TDS

[canpakes]

It seems like we're playing a game of charades, and you're still stuck on the first clue! Good luck with that!

Trump has managed to paint the progressive movement as a group of whiny, mean-spirited kids who just can’t stand America or white people. The kicker? Many progressives in the media seem to be doing a fantastic job of confirming his claims by behaving like a bunch of angry toddlers. No progressives on TV, podcasts, or any other media seem to have cracked a smile or discovered the joy of happiness! They’re always strutting around like the sky is falling and democracy is on the chopping block, and they do it in such a way that most Americans just roll their eyes.

Remember, folks - the fun people are the ones who are always hysterically whining about how Jose cutting their lawn needs to be deported so that he won’t eat your cat Fluffy, how America isn’t hiring enough white guys who can’t pass psychological stability tests, how they’re all being persecuted because of their faith, and how evil teachers using email signatures are going to snatch your kids during lunch break and reassign their genders against your will.

And voilà, that’s how Trump ended up in the big chair while the Republicans took over the house and senate!

Nah. According to Trump, he won because of ‘the groceries’.



He should probably get crackin’ on that. He seems to be heading in the wrong direction.

[Bret Ripley]

Rational folks start searching for a little sunshine elsewhere, because who wants to hang out with a party pooper?

Yet you are still here. Were you promised an honorarium?

[huckelberry]

Hey HOH!

If a remedy for TDS exists (and TDS is as real as real gets), I haven't seen it. Worse, is that once individuals have their minds taken captive by TDS, the TDS begins to eat away at any remaining reason, balance, and/or healthy skepticism that may have been present prior to becoming infected by such a debilitating and reason-robbing mental condition. Honestly, I have never seen anything quite like it.

What is the cure? I have no idea. If I had to guess, I would guess that such a cure (if there actually is one) might be found within the individual that is suffering from TDS on a case-by-case basis. Other than that, I can't imagine anyone breaking free from TDS.

It seems like the progressives who are a bit too obsessed with Trump, like Kishkumen, Canpakes, Bishop Schmo, and Molok, are secretly aware that, at this very moment, Trump is the one pulling the strings in the progressive narrative. It's like watching a puppet show where the puppets are convinced they're the stars!

If you think I'm kidding, just take a moment to ponder this. What’s the deal with Trump showing off a picture of himself in a Pope costume? Is he trying to start a new trend in holy fashion or just looking for a divine selfie? It's not that he has aspirations to be Pope; it's just that he knows the progressive crowd will get so riled up that they'll look even crazier discussing his image than he does for actually posting it!

I haven't run into a progressive who gets this super straightforward idea yet. It's like searching for a unicorn in a haystack! Allow me to break it down for all the progressives out there, so you can soak up the brilliance I'm about to share, and let's use the Pope as our shining example, shall we? The thought process behind Trump sharing a picture of himself in a Pope costume is pure brilliance, especially when you grasp the reasoning behind it. First and foremost, folks like you and me, Ceeboo, when we spot that image of Trump in a Pope outfit, sure, it might rub us the wrong way a bit, but let's be real, we probably had a good giggle too because it's downright hilarious, and thankfully, we’re not caught up in TDS, which means we can still appreciate a good laugh. But the mastermind move by Trump in sharing that image of himself dressed as the Pope is that he totally knows the progressives will grab it and try to paint him as a loony, or they'll twist it to claim he thinks he's the ruler of the universe or something equally wild.

The dilemma for the progressives is that this is precisely the reaction Trump is hoping for! He’s just sitting back, popcorn in hand, waiting for them to declare him the next Pope, King, Hitler, or even the world’s savior. And the reason Trump wants them to paint him as a dictator or king or even Hitler is that the progressives do it with all the charm of a wet sock, lacking any humor, humanity, or positivity. They strut around like the sky is falling, convinced that if everyone doesn't catch on fast, they’re the only ones who truly get what’s happening in our country. Trump is turning the progressives into the ultimate party poopers, making them seem so serious and gloomy that folks are starting to avoid them like a bad smell! He's transformed progressivism into a quirky little cult that believes the apocalypse is just a hop, skip, and a jump away if their cult-like beliefs aren't embraced by all.

