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Fake News

Ponder This

Well-Known Member
“Please make sure the elections in Georgia are fair and legal”?

If that’s what he said it wouldn’t even be newsworthy. Did you listen to the audio? They tried to tell him how they are ensuring the elections are fair and legal. He wasn’t having any of it.

I think this speaks to the point that Trump really does think the election was stolen from him. The phone call wasn't particularly news worthy, but it was reported unfairly.

Respectfully: if you think you can tell the difference, and if you think the difference matters, you are exactly the kind of sucker charlatans like Trump prey upon.

Trump has an obvious tell. When he is presented with facts that contradict his illusion, he interrupts and changes the subject. He did this repeatedly on the call with Raffensberger.

If you “sincerely” thought your car was stolen, and the police said they have it, you wouldn’t interrupt, repeat it was stolen, threaten them if they don’t find it, and change the subject to your wallet which was also stolen. Go listen to the call audio. That’s Trump. He has one goal: change the result.

It’s so obvious that Trump is not doing any of this in good faith. How can you possibly not see it?

I think that there are people who think Trump is motivated by selfishness and that there are people who think Trump is motivated to help his country and that these two groups do not see eye to eye on just about every issue on which Trump weighs in. Trump's oft-made point that the news media tends to not cover him fairly strongly resonates with his supporters.

Tell me about it. The Trump Party sued in Texas to have my legally cast drive-thru vote and 100,000 others like it thrown out.

They also tried to throw out millions of legally cast votes in Pennsylvania.

Trump also tried to hamstring the USPS’ ability to handle mail in votes, but he was thwarted.

Now the President has tried to bully and threaten state election officials into changing the results.

I’m glad Americans have taken these threats by the President to our election integrity seriously.

If the votes are illegal, then it disenfranchises voters. Trump hasn't backed down that there were illegal votes and therefore his supporters feel disenfranchised.

Georgia did three counts, one of them by hand. They thoroughly investigated the absurd allegations by Giuliani and other Trumpworld trolls. Raffensberger tried to explain this to Trump on their call Saturday but Trump kept interrupting - Trump probably let them talk for 3 minutes of the 102 minute call.

Here’s a Republican election official in Georgia explaining for the hundredth time how thoroughly things were checked. Biden still wins in this version of reality though so it’s not the version Trumpers take “very seriously”.

They didn't actually investigate all the allegations, which is why the Secretary of State of Georgia got a phone call from Trump asking to see data and to have allegations investigated.

So Trumpworld is really concerned about election integrity ... except when they are threatening election integrity in such a way as to advantage Trump.

And they quickly lose interest in election integrity when the facts confirm Biden won Georgia. Why is that?

Here are the facts about election integrity in Georgia ... careful! It’s only interesting if you actually care about election integrity. Not just changing the outcome for Trump.

PolitiFact - Here’s why Georgia’s Republican officials are confident in their presidential election results

I don't know that anyone has lost interest in election integrity. People feel more strongly about election integrity than other issues. I think that's why people are more concerned about election integrity.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
I did not listen to the who phone call, but I heard a good bit of it. And it sounded to me like Trump had been told by someone that there may be more votes for him that had somehow not been counted. And if that were the case, he was trying his best to get the governor to find them.

It also sounded to me like Trump really did't care if those missing votes actually existed, or not. He just wanted them "found" whether they existed or not, so he could win.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
OAN is currently questioning whether the Capitol
invaders are actually Trump supporters, or impostors.
 
I think this speaks to the point that Trump really does think the election was stolen from him. The phone call wasn't particularly news worthy, but it was reported unfairly.
Actually you didn’t report the call fairly. “Please make sure the elections are fair and legal in Georgia” is not even close to what Trump said. You totally distorted his words and put your own sugar-coated spin on it. Why not just quote what Trump actually said, like the media has done?

