Banter RDT CXCI - Time for a new RDT thread

[Matele]

if you have friends and family going down that rabbit hole you want to try and help

Nah.

One of my uncles over east has descended into RWNJ territory. He called my Dad just to tell him he’s a “lefty loser that listens to the ABC”, and that he thinks he’s the worst person alive because he’s not radicalised like him. I think all my Dad did was send him a podcast suggestion via text (a political one I’m guessing, that’s how he’s been making sense of what’s happening in the US).

They’re brothers, and I wouldn’t call my Dad super left leaning or anything. If anything I’ve only ever known him to vote conservative.

 

[Astro7]

So, which will happen first?

WWIII, or Civil War II ?

Or will they both end up being the same thing?

If they don't find an off-ramp sooner than later, and if there are further assassinations, and Trump keeps using martial law unnecessarily for other cities (mentioned Chicago, St. Louis, and New Orleans); then you feel a civil war is brewing.(anyone see that movie, chilling). Be interesting to see how the Trump vs. Newsom power struggle pans out when push comes to shove.
When you read the comments on American posts it's a continual slag-off fest of demo, repub, demo repub, leftie, rightie, leftie, rightie, there's no bi-partisanship and is so polarised.

Also concerning is how many misinformed Australians babble off U.S rights and laws when talking Aussie politics (eg- 1st and 2nd amendments) - a mish mash of interweb claptrap and bunny holes.

 

[FatPizza]

View attachment 2428314

Totally normal stuff.

What a little bitch. Strong leader my ass.

 

[FatPizza]

If they don't find an off-ramp sooner than later, and if there are further assassinations, and Trump keeps using martial law unnecessarily for other cities (mentioned Chicago, St. Louis, and New Orleans); then you feel a civil war is brewing.(anyone see that movie, chilling). Be interesting to see how the Trump vs. Newsom power struggle pans out when push comes to shove.
When you read the comments on American posts it's a continual slag-off fest of demo, repub, demo repub, leftie, rightie, leftie, rightie, there's no bi-partisanship and is so polarised.

Also concerning is how many misinformed Australians babble off U.S rights and laws when talking Aussie politics (eg- 1st and 2nd amendments) - a mish mash of interweb claptrap and bunny holes.

The loudest champions of free speech seem to generally be those that have no idea what it actually is.

 

[Mr Q]

The loudest champions of free speech seem to generally be those that have no idea what it actually is.

The loudest on free speech seems it means they have freedom to say whatever they want, and you have the freedom to listen to what they say without questioning it. That's certainly the views of the current Trump administration and their sycophants for sure.

(Essentially they don't actually believe in free speech, they just believe that no one should have permission to silence them)

I'd add that these days, the US administration is nothing more than a bunch of standover men, both domestically, and on the international stage. Our government are clearly scared of them.

 

[Dazzler9]

The loudest on free speech seems it means they have freedom to say whatever they want, and you have the freedom to listen to what they say without questioning it. That's certainly the views of the current Trump administration and their sycophants for sure.

(Essentially they don't actually believe in free speech, they just believe that no one should have permission to silence them)

I'd add that these days, the US administration is nothing more than a bunch of standover men, both domestically, and on the international stage. Our government are clearly scared of them.

The US has all the hallmarks of a descent into authoritarianism.

 

[Astro7]

I'd add that these days, the US administration is nothing more than a bunch of standover men, both domestically, and on the international stage. Our government are clearly scared of them.

Absolutely! That's Trumps M.O from his Roy Cohn days. It's classic NY streets standover/protection racket stuff on small businesses and corner stores, except he's doing it on the world stage. 'we pick up a brown bag every month and in return we give you protection'...'protection from who?'...'protection from us!'
It's alarming how well this works with world leaders, trying to protect their economy.
Albo is doubling down on military spending seemingly to stem the China threat, but it's also appeasing Trump's request to bolster military spending (largely U.S military stock?).
This ABC journo picked a bad time to sound off (even though he had every right to) with Albo/Trump meeting imminent.

 

[DorothyG]

My opinion of anyone who bases there whole personality of their political leanings plummets.

I've also started the gen z stare when people I talk to get too into the weeds with their political views. I don't care

 

[Ochre]

If they don't find an off-ramp sooner than later, and if there are further assassinations, and Trump keeps using martial law unnecessarily for other cities (mentioned Chicago, St. Louis, and New Orleans); then you feel a civil war is brewing.(anyone see that movie, chilling).

I was more of a fan of Winter Soldier

 

[Mr Q]

I've also started the gen z stare when people I talk to get too into the weeds with their political views. I don't care

Many people not caring is what got the USA where it is today...

 

[DorothyG]

Many people not caring is what got the USA where it is today...

100%.
When I say I don't care, I don't care for peoples opinions, and those with the biggest opinions are usually the ones who both tell you the most and don't listen to what you have to say. May as well be speaking to an angry brick wall.

My heart breaks for whatever the hell is going on in the US. I have family and friends there, visited may times and have many many happy memories there. But I can't see myself going back in the future.
My friends aren't in the position to move even though they basically live in perpetual fear of being shot.

The place has descended into one faint cult

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

First Colbert now Kimmel.

But yeah it's totally the ToLeRaNt LeFt that are opposed to free speech and are all about cancelling people they disagree with.

****ing MAGA snowflakes.

 

[Goroyals22]

First Colbert now Kimmel.

But yeah it's totally the ToLeRaNt LeFt that are opposed to free speech and are all about cancelling people they disagree with.

