I find Trump's "plan" to deal with crime to be equal parts terrifying and nonsense. National guard, death penalty for drug offenders, one rough day for police to do what exactly??? I can understand not agreeing with one side's policy, but when the other side is spewing just blatant nonsense and people consider it to be coherent policy...I have no words.
And then I think...how much does a President actually do to tackle local crime really? To me it seems like a lower on the totem pole federal issue.
Terrifying is exactly it. I mentioned in my comment that the President only marginally impacts crime, but that is assuming the President does not use crime as an excuse to execute a personal vendetta.
There is so much wrong with Trump's approach to lowering crime rates. He blames immigrants for everything and this is not accurate. We do need to deal with the border which the Biden administration worked hard to do. To kill a bill that would address this means you don't really care about drugs and crime coming across the border. It means you want to use that as a talking point to get elected. "A day of violence" is not a solution to crime. It just encourages violence as a solution to things. Removing restrictions on guns is a terrible idea. It has been proven that countries with stricter gun laws have fewer mass shootings. Harris is talking about smart gun laws that I feel most of Americans want. I really just don't want to keep hearing how terrible our country is. I love America and I am ready to move forward with a more hopeful view of this country. With all its faults, is an amazing place to live.
I think this is a red herring in both campaigns. Other than allocating Federal $$ to municipalities (and that probably has more to do with Congress, the President can only ask them for $$ for this purpose) how much impact does any President have on crime? I would say relatively little. Crime is a local matter. Pay attention to whom you elect for Mayor, to City Council, to District Attorney, and to state Attorney General if crime is an issue you care about.
I don’t think it’s a red herring at all. Presidents, especially those who would choose an Attorney General and senior Justice Dept officials more for their fealty to him rather than the Constitution, can threaten to withhold funding and equipment, investigate, prosecute and/or seek consent decrees against states or municipalities whose law enforcement activities aren’t undertaken in the manner the President wants. The federal justice apparatus could completely override whatever your local mayor, police chief or DA wants. So on this issue, voting matters, from the very top of the ticket on down.
Given that border issues are a top concern for many voters, I'm surprised you failed to mention the Harris record on pursuing criminal groups that traffic drugs, guns and people across the United States and Mexico, including her prosecution of major drug cartels. According to a NY Times report, "She brought together federal officials and state attorneys general to strategize, and convened multiagency task forces to work with counterparts in Mexico and across Latin America. They took on cases that led to the arrests of larger players in the drug trade and seizures of greater quantities of drugs and other illicit goods." (NYT, Oct. 13, 2024)
I am wondering if Sharon plans to do another writeup on border issues. I hope she does because I really love how she covers things, and these side by side comparisons are particularly interesting.
How do we talk about Trump's plans concerning CRIME and not mention his own? He is a multiple time convicted felon and we are to take seriously his views on crime in America? I'm still trying to wrap my head around the "normalization" of this candidate, especially in the area of crime.
As a commentator last night on CNN stated (during the back-n-forth between talking heads analyzing Harris's town hall performance) "He gets to be lawless...She has to be flawless."
Totally agree. That last sentence is what I'm struggling with, too. I can barely read these articles some days because he is portrayed as normal. He's not and his agenda isn't either. I can't take seriously any of his ideas. It's like painting this rosy portrait of Hitler all the while ignoring what he's really doing. Pretending Trump is just a regular candidate is absurd. You don't have to be a republican or a democrat to see the awful human is truly is. But yeah, let's keep on acting as though his way forward is nothing to fear or worry about. Normalizing him might be to our detriment.
I will start by saying I do agree with you that it seems he has been "normalized" and it really feels scary.
I think Sharon included plenty of quotes by Trump that make it clear he is not "normal". It's just that good journalism should not inject opinions. You report what's what and let the reader come to their own conclusions.
I do think plenty of people are talking about how dangerous he is. But if everyone (aka mass media) did it too often, they would be considered "unfair" because a good chunk of the country does still support him and many of them feel that way. It's hard for me to take any reports of unfairness seriously. You only need to direct quote the man to see how much of a fascist lunatic he is. He talks about America like we are living in hell. I have a pretty great life here so I can not relate.
I also don't really know what "the media" is reporting anymore because I hardly follow it. But it seems like there have been a few stories over the last few days that are hammering on the point that he is not well and he is dangerous (New York times story about his mental decline, yesterday's John Kelly bombshell) - lets hope these stories get reach and people vote accordingly.
It’s journalism’s responsibility to hold each candidate to the same standards. Not to hold one candidate to a high standard and at the same time “sane wash” the other as if everything he says is perfectly normal. It is definitely their responsibility to point out “crazy” or fascist behavior. It is their responsibility to educate us. Not to parrot both sides like they are both the same🤦🏼♀️
How has Trump been sane-washed? What is the media reporting (or not reporting) that is exacerbating the problem? Like I said I don't follow much mainstream media, and certainly don't intend to fall down a rabbit hole researching this today. But if there's an article or something summarizing this issue, I would be interested in reading it.
Trump frequently threatens the media, as do his followers. So there's also that.
"Molloy first used the phrase 'sanewashing' this fall to describe a tendency among journalists to launder some of Trump’s wilder or barely coherent statements to make them seem like the cogent pronouncements of a typical politician. One example she cites: CNN distilling a Trump post on Truth Social that rambled on about the 'radical left' and 'fake news' into a straight news lead about the former president agreeing to debate his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
"At its best, polishing Trump creates an alternative narrative, she said. At its worst, it’s misinformation."
