Open letters are the hissy fits of our times, petulant and tedious expressions of collective outrage. It is also by some considerable measure the laziest form of protest.
In other words, the terminally aggrieved could take to the barricades but that would mean having to walk all the way to the barricades, standing around, feeling uncomfortable and what if it rained? It’s much easier to simply put names to a letter someone else had written in strident agreement with its contents.
There is one particularly egregious example of the open letter that caught my eye last night. It comes from the Columbia Journalism Review and is allegedly an open letter from the American press corps to President-elect Donald Trump.
As if journalists weren’t despised enough by the community, along comes this haughty expression of well … a journalist’s basic job description albeit dripping in sanctimony and self-importance. It even includes the grammatical venal sin of writing ‘you’re’ as ‘your’. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Full column here.
Well Jack, you wrote this column before Trump took office, so you gave him the benefit of the doubt, campaign in poetry, govern in prose and all that. But if day one is any guide, IMO the CJR’s concerns are looking more justified by the hour.
Already we’ve had Trump declare war on the media in a speech to the CIA, blaming them for perceptions he is at war with the CIA. The response from the outgoing director suggested otherwise: he was “deeply saddened and angered at Trump’s despicable display of self-aggrandizement”.
This was followed by an extraordinary unscheduled “press conference”, which took no questions and consisted only of a shrill, petulant, stumblingly-delivered lecture from Trump’s press secretary directed at the press in general. He called the reporting of the inauguration turnout “shameful and wrong”, and threatened to withhold access in retaliation. “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period”, he squawked, in the face of photographs and crowd-movement data from a variety of sources that proved otherwise. The big lie, Trump-style, already, and over such a petty issue.
I suppose this is not surprising coming out of a milieu where the word “Lügenpresse” has gained currency, without a hint of irony. But shocking nonetheless.
Comparing this to the tone of the CJR open letter, I would say that there are worse things than sanctimony, tyranny being one of them.
A little perspective, JOH. The Constitution hasn’t been torn up, troops are not on the streets and no arrests of a political nature have been made. It is alarming to see the WH press secretary get caught up in hyperbole, not so much in terms of context but more because the administration appears to have adopted a siege mentality and, as in the campaign, openly exaggerates crowd numbers. Very early days but it points to a gnawing anxiety within the administration that it is not legitimate.
JTI…..yet
True enough, the US Constitution is still there, but given that it enshrines a free press, threats to deny media access have Constitutional overtones. And if the Trump team gets this punchy over such a trivial issue, on which they are so clearly wrong as a matter of fact, how will they react to real scrutiny?
Why are you and Bella so obsessed with numbers at the inauguration? The people Yrump appealed to most wouldn’t have had the money nor the inclination to travel to the swamp anyway.
People are sick of his ongoing lies. His press guy came out attacked the press about the numbers, trump himself continues to claim it was the biggest crowd ever. It was trumps people who made the noise about crowd numbers when called on it and proven wrong they attacked and blamed everyone else. Sounds very familiar actually. People have already woken up to the fact he is a hollow creature full of falsehoods. Much like one nation.
I think it’s Trump’s lot who are obsessed. If they’d just accepted the facts and made some excuse along the lines of yours, everyone would have moved on by now. Instead they’re still hysterically denying the bleeding obvious, making idle threats and looking like fools. That’s the part I find disturbing.
But I think you’ll find Trump supporters have higher than average incomes:
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-13/typical-trump-voter-earns-above-average-income,/7731540
But not much point following the link if you’ve already made up your mind!
87000 people! What’s the population of America? Statistically insignificant in any statisticians book. Also I ask once again. What were the overall demographics if the people surveyed?
I’ll just add. You cannot do these sorts of study’s, claim them as empirical without showing who, what, why and where you surveyed. Also don’t get me started on weightings.
Is that Malcolm Roberts again wanting only empirical evidence that confirms his already held bias. I think so.
I don’t know, you could probably look it up if you were interested.
But what I don’t get is why you’re convinced Trump supporters are poor based on no evidence. When I present evidence the other way, rather than question your belief, you question the evidence. Fair enough, but why do believe what you do in the first place? It seems like your reason for questioning the evidence is to preserve that belief, rather than to find out what’s actually the case.
The more unwarranted abuse he gets, the more he will dig in.
Unfortunately for those who are vitriolically attack him, his family and everything he believes in do not understand him.
