Three Aides Of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Indicted; Will This Doom Her Reelection Prospects In November?

[mattyt36]

Deep breath, @Blue Dogs

Looks like my theory may be closer to the case than it was this summer 

If correct, this means Harris County will no longer be competitive

Surely Mealer, Patrick, Ed Young and the Republican machine have seen the same poll results internally, which explains why Young was so embittered and angry last week and Mealer today is calling to hire 1K new police officers out of nowhere for … er … reasons? Sounds like a totally judicious use of funds. Looks like @august948’s tongue-in-cheek posting of Mealer with colleagues in fatigues saying they’re fighting crime in Houston may not be far off from how these guys see themselves … 1K new officers walking around on top of what we already have, where will she put them and what will they do all day?! 

(Wonder how she even came up with 1K? Because it was larger than 100 and 10K sounded a bit too ridiculous, even to these professional fearmongers?)

Abbott behind similarly, I honestly would’ve expected Mealer to run ahead as she has no history and is avoiding telegraphing she is a Republican—however she’s somehow running slightly behind—this is great indication that it has little to do with Mealer and is more just anti-Republican (greatest Governor in history … I guess? … looks like your fellow Texans strongly disagree). If the voters are anti-Republican (what I believe you have referred to as a “wave” before), ain’t nothing much poor Mealer can do … maybe her campaign should’ve been something other than Mattress … Woman … Latina … Crime … War!

I say thank God it looks like the majority of Harris County residents can see the Republican Party for exactly what it is and they say NO THANK YOU

Of course I won’t put it past Abbott to just proclaim Mealer won anyway, and I can’t say I have much faith in the crooked Republican judges (Aileen Cannon anyone?)

 

Edited September 8, 2022 by mattyt36

[august948]

6 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

Deep breath, @Blue Dogs

Looks like my theory may be closer to the case than it was this summer 

If correct, this means Harris County will no longer be competitive

Surely Mealer, Patrick, Ed Young and the Republican machine have seen the same poll results internally, which explains why Young was so embittered and angry last week and Mealer today is calling to hire 1K new police officers out of nowhere for … er … reasons? Sounds like a totally judicious use of funds. Looks like @august948’s tongue-in-cheek posting of Mealer with colleagues in fatigues saying they’re fighting crime in Houston may not be far off from how these guys see themselves … 1K new officers walking around on top of what we already have, where will she put them and what will they do all day?! 

(Wonder how she even came up with 1K? Because it was larger than 100 and 10K sounded a bit too ridiculous, even to these professional fearmongers?)

Abbott behind similarly, I honestly would’ve expected Mealer to run ahead as she has no history and is avoiding telegraphing she is a Republican—however she’s somehow running slightly behind—this is great indication that it has little to do with Mealer and is more just anti-Republican (greatest Governor in history … I guess? … looks like your fellow Texans strongly disagree). If the voters are anti-Republican (what I believe you have referred to as a “wave” before), ain’t nothing much poor Mealer can do … maybe her campaign should’ve been something other than Mattress … Woman … Latina … Crime … War!

I say thank God it looks like the majority of Harris County residents can see the Republican Party for exactly what it is and they say NO THANK YOU

Of course I won’t put it past Abbott to just proclaim Mealer won anyway, and I can’t say I have much faith in the crooked Republican judges (Aileen Cannon anyone?)

 

Polls are fun and all, but the 2016 poll debacle showed you can't really take them very seriously.  I'd say that if the trend was just the opposite as well.  In the case of the poll above, I followed the link to the actual document and found this...

Quote

While the non-election related reports we will subsequently release focus on Harris County adults, this election-related report focuses on the subset of 195 likely 2022 Harris County voters (confidence interval of +/- 7.0%)

https://uh.edu/hobby/txtrends/countyjudge22.pdf

Someone let me know if I pulled the wrong document or if I'm reading this wrong but it sounds like they polled a whopping 195 people for this and ended up with a confidence of +/-7%.  I have my doubts as to whether that's even a statistically significant sample.

But, like I said, polling can be fun to argue about even if it's not particularly meaningful.  We should pin this one and come back to it in two months to see how it turns out.

[mattyt36]

7 hours ago, august948 said:

Polls are fun and all, but the 2016 poll debacle showed you can't really take them very seriously.  I'd say that if the trend was just the opposite as well.  In the case of the poll above, I followed the link to the actual document and found this...

https://uh.edu/hobby/txtrends/countyjudge22.pdf

Someone let me know if I pulled the wrong document or if I'm reading this wrong but it sounds like they polled a whopping 195 people for this and ended up with a confidence of +/-7%.  I have my doubts as to whether that's even a statistically significant sample.