****ing MAGA snowflakes.

Apart from the fact the guy is just plain unfunny, You do know it is Disney that cancelled him don’t you? Disney…

Disney, the most left leaning woke business in the planet… the company of coloured snow whites who hates men,of animated dwarves because they didn’t want to hire any people of small heights Mary Sue’s like Rey skywalker which lobotomised all male star wars fans from enjoying the franchise anymore, Disney which gave us Mary Poppins Princess Leia.

Hardly think maga has anything to do with it

 

[Dazzler9]

"FCC chair Brendan Carr had urged local broadcasters to stop airing the show on ABC."

This guy is a Trump installed stooge:

In June 2017, president Donald Trump nominated Carr to serve as a commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. As commissioner, Carr initially focused on 5G networks, though he began criticizing social media companies and China over perceived authoritarian policies later in his first term. He was involved in Project 2025 and wrote a section of The Heritage Foundation's Mandate for Leadership (2024).
In November 2024, president-elect Donald Trump named Carr as his chair of the Federal Communications Commission. He took office following Trump's second inauguration.

Here's what Kimmel said that was so egregious -
During a broadcast on Tuesday night local time, Kimmel suggested Robinson could be a Trump supporter.
"The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them", Kimmel said, and were "doing everything they can to score political points from it".

 

[kane249]

Yeah Disney weren't responding at all to any outrage on social media, MAGA kept really quiet about it and this move came out of nowhere

MAGA right now
"I believe in everyone's right to free speech*

*As long as it's something I agree with"

 

[Mop]

Someone who was for a time my closest friend has gone down the descent into increasingly right wing madness.

Now, there’s being conservative which while I don’t like the direction it’s gone but it’s a mindset and not my way of thought it’s a long standing one with their own foundations relative to their values.

What I can’t cop or deal with is the increasing conspiracy theorist stuff. As days go on it’s getting more and more niche.

The thing is he was the least political guy I knew.

He was in the police, went rural and has had a personality switch. Normal apolitical non religious sport buff to a mega Christian ultra conservative almost overnight.

Something must be appealing to these people but I’m not sure what it is

 

[Mop]

Yeah Disney weren't responding at all to any outrage on social media, MAGA kept really quiet about it and this move came out of nowhere

MAGA right now
"I believe in the everyone's right to free speech*

*As long as it's something I agree with"

Pretty much this.
American society is just a walking contradiction in a nut shell. Both sides are happy to play the amendment cards until it no longer suits them.

The conservative right are just noisier now they have the social media algorithms and most of the newspapers behind them.

 

[squashface]

Someone who was for a time my closest friend has gone down the descent into increasingly right wing madness.

Now, there’s being conservative which while I don’t like the direction it’s gone but it’s a mindset and not my way of thought it’s a long standing one with their own foundations relative to their values.

What I can’t cop or deal with is the increasing conspiracy theorist stuff. As days go on it’s getting more and more niche.

The thing is he was the least political guy I knew.

He was in the police, went rural and has had a personality switch. Normal apolitical non religious sport buff to a mega Christian ultra conservative almost overnight.

Something must be appealing to these people but I’m not sure what it is

Yeah I know a guy who has gone the same way. Used to spend his days reading footy news and watching old highlights packages. Now spends his entire day watching Sky News and screaming “F*** you” at the tv whenever Albanese is on it.

 

[Mop]

In terms of our politics at home they can all get campaignered. One of you bastards start fixing the health system then you’ll have my support.

Til then GAGF.

 

[Mop]

Yeah I know a guy who has gone the same way. Used to spend his days reading footy news and watching old highlights packages. Now spends his entire day watching Sky News and screaming “F*** you” at the tv whenever Albanese is on it.

I was meant to spend my 30th birthday in Japan, but a certain virus killed that plan. I kept my long booked leave and spent the two weeks at home.

It happened to coincide with the 2020 US election.
I spent those full 8 days or whatever it was with the result in doubt with CNN / ABC on my iPad at all times, even when I was doing other things. Even when I was asleep. Literally all day. Never off.

I tell ya, my mental health was kooky after that short period. I haven’t really watched 24 hour news since, it gives me the ick.

How people do that all the time is beyond me.

 

[Dazzler9]

Yeah, the head of the FCC is totally not a Trump stooge looking for any excuse to get Kimmel removed -

FCC chair Brendan Carr told a right-wing podcast Mr Kimmel's remarks constituted "the sickest conduct possible".

He added the FCC could move to revoke the ABC's affiliate licenses to force the organisation to punish Mr Kimmel.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way,"

Mr Carr said.
"These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead."


He later labelled Mr Kimmel as "talentless" and said his comments showed "some sort of desperate irrelevance".

 

[Dazzler9]

That evil monster Jimmy Kimmel!! -

Prior to his on-air monologue, Mr Kimmel had posted a statement condemning the shooting on social media.

"Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?" he wrote.

He added he and his family "send love" to the Kirk family and "all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence".

 

[Mop]

That evil monster Jimmy Kimmel!! -

Prior to his on-air monologue, Mr Kimmel had posted a statement condemning the shooting on social media.

"Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?" he wrote.

He added he and his family "send love" to the Kirk family and "all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence".

What a weird thing to get cancelled over

 

[Dazzler9]

I tells ya, all the hallmarks of authoritarian dictatorship in America right now. Not having a legitimate election in 2028 is definitely a non-zero chance.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Our resident forum MAGA couldn't possibly have done a surface-level reading of the situation so shallow he's floating in space?

Surely not!