Donald Trump the Megathread part II

Shooter could be also trying to instigate a civil war.

Never had to resort to AI tbh. Do you reckon if I asked AI whether Kirk was a guy who became a millionaire by being a racist bigoted pro slaughtering of Palestinians type of guy it would give me an opinion?

I don’t believe I am confused. You’ve just clarified who you are.

What's to distract from? They say this belief in shadowy paedophile networks controlling the world is a really central rallying point of MAGA. Even taking this point, there's no end to which they'll jump through mental hoops to distance Trump from this crowd. You could have videos emerge of Trump doing unspeakable things to teenage girls while a naked Epstein watches on, and Trump could just go, "Fake. AI." and that would stop the reaction reaching 'critical mass'.

There is no shortage of proof that Trump is a total sexual deviant and predator. None of it bothers his base.

Calm and passionate argument, advocacy and protest, based on reality, is the only rational way to combat extremist rhetoric

You mean we go high?

Clinton and Harris tried it they both lost to a sexual deviant and convicted felon.

And yet you think I'm the 'problem' and not the proliferation of goons like Kirk. Man, I don't give a monkeys what you think of me, but open your eyes FFS.

Give it up Boggles. He had 8 million followers on Instagram and 3.5million on Tiktok. This was always going to be a major story and the political links and influence he had meant that it was always going to come over into the mainstream somewhat. Starmer was going to be asked about it so he got ahead of it.

That he got the following and influence he did is a symptom of the wider problem where people gain influence based on attention alone. What MAGA found in Kirk was someone who was articulate and could present their argument in a manner that engaged the uninformed. His choreographed events were designed to play to his strengths of being able to quickly sprew some rhetoric often in response to an ill prepared question from someone with middle school level debating skills surrounded by a cauldron of MAGA heads and this appear to be some intellectual giant in the minds of those who see ability to create attention alone as being something to admire. The Oxford union debate where hubris resulted in him stepping out form his comfort zone exposed the paucity of his arguments. The way to deal with him was as his notoriety grew, put more people up against him with the ability to actually debate him with facts. If he had be exposed as a rabble rouser his notoriety would have waned. Sadly, now MAGA have their martyr and the way to deal with that is not to express glee in his passing but to acknowledge it as a terrible act and to continue to challenge dangerous rhetoric with fact

I really understand the American mindset after one of my very American republican cousin and his American wife stayed two weeks in Ireland. From the back of beyond in Tennessee.

Fundamentally they are nice people. Both are VERY Christian. They have a lot of guns.
His wife (a woman in her 60’s) underneath seemed very fearful of Muslims, Epic city etc, and fearful of transgender people she made a joke about the bus driver in Connemara looking like a man with painted nails.
The cousin; he is a very calm easy going individual, an Army Vet.

His wife wanted Ireland to keep “Rosie O’Donnell”. Etc. Seemed to have a strong dislike for Pelosi, Sanders. Knew about Pelosi making money on stocks, but went quiet when I said it is mad that it is allowed for anyone in Congress. Trump’s family and bitcoin is the newest trick…I said. And tried to explain how working Irish people would not stand for that here.

Another topic discussed was police in America pulling over cars.

His wife explained to me how when a policemen pulls you over in the USA they touch the back of the car. To leave fingerprints in case they are shot. As if it was the most normal thing in the world.

He explained “conceal and carry” etc. You don’t produce your gun when asked if you carry he said. You calmly tell the officer. They went home there yesterday, and enjoyed their trip to Ireland. But I am not sure they are even half aware of the major societal differences between America and Ireland.

As for this Charlie Kirk fella I only became aware of him in the last few weeks when clicking through YouTube on debating styles. A young Blonde student in Oxford England ran rings around Kirk. As he tried to go through his checklist of Trsnsgender, Muslims, Feminists hate men etc. No matter the question.

He was clueless on how to debate. I was bemused as to why he had such a large following. But I understand now. Stoking fear overrides all logic. And even the most kindhearted individuals who might not be well educated, can have their buttons pressed. Because of the American mindset “God and Guns”.

The real irony is Muslims, transgenders etc etc are not the dangers to Americans. It is Americans themselves. I was thinking that even before this Kirk fella was murdered.

Meanwhile the billionaires go away laughing. While the working people vote against their own interests. Because of “hot button” topics. It is Thomas Frank’s “What’s the matter with Kansas?” come to life nationwide in America. It is very odd how such a mass of people can be so easily manipulated, in the Information Age. You would think it would be the opposite.

I feel lucky to be living in a nation that has a sensible democracy, with an electorate which abides by it.

As one sided as this thread is (and that's fair enough) i didn't think Boards would descend to reddit levels.

How on earth is the initial reaction to the murder of a hugely influential figure not an overwhelming 'this is wrong'. Posters are falling over themselves to muddy the water with Kirk's views on gun control, saying he's not an actual politician, arguing over the meaning of the word revelling, to avoid saying what they mean, that they're happy/think it's funny a man is dead, and they feel that way because of his politics.

Significant moment for america potentially. Kirk had a huge young following and someone will fill that gap, likely someone more extreme.

Give it up Boggles. He had 8 million followers on Instagram and 3.5million on Tiktok

So what? Alia Bhat has 90 million followers. I never heard of her either.

Every publication I have read this morning has an explainer on who he was.

He wasn't the household name he is is being touted.

I never heard of him because I would never be manipulated by an algorithm to be presented with the absolute hateful nonsense he spouted. His platform was online grifty far right circles and the occasional Fox News appearance, neither of which I consume.

Starmer was going to be asked about it so he got ahead of it.

World of difference being asked on the fly about something and releasing a tribute in an official capacity as the British Prime Minister. I doubt Keir knew who he was either.