I resonate with this so much. It's heartbreaking to watch people continue their support of him. As a sexual abuse survivor, the betrayal I feel by his supporters is physically painful. And I try SO hard to understand them, only to hear the confirmation that they don't care what he's done, as long as more dollars show up in their bank account. And it's not even a guarantee they'd be better off financially. Just a possibility. I can't wait for this election to be over.
I know. So much of what he has said has felt like a personal assault. Hearing people continually excuse his awful behavior or simply ignoring it has been extremely difficult for me. There's more at stake here than policy (though Project 2025 is about as terrifying a plan as any). If I laid out all the facts (yes facts, not opinions and not Fox News), some would still say, they are lies or he didn't mean it or it's taken out of context. An entire page of factual information wouldn't change their minds. It feels very much like they don't care about others. A lot of my voting is with the intent to help others, not what can fill up my bank account. I don't think Harris or Trump's plans will impact my finances, but one of them will impact our country in a very, very negative and dangerous way. Plus, the idea of him meeting with other leaders is embarrassing. Not to mention he wants to isolate us. Oh, jeez. I'm starting to go off the rails... sorry. I think so many of us are incredibly passionate and very worried that it becomes just too much. Counting down the days...
I read something once that said “for all of you who wish to leave politics out of dealing with trauma, I wish to remind you that trauma is all about living under social conditions where terrible things are allowed to happen and the truth cannot be told.” As someone with complex ptsd, I can tell you that the effect trump as had on my recovery is awful. Not only by the terrible things he says and does (that I watched him do with my own eyes, not some skewed reporting), but by all the bystanders who know of his evils and allow it for their own gain. Like I said earlier, it's a betrayal that goes bone deep. Grateful there are humans like you out there!
As a former probation and parole officer, Trump’s solutions are terrifying. Not only would they put citizens at risk of increased gun violence but put LEOs as well. Not to mention the potential for increased police brutality. One officer in my city was convicted of road rage in that he pulled a man over while not on duty and threatened him with his gun. He was already under a “last chance” contract. He then went to FL, was hired by an PD and again became violent and was sentenced to jail. He is but one. I know of three other incidents in a nearby city that have been buried by their PD. As for deporting immigrants, my former landscaper disappeared and I finally saw him a year later. His story was heartbreaking. He had been in the US for twenty years, had a family, built a business and they sent him back to Mexico saying he could be back in a couple of months. It took an attorney a year to get his visa reinstated. He lost his business and had to start over. Meanwhile his four children were without a Dad. Sadly three years ago he was found in his truck in his garage dead from carbon monoxide the day after Christmas. I remember him asking me why they don’t go after the gang members. It’s because they go after the easy targets. This all happened because of Trump.
And now sadly, people will rage against anyone who is Hispanic. They have no idea who these people are and whether they are illegal or not. It hurts my heart that people so easily fall for the demonization of a group who isn't "white." If Swedes were pouring in, Trump wouldn't say, "Get these filthy people out of this country" or "they are violent criminals." It's just the color and culture. I don't want to live in a world where our leader wants to harm others like Trump does.
I’m also in a dual law enforcement household. Every time Trump talks about crime and his “solutions” we both just shake our heads. If we want to lower crime, we need to be investing in our community resources. No one decides to not commit murder because the death penalty exists, and it won’t prevent any other crimes either. Extending the death penalty will do absolutely nothing except get innocent people killed like we’ve seen in recent months. Telling people the crime is what it is because of migrants is fear-mongering playing on racism. Especially when he says it’s in their DNA. I’m all for people paying their dues back to society and being held accountable, but I can’t take tough on crime rhetoric from a felon seriously. It is not lost on me that he never brings this same energy when it’s about sex offenses. Instead, we now live in a country where rape victims, including young children, are forced to carry their rapist’s baby to term and he calls it a victory for life. When sexual assault is the most under-prosecuted violent crimes (as he personally knows).
His continued rhetoric around the Central Park Five tells me everything I need to know about his motives and understanding of our legal system.
That is heartbreaking. :( I am not sure how it is Trump’s responsibility though. It is the same as people blaming Harris’ policy for the killing of Laken Riley. Both are horrible situations and our immigration needs revision. I don’t agree with either side’s approach. But something has to be done.
This might be your most disingenuous comment yet and that is really saying something. There is no comparison between the two. Trump has denigrated people of color his entire life. He raised it to a new and terrifying level when he began his first campaign, calling immigrants rapists and murderers and continuing today by calling them animals and vermin determined to destroy our country and threatening mass deportations. All of his justifications are lies. Every credible study ever done shows that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native born U.S. citizens. The vast majority of illegal drugs are smuggled through legal ports of entry by U.S. citizens and legal residents. Yes, Laken’s murder was tragic, just like the scores of murders committed every year by U.S. citizens. Or the thousands of gun deaths we have annually in the U.S. which Trump will do nothing about except he has vowed to undo what little gun safety legislation was passed in the last few years. Undocumented immigrants contribute billions to local, state and federal treasuries every year and buttress our agricultural, construction and health care industries. Trump’s deliberate incitement of fear and hatred of immigrants is beyond reprehensible. Harris will sign the bipartisan immigration bill that Trump killed and that will be a significant step forward.
My comment was very factual and not misleading in the least. This election could mean literally life or death to many people or at the very least, severe effects on their lives, not to mention irreparable damage to our system of government. I have no patience for false equivalencies that serve to muddy the waters or minimize the risks we all face.
