balanced way, otherwise you're balancing truth and lies. The impartial way of doing it is to describe lies as lies, but for some reason, the BBC, NYT and others don't seem to have the stomach for it. They've let us down so badly.
As you say, it's politicians as well as the media. As I'm typing this, I've just heard John Healey describe Trump's lies about NATO troops in Afghanistan as 'unhelpful'. 'Unhelpful'!
I note today that Mason went as far as describing the Afghanistan comments as 'factually inaccurate'.
Baby steps.
Jeez! How long have you got?
First off... absolutely bang on Ian. I couldn't agree more. The sane-washing of a fucking crazy, lying psychopath has been a feature of MSM since 2016. It's infuriating!
Europe, (and the rest of the world), has hopefully now realised, we should never allow ourselves to become completely dependant on another world power. No matter who is in the White House at any one time, that will change. The long-term strategy has to take account of that volatility. If the EU/UK is not working on a decoupling plan right now, we are going to watch this all play out again.
Back to MSM. Maybe it's me, but it seems like they go out of their way to platform the "Britain is broken brigade". Look, I'm a massive critic of the two "main" parties - and there's no doubt they've both fucked up. But are we broken? Are we? It feels to me like MSM is amplifying that message - and thus, potentially creating a self-fulfilling prophesy. They really need to stop it!
And before anyone pitches in with: "the shit state of this", or "the Tories fucked up that", or "Labour has done so many u-turns, it doesn't know where it is any more". YES I KNOW. YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL ME. That's different to our entire nation being "broken".
[Edit] #VoteGreen :-)
👏👏👏👏so well said I’m trying desperately not to swear on SM but f…ing hell the politicians and journalists that are not calling out the lies are as bad as b….y Trump you do NOT appease a lying psychopath who has corrupted every dam thing he’s touched be that young girls or a once great nation because if you do the you too are a liar !
A good comment that I fully support! The only thing I think could be rephrased: Europe finally starts to realise that their approach so far has been weak. Also; Europe realises that going at Trump nation by nation is asking for a fist in the face, so why not invite Canada, Australia and Mexico to join these developments as well?
A majority of UK media, almost all right wing politicians and every single right wing agitator and thug, have all long since passed the point where the grift about attacking this government whenever the opportunity arises, takes precedence over simple national interest and patriotic pride.
Badenoch and Farage fed the Chagos line to Trump and then jumped on his gobshitery to attack Starmer for a policy that the Tories in particular were so onboard with that they negotiated it.
I'm sure we have a word for people that do this. Begins with T.
Or possibly an H.
As in HawHaw.
And that didn't end well for the man concerned.
Impossible as it may seemingly be, we've got to stop being excited and agitated every time he shits out another disgusting and abhorent opinion or policy.
That starts with our media. Stop hanging on his every word, start calling him out to his face, stop simpering at his every utterance, stop the "What's he like, eh?" eye rolling and smirks. Stop platforming the shysters that amplify and justify him here in the UK.
Journalists, take the piss to his face instead of just having smug liberals monetise it in late night chatshow echo chambers.
Intern Harry Cole & Chris Mason. Start interrogating Farage and his many grifts in the same way journalists would harrass Angela Rayner for driving at 31mph in a 30.
Come on Colesterol, I'm rooting for you!
Yes, that IS how to say bellicosity.
OTOH, I think Rutte is pronounced Rut-te not Rut.
I really wish people would stop being polite about Trump. Desperate for someone at a press conference or speech to lose it & shout 'Oh shut the fuck up you stupid, lying, deluded, revolting old man!'
Or something like that.
You're not alone. Jeff Tiedrich (of this parish) has suggested we should give a lifetime Pulitzer to the first journalist to ask "What the fuck is wrong with you?" at a Trump press conference.
We need someone to point out that the emperor is naked before we can bring the tailors that made him possible to justice.
From a Dutch national in the UK: the name of Mark Rutte indeed is pronounced RutTE.