Trump has hilariously transformed the progressive movement into the person nobody wants to be around at a party because they act like they just walked off a serious documentary set! He's pulling a fast one on the progressives, and they're so furious they can't even see the trickery happening right under their noses!

If no one believes me, just dive into the threads kicked off by the progressives who seem to have caught a serious case of TDS on this board! Some folks are convinced that the apocalypse is just around the corner, all thanks to Trump being in charge! They could use a good laugh! They seem to have misplaced their humanity somewhere between the couch cushions and the last slice of pizza! They can't stand anyone who doesn't hop on the progressive bandwagon! They see anyone who dares to challenge their progressive story as utterly clueless, completely misinformed, and downright silly! And let's be honest, nobody wants to hang out with folks who see the world through such a gloomy lens!

Trump has practically put a big ol' label on the progressive movement, calling them the schoolyard bullies, and he's done it so brilliantly that they’re stuck in a corner. The only way out for them is to admit he’s got the upper hand, but they'd rather eat dirt than say he won!

I must realize that Hound has a significant point or points. Some of Trump nonsense talk is intended to create confusion and attract attention. I have been and remain upset with left leaning media obsession with Trump, Trump, Trump. When somebody else was president, talk was Trump, Trump, Trump. Stupid planning. I sometimes watch Bill Maher who remembers funny. He can make fun of overly earnest lefties without being conned by Trump. But Hound is right, too much media on the left lost its fun. I occasionally watch Lawrence O'Donald. The other night he constructed a joke about Donny Twodolls.

Now Lawrence is an earnest and intelligent fellow but failed to understand when to change to a new subject. He beat his small joke to death and then wasted more time discussing it. Ring the bell and move on for heaven's sake.

There are two good suggestions from Hound: Media and individuals need to find other focuses than Trump and find some humor and hope. I also saw a shadow suggestion about how to like Trump. View it all as joke, laughter can make it all go down easier. I will decline to join that shadow.

[Kishkumen]

There are two good suggestions from Hound: Media and individuals need to find other focuses than Trump and find some humor and hope. I also saw a shadow suggestion about how to like Trump. View it all as joke, laughter can make it all go down easier. I will decline to join that shadow.

And you are to be commended for seeing the underlying motive in what Hound writes.

I am not sure, though, that it would help to focus on something else. Presidents are often a big focus during their presidencies. Maybe we should not have focused on past presidents so much? OK. Fair point. But is now really the time to stop talking about the president, that is, when he has decided that he should be in charge of everything, including the Kennedy Center and Harvard University? Is it NOW important not to talk about the president?

Doesn't that look like a sleight of hand to you?

"Hey, the president is making a huge, unconstitutional power-grab in all these weird ways, why do you keep focusing on him? Are you obsessed? Deranged? Stop focusing so much on what he is doing!"

Sus, no?

As for looking on the bright side, sure! I can be very positive and happy about all of the protesters showing up around the country to stand up for our Constitution! Hooray! I believe in civil rights! Yoohoo! I love living in a world where all kinds of different people can live under the ground rules of our Constitutional government and be better off for it! Yippeee!

I am very hopeful that we can keep MAGA from turning this country into the Putinesque nightmare that Russia is trying to turn it into with the help of MAGA disinformation run by a Russian playbook. Let's stand up for facts that, used responsibly, can really make us healthier, more prosperous, and happier! Let's hold onto that happiness and not accept toxic lies of MAGA and Putin in its place! Bully for that!

[canpakes]

I am not sure, though, if it would help to focus on something else. Presidents are often a big focus during their presidencies. Maybe we should not have focused on past presidents so much? OK. Fair point. But is now really the time to stop talking about the president, that is, when he has decided that he should be in charge of everything, including the Kennedy Center and Harvard University? Is it NOW important not to talk about the president?

Doesn't that look like a sleight of hand to you?

"Hey, the president is making a huge, unconstitutional power-grab in all these weird ways, why do you keep focusing on him? Are you obsessed? Deranged? Stop focusing so much on what he is doing!"

Sus, no?