Trump did not call immigrants those things. Feel free to provide sources- that are directly him speaking- saying those things. Not the media twisting it to continue to make Trump look evil. I also have no patience for the lies and hatred being spread.
He didn't call immigrants vermin: "We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country" (https://www.npr.org/2023/11/17/1213746885/trump-vermin-hitler-immigration-authoritarian-republican-primary) Of course, if he's NOT talking about immigrants, then he is talking about American citizens who should be free to disagree with the President.
Oh, I’m sorry. Did he not use the word “vermin” to describe immigrants but just to describe his political opponents? Here is the definition of “vermin”: pests or nuisance animals that spread diseases and destroy crops and property and infect livestock and people; an offensive word for people who are unpleasant and harmful to society.
Here are Trump’s exact quotes:
-June 28, 2015: “You have people coming in, and I’m not just saying Mexicans, I’m talking about people that are from all over that are killers and rapists, and they’re coming into this country.”
-Oct 7, 2021, speaking of immigrants: “ Many of those people will probably have AIDS, and they’re coming into our country. And we don’t do anything about it, we let everybody come in. ... It’s like a death wish for our country.”
-Dec 16, 2023, speaking of immigrants: “They’re poisoning the blood of our country.” (Exact same language Hitler used in Mein Kampf to describe the mixing of races.)
-June 19, 2018: “They don’t care about crime and want illegal immigrants, no matter how bad they may be, to pour into and infest our Country, like MS-13.”
-April 2, 2024, speaking of immigrants: “The Democrats say, ‘Please don’t call them animals. They’re humans.’ I said, ‘No, they’re not humans, they’re not humans. They’re animals.’”
-July 19, 2024: “We also have an illegal immigration crisis, and it’s taking place right now, as we sit here in this beautiful arena. It’s a massive invasion at our southern border that has spread misery, crime, poverty, disease and destruction to communities all across our land.”
-April 2, 2024, speaking of immigrants: “This is country-changing, it’s country-threatening, and it’s country-wrecking. They have wrecked our country.”
-May 29, 2024, speaking of Biden and immigrants: he "is letting millions of people from jails, from prisons, from insane asylums, from mental institutions, drug dealers pour in.”
-Oct 24, 2024: “They unleashed an army of migrant gangs waging a campaign of violence, we’re a dumping ground. We're like a garbage can for the world.”
Infest? Disease? Invasion? Animals? Destruction? Does this sound like the dictionary definition of vermin to you? It absolutely defies belief that you’re voting for this man and you don’t know that he’s made the dehumanizing of immigrants the main thrust of his campaign. These are his exact words, not the media’s. He is the one spreading fear and hatred.
There was nothing misleading or rude in the comment by Kate. Everything she said is factual and can be cited. Simply disagreeing and explaining your position is not rude
But something could have been done- one of the most conservative true republicans worked n the immigration reform bill, but if Mike Johnson wouldn’t bring it up for a vote because Trump told h not to- and other weak and scared republican legislators who were on board suddenly wouldn’t vote for it so they didn’t get called a name… THAT is trumps fault
I appreciate this space and being able to read Sharon’s words and then all of the insightful comments. My daughters and I participated in Sharon’s book tour last night in Utah. It was fun and so inspiring. So many things resonated with my heart but here are a few things that really stood out. America is just. She is peaceful. She is good. And she is free. After reading this Preamble edition and going over each candidates approach (and no one person is going to be completely perfect) one candidate definitely does not embody the words that Sharon so beautifully expressed last night.
No candidate in the history of America has embodied these sentiments completely and without fault. What we're looking for is which candidate embodies them more substantially and inspires others to embody them more substantially. The answer seems extremely clear to me, and you'd think I'd stop being surprised by the people who disagree with me, but it still happens every day somehow.
That may be true, but then there must be a choice made as to who will do more for the country- or who will harm our country and future generations less
With regard to any issue/problem, including crime, the difference between Harris and Trump is stark. Harris is known to be deliberative in her approach, whereas Trump is hasty. Generally speaking, the deliberative approach seeks a long-term solution. Acting in haste however, provides short-term results, and often exacerbates the problem in the long-term. When we apply each candidates approach to "crime," Harris's solutions are rehabilitative--Trump's are punitive. Historically, the US penal system has attempted each of these approaches to the extremes (more so on the punitive side), and in the past few decades appears to have settled on a hybrid approach. It appears that Harris would maintain a hybridization, but move it further to the rehabilitative side. Trump, on the other hand would adopt a full-on punitive approach. (This is where I point out the great irony: A convicted felon who wants to increase the severity of criminal punishment.) As for which approach is most effective at reducing crime--it's almost impossible to calculate. This, I do know: An individual who is somehow motivated to commit a criminal act does not first contemplate the degree of severity of the punishment they will likely receive. "Life without parole? Yeah, I can do that. Oh wait--I'm in Texas. I'll be executed. Better give this some more thought." So...based on that, I would definitely opt for Harris's approach. Also, Harris will follow democratic norms and the Constitution.
His “one violent day” and “generals like Hitler’s who just take orders”would be our Kristallnacht. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. It’s terrifying that our country is here.
Having "one violent day" doesn't seem like much of a policy to fight crime. He prefers to blame the marginalized populations for everything, including crime. Most school shooters are young white men but let's loosen what gun restrictions we do have. It's hard to take anything he says seriously although it is all very serious.
