Current Events > Dems going all in on the 'weird' and 'strange' Republican party.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Weirdo Trump and Weirdo Laura Loomer have a weird relationship, look it up.

GrandConjuraton posted...

Does no one else find this line of attack disappointing? Weird is underselling the serious threat they pose to basic human rights and democracy in general.

This was my initial reaction. But as I thought about it more, pressing the red alarm button clearly hasn't worked. These Republicans are fascist and terrifying, but many think that's oversold, hyperbolic, or haven't been prepared to truly understand the implications of that, and so they deny it. Those people are far more common than we'd like to think.

You can't get these people to react appropriately to threat based language. But you can reach them on a different level and activate their latent anti-fascism/theocracy/etc by just calling out these people as weird AF. That label doesn't have to be limited to just their personalities. It extends to their policies and their fundamental worldview. It's joyless, controlling, paranoid, and creepy off-putting. People who have not be trained to recognize political BS have still been trained socially to recognize strange, off-putting behavior.

ooger posted...

This is very normal behavior.

Not weird at all. /s

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/1/1f899412.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/7bfcf0e1.jpg

Republicans have been trying to play up Harris' laugh as off-putting and disqualifying but calling them weird for wanting to take away women's right to vote is the concern

This is a good strategy in the "Elections are won and lost in 30 second sound clips".

Just keep pounding tweets and posts of Trump rambling about nothing, like he always does, and ask "What the heck is he talking about".

Create the narrative that Trump is the one that's all bluster and zero policy, becasue that's basically what he is.

Keep hammering home to younger voters that fact that JD Vance thinks their vote isn't as important as their parent's vote becasue they have no kids.

Continually use their own words against them.

GrandConjuraton posted...

Does no one else find this line of attack disappointing? Weird is underselling the serious threat they pose to basic human rights and democracy in general.

The kind of people who are so out of touch in 2024 that they still need to be persuaded to help keep Donald Trump out of office are the same type of people who will roll their eyes at labels like 'fascist,' 'rapist,' 'gravest threat to democracy our nation's ever faced,' etc, no matter how accurate such labels are; they think it's overblown, they think that Democrats are just being hysterical or playing it up for points / ratings, they think "that'll never happen in America" and so forth. So the tact of imprinting upon swing voters that Trumpism is dominated by people like that weird cousin from Missouri that you never talk to anymore might be an easier and more effective pill for said voters to swallow than the overwhelming burden of responsibility that is literally saving our democracy from an incompetent madman and his violent cult. Sometimes a gentler, subtler touch is required when the sledgehammer isn't making a dent.

GrandConjuraton posted...

Does no one else find this line of attack disappointing? Weird is underselling the serious threat they pose to basic human rights and democracy in general.

I get this, but lots of people vote based on how they view the candidate, not their policies. A significant chunk of the population is not politically literate or informed, so "vibes" is how they choose who to vote for. Pointing out that Trump and Vance are just fucking weirdos will resonate with these people.

...Plus it's not like they're only using this attack. They can still make ads calling out the GOP's shitty policies, too.

GrandConjuraton posted...

Does no one else find this line of attack disappointing? Weird is underselling the serious threat they pose to basic human rights and democracy in general.

Sorta but they tried taking the save democracy route and it was ineffective (probably because no one believes Dems actually care to make things better)

NatsuSama posted...

Are they wrong though?

The Republican party has gotten 10 times more clownish than they usually are lately.

The interviews going off the deep end, the VP pick appealing to no one but the base they already have and even that was iffy, their fixation attacks on Kamala laughing, their messaging lately being 100% appeal to the base they already have instead of new voters...

This is the party trying to appeal to black and brown people by telling us "black jobs" are low paying jobs. Or that when we do get nice jobs, it's because we are "DEI hires."

You cant make this shit up how clownish this party has gotten. It's almost like satire come to life.

I'm hoping we can all look back and laugh at this some day, but I'm not optimistic. Be nice if we had a Richard Pryor, or Carlin type around to help make the turbulence funny.

legendary_zell posted...

