One thing people must remember when following the upcoming presidential election is that Trump has a decided advantage with Social Media which, to me, is proving to be a plague on our nation. First, of course, Elon Musk who owns Xwitter can control what comes and goes on that platform and secondly, the reality is Trump’s campaign STILL has access to the data Cambridge Analytica STOLE from Facebook back in 2016 exposing the info of 57 MILLION Americans. And, to boot, that Facebook material was organized into “neighborhoods” allowing targeted ads to be sent – much of it the misinformation which was the original “fake news.”
Trump’s campaign used the Cambridge Analytica data (along with the Russians, the Saudi’s, the Emerati’s, the Egyptians, and Israeli’s) to flood Facebook with targeted misinformation in 2016. Clearly it worked then and I’m guessing it’s working now. I don’t frequent Social Media so I’m commenting based on my instincts, but the reality is I’m seeing the polls closing towards Trump once again as we get to the finish line. I “get” that the polls are just the polls, but, to me, it’s really unnerving to know that close to 50% of Americans are willing to vote for Trump.
People who are benefiting from the legislation passed by the Biden administration don’t appear to be cognizant of what’s been done for them. I’m reading a lot of articles where Trump supporters are being questioned and I’m just finishing a book by Jeff Sharlet, “The Undertow, Scenes from a Slow Civil War,” where he travels from one side of the country to the other questioning the hard core Trump supporters – those who consider Ashli Babbitt a “martyr” – and there’s little logic to their reasoning. In short, they hate the government and they believe virtually every word coming from the mouth of Donald Trump – maybe the worst pathological LIAR I’ve ever witnessed. Many of them a QAnon devotees.
Union members in Pennsylvania (the elders) are reported to be “pissed off” at all the younger members who’ve fallen for Trump’s schtick. I listened to a meeting where members of an electricians union were questioned and the younger members were kind of like “whaat?” When asked to explain why they were going to vote for Trump. I remember one guy who, just after listening to one of the elder members of the union explaining how Trump put the “thumbs down” to a bipartisan immigration policy earlier this year say he was voting for Trump – after stopping to think of a reason – because of immigration. I could see the steam coming from the brow of his “brother” who had just spoken. A couple of the young guys didn’t even understand the job they were on was a direct result of the “Science and Chips Act.”
Another issue which could prove fatal to Kamala Harris’ campaign is the war in GAZA. Large numbers of young Americans are holding the Biden administration accountable for the actions of Bibi Netanyahu. I have a “Millennial” son and I often have to walk away from conversations with him because he’s even more cynical than myself. I’m 77 and I understand why America must stand with Israel – despite the fact (and I’m certain of this) Netanyahu wants Trump’s return to the “White House.” I told my son on October 7th, 2023 that the Israeli’s would “flatten” GAZA and Netanyahu would continue the war indefinitely out of self preservation.
Well, the young people of America know the Israeli’s are using U.S. produced munitions in their assault on GAZA and they’re blaming Biden. While I want that war stopped as much as anyone I keep telling my son President Biden can’t order Netanyahu to do anything. And, cutting off America’s support for Israel simply opens the “door” for Iran to attempt to do what they’ve been wanting for 75 years and that’s to blow Israel off the map. I can’t imagine any American president NOT choosing to support Israel after what happened in the second World War. When I explain that to my son I get a sort of “so what” response. In the reading I’ve been doing of late I believe there are many young people who would otherwise vote for Ms. Harris who are conflicted and, who knows, may not vote at all – or, some might actually vote for Trump – apparently, unaware of Trump’s relationship with Netanyahu. The HOPE for a “two state” solution will depend on America electing democrats for the foreseeable future.
