#Election2016

[azspot]

Trump received 46% of the vote in 2016. He received 47% of the vote in 2020. This translated into a 304-227 Electoral College win for Trump in 2016 and a 232-306 loss for Trump in 2020. Biden won the popular vote by more than Clinton did, but the real difference was determined by a few tens of thousands of voters in places like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Polling is pretty good these days, even given the array of challenges it faces, but it can’t really tell us anything about the 50,000 or so voters who will make the difference among the 150 million or so who will cast their votes this year. We just don’t have instruments that accurate.

It will be that close

[tmarshconnors]

At the time, many people laughed at me. 

Back in 2016, I made a bold statement: if Donald Trump didn’t win the election, I would be willing to support Tulsi Gabbard. At the time, many people laughed at me. 

After all, Tulsi Gabbard was a Democrat, and her positions were often seen as quite different from Trump’s. But I saw something in her a strength of character, a willingness to challenge the status quo, and an ability to think independently. 

Unlike most of the warped brainwashed left. I knew that my faith in her would eventually prove to be well placed.

Fast forward to today, and Tulsi Gabbard has come out in support of Donald Trump. It’s an unexpected twist for many, but for me, it’s a confirmation of what I believed all along. Tulsi Gabbard is someone who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even if it means crossing traditional party lines. That’s something I’ve always admired about her.

When I first made that statement, I knew it would raise eyebrows. Tulsi Gabbard was, at that time, a rising star in the Democratic Party. She had served as a member of the House of Representatives from Hawaii and had made a name for herself by speaking out against the establishment. Her military service and foreign policy views, particularly her opposition to endless wars, set her apart from many of her Democratic colleagues.

Despite being on opposite sides of the political spectrum, I saw in Tulsi a kindred spirit. She wasn’t afraid to speak out against her own party when she believed it was wrong. She stood for what she believed in, even when it wasn’t popular. And, like Trump, she wasn’t afraid to challenge the mainstream media or the entrenched political elites.

I recognised that while we might not agree on every issue, we shared some core principles principles that were more important to me than party loyalty. Tulsi’s independent thinking, her willingness to question authority, and her commitment to serving the American people were qualities that resonated with me. 

Just a little side note even though I am a British patriot to my core. I closely watch international politics. It would be foolish (putting it nicely) to assume that America doesn’t play a big part in the way we do things here in the United Kingdom and at the world at large.

Alright back to the blog. Tulsi’s journey from being a Democratic congresswoman to supporting Donald Trump is a fascinating one. Over the years, she became increasingly disillusioned with the Democratic Party, particularly with its focus on identity politics and its unwillingness to challenge the military-industrial complex. Her outspoken criticism of both the party establishment and its leaders eventually led her to leave the Democratic Party altogether.

Tulsi has always been someone who prioritises principles over politics. Whether it’s her stance on foreign policy, her commitment to free speech, or her willingness to reach across the aisle, Tulsi has consistently shown that she’s more interested in doing what’s right for the country than in towing the party line.

We need more people that prioritises principles over politics.  I may be a staunch conservative but we must stand together against this onslaught of mass brainwashing and fight back as one. 

Sorry I digress. AGAIN!

Ok ok back on topic. When she came out in support of Trump, I wasn’t surprised. In many ways, it felt like a natural progression for someone who has always valued independent thought and the willingness to challenge the system. Tulsi’s support for Trump isn’t about party affiliation; it’s about shared values and a common vision for the future of America.

Looking back, I’m glad I stuck to my guns when it came to supporting Tulsi Gabbard. Despite the skepticism and the criticism, I believed that she was someone who would eventually prove herself, and she has. We may not agree on everything, but that’s okay. What matters to me is that she has the courage to stand up for what she believes in, even when it’s not popular or politically expedient.

In a political landscape where so many politicians are willing to compromise their values for the sake of party loyalty or personal gain, Tulsi’s integrity and independence are refreshing. She’s not afraid to challenge the status quo, and that’s something I deeply respect.

For those who laughed at me back in 2016, I can only say this: sometimes, it’s worth believing in someone, even when others don’t see it. Tulsi Gabbard has proven herself to be a true independent thinker, and I’m proud to have supported her from the beginning. Here’s to sticking to your principles and standing by those who have the courage to do the same.