But, like I said, polling can be fun to argue about even if it's not particularly meaningful.  We should pin this one and come back to it in two months to see how it turns out.

Augie, your responses I must say are becoming more tiresome and rather formulaic than normal.  Seems to be some derivative of "Nothing to see here," blah, blah, blah, always, when it comes to any negative news from a partisan perspective.  Which, as we all know, is the standard Republican approach to things these days (at least for the ones not threatening Civil War).  Journalist: "It is reported that the President stole nuclear documents?" Marco Rubio: "Hmmm, well, that's a document storage issue.  Now let's talk about Hillary and the socialists and the groomers."  (Note Rubio has no credibility in this example.)

The poll is an update to the one posted by our friend Mr Dogs earlier this summer.  It is all we have.  The same group of people conducting the same poll has shown different results.  Yes, I understand statistical analysis, MOE, etc.  Yes, the 2016 polls were bad.  The 2018 polls were not, however.  The 2020 polls weren't the best, but weren't as bad as 2016.  So I could say by simple powers of selective observation of patterns, which is the same logic you're using, I'm going to say, well in this rotation, these polls must be better.

But, I will not, as that is hogwash.  I will evaluate them in this context:

-As described above, germane from a trend perspective to the polls conducted by the same group several months prior

-They parallel state and national trends, which show people clearly running away from the radical Republican agenda 

-Mealer's announcement re the 1K new policemen indicates desperation . . . she could've announced this months ago

At the very least, a reasonable response should be "Even though I don't trust polls, that's a tad bit concerning." 

But I will acknowledge that you still believe in a 12-year period of Republican political dominance.  I agree, I think it is a real possibility, but only if they are successful at fully subverting the American democratic processes and replacing it with an authoritarian "I Know Better than You" government, which admittedly many seem intent on doing. 

[Montrose1100]

On 8/30/2022 at 8:26 AM, august948 said:

He doesn't have the option of sending them south.  The current administration has already allowed them in.  Gotta do something, there's been a curious spike in illegal crossings since the Biden administration took over.

 

 

 

On 9/1/2022 at 3:36 PM, editor said:

Graphs with no sources are meaningless.  Especially ones like the above, which purports to show information for 2021 and 2022.  2021 information hasn't been fully tabulated yet.  2022 isn't even over.  So I hope you understand that to me, it seems like the chart is fake.

The Department of Homeland Security's most recent statistics show a decrease in the most recent year for which numbers are available: 2020.

2009: 889,212

2010: 796,587

2011: 678,606

2012: 671,327

2013: 662,483

2014: 679,996

2015: 462,388

2016: 530,250

2017: 461,540

2018: 572,566

2019: 1,013,539

2020: 518,597

Source  (page 91)

DHS stats show the most active period was 1995-2001, when between 1.3 and 1.8 million people were apprehended each year.

While I appreciate your enthusiasm for the subject, let's not use HAIF to spread misinformation lies.  If you got it from social media, there's a non-zero chance it was planted there by people who are gullible, greedy, or do not have America's best interests in mind. 

Statements of fact should be backed by sources.

This is a chart I made from the DHS numbers.  Note that it looks nothing at all like the magic hockey stick chart of unknown origin that was posted previously.

Hey Y'all,

I don't know how accurate the source chart/numbers from CNN are, but the title says apprehended, *not* Mexico or Northern Triangle. It's to show the dramatic increase in crossings via persons originating from Nicaragua and anything south (especially Venezuela).

Vs the raw numbers from the DHS site which look like a total number of persons, rather than excluding any country of origin.

Anyways, back to the "scandal" of Hidalgo at hand.

[august948]

7 hours ago, Montrose1100 said:

 

Anyways, back to the "scandal" of Hidalgo at hand.

If we're talking about hands, I'll defer to @mattyt36 as the expert on that in this particular race.

[august948]

15 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

Augie, your responses I must say are becoming more tiresome and rather formulaic than normal.  Seems to be some derivative of "Nothing to see here," blah, blah, blah, always, when it comes to any negative news from a partisan perspective.  Which, as we all know, is the standard Republican approach to things these days (at least for the ones not threatening Civil War).  Journalist: "It is reported that the President stole nuclear documents?" Marco Rubio: "Hmmm, well, that's a document storage issue.  Now let's talk about Hillary and the socialists and the groomers."  (Note Rubio has no credibility in this example.)