This was my initial reaction. But as I thought about it more, pressing the red alarm button clearly hasn't worked. These Republicans are fascist and terrifying, but many think that's oversold, hyperbolic, or haven't been prepared to truly understand the implications of that, and so they deny it. Those people are far more common than we'd like to think.

You can't get these people to react appropriately to threat based language. But you can reach them on a different level and activate their latent anti-fascism/theocracy/etc by just calling out these people as weird AF. That label doesn't have to be limited to just their personalities. It extends to their policies and their fundamental worldview. It's joyless, controlling, paranoid, and creepy off-putting. People who have not be trained to recognize political BS have still been trained socially to recognize strange, off-putting behavior.

Yep. I think the "weird and creepy" is really hitting because people KNOW what weird and creepy are. You tell someone that something is weird and/or creepy and they get a mental image of that. You tell someone that something is fascist or authoritarian and now you have to explain what those are, why they are those things, and then convince them otherwise if they already have opinions, so on and so forth. Weird though? I know what weird is. That's easy!

Its a great tactic. Because it cuts through all of the fat and gets to the essentials. GOP are weird, they are creepy, their policies are unsettling and frightening. Calling them what they are, fascists, demons, only makes them feel empowered. But give them the "weirdo" label it cuts at them DEEP. Fascists have very very thin skin afterall.

Heineken14 posted...

Yep. I think the "weird and creepy" is really hitting because people KNOW what weird and creepy are. You tell someone that something is weird and/or creepy and they get a mental image of that. You tell someone that something is fascist or authoritarian and now you have to explain what those are, why they are those things, and then convince them otherwise if they already have opinions, so on and so forth. Weird though? I know what weird is. That's easy!

Part of the problem is our media has normalized trump and the republican party time and time again, so what is definitely fascist bullshit is now normal bullshit thanks to the media having no backbone.

Had they shunned all MAGA assholes instead of platforming them non stop, it'd be a different story.

It all started with ABC hiring Spicer for dancing with the Stars.

ClayGuida posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/7bfcf0e1.jpg

xD

ClayGuida posted...

Part of the problem is our media has normalized trump and the republican party time and time again, so what is definitely fascist bullshit is now normal bullshit thanks to the media having no backbone.

Had they shunned all MAGA assholes instead of platforming them non stop, it'd be a different story.

It all started with ABC hiring Spicer for dancing with the Stars.

Yep, one of the things the Harris campaign has been great at right out of the gate is forcing the mainstream media to cover all the negatives about Trump by quoting her official statements/press releases. She's already made them address how he's a criminal, rapist, fraudster, insurrectionist, and hostile to democracy when quoting her in their articles.

I've heard the practice referred to as "working the refs", which the Republican Party has mastered and the Dem Party seems to never put interest into, instead just letting the media beat them up and put a right-wing spin/slant on everything when calling out Dems. Harris and her campaign is a breath of fresh air, as well as a Congressional Dem (don't remember who) that was recently on Faux News and just started listing off a bunch of things about Trump that network has never covered, sending the "journalist" (a woman, don't know her name. Also, her being a woman is not why I put "" on journalist, before anyone gives me grief) into defense mode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP5Gx18D4-c

It's one of the reasons why I backed Biden stepping down, because the media was hell bent on covering Biden non stop for a month despite all the insane shit Trump was spewing at the time.

Biden stepping down at the time he did could have dramatically altered history.

ClayGuida posted...

It's one of the reasons why I backed Biden stepping down, because the media was hell bent on covering Biden non stop for a month despite all the insane shit Trump was spewing at the time.

Biden stepping down at the time he did could have dramatically altered history.

Yeah, I was vouching for him to stay because I feared chaos and disunity on a level never seen before if he did drop out, however the media also wasn't letting that hate-boner go and had "poor debate" been a week long story then it may have been fine, however Dems weren't letting it go either which means the media wasn't.

Thankfully the chaos I predicted didn't happen and the media no longer has their narrative they planned to ride for the next 4 months.