I think that there are people who think Trump is motivated by selfishness and that there are people who think Trump is motivated to help his country and that these two groups do not see eye to eye on just about every issue on which Trump weighs in. Trump's oft-made point that the news media tends to not cover him fairly strongly resonates with his supporters.
This doesn’t address what I said about Trump’s “tell”. The ranting of a demagogue, by definition, will resonate with supporters. The question is what is he really up to, and how can we tell? You don’t seem to be engaging with the point I made on that, you’re kind of changing the subject. Why?

If the votes are illegal, then it disenfranchises voters. Trump hasn't backed down that there were illegal votes and therefore his supporters feel disenfranchised.
I can assure you that my vote was not illegal. And guess what? Now Democrats control the Senate because Trump disenfranchised and undermined his own party in Georgia.

You reap what you sow. This is Trump’s harvest.

They didn't actually investigate all the allegations, which is why the Secretary of State of Georgia got a phone call from Trump asking to see data and to have allegations investigated.
If Trump was interested in investigations into these allegations, and not just changing the outcome, why did he keep interrupting Raffensberger on that call? Many times on the call, Trump made an allegation, and Raffensberger tried to discuss the investigations that had been done into that allegation. E.g., why there were two dead people who voted, not 5,000 as Trump claimed. Why the votes were scanned once, not three times as Trump claimed.

This caused Trump to become angry and interrupt, repeat his claims, and change the subject. Why? If you truly cared about investigations getting to the bottom of the allegations, why would you refuse to hear about them? Because they don’t change the result in Trump’s favor. Trump only cares about investigations as a hail-Mary to change things in his favor.

How can you possibly not see the difference?

I don't know that anyone has lost interest in election integrity. People feel more strongly about election integrity than other issues. I think that's why people are more concerned about election integrity.
But Trump showed zero interest in election integrity on the call - except as it related to possibly changing the result in his favor.

For example: when Raffensberger explained the detailed audit that was done, frame by frame, of a video where the “water main” supposedly broke ... that would be a very interesting topic to someone who wants to ensure proper investigations were done and the voting was fair. Trump didn’t want to hear it. He interrupted. Repeated he must have won. Made vague threats against Raffensberger. Changed the subject. Raffensberger offered to send him a link where he can watch the full security camera footage instead of the edited version by Giuliani. Trump interrupted and said he didn’t need to see the full video. Why? Why would a person supposedly obsessed with election integrity refuse to see the full video?

Because Trump could tell this was not going in a direction that favored him. And that is Trump’s focus. His focus is on winning and finding ways to make that reality so. Not ensuring a fair election and thorough investigations regardless of what the outcome may be.

This is so obvious. Are you really so blind that you can’t see it?

If so, this charlatan has really hoodwinked you.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Mainstream media certainly gets enough things completely wrong for what look like partisan reasons to justify a lot of skepticism.

See MAGA kids

Or just nonsense and bad reporting.

See yahoo news for the latest discovery of noahs ark.

Mainstream media is almost entirely owned by large corporations
that we should be cautious when assuming they never seek to
influence their outlet's stories. Beyond that, there are the
accounts by former employees of their receiving instructions of
of one sort or another on how to present various topics. There
are also studies by political scientists of uneven coverage of
opposing views and politicians. That's for starters. In my
opinion -- and I could be wrong -- the mainstream media is on
the whole biased against certain issues and politicians, and
biased in favor of others, based -- not so much on political ideologies --
but more strongly on the economic interests of its corporate
owners and investors. Just my 2 cents. Your mileage may vary.
 

Ponder This

Well-Known Member
Actually you didn’t report the call fairly. “Please make sure the elections are fair and legal in Georgia” is not even close to what Trump said. You totally distorted his words and put your own sugar-coated spin on it. Why not just quote what Trump actually said, like the media has done?

This doesn’t address what I said about Trump’s “tell”. The ranting of a demagogue, by definition, will resonate with supporters. The question is what is he really up to, and how can we tell? You don’t seem to be engaging with the point I made on that, you’re kind of changing the subject. Why?

I can assure you that my vote was not illegal. And guess what? Now Democrats control the Senate because Trump disenfranchised and undermined his own party in Georgia.