The poll is an update to the one posted by our friend Mr Dogs earlier this summer.  It is all we have.  The same group of people conducting the same poll has shown different results.  Yes, I understand statistical analysis, MOE, etc.  Yes, the 2016 polls were bad.  The 2018 polls were not, however.  The 2020 polls weren't the best, but weren't as bad as 2016.  So I could say by simple powers of selective observation of patterns, which is the same logic you're using, I'm going to say, well in this rotation, these polls must be better.

But, I will not, as that is hogwash.  I will evaluate them in this context:

-As described above, germane from a trend perspective to the polls conducted by the same group several months prior

-They parallel state and national trends, which show people clearly running away from the radical Republican agenda 

-Mealer's announcement re the 1K new policemen indicates desperation . . . she could've announced this months ago

At the very least, a reasonable response should be "Even though I don't trust polls, that's a tad bit concerning." 

But I will acknowledge that you still believe in a 12-year period of Republican political dominance.  I agree, I think it is a real possibility, but only if they are successful at fully subverting the American democratic processes and replacing it with an authoritarian "I Know Better than You" government, which admittedly many seem intent on doing. 

I think you need to read the second sentence again.

My position on polls in general is that there is only one that means anything and that one won't happen until early November.  So, to slightly modify your "reasonable response" above I'd say "Because I don't trust polls, I don't find this particularly concerning."

That's not to say Mealer won't get shellaced in November, but I'm not going take this a definitive proof that she will either.  Like I said before, let's revisit this after the election and see how close the UH/TSU polling actually got.

But...just to play along here...I pulled a report from the same organization focused on the statewide races and that shows Abbott leading O'Rourke.  So, just for the sake of argument, let's say the UH/TSU polls are dead on.  That would leave us with Harris county blue (as you predicted, I believe) and Hidalgo as County Judge.  It would also leave us with Abbott as Governor.  That would be a continuation of the current status quo.  I can live with that, since my primary objection to Hidalgo is her overreach during covid.  Abbott stepped in and quashed that fairly quickly so we know he will act as a check on her.

It's a curious coincidence that on the right side of the spectrum there is concern that Democratic party operatives want to install an authoritarian "I Know Better than You" government, most recently using California and New York as examples.

[mattyt36]

47 minutes ago, august948 said:

If we're talking about hands, I'll defer to @mattyt36 as the expert on that in this particular race.

Augie, you have won my heart again!

[mattyt36]

1 hour ago, august948 said:

I think you need to read the second sentence again.

My position on polls in general is that there is only one that means anything and that one won't happen until early November.  So, to slightly modify your "reasonable response" above I'd say "Because I don't trust polls, I don't find this particularly concerning."

That's not to say Mealer won't get shellaced in November, but I'm not going take this a definitive proof that she will either.  Like I said before, let's revisit this after the election and see how close the UH/TSU polling actually got.

That clarification is very helpful, thank you.

1 hour ago, august948 said:

But...just to play along here...I pulled a report from the same organization focused on the statewide races and that shows Abbott leading O'Rourke.  So, just for the sake of argument, let's say the UH/TSU polls are dead on.  That would leave us with Harris county blue (as you predicted, I believe) and Hidalgo as County Judge.  It would also leave us with Abbott as Governor.  That would be a continuation of the current status quo.  I can live with that, since my primary objection to Hidalgo is her overreach during covid. 

I'm not under any pretenses that Beto will win the gubernatorial election.  Which is a good thing in at least one respect, as such an outcome may take years off my life from the overload of excitement and fluid (ocular) loss.  This will be my first time voting for Lina, but my second time voting for Beto.  I think he's a wonderful guy and would make a wonderful governor, and, quite honestly, Make Texas Great Again.

Your comment is well taken, however, and I shall clarify my point that I am not predicting any Texas blue wave.  To me, this is only about Harris County, and it will be a bellwether to me about how much the County has "evolved" (I put that in quotes because I do not want to imply a value judgment) politically . . . it would be pretty remarkable, as I personally think Hidalgo is (well, has become) a weak, weak candidate.  Do I think she is a victim in some respects?  Yes, but that doesn't matter in politics.  I believe the State Republican Party thinks the same and is the reason they're so focused on Harris County . . . at the end of the day, it's about control of elections in the biggest county in the State to "nip it in the bud."  Absolutely unconscionable from the perspective of responsible leadership, but refer above . . . that doesn't matter in politics.

