Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

USAFRetired_Liberal

USAFRetired_Liberal's Journal
USAFRetired_Liberal's Journal
April 21, 2025

How Scandals/Controversies Play Out Differently Between Democrats and Republicans

This is a clear example of how “scandals” are handled differently depending on the party involved.

Step 1: The media breaks the story and covers it relentlessly, wall-to-wall.

Step 2: Republicans immediately express performative outrage, acting as if the Democrats just committed the most unforgivable offense in history.

Now, Steps 1 and 2 tend to happen regardless of which party is involved. But here’s where the real difference shows:

Step 3: When it’s a Democrat under fire, other Democrats often pile on—publicly criticizing the individual, calling for resignations, or distancing themselves altogether. This internal division keeps the scandal alive in the media for weeks, sometimes months.
Meanwhile, Republicans tend to close ranks. They either downplay the issue, dismiss it as “fake news,” or just flat-out ignore it. As a result, media coverage fades much quicker.

Step 4: Since Democrats typically aren’t juggling multiple scandals at once, the latest controversy sticks around. With no new drama to distract from it, the media keeps recycling coverage, prolonging the story’s life.
On the flip side, Republicans often move from one scandal to the next so quickly that the previous one gets buried. The media shifts focus to the latest issue, and the older controversy fades into the background.

April 8, 2025

Why are "centrist" and "moderates" really conservative

I don’t know how many times I have read something online, or saw something on tv, or talked to someone in person who claim to be centrist or moderate but all they do is bash the left and democrats and spew right wing talking points, and they may say one minor thing negative about a Republican and claim that as them being moderate.

April 2, 2025

Prediction: Trump Will Turn on Musk--Not Because of Ego Clashes, But Because He Hates Losers


A lot of us assumed Trump would eventually turn on Elon Musk. After all, they’re both narcissistic egomaniacs who demand to be the center of attention—how could that dynamic possibly last? Most figured Trump would get tired of sharing the limelight and toss Musk aside just to reassert dominance.

At first, I didn’t think that would happen—not for that reason, anyway. I figured Trump had learned his lesson. He knows everyone expects him to implode with anyone who steals the spotlight, so I thought he’d play it smart and keep the peace (at least in public).

But now? It’s looking like the turn is inevitable. Not because of clashing egos, but because Trump sees Musk as a loser. And there’s nothing Trump despises more than someone who takes an L on his behalf. With this Wisconsin loss, the MAGA base is going to need a scapegoat—and Elon’s it. Trump’s cult will circle the wagons and pin this entirely on Musk, while Trump, as always, dodges responsibility.

And here’s the thing: most billionaires stay in their lane. They write the checks and let the political operatives do the dirty work—just look at the Koch brothers. But Musk? His ego won’t allow that. He craves the adoration. He has to be front and center, talking, tweeting, inserting himself into every narrative. And now it’s going to backfire, big time.

Popcorn’s in the microwave.
January 15, 2025

They were and are deplorables

I used to feel sad and disappointed in America, but now I’m just disgusted. I’ve lost all faith, trust, and hope in this country. It is a cesspool of racist, selfish individuals. Hillary Clinton was right when she called them “deplorables,” and Joe Biden wasn’t wrong to label them as garbage. They were criticized for speaking the truth, but that truth still stands.

The problem is these individuals have always been coddled, portrayed as “concerned Americans” worried about their country. But the reality is, they’re selfish and harmful people. And now, they hold positions of power—in Congress, the Senate, the Cabinet, the judiciary, state offices, law enforcement, and more. That’s what makes it all the more disheartening.

January 13, 2025

Right wing attacks on California

It’s infuriating to see what Republicans are saying to California when it comes to disaster relief aid. It got me thinking—blue states and liberals often end up as the punching bag for the right wing, and there’s rarely any criticism for attacking fellow Americans. Yet, the moment a Democrat says anything critical about red states or conservatives, they’re instantly labeled as elitist or out of touch with Americans who hold different views.

January 13, 2025

Israel awaits Hamas' response to final Gaza deal draft, officials say

It seems like this could have been resolved months ago, but it was delayed intentionally by Trump and Netanyahu to harm Biden and Harris politically. In doing so, they effectively caused the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and prolonged the suffering of hostages, all to boost Trump’s chances of re-election. Now, Trump gets to re-enter office as a so-called “hero,” with the media showering him with praise. This strategy was apparent even during the campaign—it was reported, denied, and journalists were forced to retract—but the signs were clear: they didn’t want any deal to happen before the election.

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/13/israel-gaza-ceasefire-hostage-final-draft-deal


January 12, 2025

Right wing messaging

Republicans have consistently excelled at crafting and disseminating their messaging. In the past, figures like Rush Limbaugh and his imitators would push narratives that would gain traction through platforms like Drudge Report, then Fox News, before eventually seeping into mainstream media. While this approach worked, it was relatively slower in capturing public attention. However, with the rise of social media and far-right influencers, the process has become much quicker, allowing their narratives to reach mainstream media and the public almost instantly. The recent coverage of the LA fires is a prime example. Meanwhile, Democrats seem to lag behind, often struggling to respond effectively to attacks, even when those attacks are riddled with lies and misinformation.

January 12, 2025

Tulsi Gabbard

I recently read about Tulsi Gabbard and her father, and it’s clear she was never truly a Democrat. The only reason they aligned with the Democratic Party was because they realized it was the only way to win elections in Hawaii. Her father even admitted this, having been a Republican before. Honestly, she shouldn’t have made it this far in politics—if Democrats had done their due diligence, she wouldn’t have won a primary.

What’s even more frustrating is that she was given a prominent role in the DNC. Thankfully, the party did one thing right: they made sure she didn’t become a senator when Daniel Inouye’s seat opened up, despite her attempts to position herself for it. I hadn’t even heard of her until her 2020 presidential campaign. I remember watching a Democratic debate back then, and even my wife—who isn’t very political—asked, “Why is a Republican at this debate?” after hearing her speak.

It’s evident that Tulsi Gabbard’s long-term plan was to infiltrate the Democratic Party and then use her platform to criticize it at key moments. Democrats need to do a much better job of vetting candidates during the primary process, especially in districts or states where winning the general election as a Democrat is almost assured. These conditions can attract opportunists like Gabbard, who may present themselves as Democrats only to pursue personal or alternative agendas later.

January 9, 2025

Connor Lamb vs John Fetterman

Ironically, during the 2022 Democratic primary, Conor Lamb was seen as the candidate likely to become another Sinema or Manchin if elected to the Senate. This perception played a significant role in John Fetterman’s primary victory, as he was viewed as the more progressive option in the race. Looking back at it, Lamb was the better option because he seemed to have greater political aspirations in becoming president so his time in the Senate wouldn’t have been spent alienating the Democratic base like Fetterman is doing.

Profile Information

Member since: Sat Aug 11, 2012, 03:38 PM
Number of posts: 4,371
Latest Discussions»USAFRetired_Liberal's Journal