You reap what you sow. This is Trump’s harvest.

If Trump was interested in investigations into these allegations, and not just changing the outcome, why did he keep interrupting Raffensberger on that call? Many times on the call, Trump made an allegation, and Raffensberger tried to discuss the investigations that had been done into that allegation. E.g., why there were two dead people who voted, not 5,000 as Trump claimed. Why the votes were scanned once, not three times as Trump claimed.

This caused Trump to become angry and interrupt, repeat his claims, and change the subject. Why? If you truly cared about investigations getting to the bottom of the allegations, why would you refuse to hear about them? Because they don’t change the result in Trump’s favor. Trump only cares about investigations as a hail-Mary to change things in his favor.

How can you possibly not see the difference?

But Trump showed zero interest in election integrity on the call - except as it related to possibly changing the result in his favor.

For example: when Raffensberger explained the detailed audit that was done, frame by frame, of a video where the “water main” supposedly broke ... that would be a very interesting topic to someone who wants to ensure proper investigations were done and the voting was fair. Trump didn’t want to hear it. He interrupted. Repeated he must have won. Made vague threats against Raffensberger. Changed the subject. Raffensberger offered to send him a link where he can watch the full security camera footage instead of the edited version by Giuliani. Trump interrupted and said he didn’t need to see the full video. Why? Why would a person supposedly obsessed with election integrity refuse to see the full video?

Because Trump could tell this was not going in a direction that favored him. And that is Trump’s focus. His focus is on winning and finding ways to make that reality so. Not ensuring a fair election and thorough investigations regardless of what the outcome may be.

This is so obvious. Are you really so blind that you can’t see it?

If so, this charlatan has really hoodwinked you.

Hmm. You seem to be confirming what I said: that people see this very differently, particularly when Trump weighs in. The media quoted a particular part of the phone call. If you thought the election was stolen, would you be upset? The "debunk" confirms the main allegation: that observers and media were sent home and then counting continued (without observers, no observers called back, etc). Of course Trump is arguing his side. So just about everything you've said confirms that his supporters and his opponents really do see these things very differently.

When you ask: "How can you possibly not see the difference?" The answer is: I do see the difference. That's actually the point I'm making. So... do you see the difference as well?
I don't don't know what you mean when you talk about changing the subject. The topic here is fake news. So it seems you've changed the topic more than I have. To get back to topic: You say that I sugar-coated the phone call, but the point I was making is that the media demonized the phone call, which is true.
 

ecco

Veteran Member
I dont think that is going to effectively improve bibbly blub Bidens obvious incoherence and memory anytime soon.

I posted it to show you how incoherent Trump is. I guess you didn't get it.
Can't wait for the inauguration speech and first state of the union address. Hopefully he will still have Obummers teleprompter on standby. If Biden can still read that is.

That's really funny.

When Obama was President, Trump ragged on him for using a teleprompter.

When Trump was president, he used teleprompters for every speech. except some of his rallies. It was easy to see when he was reading the speech on the teleprompter which someone had written for him and when he was ad-libbing.

When he was ad-libbing, he was incoherent, just like in the phone call.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
I posted it to show you how incoherent Trump is. I guess you didn't get it.


That's really funny.

When Obama was President, Trump ragged on him for using a teleprompter.

When Trump was president, he used teleprompters for every speech. except some of his rallies. It was easy to see when he was reading the speech on the teleprompter which someone had written for him and when he was ad-libbing.

When he was ad-libbing, he was incoherent, just like in the phone call.
It was a great debate, had fun, but Trump is all but gone and finished.

Hopefully Biden will accomplish his promises and am willing to give him a chance, even if I don't understand what he is saying.

I'll jab if he does something screwy. I promise. =0]

In the meantime, I'm just going to chill a bit with some hot tea.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
OAN is currently questioning whether the Capitol
invaders are actually Trump supporters, or impostors.
If they are imposters, Im Impressed or terrified. Can't figure out which yet.