1 hour ago, august948 said:

It's a curious coincidence that on the right side of the spectrum there is concern that Democratic party operatives want to install an authoritarian "I Know Better than You" government, most recently using California and New York as examples.

Look--here's my perspective--there's a global sense of anxiety (and, let's be honest, absolute hopelessness) with regard to the future.  It should be no surprise that there are different ways to react to the same themes.  But I believe there are a whole class of people (not the voters, per se) who see this as some opportunity for a power grab and to make a lot of money (e.g., Bannon, Steve, or the majority of the global non-democratic political "elite"--China, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.).  

I understand in theory the idea of a "leftist takeover" of the U.S. and how that would not be any more or less beneficial than a MAGA takeover.  At the end of the day, as far as I'm concerned, MAGA government and leftist government means an economy entirely ruled by the government.  But as much as the MAGAites want to argue that there is some impending leftist takeover, there is absolutely no comparison whatsoever based on volume of coordinated actions and just, I mean, outright lying and gaslighting so obviously orchestrated that it has become such a reflex for the practitioners that even they are beginning to believe it.  Absolutely insidious stuff going on. I mean I'll go with at least a couple orders of magnitude.  When it gets to just 1 order of magnitude, I’ll listen more closely. (Remember, as you would remind us, that we’re supposedly a lazy bunch, and give your guys some credit for efficiency!)

I do think the above is a "reasonable" observation.  Hopefully the country is awakening to it.  Because once it's gone, it's gone.  And it will be the ultimate definition of "waste" in the first post-apocalyptic edition of Webster's.

Edited September 9, 2022 by mattyt36

[mattyt36]

@Blue Dogs welfare check? 

[Blue Dogs]

Harris County Deputies Organization endorsing Mealer for Harris County Judge. 

Houston Police Officers Union also endorsing Mealer.

HCLCR, Harris County Precinct 8 Constable Phil Sandlin & Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman also endorsing Mealer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mattyt36]

On 9/24/2022 at 1:58 PM, Blue Dogs said:

Harris County Deputies Organization endorsing Mealer for Harris County Judge. 

Houston Police Officers Union also endorsing Mealer.

HCLCR, Harris County Precinct 8 Constable Phil Sandlin & Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman also endorsing Mealer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone has his head in the sand in San Antonio (and it’s been hot again recently, so that can’t be comfortable!).

Yes, I finally clicked on the profile (not sure why I hadn’t before) … Alex’s #1 supporter is a proud resident of … San Antonio.  (I guess he’s scared all the rampant crime will make its way west? Sounds about right … I’m told basic logic is “evolving” (as if the D were silent … they really seem to hate that letter) … but I am reminded that reading is difficult for a not-too-insignificant (yet sadly increasingly significant) slice of the population.)

I’ll hand you something, BD, if the race were determined by the endorsements of police officers (along with green posters, long names, and straight hair as opposed to curls of course!), Alex would be sitting pretty (for the first time in her life, incidentally). But, alas, one person, one vote. And, I feel obliged to advise, plenty of people see police unions and don’t have the psychosomatic reaction you seem to have (i.e., My Little Pony sharting rainbows … I jest … that’s at least partially a shout out to the Harris County Log Cabin Republicans, MAN … whoever is left must have a real sadistic bent, wonder how often they break bread with Steve Hotze … wowza … yet I suppose Steve H himself is a glutton for punishment … it may be all starting to make sense …)

(BTW Mr Dogs, I totally endorse the sheriff of your fair and difficult-to-pronounce county … a tip of the hat to him for going against blatant  government corruption and Floridian political interference … Florida … interfering in Texas … must be like … San Antonio … interfering in Houston … I dunno, maybe you’re all for it. One side effect is I like seeing Ron DeSantis totally troll “the best governor in Texas history” as the weak poser he is and always has been 🤣.) DeSantis appears to be in for some flooding soon, maybe Greggo can send him some water?

Sr BDs (fine Mexican-American culture there in San Antonio, so I shan’t presume and “cover both bases,” so to speak), as a first-time reader of your profile, I do feel the need to end a high note (warning … metaphor!). I went to the Symphony this weekend and noted for the first time that KTRK is a blue-ribbon sponsor. I found that impressive in this day and age. I’ve always been a KPRC guy myself (triskaidekaphobia perhaps?) but I shall give them a second look now that I know they are great corporate citizens. (WHOOPS … on second thought, it was Shostakovich. They may be into Communism.)

