General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumssnowybirdie
(5,231 posts)The Swiftboating of John Kerry of '04
Merlot
(9,696 posts)flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)Puerto Rico
pazzyanne
(6,556 posts)icaria
(97 posts)For anyone thinking of George W Bush as a warm, cuddly friend of Michelle Obama, just remember he did that. They did that.
calimary
(81,340 posts)When McCain won the New Hampshire primary and looked like a real threat, kkkarl rove and Lee Atwater and their flying monkeys from Hell were put to work in the next state. South Carolina. An anonymous phone campaign called voters and asked: would you vote for John McCain if you knew hed fathered a black child out of wedlock?
John and Cindy McCain had adopted a little girl from Bangladesh. She happens to be dark-skinned. The nation saw her with the family, in mourning for her dad at the recent services for him. It made me so angry to remember that HORRID, fucking LYING smear on her! Her name is Bridget and she was, and still is, a civilian. A total noncombatant. Not involved. Innocent as can be! And these bastards felt they had to pick on an innocent CHILD to bloody up her father.
As an adoptee myself, I will NEVER forget OR forgive that. TOTALLY uncalled for and out of bounds! How dare they!!!! Of course, it was an effective smear, unfortunately. dubya went on to beat McCain in South Carolina and pretty much took him out of the game.
As far as I can remember, there was never any apology issued for that from bush Inc., either. For a long time, I also hated McCain for that - because he didnt smack that one back. Said pretty much nothing about it, and later was seen to hug dubya onstage while campaigning with him somewhere. NO. You DO NOT do that to someone who sought to attack you by smearing your adopted daughter who was still a little girl at the time, thus besmirching your marriage, and your wife (your daughters mother)! He said nothing. Held no press conference, issued no statement, voiced no outrage to denounce it at the time. Nothing.
Its one thing if they attacked the other daughter, Meghan, but she was out there already, in public, campaigning actively for her dad. She put herself out there. Voluntarily. As an adult. Big girl, knew what she was getting into. So okay then. Fair game. Her younger sister didnt. And remained a private citizen not involved in any campaigning, and too young anyway. So SHE was NOT fair game. Even though kkkarl rove later blew it all off as fair game. Fucking Bastard!
This is the same FUCKING reprehensible mindset that led people to criticize Chelsea Clinton when she, too, was too young to get into the campaign for HER dad, and was a gawky young teen. Fucking Limbaugh repeatedly called her the White House Dog.
God I hate these bastards...
Merlot
(9,696 posts)maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)seems like ancient history now...
LiberalLovinLug
(14,175 posts)"Pelosi rebukes Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters for urging supporters to confront Trump administration officials"
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/25/nancy-pelosi-rebukes-maxine-waters-for-comments-on-trump-administratio.html
Grasswire2
(13,571 posts)ut oh
(896 posts)that we need a change in leadership. I don't have anything against Pelosi per se (she was my rep for 20 years). It's just her approach to all the GOP BS seems to be 'treat them with kid gloves'.
I agree with Avenatti on this front.
Snackshack
(2,541 posts)brush
(53,794 posts)And they're not just after the federal government. If they get a few more statehouses they can hold a Constitutional Convention and amend it to take out all progressive measures since the New Deal, and Great Society, hell, they may go back to women not voting and AAs being re-enslaved.
No more Mr. Nice guy/gal.
Playing nice has gotten us to the point where we are losing our country to Russian oligarchs.
Vinca
(50,285 posts)shanny
(6,709 posts)We've been using sporks and it has been going on for decades.
Kingofalldems
(38,461 posts)He destroyed the wimp on Fox the other night. Tucker Carlson, snotty rich boy.
aikoaiko
(34,174 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)He would not be my first pick for presidential candidate, but I would rather have a fighter like him than someone who rolls over in the face of republican lies and abuse. I'm sick of it. If we don't start producing some real fighters (and yes, I know there have been some great sens & reps who have spoken out, but I want to see a more aggressive response), we might as well throw in the towel.
There is so much we can call them on and we need to start doing it and continue to do it over and over again.
GetRidOfThem
(869 posts)...he was not agressive enough. He was superb on many levels, but had his idealism make him cave at key moments.
Avenatti is on target...
Grasswire2
(13,571 posts)The task of a community organizer is to seek consensus.
That explains Obama. Lovely man.
Republicans exploited that.
RazBerryBeret
(3,075 posts)I believe the GOP tried hard to paint him as an angry black man. he never gave them that opportunity. I commend that, but it is sad that he had to be so measured. IMO.
7962
(11,841 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)He kept his cool and that is a phenomenal move, showing a command in self discipline that will be hard to repeat for anyone. He never lost it. Never. He just persisted against odds that made the rest of us cry.
Butterflylady
(3,546 posts)Like Harry Truman said, " If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." We can no longer be the nice guys, however, it can be done in a very diplomatic way.
onetexan
(13,044 posts)Punch back hard - its about time and we need someo ne on our side as smart but toigh like avenatti
Moral Compass
(1,523 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Tough times call for tough action.
This is not a time for pretty words, and acting deferential toward a group of criminals & hoods masquerading as a checks and balances branch of government.