Exactly. On a day when he says an immigrant raped a woman, I'd like to ask, "And how many white American men raped a woman that day?" No immigrant has shot up a school or church. No bands of immigrants are raping and pillaging the village! They are not creating pandamonium or making America a "sh*thole." Trump just wants people to believe that because by vilifying an imaginary enemy, he stokes anger and fear. In the end, doing what Trump wants to do is inhumane and despciable. Americans should be ashamed to vote for this lunatic.
For me, do you want a correctional system that rules by FEAR and INTIMIDATION where corruption can run wild. Do we want to be Mexico. Or do you want a system based on correction, using evidence based principles that change behavior. Where there's an opportunity to learn and improve what works and hold both sides accountable for their behavior.
I truly do not understand how, when viewing both sides together like this, simply comparing facts and actual quotes by each side, there are so many people who are like "yep, Trump is my guy. That's who I think should be the leader of our country." As someone who has really tried to make an effort to listen to understand better recently, this is one thing I don't think I will ever, ever understand.
I’ve seen a lot of commenters asking how much could Trump really do on his own with respect to the military and without Congress. The answer is, A LOT! Look up The Insurrection Act of 1807. It is a broad, very poorly written law that gives the U.S. President vast powers to use the military against US citizens. Though it’s ancient, it’s still on the books and has been invoked by Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Bush and others. Its language is so vague the President could basically do whatever he wanted. For example, if he were President now, he could send in troops to Springfield, OH to round up all Haitians living there legally, saying it was necessary for national security. Or if the governor of Alabama requested help from the President in keeping its residents from leaving the state to seek an abortion, he could send in the military to guard the borders. The only possible limitation would be the Supreme Court; the same Court that just granted almost blanket immunity to the President. There is no redeeming quality in Trump the man or his so-called policies that is worth the risk.
No. Remember all of those Republican Generals, National Security Advisors, Secretaries of Defense, White House lawyers, etc., who worked with Trump the first time around and have now endorsed Harris because Trump is so unfit and is a danger to Democracy? They were guardrails against his worst impulses. They won’t be there again since Trump has said he’ll not make that mistake again and he’ll only hire people who are loyal to him. No guardrails. Plus now SCOTUS has granted the President immunity for wrongdoing if they’re part of official acts. He will literally have almost no restraints. Pardon my language but JHC, people should just vote for Harris so we can put Trump in the rear view mirror for good and give sane Republicans a chance to rehabilitate their party.
My choice has been made by choosing who I see as being the most capable. It would have been nice if the voters would have gotten to choose the Democrat candidate. As an independent, I may have made a different choice but, sadly, the party chose to continue to place Harris in yet another position she didn’t earn. I just don’t feel she is capable of being our President. I have done a ton of research and I have listened to almost every interview, town hall and rally she has done.
Please tell us what should've happened after Biden dropped out of the race with four months left until the election? Do you think there was ample time to have candidates run, be selected by states, do interviews and rallys, get their agenda out, etc., and then have an election to select the Democratic nominee? What if Trump dropped out at the same time. Do you think Vance would be the guy to replace him? Of course he would. Saying Harris didn't "earn" her position is an interesting perspective. What has Trump done to earn your vote? Seriously. What agenda fulfills your checklist? If being capable is important to you, how can you believe Trump is anywhere near that. I really find it hard to believe that anyone who has does their "research" would come to this conclusion.
The entire situation with Biden dropping out when he did is all very suspect. The fact he was pushed out by a couple of celebrities and some top Dems behind the scenes is such a disgrace. I would think every Democrat would be outraged!! Let’s face it, if he wasn’t fit to run four months out, he wasn’t fit to run a long time prior to that! The entire process is so bad on so many levels. My original point was, the party should have done a better job from the beginning, whenever that may have been. They should have allowed themselves enough time for the party to play out correctly. I will never believe Harris is the person who would have won in a primary election. Regarding Trump, that’s not what this discussion was originally about. I don’t engage in the game of deflection.
Agree, Robn! I have also listened to many interviews done by her and Trump. My choice was made awhile ago although it did change throughout the election season. (huge supporter of RFK Jr!)
All of the former administration officials, including his former VP, and former staff members that are now speaking out against him are doing so (in part) because they were among the ones keeping his impulses in check last time around and they are concerned that his loyalists in the next term won't do the same thing: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4949654-former-trump-officials-warn-2024/
The one that resonates with me is the one that doesn't promise a really rough day, sending the National Guard against Americans, or demonizing immigrants. I'm concerned that his approach does seem to resonate with some.
Trump's approach is terrifyingly authoritarian and will lay the ground work for a genocide. Harris' approach works with in the laws of our country and will use empathy mixed with law. As someone who grew up in a agricultural town that was close to Silicon Valley, by far right parents, I can not abide by Trump's approach. He wants to dehumanize hard working, family oriented, good people who did hard things to give their children a better life.
I find Trump's "plan" to deal with crime to be equal parts terrifying and nonsense. National guard, death penalty for drug offenders, one rough day for police to do what exactly??? I can understand not agreeing with one side's policy, but when the other side is spewing just blatant nonsense and people consider it to be coherent policy...I have no words.
And then I think...how much does a President actually do to tackle local crime really? To me it seems like a lower on the totem pole federal issue.
Terrifying is exactly it. I mentioned in my comment that the President only marginally impacts crime, but that is assuming the President does not use crime as an excuse to execute a personal vendetta.