Edited September 26, 2022 by mattyt36

[august948]

On 9/9/2022 at 12:15 AM, mattyt36 said:

I understand in theory the idea of a "leftist takeover" of the U.S. and how that would not be any more or less beneficial than a MAGA takeover.  At the end of the day, as far as I'm concerned, MAGA government and leftist government means an economy entirely ruled by the government. 

I missed this point and only caught it while rereading.  I can see how a truly leftist government would mean an economy entirely ruled by the government, but am not seeing how a MAGA government would mean the same thing.  Surely you're not suggesting that MAGA is in fact the full-fledged fascist philosophy that Democratic party propaganda claims?

[august948]

9 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

Someone has his head in the sand in San Antonio (and it’s been hot again recently, so that can’t be comfortable!).

Yes, I finally clicked on the profile (not sure why I hadn’t before) … Alex’s #1 supporter is a proud resident of … San Antonio.  (I guess he’s scared all the rampant crime will make its way west? Sounds about right … I’m told basic logic is “evolving” (as if the D were silent … they really seem to hate that letter) … but I am reminded that reading is difficult for a not-too-insignificant (yet sadly increasingly significant) slice of the population.)

I’ll hand you something, BD, if the race were determined by the endorsements of police officers (along with green posters, long names, and straight hair as opposed to curls of course!), Alex would be sitting pretty (for the first time in her life, incidentally). But, alas, one person, one vote. And, I feel obliged to advise, plenty of people see police unions and don’t have the psychosomatic reaction you seem to have (i.e., My Little Pony sharting rainbows … I jest … that’s at least partially a shout out to the Harris County Log Cabin Republicans, MAN … whoever is left must have a real sadistic bent, wonder how often they break bread with Steve Hotze … wowza … yet I suppose Steve H himself is a glutton for punishment … it may be all starting to make sense …)

(BTW Mr Dogs, I totally endorse the sheriff of your fair and difficult-to-pronounce county … a tip of the hat to him for going against blatant  government corruption and Floridian political interference … Florida … interfering in Texas … must be like … San Antonio … interfering in Houston … I dunno, maybe you’re all for it. One side effect is I like seeing Ron DeSantis totally troll “the best governor in Texas history” as the weak poser he is and always has been 🤣.) DeSantis appears to be in for some flooding soon, maybe Greggo can send him some water?

Sr BDs (fine Mexican-American culture there in San Antonio, so I shan’t presume and “cover both bases,” so to speak), as a first-time reader of your profile, I do feel the need to end a high note (warning … metaphor!). I went to the Symphony this weekend and noted for the first time that KTRK is a blue-ribbon sponsor. I found that impressive in this day and age. I’ve always been a KPRC guy myself (triskaidekaphobia perhaps?) but I shall give them a second look now that I know they are great corporate citizens. (WHOOPS … on second thought, it was Shostakovich. They may be into Communism.)

Shostakovich was more of a survivor than a communist.  Maybe you should be watching KHOU?

You know full well that this is not the first time in her life Alex has been sitting pretty.  I provided photographic proof of that earlier in this thread.

Edited September 27, 2022 by august948

[mattyt36]

8 hours ago, august948 said:

Shostakovich was more of a survivor than a communist.

What was the old saying?  Everyone was a Communist until they weren't?  A fine lesson for these days--it always seems to catch up with you when you have ideologues in charge.

8 hours ago, august948 said:

Maybe you should be watching KHOU?

Not since they left the neighborhood.  I still feel jilted.

8 hours ago, august948 said:

You know full well that this is not the first time in her life Alex has been sitting pretty.  I provided photographic proof of that earlier in this thread.

To each his or her own . . . but I'd say you have, er, quite the unique taste there, Augie.

[mattyt36]

10 hours ago, august948 said:

I missed this point and only caught it while rereading.  I can see how a truly leftist government would mean an economy entirely ruled by the government, but am not seeing how a MAGA government would mean the same thing.  Surely you're not suggesting that MAGA is in fact the full-fledged fascist philosophy that Democratic party propaganda claims?

MAGA has made clear that cronyism and punishing and rewarding corporations for their political views is A-OK, and it's only becoming more apparent.  It may not be centralized production, but they're not shying away from direct government involvement in the private sector AT ALL.  