Maybe my BS meter is just tuned a bit differently, but this sort of weird, juvenile reverse psychology play always seems blatantly obvious and silly, as it has been since Hound’s first political posts. “Oh, don’t respond when Trump does something stupid/cruel/dishonest/crappy/illegal; that’ll just mean that he ‘owns’ you because you spoke up! Ha ha! Just shut up and let him (us) do what we want unchallenged!”

No, I think that heckling needs to be provided where heckling is deserved.

[Kishkumen]

Maybe my BS meter is just tuned a bit differently, but this sort of weird, juvenile reverse psychology play always seems blatantly obvious and silly, as it has been since Hound’s first political posts. “Oh, don’t respond when Trump does something stupid/cruel/dishonest/crappy/illegal; that’ll just mean that he ‘owns’ you because you spoke up! Ha ha! Just shut up and let him (us) do what we want unchallenged!”

No, I think that heckling needs to be provided where heckling is deserved.

You and me both. What I wish is that fewer people out there pretended like Trump was a sane adult who can be relied upon to speak honestly and factually. Everyone should greet his non-stop flood of ludicrous nonsense with the ridicule and condescension it deserves. A clown can dress up in a fancy business suit and yet remain a clown.

[huckelberry]

I am not sure, though, if it would help to focus on something else. Presidents are often a big focus during their presidencies. Maybe we should not have focused on past presidents so much? OK. Fair point. But is now really the time to stop talking about the president, that is, when he has decided that he should be in charge of everything, including the Kennedy Center and Harvard University? Is it NOW important not to talk about the president?

Doesn't that look like a sleight of hand to you?

"Hey, the president is making a huge, unconstitutional power-grab in all these weird ways, why do you keep focusing on him? Are you obsessed? Deranged? Stop focusing so much on what he is doing!"

Sus, no?

Maybe my BS meter is just tuned a bit differently, but this sort of weird, juvenile reverse psychology play always seems blatantly obvious and silly, as it has been since Hound’s first political posts. “Oh, don’t respond when Trump does something stupid/cruel/dishonest/crappy/illegal; that’ll just mean that he ‘owns’ you because you spoke up! Ha ha! Just shut up and let him (us) do what we want unchallenged!”

No, I think that heckling needs to be provided where heckling is deserved.

Kishkumen and canpakes, I agree completely. I do not even remotely think vigorous criticism should be muffled.

[huckelberry]

The election denial. Machinations to reject the election. Encouragement of a violent attack on America's capitol. Pardoning of those attackers are all beyond the pale.

Laughter does not cover the profoundly anti-American nature of these. Laughter at the foibles of msnbc does not cover the corruption.

[Moksha]

Allowing Grima Wormtongue to talk Théoden of Rohan into becoming apathetic so Sauron could do his thing sounds so Trumpian.

Those giant stone statues on either side of the river advocating for eternal vigilance seem like a good answer to the Hound.

[ceeboo]

If no one believes me, just dive into the threads kicked off by the progressives who seem to have caught a serious case of TDS on this board!

While certainly true, it's not just threads kicked off, it's countless posts within threads as well. If this board was a kitchen, TDS can be found littered all over the surface of the counter, it can be seen trying to hide behind the fridge, it is dripping under the sink, it has shattered the coffee pot, it has caused the fresh bread to become quite stale, it has turned the steak knives into weapons, it has rendered the measuring cup useless, and it has completely eliminated any opportunity for anyone to eat a meal who enjoys different flavors. It's really sad, in my opinion.

Some folks are convinced that the apocalypse is just around the corner, all thanks to Trump being in charge!

All thanks to the fear-porn that runs wild. Why does it continue here (and many other places), because far too many people are still buying it all - bathing in it all - and while being completely soaked in it, it seems there is a deep desire for much more soaking.

They seem to have misplaced their humanity somewhere between the couch cushions and the last slice of pizza!

When you spend 99% of your time and effort on questioning and laying judgement upon other people's humanity, you have very little time and/or room to even consider your own.

They can't stand anyone who doesn't hop on the progressive bandwagon! They see anyone who dares to challenge their progressive story as utterly clueless, completely misinformed, and downright silly!

While you're quite right, you used adjectives that seem to be far kinder than the ones I typically see.

Anyway - so very sad on so very many levels.