There is so much wrong with Trump's approach to lowering crime rates. He blames immigrants for everything and this is not accurate. We do need to deal with the border which the Biden administration worked hard to do. To kill a bill that would address this means you don't really care about drugs and crime coming across the border. It means you want to use that as a talking point to get elected. "A day of violence" is not a solution to crime. It just encourages violence as a solution to things. Removing restrictions on guns is a terrible idea. It has been proven that countries with stricter gun laws have fewer mass shootings. Harris is talking about smart gun laws that I feel most of Americans want. I really just don't want to keep hearing how terrible our country is. I love America and I am ready to move forward with a more hopeful view of this country. With all its faults, is an amazing place to live.
I think this is a red herring in both campaigns. Other than allocating Federal $$ to municipalities (and that probably has more to do with Congress, the President can only ask them for $$ for this purpose) how much impact does any President have on crime? I would say relatively little. Crime is a local matter. Pay attention to whom you elect for Mayor, to City Council, to District Attorney, and to state Attorney General if crime is an issue you care about.
I don’t think it’s a red herring at all. Presidents, especially those who would choose an Attorney General and senior Justice Dept officials more for their fealty to him rather than the Constitution, can threaten to withhold funding and equipment, investigate, prosecute and/or seek consent decrees against states or municipalities whose law enforcement activities aren’t undertaken in the manner the President wants. The federal justice apparatus could completely override whatever your local mayor, police chief or DA wants. So on this issue, voting matters, from the very top of the ticket on down.
Given that border issues are a top concern for many voters, I'm surprised you failed to mention the Harris record on pursuing criminal groups that traffic drugs, guns and people across the United States and Mexico, including her prosecution of major drug cartels. According to a NY Times report, "She brought together federal officials and state attorneys general to strategize, and convened multiagency task forces to work with counterparts in Mexico and across Latin America. They took on cases that led to the arrests of larger players in the drug trade and seizures of greater quantities of drugs and other illicit goods." (NYT, Oct. 13, 2024)
Thank you for adding that and including a source!
I am wondering if Sharon plans to do another writeup on border issues. I hope she does because I really love how she covers things, and these side by side comparisons are particularly interesting.
How do we talk about Trump's plans concerning CRIME and not mention his own? He is a multiple time convicted felon and we are to take seriously his views on crime in America? I'm still trying to wrap my head around the "normalization" of this candidate, especially in the area of crime.
As a commentator last night on CNN stated (during the back-n-forth between talking heads analyzing Harris's town hall performance) "He gets to be lawless...She has to be flawless."
Totally agree. That last sentence is what I'm struggling with, too. I can barely read these articles some days because he is portrayed as normal. He's not and his agenda isn't either. I can't take seriously any of his ideas. It's like painting this rosy portrait of Hitler all the while ignoring what he's really doing. Pretending Trump is just a regular candidate is absurd. You don't have to be a republican or a democrat to see the awful human is truly is. But yeah, let's keep on acting as though his way forward is nothing to fear or worry about. Normalizing him might be to our detriment.
I will start by saying I do agree with you that it seems he has been "normalized" and it really feels scary.
I think Sharon included plenty of quotes by Trump that make it clear he is not "normal". It's just that good journalism should not inject opinions. You report what's what and let the reader come to their own conclusions.
I do think plenty of people are talking about how dangerous he is. But if everyone (aka mass media) did it too often, they would be considered "unfair" because a good chunk of the country does still support him and many of them feel that way. It's hard for me to take any reports of unfairness seriously. You only need to direct quote the man to see how much of a fascist lunatic he is. He talks about America like we are living in hell. I have a pretty great life here so I can not relate.
I also don't really know what "the media" is reporting anymore because I hardly follow it. But it seems like there have been a few stories over the last few days that are hammering on the point that he is not well and he is dangerous (New York times story about his mental decline, yesterday's John Kelly bombshell) - lets hope these stories get reach and people vote accordingly.
It’s journalism’s responsibility to hold each candidate to the same standards. Not to hold one candidate to a high standard and at the same time “sane wash” the other as if everything he says is perfectly normal. It is definitely their responsibility to point out “crazy” or fascist behavior. It is their responsibility to educate us. Not to parrot both sides like they are both the same🤦🏼♀️
“Our job is not to report both sides. One side says it’s raining and the other side says it is not raining. Our job is to look out the window.” (https://quoteinvestigator.com/2023/11/14/rain-look/)
Spot on!
Exactly!
How has Trump been sane-washed? What is the media reporting (or not reporting) that is exacerbating the problem? Like I said I don't follow much mainstream media, and certainly don't intend to fall down a rabbit hole researching this today. But if there's an article or something summarizing this issue, I would be interested in reading it.
Trump frequently threatens the media, as do his followers. So there's also that.
Very scary times.
I found this article helpful: https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-election-rallies-facts-kamala-harris-e906e990b5dcfe44b5e672336fe82b32
"Molloy first used the phrase 'sanewashing' this fall to describe a tendency among journalists to launder some of Trump’s wilder or barely coherent statements to make them seem like the cogent pronouncements of a typical politician. One example she cites: CNN distilling a Trump post on Truth Social that rambled on about the 'radical left' and 'fake news' into a straight news lead about the former president agreeing to debate his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
"At its best, polishing Trump creates an alternative narrative, she said. At its worst, it’s misinformation."
Thanks, Emily! What an….interesting…. time we’re in.
I resonate with this so much. It's heartbreaking to watch people continue their support of him. As a sexual abuse survivor, the betrayal I feel by his supporters is physically painful. And I try SO hard to understand them, only to hear the confirmation that they don't care what he's done, as long as more dollars show up in their bank account. And it's not even a guarantee they'd be better off financially. Just a possibility. I can't wait for this election to be over.