The hysterical opposition has to stop and stop fast.
Time for measured criticism with alternatives. He has not gotten to where he is today without taking on board the views of others.
He was elected President of the US within the rules.
If the Democrats were so stupid to put up a candidate who was so flawed that people’s only reaction was not to vote, tuff.
It has nothing to do with legitimacy – it has a lot to do with candidates.
Good comment JS. They are pulling him down before he has even started. He is telling a few home truths that establishments dont want to hear – and especially don’t want their people to hear.
As I’ve said all along. I am happy to wait and see before passing judgement and looking silly in a pink hat.
Two small points Yvonne: Trump _is_ the Establishment, and when you wrote “truths”, I think you spelled “lies” wrong.
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/jaime-oneill/65425/an-open-letter-to-the-stupid-people-of-america
Here is an open letter that you lefties may follow
Two days down now Mr Insider, new POTUS Donald Trump has the Nuclear Codes, so far so good!
http://tinyurl.com/hhkpfdc
Give it a rest HB; next you’ll be exulting over him picking his nose. You got nothing else to do?
In many ways I like the man Carl we haven’t seen someone like this in politics and certainly not in Australia that’s for sure. Time will tell wont it as it did for Tony Abbott and now do nothing Turnbull. Do what you say you will do or go it seems to be the case these days.
Bassman 01:07pm .
“RUM”,!…Geez Bassman, are you crazy? You drinking rocket fuel there old son!!!!!
Better settle into some lighter juice then rum, chief!
i agree that people should have the right to protest peacefully and todays protest marches seem to be exemplary in that regard.
i’m not exactly sure what they are protesting about, but so what.
i do object to the other and seemingly more common type of protests, the ones where shop windows are broken and people attacked by masked protestors, cars set alight, etc.
A million plus women across the world out today peacefully demonstrating against Trumps normalisation of racism, misogyny and sexual abuse. They quadrupled the numbers at his inauguration.
Now this is what democracy looks like.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-22/donald-trump-protest-marches-to-take-place-by-women-worldwide/8200784
I loved this sign: Tweet Others How You Want To Be Tweeted
What about the very real mistreatment of women in other parts of the world Bella? No mass marches there.
Not meaning to pick on you Yvonne, but are you saying that it is only acceptable to protest about the worst thing that is happening in the world at any given time?
No drama JOH. I, like everyone else probably, am just getting tired of a whole big bloody drama every 5 minutes over everything this man says or does at the moment. Hopefully it will settle down.. I haven’t noticed mass marches over Mugabe’s cruel dictatorship, Zuma’s corruption etc etc etc. – ever. But they are insignificant I guess. – and the thousands upon thousands who have suffered, and continue to suffer in those countries. Just saying……
For anyone to suggest a protest march could be the solution to systematic Islam tortures that have been endured by oppressed women for centuries is surely not serious. Nothing will change the vile practices of men in the name of religion. Decades of war hasn’t brought change so even if all the feminists around the globe stepped up to the plate against these atrocities in hundreds of marches, not a zot will change.
I know I live the issues I can do something about Yvonne but if this is what you’re passionate about then you must do whatever it takes.
Yesterdays protests were a perfectly legitimate response to the new leader of the free world being a contemptuous & immoral man who thinks nothing of trash-talking women “because you can do anything to them when you’re a star”
I just love it when others here go on about celebrities. What do they think Trump was and still is? To say that all the people protesting are all rich & privileged, what on earth do they think Trump is? Did you know that Trump himself called for ‘a revolution’ after Obama was re-elected in 2012?
Now I just hope this sociopath doesn’t use his immense capacity of hatred to pick a fight with North Korea. Left or right won’t mean a thing.
Regards, Bella
Any of those ladies marching in Saudia Arabia? How about Madonna and crew have a go at that. You could even join them Bella!
Great interview this afternoon on Radio National. A Sociologist and author by the name of Thomas Franks interviewed about American politics. You can listen to it by searching the RN website.
having seen only limited coverage of the running down incident in Melbourne one thing which struck me as strange, was what seemed to be a lack of coppers in the middle of the city.
my memory is that there were always a couple of foot patrols around Flinders Street station, and a copper to do point duty as required, does this not happen any more?
