Stonekettle thread on possible private army for Don the Con.

[sinkingfeeling]

Thread
https://mobile.twitter.com/Stonekettle/status/1031186281299156997

[Dr Hobbitstein]

1. Random, anonymous twitter user tweets something.

Totally not news.

[bettyellen]

3. It's linking an NBC story, and this is GD, not LBN and that Tweeter is pretty well known:

So you’re 3/3, doc!

[Dr Hobbitstein]

14. No check mark unverified user.

Never mentioned LBN, mentioned news. Hey, you wanna follow anonymous, unverified people, have at it.

[bettyellen]

16. "Totally not news" is not mentioning news.... okay then, I guess the link to NBC isn't either.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

17. I said I mentioned news, not LBN.

I am discrediting an anonymous Twitter user as being a serious source of anything.

[Roland99]

6. This was quite widespread news here late last week

[tblue37]

7. Not random. Stonekettle is a well known and excellent blogger. nt

[Charlotte Little]

12. Yup

His name is Jim Wright. Doesn't hide that fact. So, he's not anonymous. He scares me to death, but I follow him and agree with him on just about everything.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

15. No check mark, unverified.

He can claim to be whoever he wants.

[Charlotte Little]

20. Um...

https://www.facebook.com/Stonekettle

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Stonekettle

[nini]

9. Stonekettle is the real deal

He isn't the type to post crap.

If you're going to knock him at least find out what he's about first.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

13. Anonymous user is not real deal. nt

[bettyellen]

18. The check mark is the worst way to know you can trust a Tweeter...

Tons of people w check marks are full of shit. That’s not how it works at all.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

19. Actually, it's the only way to know they are who they say they are.

Without the check, they can claim to be whoever/whatever they want.

[bettyellen]

21. That's not how you know to trust the tweet though. Lots of check marked people are full of shit.

The one you’re picking on just posted a story from NBC and you think they’re unreliable. If you’re judge of by check marks- you’re misinformed. That’s not how it works.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

22. So why post his commentary instead of linking to the ACTUAL source?

Tons of anonymous Tweeters are being flung around DU with commentary or other bullshit as if they were truth-tellers.

Anonymous twitter is NOT a legitimate source of news, and mostly not a legitimate source of “expert opinion”.

A check mark means the person is who they say they are. If they are anonymous trying to make claims or informed commentary, then their opinion should have no more weight than a comment on a YouTube video.

[bettyellen]

26. Because he takes the new report and marries it to other ones to give fuller context?

And it’s often good to remind people of these things so they will make the connections clear. With so many scandals churning its never been harder to keep track of them all and find connections.

I don’t know who Poppin Kream on Reddit is, but he’s a similar (but even better) resource who strings together stories about the Trump Admin. He’s also got a good reputation and no check mark.

People crosscheck and evaluate what’s out there because so many people who do openly ID themselves are happy to lie to us and or just be a megaphone for WH bullshit. Check marks don’t begin to cut it anymore.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

27. Anonymous sources are unreliable.

How did Counterchekist work out? Or GuardianRover? Or Jester?

[bettyellen]

28. They are basically commenters and editors- not sources at all.

That’s a bizarre accusation as the Tweets in question don’t claim to have any news scoops at all. Especially since a lot of well known journalists - check marks and all- still basically function as Trump’s stenographers on Twitter.
I’m going to guess you didn’t even read the Tweet in question, it’s clear you’re making lots of assumptions about them, and Twitter in general.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

29. I understand Twitter fully.

Easy to make fake accounts and string the gullible along.

I also read the tweet, and the accompanying article. But I will not trust an unverified Twitter account. Neither should you.

[bettyellen]

30. No kidding, there are tons of fake accounts. And lots of bad info coming from those w check marks

Which sucks because some people give the check marked people credence when they deserve none. That’s what’s gullible.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

31. Not saying that a check mark doesn't mean bad info...

It just means the person is who they say they are. Donald Trump is a verified user, and his account spews nothing but bullshit. Same with Louise Mensch. But you're unlikely to get bullshit from, say, Don Lemon's or Stephen Colbert's verified accounts.

Without a check, anyone can make claim to be whoever they want. Which makes their credentials suspect. Like the one recently who both Mensch and Taylor were promoting and turned out to be nothing more than a pro-Trump gamer, making up bullshit. Their tweets were posted here regularly.

[bettyellen]

32. If you're talking about new stories, sure I agree. But the Tweet in the OP

And many many more on Twitter are not. Like here they’re compilations w a bit of editorial thrown in.
He’s not exactly Poppin Kream (check out post on thread below) but Twitter doesn’t allow for all that much content.

https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/986pmt/gop_fundraiser_broidy_under_investigation_for/e4ds2q0/

[Me.]

2. The Question I Want Answered From That Thread Is

Can he do this without Congress and the Pentagon having a say?

[brush]

4. Eric Prince has his ear about privitizing forces in Afghanistan.

Once trump has a private army it's only a matter of time before it will be deployed within the country.

Get out and vote in November.

[Frustratedlady]

5. With Erik visiting DC a couple months ago, this is feasible. "Draw me up some plans, Erik!"

This makes his enormous funding of $716B and $700+B to the military (which said they don't need it) more clear. His Space Force more clear...his enormous plane order more clear. I imagine some of that money will also go for new uniforms of his design and color, just as he wants AF1 painted his color.

We used to have the luxury of saying, "Oh, don't be silly...someone is putting you on," whenever we heard stuff like this, but not with this president. I swear he lies awake at night dreaming up ways to make us squirm.

[tblue37]

8. Remove the "mobile." Part of the tweet link to get this:

Link to tweet

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Thanks. That's neat.

[magicarpet]

11. Just sit back in your comfy easy chair,....

.... put it back in the recline position, lay back and close your eyes,.. and let the warm Fascism wash over you as it lulls you into your comfort zone.

As we assume a leadership role and take over international and domestic Pentagon programs and military bases to privatize your war department to drastically cut costs and attain far better results. Be happy don't worry - put all your trust in us.

____________
________
_____

(The above advertisement brought to you by the Erik Prince - new and improved - Green Water Mercenary Death Squads and Privatized US War & Military Department.
Now listed on the New York, Jerusalem, London, Berlin, Moscow, and Beijing Stock Exchanges.)

[no_hypocrisy]

23. The Private Army would START in Afghanistan.

I would not welcome Erik Prince and his "Merry Band" in my town.

[Cha]

24. Fuck his Dic aspirations.

[ck4829]

25. Very disturbing