I know. So much of what he has said has felt like a personal assault. Hearing people continually excuse his awful behavior or simply ignoring it has been extremely difficult for me. There's more at stake here than policy (though Project 2025 is about as terrifying a plan as any). If I laid out all the facts (yes facts, not opinions and not Fox News), some would still say, they are lies or he didn't mean it or it's taken out of context. An entire page of factual information wouldn't change their minds. It feels very much like they don't care about others. A lot of my voting is with the intent to help others, not what can fill up my bank account. I don't think Harris or Trump's plans will impact my finances, but one of them will impact our country in a very, very negative and dangerous way. Plus, the idea of him meeting with other leaders is embarrassing. Not to mention he wants to isolate us. Oh, jeez. I'm starting to go off the rails... sorry. I think so many of us are incredibly passionate and very worried that it becomes just too much. Counting down the days...
I read something once that said “for all of you who wish to leave politics out of dealing with trauma, I wish to remind you that trauma is all about living under social conditions where terrible things are allowed to happen and the truth cannot be told.” As someone with complex ptsd, I can tell you that the effect trump as had on my recovery is awful. Not only by the terrible things he says and does (that I watched him do with my own eyes, not some skewed reporting), but by all the bystanders who know of his evils and allow it for their own gain. Like I said earlier, it's a betrayal that goes bone deep. Grateful there are humans like you out there!
I agree! It’s a frightening thought to say the least.
On average, undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than US citizens, and they both commit less than former president Trump.
As a former probation and parole officer, Trump’s solutions are terrifying. Not only would they put citizens at risk of increased gun violence but put LEOs as well. Not to mention the potential for increased police brutality. One officer in my city was convicted of road rage in that he pulled a man over while not on duty and threatened him with his gun. He was already under a “last chance” contract. He then went to FL, was hired by an PD and again became violent and was sentenced to jail. He is but one. I know of three other incidents in a nearby city that have been buried by their PD. As for deporting immigrants, my former landscaper disappeared and I finally saw him a year later. His story was heartbreaking. He had been in the US for twenty years, had a family, built a business and they sent him back to Mexico saying he could be back in a couple of months. It took an attorney a year to get his visa reinstated. He lost his business and had to start over. Meanwhile his four children were without a Dad. Sadly three years ago he was found in his truck in his garage dead from carbon monoxide the day after Christmas. I remember him asking me why they don’t go after the gang members. It’s because they go after the easy targets. This all happened because of Trump.
And now sadly, people will rage against anyone who is Hispanic. They have no idea who these people are and whether they are illegal or not. It hurts my heart that people so easily fall for the demonization of a group who isn't "white." If Swedes were pouring in, Trump wouldn't say, "Get these filthy people out of this country" or "they are violent criminals." It's just the color and culture. I don't want to live in a world where our leader wants to harm others like Trump does.
I’m also in a dual law enforcement household. Every time Trump talks about crime and his “solutions” we both just shake our heads. If we want to lower crime, we need to be investing in our community resources. No one decides to not commit murder because the death penalty exists, and it won’t prevent any other crimes either. Extending the death penalty will do absolutely nothing except get innocent people killed like we’ve seen in recent months. Telling people the crime is what it is because of migrants is fear-mongering playing on racism. Especially when he says it’s in their DNA. I’m all for people paying their dues back to society and being held accountable, but I can’t take tough on crime rhetoric from a felon seriously. It is not lost on me that he never brings this same energy when it’s about sex offenses. Instead, we now live in a country where rape victims, including young children, are forced to carry their rapist’s baby to term and he calls it a victory for life. When sexual assault is the most under-prosecuted violent crimes (as he personally knows).
His continued rhetoric around the Central Park Five tells me everything I need to know about his motives and understanding of our legal system.
That is heartbreaking. :( I am not sure how it is Trump’s responsibility though. It is the same as people blaming Harris’ policy for the killing of Laken Riley. Both are horrible situations and our immigration needs revision. I don’t agree with either side’s approach. But something has to be done.
This might be your most disingenuous comment yet and that is really saying something. There is no comparison between the two. Trump has denigrated people of color his entire life. He raised it to a new and terrifying level when he began his first campaign, calling immigrants rapists and murderers and continuing today by calling them animals and vermin determined to destroy our country and threatening mass deportations. All of his justifications are lies. Every credible study ever done shows that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native born U.S. citizens. The vast majority of illegal drugs are smuggled through legal ports of entry by U.S. citizens and legal residents. Yes, Laken’s murder was tragic, just like the scores of murders committed every year by U.S. citizens. Or the thousands of gun deaths we have annually in the U.S. which Trump will do nothing about except he has vowed to undo what little gun safety legislation was passed in the last few years. Undocumented immigrants contribute billions to local, state and federal treasuries every year and buttress our agricultural, construction and health care industries. Trump’s deliberate incitement of fear and hatred of immigrants is beyond reprehensible. Harris will sign the bipartisan immigration bill that Trump killed and that will be a significant step forward.
Your comment is very misleading, Kate. And just rude.
My comment was very factual and not misleading in the least. This election could mean literally life or death to many people or at the very least, severe effects on their lives, not to mention irreparable damage to our system of government. I have no patience for false equivalencies that serve to muddy the waters or minimize the risks we all face.
What did you mean by “disingenuous”?
Trump did not call immigrants those things. Feel free to provide sources- that are directly him speaking- saying those things. Not the media twisting it to continue to make Trump look evil. I also have no patience for the lies and hatred being spread.