I don't think the smoke and mirrors is going to work this time around.

Even I think its the right wing lunatic fringe.
 

Friend of Mara

Active Member
136677615_10224679130587032_5156125699439372713_o.jpg


Hey that you? lol.
 
Hmm. You seem to be confirming what I said: that people see this very differently, particularly when Trump weighs in.
Yes, people see this differently. However I must say that when people like Trump, Guiliani and his supporters act in bad faith, how they see things becomes less relevant than what they are trying to do. And that is change the outcome - irrespective of election integrity.

Case in point: Trump falsely stated on the call 5,000 dead people voted, that a video showed votes being scanned three times, and that a video also showed votes hidden under a table. He stated this as if it was a fact. He wouldn’t let Raffensberger tell him why it isn’t a fact. Then the President went on Twitter and re-stated these untrue claims, and lied about Raffensbergers response:

upload_2021-1-8_1-20-39.jpeg


^ This is a lie.

Raffensberger was not “unwilling or unable” to answer the allegations. Anyone can listen to the audio and hear for themselves. Raffensberger did answer Trump’s questions when he could - Trump kept interrupting and not letting him speak. Raffensberger specifically addressed the false claims made by Trump about dead voters and votes hidden under a table. Raffensberger agreed to meet with Trump’s lawyers and go through the allegations point by point. He also offered the full video which Trump refused to view.

Why would someone who is “sincerely” concerned about the integrity of the election - and not just securing a favorable outcome - lie like this? How does lying help election integrity? You can see how it helps change the outcome in his favor though, right?

How can you be outraged by how the media supposedly didn’t portray the call accurately, in your view, and not be outraged at the President blatantly lying about it?

Do you realize that when the President lies like this he was lying to his own supporters? The ones who “sincerely” believe the election was stolen and who don’t feel listened to. Gosh, who’s fault is that, who’s the one causing those awful “sincere” feelings of election fraud that can’t be assuaged by facts ... Raffensberger, or the President?

You focus on Trump “really” believing he won the election. But fail to acknowledge if he won’t listen to the other side / facts he doesn’t like, and keeps lying about his opponents, then the sincerity of his beliefs becomes doubtful - and irrelevant.

Surely after the events of yesterday you will give up defending this guy.

The media quoted a particular part of the phone call.
Really? Which article do you think portrayed the call inaccurately?

You, and Trump, have both portrayed the call very inaccurately. You literally made up your own quote.

Read that sentence again, and look inward.

When you ask: "How can you possibly not see the difference?" The answer is: I do see the difference. That's actually the point I'm making. So... do you see the difference as well?
The difference I was referring to was the difference between your made-up Trump quote, “please make sure the elections are fair and legal in Georgia”, versus bullying election officials into finding ways to change the outcome, which is what actually occurred as anyone can hear for themselves on the 100-minute recording.

Yes, I see the difference. Do you?

To get back to topic: You say that I sugar-coated the phone call, but the point I was making is that the media demonized the phone call, which is true.
Evidence, please. You and Trump have already distorted the call. Which media article, specifically, inaccurately reported it? Which media article entirely made up a quote and attributed it to Trump, as you did?

You really should take a hard look in the mirror here, respectfully.

Honestly, after the events of yesterday why even bother providing air cover for this guy? He has bankrupted the Presidency just as he bankrupted his businesses.
 
Last edited:

ecco

Veteran Member
The media quoted a particular part of the phone call.
but the point I was making is that the media demonized the phone call, which is true.
I read the transcript of the entire call.
I watch CNN and the other "main-stream media".
What the media reported was what I read.

Perhaps you saw/heard something different.

Please explain how "the media demonized the phone call".
 

Ponder This

Well-Known Member
Really? Which article do you think portrayed the call inaccurately?

You, and Trump, have both portrayed the call very inaccurately. You literally made up your own quote.

Read that sentence again, and look inward.