[wisekiss22]

US Citizen Arrested For Tweeting About Hillary Clinton During 2016 Election

“There was just a trial in Brooklyn where a guy who had been one of the main I guess he was one of the main people running memes against me in 2016 hmm yeah, he went from what you could consider free speech, I mean, both Nancy and I have pretty thick skins people say all kinds of things about us, but he went from that to running a very deliberate effort to mislead people about where and how to…

[alyandajsource]

iamaly: Wishing my mommy @ carriemichalka a Happy Birthday with this throwback pic from 3 years ago!!! What a day to celebrate between the Best Mom ever being born & the moment in history when we find out they'll be a Female President in the White House. One to never forget, love you so much Mom #election2016 #happybirthday

[antonjesus]

Satan vs. Trump - #FEELTHEBURN #Election2016

[pennsyltuckyheathen]

(via Trump Lashes Out Dangerously at Judges and Juries After Key Durham Acquittal)

The Dunham investigation was a big waste of time - at Trump’s insistence - and when Biden was elected in 2020 (and Trump was the big, cry-baby loser wailing about non-existent “massive voter fraud” and planning a violent insurrection) he did and said nothing about Dunham’s investigation.  But to hear Trump talk, there’s this gigantic conspiracy by the courts, and lawyers, and government and the Easter bunny to never, ever allow justice to be served when it comes to him.  You would think by now his “supporters” would be sick of his constant whining and blaming and finger-pointing and fairy tale claims.  Apparently not and Trump’s desperation is leading him to pull the trigger on bringing about even more violence in his name.   A pathetic, weak and dangerous man.  Fuck Trump.

[geekbroll]

Maybe worth noting that Democrats are 3-0 this century when they have a Black person on the ticket, and 0-3 when they don't. - Nate Silver Nov. 7th 2020 2000 Al Gore/Joseph Lieberman 2004 John Kerry/John Edwards 2008 Barack Obama/Joe Biden 2012 Barack Obama/Joe Biden 2016 Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 2020 Joe Biden/Kamala Harris #Election2020 #blackvotesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blackvotersmatter #joebiden #kamalaharris #hillaryclinton #timkaine #barackobama #johnkerry #johnedwards #algore #josephlieberman #election2016 #natesilver #election2012 #election2008 #election2004 #election2000 (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHXVHZxB_Nk/?igshid=168m6rtse2qn3

[phroyd]

Now, THIS should bring an interesting story tomorrow in the papers!

Phroyd

[thenewsspan]

President Trump admits he spoke sarcastically about injecting disinfectant.

[toishatucker]

Madam President

Critique of the media’s (print, online, social) complicity in pushing narratives that favored sensationalism over fact. Their insistence in actively avoiding content addressing widespread support for the Democratic candidate, egregious voter suppression tactics, Russian involvement in our election, and the overtly sexist, xenophobic, White Nationalist tilt of the GOP candidate. Collaborative piece with the artist Slinko. The silk lining the frame is the same material from the lapels and shirt Hillary Clinton wore to ‘concede’ the 2016 Election. Text: We wanted a Madam President, you gave us a martyr.

[azspot]

All of this is starting to feel a lot like 2016, only in reverse. When I covered the 2016 Democratic convention in Philadelphia, virtually every Democrat who attended was certain that Hillary Clinton was going to be the next president. Trump had won a fractured primary in unprecedented fashion, and there were plenty of prominent Republicans who wanted nothing to do with him. Ted Cruz spoke at the convention in Cleveland but didn’t offer an endorsement. Other Republicans openly fretted about a landslide or the very destruction of the GOP itself. Clinton was going to win and it was only a matter of by how much.

Overconfidence at the RNC

[sonicenvy]

first date question: who did u vote for in 2016 for us president?

[whatrudoingbree]

#MidTerms2018 #BlueWave #VoteDemocrat #ImpeachTrump #Election2016 #Nov6 #ImAVoter #HouseandSenate #WomensRights #LGBTQ+ #CivilRights #Reform ✊🏾🇺🇸🌊💙 https://www.instagram.com/p/BpE2MWOF0Bh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=h7p3t1bjq3fq

[maewestside]

TRUMPUTIN: HOW TO SPOT A DICTATOR IN FIVE EASY STEPS… by Heidi Siegmund Cuda, aka @maewestside

I’m praying for them, you know. All of them. Not between gritted teeth but with a grace I’ve learned from spiritual allies. I pause to grace, close my eyes and send healing thoughts into the universe, praying those perpetrating crimes against humanity are relieved of their spiritual maladies. The RNC was hacked and the files are holding pols hostage. At some point, they’ll have to do what’s right. I pray it’s soon.

In the meantime, I’ve been studying how a dictator comes to power, and I’ve mapped it out in Five Easy Steps so we can all recognize the signs:

1. “LYING IS THE MESSAGE”: While reading David Frum’s brilliant and prescient essay in The Atlantic from January 30, 2017, in which he predicts what America will look like in 2021 in stunning detail if we do not resist, he quotes a Russian journalist named Masha Gessen. Gessen notes that “lying is the message,” and by that she means when a dictator lies with the ease of breathing it’s to “assert power over truth.” The first lesson I learned in 2016 from a member of the Resistance who grew up in Romania: “It starts with the silencing of truth.” Today, as each Network gave “Trumputin” facetime, we witnessed the blather of nothing. As Gessen told Deutsche Welle regarding Putin, “the former spy has remained in the Kremlin despite a declining economy, diplomatic isolation and nearly continuous allegations of corruption and human rights abuses because of his ability to ‘have words mean nothing. He just keeps talking… it’s meant to create the impression that he knows what he’s talking about. But it’s also meant to drown you in meaningless stuff.’” Hmm.