He didn't call immigrants vermin: "We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country" (https://www.npr.org/2023/11/17/1213746885/trump-vermin-hitler-immigration-authoritarian-republican-primary) Of course, if he's NOT talking about immigrants, then he is talking about American citizens who should be free to disagree with the President.
"We have people coming into the country, or trying to come in, we’re stopping a lot of them. And we’re taking people out of the country, you wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people, these are animals." (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/05/17/611877563/during-roundtable-trump-calls-some-unauthorized-immigrants-animals AND https://lulac.org/news/pr/LULAC_Denounces_President_Trumps_Remarks_Calling_Undocumented_Immigrants_Animals/)
"They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people." (https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article292632624.html)
Oh, I’m sorry. Did he not use the word “vermin” to describe immigrants but just to describe his political opponents? Here is the definition of “vermin”: pests or nuisance animals that spread diseases and destroy crops and property and infect livestock and people; an offensive word for people who are unpleasant and harmful to society.
Here are Trump’s exact quotes:
-June 28, 2015: “You have people coming in, and I’m not just saying Mexicans, I’m talking about people that are from all over that are killers and rapists, and they’re coming into this country.”
-Oct 7, 2021, speaking of immigrants: “ Many of those people will probably have AIDS, and they’re coming into our country. And we don’t do anything about it, we let everybody come in. ... It’s like a death wish for our country.”
-Dec 16, 2023, speaking of immigrants: “They’re poisoning the blood of our country.” (Exact same language Hitler used in Mein Kampf to describe the mixing of races.)
-June 19, 2018: “They don’t care about crime and want illegal immigrants, no matter how bad they may be, to pour into and infest our Country, like MS-13.”
-April 2, 2024, speaking of immigrants: “The Democrats say, ‘Please don’t call them animals. They’re humans.’ I said, ‘No, they’re not humans, they’re not humans. They’re animals.’”
-July 19, 2024: “We also have an illegal immigration crisis, and it’s taking place right now, as we sit here in this beautiful arena. It’s a massive invasion at our southern border that has spread misery, crime, poverty, disease and destruction to communities all across our land.”
-April 2, 2024, speaking of immigrants: “This is country-changing, it’s country-threatening, and it’s country-wrecking. They have wrecked our country.”
-May 29, 2024, speaking of Biden and immigrants: he "is letting millions of people from jails, from prisons, from insane asylums, from mental institutions, drug dealers pour in.”
-Oct 24, 2024: “They unleashed an army of migrant gangs waging a campaign of violence, we’re a dumping ground. We're like a garbage can for the world.”
Infest? Disease? Invasion? Animals? Destruction? Does this sound like the dictionary definition of vermin to you? It absolutely defies belief that you’re voting for this man and you don’t know that he’s made the dehumanizing of immigrants the main thrust of his campaign. These are his exact words, not the media’s. He is the one spreading fear and hatred.
There was nothing misleading or rude in the comment by Kate. Everything she said is factual and can be cited. Simply disagreeing and explaining your position is not rude
Maybe it’s just me- but her first sentence is condescending and rude. But it’s not as rude as some of her previous comments.
But something could have been done- one of the most conservative true republicans worked n the immigration reform bill, but if Mike Johnson wouldn’t bring it up for a vote because Trump told h not to- and other weak and scared republican legislators who were on board suddenly wouldn’t vote for it so they didn’t get called a name… THAT is trumps fault
I appreciate this space and being able to read Sharon’s words and then all of the insightful comments. My daughters and I participated in Sharon’s book tour last night in Utah. It was fun and so inspiring. So many things resonated with my heart but here are a few things that really stood out. America is just. She is peaceful. She is good. And she is free. After reading this Preamble edition and going over each candidates approach (and no one person is going to be completely perfect) one candidate definitely does not embody the words that Sharon so beautifully expressed last night.
Thanks for sharing Nori. So jealous you were able to attend! I don’t think either candidate embodies those sentiments.
No candidate in the history of America has embodied these sentiments completely and without fault. What we're looking for is which candidate embodies them more substantially and inspires others to embody them more substantially. The answer seems extremely clear to me, and you'd think I'd stop being surprised by the people who disagree with me, but it still happens every day somehow.
That may be true, but then there must be a choice made as to who will do more for the country- or who will harm our country and future generations less
I completely agree with you. I’ve just stopped voicing who I think that individual is because it’s become so divisive.
Fellow Utahn here. 👋🏻 Sad I missed it!!!
With regard to any issue/problem, including crime, the difference between Harris and Trump is stark. Harris is known to be deliberative in her approach, whereas Trump is hasty. Generally speaking, the deliberative approach seeks a long-term solution. Acting in haste however, provides short-term results, and often exacerbates the problem in the long-term. When we apply each candidates approach to "crime," Harris's solutions are rehabilitative--Trump's are punitive. Historically, the US penal system has attempted each of these approaches to the extremes (more so on the punitive side), and in the past few decades appears to have settled on a hybrid approach. It appears that Harris would maintain a hybridization, but move it further to the rehabilitative side. Trump, on the other hand would adopt a full-on punitive approach. (This is where I point out the great irony: A convicted felon who wants to increase the severity of criminal punishment.) As for which approach is most effective at reducing crime--it's almost impossible to calculate. This, I do know: An individual who is somehow motivated to commit a criminal act does not first contemplate the degree of severity of the punishment they will likely receive. "Life without parole? Yeah, I can do that. Oh wait--I'm in Texas. I'll be executed. Better give this some more thought." So...based on that, I would definitely opt for Harris's approach. Also, Harris will follow democratic norms and the Constitution.