A smattering of cops are always on foot patrol around the Melbourne CBD, mate. It appears the offender was being followed by police by its airwing and requests to intercept the vehicle were declined by operational command who believed the risk to the public was too great. There’ll be a coronial inquest, possibly a judicial inquiry where all the facts will be laid out.
The eternal conundrum with pursuit policy. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
I have been informed senior police believe there are no issues or concerns surrounding pursuit policies in this case, Razor. Bail is clearly an issue for the community. That is always vexed because people on bail usually are awaiting trial and deemed innocent until proven guilty in our system. Nevertheless, I would expect VIC A-G, Martin Pakula, will announce a review of some type shortly.
I’m sure it’s all good JTI but be assured the pursue at all costs mob will use this to justify their point of view.
Jack, you might recall I sent you an item re a little incident we had at the local ale house a few weeks back. The “alleged” (feels weird to have to say that, having been witness to most of the it and knowing the bloke) perpetrator was out on bail for drug offences at the time. Having “allegedly” committed assault, going armed in public, criminal damage and burglary he went on the run and an arrest warrant was put out. Having been caught he was bailed – again – since which time he has allegedly committed a further two assaults and another burglary, has failed to front court and is now on the run again.
I don’t know what the situation is in other jurisdictions but it seems like in Victoria there actually have to be deaths before bail is granted or parole revoked. It’s a long-running issue and one that a lot of people thought had been tackled after the death of Jill Meagher.
My sense is that one very common element is the use of ice. The stuff totally removes all inhibitions in certain individuals. Obviously I don’t know and can’t say if it was an element in the Bourke Street offences but I’d be very unsurprised if it was. It might be necessary to change the laws to give a strong presumption against bail in all cases where use or possession of that drug is a feature.
There are some peculiarities in the Vic system that aren’t found anywhere else in Aus, TBLS. In Vic a bail justice volunteer makes a determination if the alleged offender is arrested at a time where a magistrate is not available. That will change now. And of course there will be a review. As a basic rule, I would like to think someone who has been arrested for a violent offence and has prior convictions for similar crimes, bail would be withheld as a matter of course. The offender still would have the opportunity to appeal that decision in a higher court.
Dammit! I meant to write “before bail is refused”!
a) Too many people in gaol on drug offences, stressing out the system
b) Regardless of (a), not enough beds in the system
One has to wonder why they couldn’t have stopped him when doing wheelies in Flinders Street. Bullets in the tyres would have killed no-one and 5 innocent people would still be alive.
Yvonne with all due respect you are watching too much American TV. Firing a handgun, under pressure with adrenalin going, for a young copper who is lucky to train once a year and hitting a small moving target is nigh on impossible. Add to that injuries or death from ricochet. If that young copper hit the rim and it ricocheted off and hit that baby in the pram what do you think the media would be saying now?
OK, just a thought………. maybe ramming then? There were two cop cars arrive right there on the intersection
I see in todays’ paper that he sat in his car for an hour with the engine running – in a dead end street in Yarraville
The ideal spot to block his escape one would have thought. But they had called off the car pursuit and next thing a chopper came thundering in overhead. That set him off – big time.
There is obviously a lot of confusion in the handling of pursuits these days. A lot more are happening – and the perpetrators are getting bolder with seemingly little regard for their fate – or the fate of others. It’s a worrying situation, that’s for sure.
SBS TV continues to serve us up stories on Adolf Hitler, Mr Insider, yesterday touching on his mountain retreat the Berghof. Hitler spent more time there than his official residence in Berlin when he was the Fuhrer we read. Hitler made sure the views were perfect and anyone who did not sell their homes to improve Hitler’s view out over the alps spent a few weeks in Dachau to improve their “minds”. Today not much is left of this complex much of it being demolished in 1952 and thereafter.
http://thirdreichruins.com/berghof.htm
I haven’t seen that series but there is a book soon to be released which documents Hitler’s drug use. Basically he was on a cocktail of barbituates and amphetamines for much of the last ten years of his life, prescribed by his personal physician, Theodor Morell. Morell was a charletan who gained Hitler’s trust by treating the Fuhrer’s gastro problem. AH was a vegetarian whose diet consisted largely of beans and for which he suffered substantial flatulence (perhaps others suffered more). Just how much Morell contributed to Hitler’s psychosis is academic but it explains a great deal about Hitler’s behaviour. The book by Norman Ohler is called Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany. A very interesting read if you are up for it.