Read the David Frum “Atlantic” article here:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/03/how-to-build-an-autocracy/513872/

2. DISINFORMATION HIGHWAY: Now that we’ve established those with authoritarian leanings have no trouble lying about everything, the next step is to ensure the lies are amplified by the Disinformation Highway. A dictator utilizes multiple fronts to amplify lies: botnets, State News agencies, paid flacks and political loyalists/opportunists/consultants. There’s a lot of money in lies: as cognitive thinkers spend hours researching and refuting the lies, those on the corruption payola keep up the “theatre craft,” the tornado that creates the fog and the fury so beautifully described by Mike Mariani in Vanity Fair. Lying is a soulless gig. The truth always prevails eventually, but havoc is wreaked in the meantime.

To learn how the Kremlin creates chaos and to see if you can spot some right here at home, check out Mike Mariani’s Vanity Fair essay:

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/03/is-trumps-chaos-a-move-from-the-kremlins-playbook

3. POWER GRAB: As the lies, subterfuge and the hacks on State News chip away at truth, bite by bite, and the Disinformation Highway piles up with bumper-car bots, riding roughshod over facts, what is really taking place is the consolidation of power. While cognitive thinkers cry foul, unqualified, but extremely loyal henchman are being installed into power at the highest levels. Dictators rush to replace talent and integrity with toadies and sycophants, who share in common a history of shade but offer their leaders the assurance they’ll do their bidding at any cost. When one’s moral compass is already blinky, what’s another three, four acts of corruption. Pockets will be lined, and thus, the corrupted are banking on a soft landing. That is until, the dictators turn on them and then it’s flee or plea.

4. MAFIA STATE: When a government is comprised of members of organized crime that’s what’s known as “a mafia state.” In America, we haven’t been immune to corruption, but it’s always been countered by the fact that, ultimately, we are a country of law and order. But when a leader is cultivated, financed and backed by the mob, it gets sticky. As we watch Special Counsel Mueller and his team of prosecutors navigate their way carefully, indictment by indictment, guilty plea by guilty plea, to take down a global crime syndicate, we see how naïve America has been in thinking it couldn’t happen here. We are watching our allies being alienated and dictators being praised. This is what a mafia state looks like. When a leader casts shade on our top intelligence agencies, that’s the markings of a dictator, shaping a mafia state.

For more on how it’s done, read this Deutsche Welle explainer: https://www.dw.com/en/vladimir-putin-how-a-spy-rose-to-power-and-held-on-to-it/a-43030900

5. VOTER TAMPERING: Dictators need to control all outcomes and this includes the voting systems. A dictator ensures victory at the ballot box in myriad ways: intimidation, stuffing the ballot box, voter suppression, hacking voter rolls, redistricting, hacking electronic voting databases, hacking the machines, and using bot networks to blast voters with so much false information that they will either stay home or vote for the dictator who paid hackers to advertise directly to a voter’s preconceived biases. Cognitive thinkers know about the data breaches, but we still are at the early stages of understanding just how much this digital arms race, to quote digital activist Professor David Carroll, is harming Democracy everywhere. Stay vigilant, read the latest indictment from Team Mueller and know that if we show up in gigantic numbers at the polls, we may yet have a chance to salvage Democracy. 

Ohm.

***

Heidi Siegmund Cuda is an investigative producer, mother and activist. Her short film, “Rigged,” debuted at the 2017 Orcas Island Film Festival: http://www.orcasfilmfest.com/rigged

[mscottbrauer]

Reality TV personality and now-former top Trump administration official Omarosa Manigault is the latest in the Trump orbit to fall out of favor, and she's on a book tour this week revealing all sorts of dirt on her former boss and has clandestinely-recorded tapes to back up her story. It's unclear what she's done during her time in the Trump administration. As Axios put it in a recent piece, "By all accounts except her own, Omarosa Manigault-Newman did little substantive work during her almost 12 months in the White House." Here she is being interviewed early in the evening on election night in 2016, well before any states electoral vote results had been announced, when you could count the Trump supporters at the party on a couple of hands, and when the conventional wisdom was that Donald Trump would lose. Originally shot for @bloombergbusinessweek • • • • • #republican #conservative #politics #trump #trump2016 #donaldtrump #trumptrain #photojournalism #documentary #documentaryphotography #gop #election2016 #reportagespotlight #reportage #photojournalist #newyorkcity #manhattan #newyork_instagram #what_i_saw_in_nyc #ig_nycity

[yourfriendsamrush]

Big election coming up in California. Who’s excited? 🙋🏼‍♂️🔥💯 • • • • • #politics #republican #conservative #democrat #liberal #libertarian #hillaryclinton #makeamericagreatagain #government #donaldtrump #constitution #capitalism #trump #trump2016 #election #liberty #trumptrain #president #liberallogic #berniesanders #gop #political #nobama #election2016 #feelthebern #hillary #neverhillary #obama #prolife #politicians (at Hollywood)