I'll take Door #3, Noah! I think (okay, "think" is too strong a word—more like "idly speculate") that it was staged by Trump himself, or by somebody who wants him to win really badly, because that's just the sort of awful thing he'd do....
And, in furtherance of spreading "baseless conspiracy theories"? THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, 1962, is on Tubi and the Roku Channel, free with ads (no, I don't get any cut from Tubi for this—I just really think this is a movie people should see right now!):
Do I think Trump himself deliberately staged a shooting to semi-martyr himself? No, because he's too much of a chickenshit to do so.
But do I think somebody who REALLY wants a Trump (or better for them—Trump, only more focused!) victory might stage this? It's still unlikely, but less outside the realm of possibility, especially in light of Alex Jones and guest Ivan Raiklin discussing this very thing:
I figured I sounded paranoid (not for the first time!), but when it comes to the Right these days? I know when I'm a piker. 🙀
PS: If you haven't seen THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE lately? My friends and I watched it a week or two ago on UHD Blu-Ray from The Criterion Collection, and my friend's player hiccuping aside? It's terrifying how prescient it is about so many things we're seeing play out now....
Conspiracy theory thinking on this front, I think one of the things fueling it is the millions of decent Americans over the past decade learning that there literally IS no bottom to right wing fascist filth. How many times have I caught myself saying "Surely this is a bridge too far... Surely this is a point beyond which no one would go" Only to be proven wrong every single time. Whatever conspiracy theories from the left are being promoted, none if them are outside of possibility from a party so perverted and sick. The project 2025 manifesto itself sounds like a conspiracy theory Invented by the left to slander the right. But it's as real as rain. But I'm with you on this, promoting conspiracy theories is both tactical and a moral problem. Period
It feels farther-fetched that this particular character evaded Secret Service surveillance and got shots off from an exposed roof essentially by chance with next to no plan.
no it doesn't. protecting an entire area is very difficult; people make mistakes.
this is the problem with conspiratorial thinking. the fact that there are fuck ups, the fact that you're operating on limited information, all becomes "suspicious"—but suspicious of what?
it's just irresponsible to start speculating wildly when you have neither expertise nor data in a situation where people were badly harmed and where the information environment can have serious consequences going forward. Again, I'd just urge people not to do that.
Sorry for mixing up T2 and Aliens...and for having comments closed. This is what happens when you write while insomniac...
Thanks for beating me to it
Hands down one of your finest. If there was one article that I would want everybody to read this month this would be it.
Framing conspiracy theories as 'moral failing' Is an important addition to this conversation.
Well met!
As always you provide a welcome bout of clear thinking. Thanks
I'll take Door #3, Noah! I think (okay, "think" is too strong a word—more like "idly speculate") that it was staged by Trump himself, or by somebody who wants him to win really badly, because that's just the sort of awful thing he'd do....
And, in furtherance of spreading "baseless conspiracy theories"? THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, 1962, is on Tubi and the Roku Channel, free with ads (no, I don't get any cut from Tubi for this—I just really think this is a movie people should see right now!):
https://tubitv.com/movies/664878/the-manchurian-candidate
https://therokuchannel.roku.com/watch/b6b040cb5e4b5fddbfe07dc32fb1d904
There’s no evidence he did that, and what we know very much suggests he did not.
The Manchurian candidate is a great movie though.
I DID say I was "idly speculating".... 🤔
Do I think Trump himself deliberately staged a shooting to semi-martyr himself? No, because he's too much of a chickenshit to do so.
But do I think somebody who REALLY wants a Trump (or better for them—Trump, only more focused!) victory might stage this? It's still unlikely, but less outside the realm of possibility, especially in light of Alex Jones and guest Ivan Raiklin discussing this very thing:
https://x.com/patriottakes/status/1812460546236518607?s=46&t=V7VfS2X8f7Tb8bB5srchIg
I figured I sounded paranoid (not for the first time!), but when it comes to the Right these days? I know when I'm a piker. 🙀
PS: If you haven't seen THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE lately? My friends and I watched it a week or two ago on UHD Blu-Ray from The Criterion Collection, and my friend's player hiccuping aside? It's terrifying how prescient it is about so many things we're seeing play out now....
I think echoing alex jones is a very bad idea, in general.
Less "echoing" than, "See how INSANE these people are? You can't be that desperate for something to talk about!"
I'm like, "Where is Trump's Secret Service detail? Why are they not making Jones and this Raiklin customer's lives a living Hell about this?!?!?!?"
Like I said before, I thought I sounded paranoid, but I know when I'm licked.... ::SMH::
In conditional "defense" of
Conspiracy theory thinking on this front, I think one of the things fueling it is the millions of decent Americans over the past decade learning that there literally IS no bottom to right wing fascist filth. How many times have I caught myself saying "Surely this is a bridge too far... Surely this is a point beyond which no one would go" Only to be proven wrong every single time. Whatever conspiracy theories from the left are being promoted, none if them are outside of possibility from a party so perverted and sick. The project 2025 manifesto itself sounds like a conspiracy theory Invented by the left to slander the right. But it's as real as rain. But I'm with you on this, promoting conspiracy theories is both tactical and a moral problem. Period
I don’t see how you read any of that from what I wrote. Thank you for the reply, though.
I personally feel no demobilization. I was worried (DNC is a hapless org) about the party response. I liked the President’s remarks tonight.
Shuffling ‘ballot’ with ‘battle’ is another unfortunate flub, but easy to understand.
The Bannon/Stone/Trump/ flood the zone modality requires that “staged shooting” be given non-zero probability.
That is the sane view at present even if you don’t like it.
It’s not reasonable or thoughtful to spread conspiracy theories with no evidence. “Steve Bannon talks shit” is not evidence.
And in general the idea that trump, or bannon, are all seeing masterminds is demobilizing and not a way to win anything.
It feels farther-fetched that this particular character evaded Secret Service surveillance and got shots off from an exposed roof essentially by chance with next to no plan.
no it doesn't. protecting an entire area is very difficult; people make mistakes.
this is the problem with conspiratorial thinking. the fact that there are fuck ups, the fact that you're operating on limited information, all becomes "suspicious"—but suspicious of what?
it's just irresponsible to start speculating wildly when you have neither expertise nor data in a situation where people were badly harmed and where the information environment can have serious consequences going forward. Again, I'd just urge people not to do that.
When i include “feels” to a starement, you don’t have negation powers.
I think we have the same amount of information and sources.
I find it much more important that election denier MAGA Mike Johnson is one-siding claims of violent rhetoric, or the threat of MAGA to Democracy.
That's why I like the fact that Biden's events tend to be indoors. It's so much easier to secure a closed area like that