I want Democratic leaders to bear down HARD on Senators who say they're undecided on Kavanaugh. I want Democratic politicians to wake up and realize they're dealing with a widespread conspiracy among the Republicans and against the United States, all for personal gain. And I EXPECT appropriate action in response to that.
You know all that strong language and foot stamping over silly allegations against Franken? And then kicking him out of their presence? I want to see THAT kind of behavior regarding an unfit, criminal President and his gaggle of criminal, treasonous cohorts in the Senate and House and staff.
-Puzzler
BadgerMom
(2,771 posts)Im so sick of bothsiderism. Truthful, thats what we need to be.
keithbvadu2
(36,835 posts)Sucha NastyWoman
(2,749 posts)Seeing any other Democrat be as strong as Avenatti
Experience wont be as valuable as balls. I hope he runs
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)Tired of losing to these lying, cheating no good republican scum
sandensea
(21,639 posts)He's great tactically and strategically - plus, he's a straight shooter and a man of ideals.
The right man at the right time, if you ask me.
onetexan
(13,044 posts)Avenatti is def'ly our guy - he'd be an excellent AG.
sandensea
(21,639 posts)With Elliot Engel at State and Elizabeth Warren at Treasury. Can you imagine?
ALBliberal
(2,344 posts)c-rational
(2,594 posts)or play fair. They need to be justly vanquished for our country's sake.
Ligyron
(7,636 posts)We have played nicey, nice way too long and slowly but surely, one surrender after another basically let a bunch of criminals, the puppets of an evil cabal, take over the government. We are in a fight now for our children's and grand children's future and really the very future of the free world.
We need fighters and I just hope it's not too late.
Amaryllis
(9,525 posts)zentrum
(9,865 posts)...i sthere to loathe?
Love him. Has ourage, leadership and feminist vaues.
RestoreAmerica2020
(3,435 posts)'When They Go Low, We Hit Harder,' Michael Avenatti Tells N.H. Democrats. ( JOSH ROGERS AUG 20, 2018 nhpr)
[Snip
Avenatti himself tends to offer a more contemporary rationale for a potential candidacy. He says Democrats mostly need a nominee capable of doing one thing: pounding Donald Trump in a campaign that Avenatti says will be a street fight.
"And I believe that this is all about match-ups. So if the Democratic Party proceeds to nominate the person who would be the best president that would be a mistake. Because we had that person back in 2016."
gopiscrap
(23,761 posts)UCmeNdc
(9,600 posts)whathehell
(29,067 posts)dottie66
(59 posts)I've yet to see any Trump tweet against Avenatii.
Baitball Blogger
(46,745 posts)recognize that you are going to lose.
Just this weekend my friend shared a learning experience with me. She was in high school and they were voting for class captain, or maybe it was team captain of a sports team. She lost by one. The person who counted the votes went up to her and told her, if you aren't going to vote for yourself, you don't deserve to win.
Why that's so eye-opening is that most of us who grew up in households where our parents were public-servants would have had difficulty voting for ourselves. We are taught from a very young age to be selfless. Truly selfless.
We learn these lessons the hard way.
nini
(16,672 posts)Last edited Sat Sep 15, 2018, 01:44 PM - Edit history (1)
He let Tucker Carlson get the upper hand - Tucker fucking Carlson.
If this blowhard it going to bash Democrats while supposedly supporting our side he can kiss my ass I have not heard anyone calling for a kinder, gentler Dem party. Not one. There's so much wrong with his approach it makes me want to barf.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)He's right about fighting back and he is right on the issues that matter. But you carry on.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Had he known he would have reacted in his take no prisoners way.
And the consensus is that Avenatti won hands down.
nini
(16,672 posts)if you went by his tweets the impression is he would've wiped the floor with carlson.. He let Carlson talk over him way too much and get the last word.
It should matter what the chevron said and that was completely typical right wing crap.
My rep is Maxine Waters.. I'll take her no nonsense approach any time. She can deliver it when she needs to and it's not about just her when it's said and done. She is my bad ass of choice.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)And she reacts and takes on whatever is thrown at her! But Avenatti does too.
There are lots of people who think Maxine Waters goes too far, or is too reactionary, but it's the reason we love her. I think Avenatti is like her in that way. He doesn't take shit from anyone just like Maxine.
robbedvoter
(28,290 posts)Avenatti is clever, but as narcissistic as 🍊. As he would say: Basta!
Pachamama
(16,887 posts)He is spot on....and he is not weak and isn't a fake....
lunatica
(53,410 posts)These are not normal times and they call for non-normal tactics. Otherwise we cease to be a Democracy. History is replete with examples of tyrants taking over because it was easy for them. Because they could do so without much of a fight.
pansypoo53219
(20,981 posts)go ON the defensive, don't be offensive.
awesomerwb1
(4,268 posts)to step on the Dem party.
This may have sounded hyperbolic to me a couple years ago, but not now: we're not only fighting for the US but for the whole planet.
Gloves off yesterday.
earthshine
(1,642 posts)He just has to beat the other candidates in the debates and he can have my vote in the primary.
I also want Al Franken to make an attempt to run for Pres.