Trumps solutions to both guns and crime are VERY scary to me. Heaven help us.
His “one violent day” and “generals like Hitler’s who just take orders”would be our Kristallnacht. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. It’s terrifying that our country is here.
YES!
Having "one violent day" doesn't seem like much of a policy to fight crime. He prefers to blame the marginalized populations for everything, including crime. Most school shooters are young white men but let's loosen what gun restrictions we do have. It's hard to take anything he says seriously although it is all very serious.
Exactly. On a day when he says an immigrant raped a woman, I'd like to ask, "And how many white American men raped a woman that day?" No immigrant has shot up a school or church. No bands of immigrants are raping and pillaging the village! They are not creating pandamonium or making America a "sh*thole." Trump just wants people to believe that because by vilifying an imaginary enemy, he stokes anger and fear. In the end, doing what Trump wants to do is inhumane and despciable. Americans should be ashamed to vote for this lunatic.
For me, do you want a correctional system that rules by FEAR and INTIMIDATION where corruption can run wild. Do we want to be Mexico. Or do you want a system based on correction, using evidence based principles that change behavior. Where there's an opportunity to learn and improve what works and hold both sides accountable for their behavior.
I truly do not understand how, when viewing both sides together like this, simply comparing facts and actual quotes by each side, there are so many people who are like "yep, Trump is my guy. That's who I think should be the leader of our country." As someone who has really tried to make an effort to listen to understand better recently, this is one thing I don't think I will ever, ever understand.
I’ve seen a lot of commenters asking how much could Trump really do on his own with respect to the military and without Congress. The answer is, A LOT! Look up The Insurrection Act of 1807. It is a broad, very poorly written law that gives the U.S. President vast powers to use the military against US citizens. Though it’s ancient, it’s still on the books and has been invoked by Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Bush and others. Its language is so vague the President could basically do whatever he wanted. For example, if he were President now, he could send in troops to Springfield, OH to round up all Haitians living there legally, saying it was necessary for national security. Or if the governor of Alabama requested help from the President in keeping its residents from leaving the state to seek an abortion, he could send in the military to guard the borders. The only possible limitation would be the Supreme Court; the same Court that just granted almost blanket immunity to the President. There is no redeeming quality in Trump the man or his so-called policies that is worth the risk.
Couldn’t he have done this during his first term then??
No. Remember all of those Republican Generals, National Security Advisors, Secretaries of Defense, White House lawyers, etc., who worked with Trump the first time around and have now endorsed Harris because Trump is so unfit and is a danger to Democracy? They were guardrails against his worst impulses. They won’t be there again since Trump has said he’ll not make that mistake again and he’ll only hire people who are loyal to him. No guardrails. Plus now SCOTUS has granted the President immunity for wrongdoing if they’re part of official acts. He will literally have almost no restraints. Pardon my language but JHC, people should just vote for Harris so we can put Trump in the rear view mirror for good and give sane Republicans a chance to rehabilitate their party.
My choice has been made by choosing who I see as being the most capable. It would have been nice if the voters would have gotten to choose the Democrat candidate. As an independent, I may have made a different choice but, sadly, the party chose to continue to place Harris in yet another position she didn’t earn. I just don’t feel she is capable of being our President. I have done a ton of research and I have listened to almost every interview, town hall and rally she has done.
Please tell us what should've happened after Biden dropped out of the race with four months left until the election? Do you think there was ample time to have candidates run, be selected by states, do interviews and rallys, get their agenda out, etc., and then have an election to select the Democratic nominee? What if Trump dropped out at the same time. Do you think Vance would be the guy to replace him? Of course he would. Saying Harris didn't "earn" her position is an interesting perspective. What has Trump done to earn your vote? Seriously. What agenda fulfills your checklist? If being capable is important to you, how can you believe Trump is anywhere near that. I really find it hard to believe that anyone who has does their "research" would come to this conclusion.
The entire situation with Biden dropping out when he did is all very suspect. The fact he was pushed out by a couple of celebrities and some top Dems behind the scenes is such a disgrace. I would think every Democrat would be outraged!! Let’s face it, if he wasn’t fit to run four months out, he wasn’t fit to run a long time prior to that! The entire process is so bad on so many levels. My original point was, the party should have done a better job from the beginning, whenever that may have been. They should have allowed themselves enough time for the party to play out correctly. I will never believe Harris is the person who would have won in a primary election. Regarding Trump, that’s not what this discussion was originally about. I don’t engage in the game of deflection.
Agree, Robn! I have also listened to many interviews done by her and Trump. My choice was made awhile ago although it did change throughout the election season. (huge supporter of RFK Jr!)
All of the former administration officials, including his former VP, and former staff members that are now speaking out against him are doing so (in part) because they were among the ones keeping his impulses in check last time around and they are concerned that his loyalists in the next term won't do the same thing: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4949654-former-trump-officials-warn-2024/
The one that resonates with me is the one that doesn't promise a really rough day, sending the National Guard against Americans, or demonizing immigrants. I'm concerned that his approach does seem to resonate with some.
Trump's approach is terrifyingly authoritarian and will lay the ground work for a genocide. Harris' approach works with in the laws of our country and will use empathy mixed with law. As someone who grew up in a agricultural town that was close to Silicon Valley, by far right parents, I can not abide by Trump's approach. He wants to dehumanize hard working, family oriented, good people who did hard things to give their children a better life.