Being American has become shameful. I suppose that my Mum was British helps....my parents met during WWII and made the States their home. I'm 65 years old and never would I have thought this madman could be elected, not held accountable for an insurrection amid so many other transgressions and then be re-elected. I have joined all the No Kings protests, written postcards, emailed, posted facts to social media, called my representatives and voted. I live in a blue state but even that does not protect you. Being white I suppose does...how sad is that? Everyone needs to stand up against this dangerous fool. The Republicans cowardice and abdication of their duties will be written and remembered - if we survive them. So I humbly ask that you stand with us (old folks mainly) who are marching and saying no and say no to him. He's just a bully. Having children of my own, a grandchild and a teacher of children under six, I've seen enough temper tantrums in my lifetime to realize he's just an insecure spoiled man who only wants what he wants. I am so sorry but I will continue to say no. People are being killed, abducted from the streets, separated from their families and sent to foreign countries for going to work. Haven't heard of any gang dealers or criminals being arrested. All ICE has to do is consult any police department and they'll tell you where the gangs are and they aren't all illegal. It's a tragedy for us all to endure, some more safely than others. And now, at the age of 65, because I disagree with the President, I'm considered a domestic terrorist. What I do know is right from wrong and I learned that from good people who knew better and did better.
The BBC are not really cutting it either. Look at this 'InDepth' review of Trump's Peace Board'. They do note up front that it's the *personal* property of Trump and his heirs/assignees, but then proceed to analyse it for pages as if it's a serious long term thing, which could only be possible if it was led by the US President ex officio. As it is, it's a bad joke.
https://bbc.com/news/articles/cn8jj228g2vo
I wonder if the BBC reported Hitler in the same fawning, respectful way?
"Chancellor Hitler today outlined his concerns about the security of the Sudeten Germans and expressed his willingness to act should a suitable a solution not be forthcoming." They probably only switched to a more critical approach after war was declared. Pathetic.
In the UK there is a noticeable campaign against the current prime minister because, probably due to panic about the rise of Farage, many in the media are wanting a prime minister who has oratorical skills of Churchill but also able to apply them to peacetime government. In my view they would be better chasing the weaknesses of the Reform party. Politico has clearly been mislead by this nonsense.
Trump has done something I never, ever, in a trillion years thought possible as someone who came of age in the 1980s: he made me wish that peak Margaret Thatcher was the current British PM. Because she would have spoken frankly and directly, indeed pugnaciously, to Trump about NATO and Greenland and would not kowtow to him or back down. Are there any major European leaders at present who’ll do anything like that? I just don’t see it right now.
Pedro Sanchez has been the most frank about Trump, no doubt feeling that Spain has relatively little to lose from a possible retaliation, followed by Macron.
The weak kneed stance of media when covering Trump is inexcusable.
In the UK it may be more understandable coming from right wing outlets. Although most of their readers/viewers dislike Trump intensely.
For the rest, including the Beeb, there appears to be a nervousness to accurately describe the emperor’s new clothes. Partially explained by Trump’s cowing of academia, large law firms, the legal action against the Beeb and attacks on media institutions.
I agree that if the third political stool leg falls, the other two will follow. However, I do wish that media commentators would grow a spine and inform their readers/viewers. Perhaps then the stool could fall even faster.
Europe today today has gone back to its cowardice. From Deutsche Welle today: "I have the impression that many Americans feel the same way about this as we do," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Brussels. "You don't just give up on this trans-Atlantic alliance. We built it up over 75 years. It is the most successful political alliance that there has ever been between Europe and America."
They will not learn. One day soon it will be too late. Trump and huis staff are more ruthless, and more nimble.
I would like to hope this is just for public show & that behind closed doors, European leaders are developing a "de risk USA" plan.
Did none of them listen to Canadian PM Carney at Davos? Canada is even more intertwined with USA yet its leader has clearly said that Canada is now forging a different path.
Events may have moved on with the tangerine one's criticism of Nato involvement in recent conflicts. There was righteous - and correct - indignation from all quarters in Europe when he suggested that Nato troops were not on the front lines. For once, all parties over here were united - although Farage is strangely quiet.
This may have been the straw that broke etc. etc. It's quite funny to see MailOnline and the Sun stop criticising Starmer for a day, and lay into Trump for denigrating the Forces.
I had a look at the Washington Post for context, it was not realy mentioned, so the backlash hasn't spread across the Atlantic - yet. I hope it is picked up and amplified over there, and some respected commentators weigh in. Probably won't change anything though.
This exchange keeps repeating in my head:
"They told me you had gone totally insane, and your methods were unsound."
"Are my methods unsound?"
"I don't see any method at all, sir."
On the nail, Ian. Bravo.
The other notable and effective presence at Davis was Newsom. Listening to him - a sort of Jon Stewart with fangs - Carney and the Scandinavian and Baltic leaders it begins to seem as though something might finally have started to be done about Mad Cnut Bonespurs. And the next thing that needs to be done is to ensure that Russia is crushed in its disgusting treatment of Ukraine and implodes as a result.
"Lexicon forest" is very good.