Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Ahh, the Olympic spirit
Polish state TV gave Olympics sports commentator Przemysaw Babiarz the boot for claiming John Lennon's "Imagine" was “a portrayal of communism.” I’m not saying Babiarz deserved to be sacked but I doubt he knows the difference between communism and rheumatism. He may have confused Lennon with Lenin. Imagine!
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‘Covert Influence’
U.S. intelligence officials warned that Iran and Russia are running “covert” influence campaigns on social media, including posing as activists, in an effort to sway the presidential election. [CNN]
According to a memo from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Iranians want us to vote for Harris while the Russians prefer Trump. I’m not sure which covert foreign influencer to be influenced by, Reza or Boris. So confused.
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Republicans are “weird…
My hopes for a campaign debate about the environment (last week was the warmest in recorded history), the rising fascist threat, and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine have been dashed again. Instead, Democrats have unveiled their new campaign theme. Party campaign strategists claim it offers voters a powerful critique of Trump and the MAGAs.
According to Newsweek,
Democrats appear to have pivoted their messaging from high-minded warnings about threats to democracy to a more relatable and direct approach, simply describing their opponents' ideas and values as "weird."
Harris' campaign has homed in on the descriptor, repeatedly calling Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, "weird" in campaign ads and emails.
Noah Berlatsky blogs:
Numerous commenters on social and regular media have pointed out that labeling Republicans as “weird” is good messaging. First, it resonates because it’s true—Republicans are obsessed with women’s reproductive choices; they hate women who own cats. Trump is terrified of being laughed at; he natters on endlessly about electrocution and sharks and Hannibal Lecter for no discernible reason. Also, he’s orange for some reason. He is a weird and horrible guy.
The funny thing is, this new line of attack seems to have Trump and the MAGAs stymied. Didn’t they go to elementary school?
“I don’t know who came up with the message, but I salute them,” said David Karpf, a strategic communication professor at George Washington University.
“So far, at least, Trump-Vance has been incapable of finding an effective response,” Karpf said.
If I were advising them (I’m not) I’d recommend:
“I know you are, but what am I? Or a simple, “No, you’re a pooh-phoo head.”
Onward to November!