Much of the misinformation concerning the war in GAZA, the war in Ukraine, and the issues like immigration, racism, and abortion is – from what I’m understanding – floating around on Social Media. I know the stuff my son spews to me which causes me to push back comes from Social Media. And, it’s true, every time war breaks out between the Israeli’s and the Palestinians, historically, the Palestinians take the brunt of the damage. If I know that, it can be no secret. Well, it seems to me YahYa Sinwar knew this as much as anyone, but could care less about the Palestinian people. He knew they were going to suffer great losses after October 7th, especially because HAMAS was hiding behind civilian “targets.” So, who cared less about the Palestinian people, the Israeli’s or the leaders of HAMAS.
It seems to me the goal of HAMAS was/is to start a wider war in the region. I don’t know enough about that part of the world to feel certain, but one thing which is clear is Iran is looking for any reason to attack Israel, and, of course, they do it with their “proxies.” (They don’t, for example, want Israel making a peace accord with Saudi Arabia or the other Arab states) So, count Iran as another part of the equation where they don’t care at all about the Palestinian people. I’ve even read where Netanyahu has actually worked to prop of HAMAS in the past as a way to prevent the so-called “two state” solution. As I’ve said, I “get” where the young Americans are coming from, but I question whether or not they have a full grasp on the history of that region. That said, I too look forward to the day when Netanyahu is facing a court for his alleged crimes just as I’m hoping Trump gets the same “privilege” here in America.
My point tonight is there are several issues which I believe are being targeted with misinformation on platforms like Facebook and Xwitter. As I’ve said, with Elon Musk the head of Xwitter there’s not much which can be done to fight against this. However, Facebook is led by Mark Zuckerberg who I believe is all about the $$$”s. Might he be susceptible to public pressure to put a stop to it? Although, realistically, it’s probably too close to the election to matter. Whatever damage has been done, is done. Just potentially furthering my suspicion that Social Media is the force behind the negativity pitting Americans against each other and opening the door to the possibility of America becoming a fascist state. Yikes!!
Final Thought: As if “we the people” needed further evidence that Donald Trump is loosing his marbles and is unfit to be the next president (as I wrote in my previous post, JD Vance is waiting in the wings) The other day in Latrobe Pennsylvania, the home of golf legend Arnold Palmer, Trump spent about 10 minutes rambling about his Palmer stories with one of them focused on the size of Palmer’s – OK, his penis. I’m not kidding. Now, I don’t think Trump actually used that term, but his meaning couldn’t have been clearer. He was describing the comments about Palmer by other golfers who’d been in the clubhouse in the shower-room with him after a tournament round. Yes, that’s almost as bizarre as stopping the questions from the audience in a Town Hall and “swaying” to his “Spotify play list” for the last 39 minutes of the gathering. This is the guy who might “beat” the “rap” of all his CORRUPT conduct by CHEATING his way back into the “White House.”
And, “we the people” will be the “road kill” of the “conservative” march to the agenda laid out in “Project 2025.” I keep encouraging people to read it, but so far I don’t know a single person who’s taken me up on my – well, I guess it wasn’t really an offer – encouragement. I’ve published links here to the Project 2025 website at least three times – the last time I had to give them my email address so I’m not doing it again, but it’s easy to find. As I’ve said, I made it through the intro and the first 100 (or so) pages and I didn’t need to read more. It’s a roadmap to fascism and should Trump manage to “win” and get a republican Congress, well – “katy bar the door.”
In a lot of ways I’m encouraged about the election, but, for me, it’s too close for comfort regardless! I am discouraged by the number of Americans who’ve joined Trump’s cult!
Oh Yes! One other thing I’ve been reading about is the number of men who won’t vote for Kamala Harris for president because, well, she’s not a man. Well, duh! And, many of these men are complaining about the “status quo” (whatever they mean by that) – yet, hasn’t America been “ruled” by men for her entire history? Don’t you think trying a different approach might be warranted? (And, I say that as someone who absolutely learned to appreciate the accomplishments of Joe Biden – to me, the most capable politician regarding understanding how to make this government work) Stay tuned!!!
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