The difference I was referring to was the difference between your made-up Trump quote, “please make sure the elections are fair and legal in Georgia”, versus bullying election officials into finding ways to change the outcome, which is what actually occurred as anyone can hear for themselves on the 100-minute recording.

Yes, I see the difference. Do you?

Evidence, please. You and Trump have already distorted the call. Which media article, specifically, inaccurately reported it? Which media article entirely made up a quote and attributed it to Trump, as you did?

You really should take a hard look in the mirror here, respectfully.

Honestly, after the events of yesterday why even bother providing air cover for this guy? He has bankrupted the Presidency just as he bankrupted his businesses.

I didn't quote Trump's phone call.
Examples of news articles include
https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...5acb92-4dc4-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html
and
Trump, in Taped Call, Pressured Georgia Official to ‘Find’ Votes to Overturn Election
and
The 37 most outrageous lines from Donald Trump's call with the Georgia secretary of state - CNNPolitics
The Washington Post since had the courtesy to post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...68e0cc-4ddd-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html
which is better.
I don't think your argument is helped by trying to change it into an argument about more recent events.
Raffenburger's remarks don't address all the allegations.
I think the advice of being wary about taking anything reported in the news at face value remains good, strong advice. Seeing the full transcript from the beginning would've been better. But perhaps, it would not have made a sufficiently sensational headline.
I think the advice applies both to thinking allegations are true because the news frames them in such a way as to say they are true, and to thinking allegations are false because because the news frames them in such a way as to say they are false.
 
I didn't quote Trump's phone call.
You used quotation marks and characterized the call inaccurately as Trump saying “Please make sure the elections in Georgia are fair and legal”.

Perhaps you should have actually quoted Trump’s phone call, as media did. Then you could convey what he said accurately, instead of putting your own twist on it.

The NYT accurately describes the call as Trump pressuring him to “find” enough votes to overturn the election and then provides context and quotes behind that.

The CNN article is literally a list of 37 Trump quotes from the call.

I don't think your argument is helped by trying to change it into an argument about more recent events.
I don’t think your argument is helped by dodging my questions. Why didn’t Trump let Raffensberger speak? Why won’t Trump watch the video? Why did Trump lie on Twitter about the call? You say Trump was concerned about election integrity but if that was his focus, not just changing the outcome in his favor, how do you answer these questions?

It’s connected to recent events. Trump, not the media, is the one who lied about this call and this is why he lied: because his concern is about the outcome, not the integrity of the election.

How can you still not see this? And why do you dodge these questions?

Raffenburger's remarks don't address all the allegations.
But they addressed specific allegations Trump made and then Trump specifically lied about it in his Twitter post. Raffensberger can’t possibly address “all” the allegations when the President is ranting for 90 minutes and he only gets to speak for 10 minutes. Again: listen to the call. Trump kept interrupting him just when he would get started. Raffensberger offered to go point-by-point in a follow up meeting with Trump’s lawyers. Did they take him up on that offer? Or did they refuse just as they refused to look at the full video?

Raffensbergers subordinate gave a presser the following Monday refuting the allegations point by point. There’s nothing else he could have done except interrupt or have a shouting match with the President.

Trump tried to lie to his supporters and make them think Raffensberger doesn’t have any answers. And you know it. Why not admit it?

I think the advice of being wary about taking anything reported in the news at face value remains good, strong advice. Seeing the full transcript from the beginning would've been better. But perhaps, it would not have made a sufficiently sensational headline.
Agreed but that of course is the nature of transcribing a 90 minute call. It takes time. I first saw reports about the call on Sunday. Within the same day there were full audio and transcripts available.

Journalists worked over the weekend to give you the truth Donald Trump tried to hide from you.

Again: if you’re upset at the media you must be far more upset at the President for lying about the call, right? You saw that Tweet I posted, right? Or do you just hold Trump to an extremely low standard?

I guess if the President told his supporters the truth, it wouldn’t benefit him or rile them up into violence and insurrection, like he wanted. He wanted a sensational headline too. The media he calls “the enemy of the people” responded with accuracy. You should be thanking them.
 
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