Once you throw in Fashy standard-bearers like Trump, Ted Cruz, MTG, the list goes on and on, the obsession with law enforcement (see above), overthrowing elections due to feelz, cosplay militia obsessions, penchant for book banning, and weird infatuations with other people's sex lives (abortion, gender, etc.), and, I don't know, it rates at least a 75% on my Fashy scale--with it being heavily weighted towards where the party has signaled it wants to be headed, of course (i.e., less Liz Cheney and more JD "Why Not Kill Em All" Vance).

Edited September 27, 2022 by mattyt36

[august948]

45 minutes ago, mattyt36 said:

MAGA has made clear that cronyism and punishing and rewarding corporations for their political views is A-OK, and it's only becoming more apparent.  It may not be centralized production, but they're not shying away from direct government involvement in the private sector AT ALL.  

Once you throw in Fashy standard-bearers like Trump, Ted Cruz, MTG, the list goes on and on, the obsession with law enforcement (see above), overthrowing elections due to feelz, cosplay militia obsessions, and weird infatuations with other people's sex lives (abortion, gender, etc.), and, I don't know, it rates at least a 75% on my Fashy scale--with it being heavily weighted towards where the party has signaled it wants to be headed, of course (i.e., less Liz Cheney and more JD "Why Not Kill Em All" Vance).

Shall we ask the My Pillow guy about how that works?

The whole centralized control of everything was a salient feature of fascism.  That's why calling someone a fascist or nazi is meaningless nowadays.  It's just become a empty pejorative that one side always throws at the other.

[mattyt36]

1 hour ago, august948 said:

Shall we ask the My Pillow guy about how that works?

The whole centralized control of everything was a salient feature of fascism.  That's why calling someone a fascist or nazi is meaningless nowadays.  It's just become a empty pejorative that one side always throws at the other.

Augie if you think the most salient feature of Fascism is government control of the economy, and not, er, all the general “vibes” and aesthetics well, I think you miss the point.  The truth of the matter is plenty of Republicans (and certainly party media) are speaking in the same themes as a long line of sordid authoritarians who are manufacturing a crisis as an excuse to assume more power. If you think because they don’t say “We’re going to take over Ford like the Nazis took over Volkswagen” somehow distinguishes them from otherwise having the same general tone and intentions of their Fashy forbears, well, again, I’d say you’re missing the point entirely. 

And to imply that there is some universally accepted Fascist political philosophy like the one you can point to in The Communist Manifesto is nonsense—the philosophy is the aesthetic, end of story.

(I must say BTW that this is a tad bit disturbing as the implication seems to be you’re OK with the aesthetic as long as they don’t nationalize the economy. Man the Republicans who came of age under Reagan are a weird bunch. I see the new Tucker talking point is “How can it be Fascism if the people vote for it?” I suppose you subscribe to that gem, too.)

Edited September 27, 2022 by mattyt36

[august948]

2 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

Augie if you think the most salient feature of Fascism is government control of the economy, and not, er, all the general “vibes” and aesthetics well, I think you miss the point.  The truth of the matter is plenty of Republicans (and certainly party media) are speaking in the same themes as a long line of sordid authoritarians who are manufacturing a crisis as an excuse to assume more power. If you think because they don’t say “We’re going to take over Ford like the Nazis took over Volkswagen” somehow distinguishes them from otherwise having the same general tone and intentions of their Fashy forbears, well, again, I’d say you’re missing the point entirely. 

And to imply that there is some universally accepted Fascist political philosophy like the one you can point to in The Communist Manifesto is nonsense—the philosophy is the aesthetic, end of story.

(I must say BTW that this is a tad bit disturbing as the implication seems to be you’re OK with the aesthetic as long as they don’t nationalize the economy. Man the Republicans who came of age under Reagan are a weird bunch. I see the new Tucker talking point is “How can it be Fascism if the people vote for it?” I suppose you subscribe to that gem, too.)

I think you need to read my second sentence again (again).

Fascism is a fairly well defined, documented, and researched political and economic order.  It's not just about aesthetics. It's about total control of society and squashing all forms of dissent.  But how it's used in the media is just as a way to smear anyone who doesn't toe the Democratic party line.  Unfortunately, there are many who have bought into the propaganda and can't distinguish the difference.

Since we both can recall the Reagan era, you might remember that every Republican leader has been impugned this way since at least that point.  And it becomes especially pointed when that leader is popular and a threat to Democratic party control.  Thus, once we're done with the Trump era, Trump will be forgotten and the next Republican leader will be given the same treatment for the same reason.