Had they not galvanized around Kamala it would have been a disaster, and sadly that's what people like Manchin wanted, but because everyone was so quick to back her, it didn't give the 'moderates' in the party time to make it an issue. By the time they started speaking up, she had already raised 100m, then 200m, then 300m.

I sometimes feel like these fuckers want to watch the party burn.

GrandConjuraton posted...

Does no one else find this line of attack disappointing? Weird is underselling the serious threat they pose to basic human rights and democracy in general.

Were you to pick up other lines of attacks like "He's a felon! He's a traitor! He's a racist! He's a whatever!" you're going to have people immediately push back.

Calling him weird isn't asking people to do a 180 take to see where you're coming from. "Hey isn't it weird how he keeps talking about Hannibal Lector like a real person? Isn't it weird how he makes cannibalism sound funny/acceptable? Isn't it weird how he talked about you not needing to vote? Isn't it weird how he said he would make police immune when a cop just committed first degree murder on a woman?"

This is easier it doesn't ask them to change their opinions it just asks them to go "Yea that is kinda weird but..." I don't think it'll change anyones mind but it might lower their enthusiasm and maybe they don't go out and vote for november because he's just kinda weird.

ClayGuida posted...

It's one of the reasons why I backed Biden stepping down, because the media was hell bent on covering Biden non stop for a month despite all the insane shit Trump was spewing at the time.

Biden stepping down at the time he did could have dramatically altered history.

I might be in the minority, but I think it was quite admirable to have stepped down when he did. A lot (most?) politician's ego would have had them refusing to quit. It was still a close race.

There is a case to made that he put country (and tbh, party) before himself. This really could change the course of history. Either way, I think history will judge him and his administration kindly.

This is strategy is good and all. I do worry about future presidential elections, if the GOP manages to nominate someone who comes across as normal, but is every bit a fascist with the intent to install the latest Project 20xx plan.

We gotta find some way to make the "fascist" messaging stick, because they are fascists. Along with getting a better news media apparatus, that better educates the viewer to what is going on in the country.

I'm mostly not worried about Project 2025 becoming 2029 or 2033 if Harris wins, because they put their game plan out and detailed how to accomplish it, so Harris and Congress will have time to hopefully eliminate those loopholes.

brestugo posted...

I might be in the minority, but I think it was quite admirable to have stepped down when he did. A lot (most?) politician's ego would have had them refusing to quit. It was still a close race.

There is a case to made that he put country (and tbh, party) before himself. This really could change the course of history. Either way, I think history will judge him and his administration kindly.

From what I've heard of callers, progressive pundits, and their guests on their shows, that is the major consensus, that it was the "coup" the right-wing propagandosphere advertises, but that he stepped down (rather unheard of for a politician to willingly give up power) for the good of the nation. And I think that's the better message than "Dem donors and agitators forced old man out of the party when he was no longer useful", which I have heard a minority of callers express and at times I feel like that was the case as well, so I understand their ire, however still better to view it as a selfless sacrifice when he could have just kept going and most likely lost the election, thus leading to the end of democracy.

ClayGuida posted...

I'm mostly not worried about Project 2025 becoming 2029 or 2033 if Harris wins, because they put their game plan out and detailed how to accomplish it, so Harris and Congress will have time to hopefully eliminate those loopholes.

No matter what they can fix legislatively (which itself is up for debate depending on how Congressional races goes) she'll never be able to undo the Christo-fascist led SC making POTUS have the immunity of basically a king. Dems won't abuse that power so unless she packs the courts with extra judges who overturn that, it will be in effect for when the next Republican comes in, who will implement the Heritage Foundation's will because the Republican Party itself has become a Christian Nationalist movement.

Takuya_Lee posted...

I disagree. This is perfect and shows no one fears them. Fascists want fear.

This.

Treating their bullshit with a dismissive "Lol, 'k" will definitely cut them deeper than giving it any credibility by trying to debate/acknowledge it.