Thanks Mr Insider shall source that book indeed.
Also the Waffen-SS was on crystal meth. True.
The RAF weren’t too shy on amphetamines either – Bendzadrine won the Battle of Britain.
Did also hear that MDMA was originally developed as an appetite suppressant for German Soldiers in WW1?
Martin Bormans 50th birthday present to Hitler the Kehlsteinhaus on top of the mountain is still a tourist attraction on the Obersalzburg a somewhat chipped red marble fireplace (souvenired by US troops) and a huge buffet that won’t fit in the lift are the only remnants inside.
You travel up in a bus with a few extra gears as the road is so steep, the General Walker hotel/Platterhof was the only other building from the Hitler years there when I went in 1985.
You’d be hard pressed to find any trace of the former homes even back then and to be honest the locals had long since moved on. Stayed at Berchtesgaden rather nippy as it was September and I don’t know if the tourist numbers would be horrendous now but worth a visit if you go to Germany.
JB 04:43a,.
You talking about Trumps wife having the goods in terms of attraction , I thought she maybe Sophia Loren having wound the clock back 50 years old mate! Maybe a Sophia clone JB, what do you reckon?
Not so sure your theory of been a spy having the Don teams doing their homework on her past and movements.
Cheers.
Yes, attraction Rodent. Fatal attraction. Those women are trained and skilled in the arts of seducing and trapping their assigned targets by their wily masters of the former KGB. She was a “sleeper” with an impeccable cover story and “Don’s team” would have no chance of discovering the fiendish plan.
Moscow will know every thought that enters and leaves the Presidents head. Putin and his oligarch cronies will be killing the pig shorting and currency trading.
The deal is the Russians ollies will have two years to make hay before supplying the information to have Trump impeached and their fellow conspirators in the US elites will have Pence for the remainder of the term to further their agendas.
And no, she doesn’t remotely resemble Sophia Loren.
You’ve been watching too many 007 movies, JB
He’s off his meds again.
‘The deal is’ … And these world leaders have thought to include you in their circle of friends and keep you informed of their thoughts? Wow. I’m impressed. Really impressed.
You idiots.
RE: BASSMAN says:
January 22, 2017 at 1:11 pm
B’Man,
You have to know what ‘race’ it is your are entering!!
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/chris-kenny/sideshows-only-amplify-trumps-core-message/news-story/3604a98f9ba59d5088df5c5a5fb9a0ce
Basically, the Electoral College serves the same purpose as our ‘Equal Senators for Founding States’ a mechanism to encourage the smaller States to sign on to federation and to protect their influence in the Federation.
As Chris Kenny says the ‘popular vote’ is an electoral irrelevance in the USA system.
I recommend the Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance to you – I am sure you will find it resonates with so many of your fundamental values and life experiences.
I know how the electoral college works. I am not that thick.
How thick are you then?
🙂
6 an d a half x 1 and a half
millimetres would sound so much more impressive Bassy.
Mack the Knife says:
JANUARY 23, 2017 AT 12:37 PM….and closer to the bone!!
Too much information there
Really?
Called leading with your chin 😊
Funny thing, if most of them understood how the college votes work, they wouldnt bother voting themselves because, it makes no frickin difference. Collegians are under no compulsion to vote with the populace. Basically, its an invisible cabinet with no check on its authority or possible corruption.
.
Trump keeps yelling the women should have voted, Im sure they did, didnt help ’em any, but they did.
January 22, 2017 at 4:43 am
“So Trump ranted about putting America and Americans first while standing next to his foreign born wife. And not the first either.
What! American girls not good enough for him.”
You showing your true colours JB?
What you got against Slovenian women, anyway?
The irony of the situation seems lost on you Carl.
You are quite improper to suggest I have anything against Slovenian women, I do not, but when I did I found them acceptable and quite serviceable. I flatter myself to believe that was mutual.
There are reports that Mexico, Canada and California are all commencing to build a wall between themselves and the USA. Which may compromise Trumps plan for a wall driven economic recovery.
Can’t lose “irony” if it ain’t there JB, and your following comment again illustrates the emergence of your rapscallion tendencies.
Re the wall, California may have a problem. And I think Wall Street may drive the economy me old mate.
CotC you must have missed trump blaming “immigrants” for all of the US’s woes. A Slovenian “immigrant would be included would it not?
serviceable?
Well, OK.