[august948]

4 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

What was the old saying?  Everyone was a Communist until they weren't?  A fine lesson for these days--it always seems to catch up with you when you have ideologues in charge.

Not since they left the neighborhood.  I still feel jilted.

To each his or her own . . . but I'd say you have, er, quite the unique taste there, Augie.

I do have to say that I like girls with guns.  But then I like girls with curly hair, too.  Bonus point to Alex, though, as I just noticed she has a roll of gorilla tape molle'd to her tactical vest.

[mattyt36]

57 minutes ago, august948 said:

Fascism is a fairly well defined, documented, and researched political and economic order. 

(Although I'm sure your conception is the preferred one these days amongst the right-wing propaganda machine . . . they're smart enough to know Fascism has a negative connotation so they have to point out that this just isn't it.  The level of energy you're spending insisting it (1) involves total economic control even from its paleo stages; and (2) that this movement now can't possibly morph into something similar is telling.  Fascism is authoritarian, ergo it is corrupt, ergo there are few principles other than getting and maintaining power and punishing opponents.  MAGA has proven time and time again how rife for corruption it is and to imply that there is not even a real chance that it morphs into whatever this latest brand is ("Neo-Fascism" anyone?) is naive and laughable, unless you are an ideologue, of course.) 

Definitions of fascism - Wikipedia

What constitutes a definition of fascism and fascist governments has been a complicated and highly disputed subject concerning the exact nature of fascism and its core tenets debated amongst historians, political scientists, and other scholars since Benito Mussolini first used the term in 1915. Historian Ian Kershaw once wrote that "trying to define 'fascism' is like trying to nail jelly to the wall".[1]

In his 1995 essay "Ur-Fascism", cultural theorist Umberto Eco lists fourteen general properties of fascist ideology.[23] He argues that it is not possible to organise these into a coherent system, but that "it is enough that one of them be present to allow fascism to coagulate around it". He uses the term "ur-fascism" as a generic description of different historical forms of fascism. The fourteen properties are as follows:

"The cult of tradition", characterized by cultural syncretism, even at the risk of internal contradiction. When all truth has already been revealed by tradition, no new learning can occur, only further interpretation and refinement.
"The rejection of modernism", which views the rationalistic development of Western culture since the Enlightenment as a descent into depravity. Eco distinguishes this from a rejection of superficial technological advancement, as many fascist regimes cite their industrial potency as proof of the vitality of their system.
"The cult of action for action's sake", which dictates that action is of value in itself and should be taken without intellectual reflection. This, says Eco, is connected with anti-intellectualism and irrationalism, and often manifests in attacks on modern culture and science.
"Disagreement is treason" – fascism devalues intellectual discourse and critical reasoning as barriers to action, as well as out of fear that such analysis will expose the contradictions embodied in a syncretistic faith.
"Fear of difference", which fascism seeks to exploit and exacerbate, often in the form of racism or an appeal against foreigners and immigrants.
"Appeal to a frustrated middle class", fearing economic pressure from the demands and aspirations of lower social groups.
"Obsession with a plot" and the hyping-up of an enemy threat. This often combines an appeal to xenophobia with a fear of disloyalty and sabotage from marginalized groups living within the society (such as the German elite's "fear" of the 1930s Jewish populace's businesses and well-doings; see also antisemitism). Eco also cites Pat Robertson's book The New World Order as a prominent example of a plot obsession.

Fascist societies rhetorically cast their enemies as "at the same time too strong and too weak". On the one hand, fascists play up the power of certain disfavored elites to encourage in their followers a sense of grievance and humiliation. On the other hand, fascist leaders point to the decadence of those elites as proof of their ultimate feebleness in the face of an overwhelming popular will.

"Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy" because "life is permanent warfare" – there must always be an enemy to fight.

Both fascist Germany under Hitler and Italy under Mussolini worked first to organize and clean up their respective countries and then build the war machines that they later intended to and did use, despite Germany being under restrictions of the Versailles treaty to not build a military force. This principle leads to a fundamental contradiction within fascism: the incompatibility of ultimate triumph with perpetual war.

"Contempt for the weak", which is uncomfortably married to a chauvinistic popular elitism, in which every member of society is superior to outsiders by virtue of belonging to the in-group. Eco sees in these attitudes the root of a deep tension in the fundamentally hierarchical structure of fascist polities, as they encourage leaders to despise their underlings, up to the ultimate leader, who holds the whole country in contempt for having allowed him to overtake it by force.

