politics

I've been loving this whole calling Republicans "weird" thing. It's as if Democrats have finally cracked the code, or figured out how to take the lead in the Republican game of Calvinball.

Calling Trump and the ilk out will be rebutted as exaggerated, doesn't mean it, all politicians are part of the same corrupt system, etc. etc.

Disengaging with the namecalling and running on policy alone, while a noble strategy, gives all the attention to the Trumpists who get a free microphone to say whatever the fuck they want and media can't help themselves but run with their lies.

Now we've got the Democrats playing their game but without fully stooping to their level. Using a word to specifically insult Trump his ego and their authoritarian platform, yet is relatively benign in itself (there a lot of good kinds of weirds, but none of them are applicable to Trump and friends). It's a calm gateway to say, "Both sides are NOT the same, pay attention to what's actually being said!", and get people to put aside the horserace framing and consider the real and dangerous consequences of another Trump term.

Republicans are panicking big-time and trying page after page of their playbook, to little effect against this new strategy.

• "No u"? flip
• "Where's your decooooooruuuuum?" flip
• "Wha- wha- Whatabout pronouns and immigrants!?!??" flip

None of it's working. The Democrats are cheating!!! Only we're allowed to cheat!!!!!

I noticed the pivot in dialogue. I’ve seen him called weird a few times, which is the lesser quality one would think to call out compared to racist, fascist, rapist etc.

But I think that’s the point. All his heinous words (lies), personal attacks, and coups attempts have been normalized and the people have been desensitized. I see this pivot as a reminder of: THIS IS NOT NORMAL. This is not “all politicians are the same.” Instead of pointing to newest horrible thing, it reminds us we don’t need to be okay coexisting with fascism.

I think it unboils the frog a bit.

That's pretty weird dude.

In rural areas, being normal is the highest priority. If you do one thing that's 'weird' that thing will define you in that community for the rest of your life. You'll never escape the weird thing you did. Your life is over.

"If you're going to accuse someone of having sec with a couch, you better have video." Is the weirdest way to ask for AI generated JD porn ever.

It's keeping them off balance. They were already thrown off by the switch in candidates. Keep them this way for the next three months, and Democrats will win. The alt-right doesn't play defense, but they've been forced to the last few weeks. They're really bad at it.

Things that we know about that will help:

• Democratic Convention is the time when Democrats get to own that particular news cycle
• Trump sentencing in the hush money trial on Sept 18
• Marijuana rescheduling (comment period is over, which is the last step before a review of those comments followed by a ruling)
• JD Vance dropping from the race, blunting any argument that Democrats are chaotic and aimless with the switchover
• JD Vance staying in the race, because he's JD Vance

These might not be enough on their own, but they're the one's we know about. Keep hammering "weird" and take other opportunities, and there you go.

I’m worried they’ll just embrace it like they did with “deplorable”.

What a weird response...

They are just so fucking weird.

I feel like this works for humanity's collective benefit

I feel like I really need "Weird" Al's take on this.

The incel/manosphere portion of the qons was never going to react well to being called out.

I've heard people calling these freaks "creepy weirdos" for years (for instance: bluegal on The Professional Left has pointedly used that phrase). I'm just glad to see it being take up much, much more broadly.

Because the creepy freaks that are xtian nationalists ARE weird. Very, very weird.