I mean, their rhetoric genuinely is disgusting and scary, and "weird" is massively underselling the fundamentally and objectively evil nature of their positions, but it's also more effective.

ClayGuida posted...

I'm mostly not worried about Project 2025 becoming 2029 or 2033 if Harris wins, because they put their game plan out and detailed how to accomplish it, so Harris and Congress will have time to hopefully eliminate those loopholes.

Aka 'Trump proof' the government. Now more than ever, we can't assume that everyone who seeks office, or a position in government is a good faith actor.

FWIW, I understand some poster's concern with 'weird', but I think the Dems should continue to go with it because it's an attack at the level the GOP normally operates at alone. As others have pointed out, they're legit shook by this.

That of course doesn't mean stopping the more 'highbrow' strategies, not that there's anything vulgar about using the more street level tactics.

The Republican strategy is not to debate policy, but (metaphorically) to run into a room, take a massive shit, and leave. Then they can point and laugh at the silly libs, holding their noses and wondering what to do.

Responding with a dismissive, 'well, that was fucking weird', stops this in its tracks and shifts the focus on to how jaw-droppingly insane Republican rhetoric has become: 'you won't need to vote again', 'childless women are bad', 'people should stay in violent marriages', '13 year old victims of rape should be forced to give birth', etc.

Humble_Novice posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP5Gx18D4-c

God, I wish Harris (and whoever she selects as VP) would just go to debates and just put all this out there. Confront them head on about what they, as a whole damn party, want to do. Blow the small/one-off news stories about people who make these comments into national headlines so that America can tell these people to fuck off.

ShaneMcComez posted...

This is strategy is good and all. I do worry about future presidential elections, if the GOP manages to nominate someone who comes across as normal, but is every bit a fascist with the intent to install the latest Project 20xx plan.

We gotta find some way to make the "fascist" messaging stick, because they are fascists. Along with getting a better news media apparatus, that better educates the viewer to what is going on in the country.

The thing is if Dems win this time and win by margins comparable to the level of excitement we've seen for Kamala across the board, then they MUST insititute protections to our democracy so any future GOP that gets power can't destroy democracy.

luigi33 posted...

The thing is if Dems win this time and win by margins comparable to the level of excitement we've seen for Kamala across the board, then they MUST insititute protections to our democracy so any future GOP that gets power can't destroy democracy.

Is this even possible? You're going to need constitutional amendments which requires 2/3 of congress and I can't imagine any amount of enthusiasm will get Dems that big of a win. So you'll need GOP support but they've ostracized anyone in their party that is willing to work with Dems so I just don't know how you get there.

One of the reasons the "weird" messaging is working so well is because I think it's causing a lot of Qanon nutjobs (who make up a majority or at least the loudest part of the republican party by this point) to self-reflect for the first time in quite a while, and they know they are weirdos. Normal people don't show support for a politician by wearing a big golden diaper. They've all gotten weird looks and awkward silence at family dinners whenever they bring up white genocide or great replacement. A lot of Qanon types know people who've gotten divorced over how impossible it is to talk to someone who delves that deep into insane conspiracy theories.

You only need to glance at a conservative forum, discord, or subreddit to see how much they're seething over being called weird and realizing they are weird.

Weird and strange are some lighter than air glove words there.

https://twitter.com/ditzkoff/status/1818086359346643339

Cheater87 posted...

Weird and strange are some lighter than air glove words there.

I'll take that and them being completely unable to refute it over "Oh see you call EVERYONE racist! The word doesn't even mean anything anymore!"

Gladius_ posted...

It also hits hard because the alt-right that can't get a woman to even look at them likely get told on dating apps/in person that they come across as "weird" "Creepy" and "strange".

When being introduced to new friends "I don't want so and so coming over anymore.." "Why not?" "Because he/she's so weird." "Hey man they don't want you coming over because they find you weird. Don't know man. Just what they told me."

But on that front wouldn't the line of attack make awkward people called weird IRL more likely to sympathize with them though? Many aren't right-wing but but aren't fond of middle school style ostracism either.