"Everybody is educated to become a hero", which leads to the embrace of a cult of death. As Eco observes, "[t]he Ur-Fascist hero is impatient to die. In his impatience, he more frequently sends other people to death."
 

"Machismo", which sublimates the difficult work of permanent war and heroism into the sexual sphere. Fascists thus hold "both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality".
 

"Selective populism" – the people, conceived monolithically, have a common will, distinct from and superior to the viewpoint of any individual. As no mass of people can ever be truly unanimous, the leader holds himself out as the interpreter of the popular will (though truly he dictates it). Fascists use this concept to delegitimize democratic institutions they accuse of "no longer represent[ing] the voice of the people".
 

"Newspeak" – fascism employs and promotes an impoverished vocabulary in order to limit critical reasoning.

SOUND FAMILIAR?

Edited September 27, 2022 by mattyt36

[mattyt36]

58 minutes ago, august948 said:

I do have to say that I like girls with guns.  But then I like girls with curly hair, too.  Bonus point to Alex, though, as I just noticed she has a roll of gorilla tape molle'd to her tactical vest.

Well, we all have our neuroses, I suppose.

[Blue Dogs]

Trigger Warning: Former ABC 13 KTRK-TV Houston Eyewitness News TV Anchor Dave Ward endorsing Mealer for Harris County Judge. 

Confident the GOP wave will be massive across the Lone Star State & the entire United States. 

 

[mkultra25]

Apparently there's no one on Mealer's campaign staff who actually knows who Dave Ward is. That's about the only reason I can come up with for allowing an ad to go out identifying him as "David Ward".

[brucesw]

Some time before stepping down at 13, Ward signed off one night as David Ward, explaining it was his real name and he was tired of not being able to use it, or something like that. It made the news the next day (Chron) but didn't last long as his employer made him return to using Dave until his (already announced I think) retirement.

Makes sense from the company's point of view, of course, as they had spent years and years and who knows how much in promotional efforts promoting their lead anchor as 'Dave Ward,' not David. 

So maybe he's the one who suggested or even demanded that he be referred to as David.

 

Edited October 5, 2022 by brucesw

[Blue Dogs]

8 hours ago, brucesw said:

Some time before stepping down at 13, Ward signed off one night as David Ward, explaining it was his real name and he was tired of not being able to use it, or something like that. It made the news the next day (Chron) but didn't last long as his employer made him return to using Dave until his (already announced I think) retirement.

Makes sense from the company's point of view, of course, as they had spent years and years and who knows how much in promotional efforts promoting their lead anchor as 'Dave Ward,' not David. 

So maybe he's the one who suggested or even demanded that he be referred to as David.

 

Sounds like we'll find out more juicy secrets at ABC 13 down the road. 

[mattyt36]

On 10/4/2022 at 9:08 AM, Blue Dogs said:

Trigger Warning: Former ABC 13 KTRK-TV Houston Eyewitness News TV Anchor Dave Ward endorsing Mealer for Harris County Judge. 

Confident the GOP wave will be massive across the Lone Star State & the entire United States. 

 

Indeed, consider me TRIGGERED.

Always good to get the endorsement of zombies.  Will definitely mobilize that burgeoning population.  Hope they have Voter ID.

[mattyt36]

2 hours ago, Blue Dogs said:

Sounds like we'll find out more juicy secrets at ABC 13 down the road. 

[mkultra25]

14 hours ago, brucesw said:

Some time before stepping down at 13, Ward signed off one night as David Ward, explaining it was his real name and he was tired of not being able to use it, or something like that. It made the news the next day (Chron) but didn't last long as his employer made him return to using Dave until his (already announced I think) retirement.

Makes sense from the company's point of view, of course, as they had spent years and years and who knows how much in promotional efforts promoting their lead anchor as 'Dave Ward,' not David. 

So maybe he's the one who suggested or even demanded that he be referred to as David.

 

Interesting, particularly since he opted to stick with "Dave" on his personal website.

He does mention on his bio page there that he originally became "Dave" at his first broadcasting job as a drive-time DJ, as the station manager thought "David" sounded too biblical. 

[august948]

14 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

Indeed, consider me TRIGGERED.

Always good to get the endorsement of zombies.  Will definitely mobilize that burgeoning population.  Hope they have Voter ID.

[mattyt36]

11 hours ago, august948 said:

And, IIRC, guns don’t work against those, so you must really find that confounding there, Augie.