As boring as it seems at times, using weird is simple and effective in a way that make America great works for the cult. We dont all have to agree with a definition but we get what it means. I wasnt the biggest fan of the trend starting but it taking hold is not bad. The very concerted effort is very typical of the Republicans so its about time that the Democrats learned to use it better. People have also mentioned that it is fascist kryptonite because they have to normalize their shit and calling them the others, the weird ones, hurts them a lot.

Gladius_ posted...

Many people on CE have friends, relationships, family, etc and those who don't aren't scared to admit that they struggle with anxiety or depression. They're not the one's trying to convince themselves and everyone around them how normal they are when everyone can see them for how much of a weirdo they actually are.

Wait, are you actually suggesting that non-toxic awkward people simply personally accept that they're weird and don't begrudge people being called weird?

If so that's highly unrealistic. Most people have a sense of pride. Most people believe, if they're not actively doing bad things, they're fine people. Most people believe they shouldn't be degraded for harmless quirks.

Gladius_ posted...

The one's being hit are the one's trying to say it's society's fault,

Unless everyone in the world is treated equally regardless of identity I don't think you can assert there's not a societal element to peoples' social fortunes. IIRC you're sympathetic to feminism and they call out societal biases all the time.

Diceheist posted...

But on that front wouldn't the line of attack make awkward people called weird IRL more likely to sympathize with them though? Many aren't right-wing but but aren't fond of middle school style ostracism either.

Your deflections are getting weaker, you've gotta try harder.

https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/1818327932135145561

"Don't call us weird!"

They not like us

ClayGuida posted...

https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/1818327932135145561

"Don't call us weird!"

Okay, but seriously, what the piss is meant to be going on there?

Gladius_ posted...

Also CE isn't going to sympathize when the very people being called "Weird" wants to take away their rights, liberty, and sometimes their lives.

To be clear I was referring to random people out and about, not CE specifically, CE is a very non-representative community.

Murphiroth posted...

Your deflections are getting weaker, you've gotta try harder.

I'm just saying, any attempt to portray Republicans as the underdog in any field doesn't tend to help since it increases their leeway to court disenfranchised groups, which can be critical in swing states. For example some ex-Obama voters flipped to Trump in the Rust Belt partially based on the notion that both were anti-establishment during their campaigns, while Hillary represented the status quo of the elite. I don't want a similar case where socially isolated people start identifying with Republicans and flipping to them.

I endorsed the earlier outlined strategy of calling them weird for the bigoted policies and odd beliefs, I just disagreed with Gladius tying it to guys "that can't get a woman to even look at them" since that's where you risk provoking non-right-wingers.

TomClark posted...

Okay, but seriously, what the piss is meant to be going on there?

My first thought was Trump white knighting the Easter Bunny, but honestly fuck if I know.

Well, one can't really complain about the campaign direction. It's still really hard to find a balance in communication with the current rhetoric and even... well, intellectual level of debate. Presumably it'll be less "you're weird if you support Trump" and "you're better than this, vote for... (etc.)".

Good, as they should

Trump has fashioned a bizarre cult of personality around himself that has taken over the party. Their behavior is weird as hell and should be called out as much as possible.

Gladius_ posted...

We're not talking about harmless quirks here. The people who are melting down are not harmless in any capacity. The main one's complaining about the "Weird" rhetoric are the right wing. Not others.

Feminism calls out actual societal biases. Feminism is not encouraging hatred, bigotry, tyranny, and death camps while trying to pass it off as normal and making up imaginary societal biases that don't exist. There's no comparison. Nazi's are weird. End of.

If you support nazi ideology or a man who fashions himself as a god who tans himself orange. You're pretty weird.

I understand all of this. I endorse calling people promoting harmful ideology weird and other dismissive terms. I was only actually disagreeing with in any way tying guys who can't get a date into this, since that starts a broader battle.

All of the GOP big wigs are married or could easily become so if need be (ex. Tim Scott getting a relationship as soon as politically advantageous), that line of attack doesn't even apply to them so there's only downside in going that route.