The Rise of Political Hackery on the Right

Where is the outrage of the Trump supporters over the disastrous position his administration took over the course of this week, and the inane statements by the State Department, that are no different in tone or in substance from what we would have gotten from (and did) from the Obama administration?

There has been nary a word from the usual suspects, who've dedicated their precious time not to pushing their movement's leader to do better, but to discuss three subject matters: Harvey Weinsteing, NFL nonsense, and bashing anyone who is not a Trump groupie. Yes, I'm using this word deliberately, because rational people, no matter how much they support whoever they support, have something of substance to contribute to the discussion other than bashing critics and dwelling on the failures of others. Instead, I see my entire feed deteriorate into schadenfreude about the leftists and hatred aimed at George W., Bill Krystol, and anyone who dares say a word against Bannon, Trump himself (of course), or any of the policies that are worth at least discussing.

Being a yes-man does not make you any more loyal to the country, t he party, or for that matter, the president, than someone who is genuinely trying to ways of improving things that need to be fixed. Notice that you won't find me complaining about the administration's regulatory policies, judiciary appointments, or anything that I think they get right. I give praise where it's due. Likewise, I have praised Democrats, in the admittedly rare instances where they demonstrated rational thinking, moral clarity, or for whatever reason said and did the right thing. ((Here's loooking at you, Sen. Blumenthal, Schumer, & Menendez & Joe Biden).

I find it disheartening and infuriating to see people I once respected even when I disagreed with their political choices turn into unpleasant, bitter, political hacks who take on the worst aspects of the very things they once hated without blinking an eye, without realizing how much damage they are doing to their own purported causes.

On the Harvey Weinstein Kerfuffle and Victimhood

Teaching would-be victims how to defend themselves and not be victims is not victim-shaming or victim-blaming. It's a way to prevent dangerous situations and potentially save people from traumatic experiences. No one is taking moral culpability off the offender. But would you rather have to survive sexual assault or exploitation and then get to talk how evil the attacker was or prevent sexual assault or exploitation was and talk about how evil the attempted attacker was? And frankly, if stopping the attacker first time around is going to deter him/her from future assaults, it's well worth it.

Not a Popular Point of View about the Hollywood Feminists

Same "feminists" who are supportive of FGM and burqas, kept silent on Harvey Weistein (and most likely dozens of others like him in Hollywood), and are now all outraged.

Sorry, I have a difficult time gathering up sympathy right now.

I have even less sympathy for all the women who were ok with the actors grabbing at them, and didn't say anything at the time. Unlike the rich powerful producer, the actors at these random parties were not in a position of power.

You don't get to be a willing participant in the game and help oppress other people and perpetuate this sick culture, and then expect to be treated as a victim. You don't get to promote and cover up abuse, and perhaps hush up others who wanted to speak out, and then claim shame.

The Harvey Weinstein Kerfuffle.

Love when men tell me how I am supposed to think about and discuss sexual harassment. Also love the faux outrage when everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of shock and awe over Harvey, and all the wealthy, hypocritical women who covered up for him. Please don't pretend not to have known this goes in Hollywood on a daily basis. And you know what, all these people choose to live surrounded by other hypocrites and only speak up when they are shamed into it. I am not shocked or impressed by all the profiles in courage who are repeating the same outcries as during identical two week "crisis" over Charlottesville.

Want to help women? Lead by example and help create work environment where this is not tolerated. Advocate for individual women who are abused. Educate your kids on how to stand up to inappropriate behavior. Teach your daughters strength and self-respect. And don't stay silent when you see someone else, in academia, in politics, in law firms, engaged in supine behavior. Your internet courage of attacking me is not impressive. When I see you defending women, instead of attacking them, maybe then I will be incline to take mass condemnations seriously. But I can't now, when women's empowerment and safety is largely a rhetorical point for promoting political agendas by the usual suspects.

One Of These Two Is Not LIke The Other

On the Harvey Weinstein-Trump comparisons:

One has been accused of rape by multiple people and caught on police tape actually groping someone.

The other bragged about the women who let him grab them and acted crude and off-putting.

The first is deeply illegal. The second is in exceptionally poor taste and undignified, but NOT RAPE.
So no, not all uncouth behavior is created equal. If it turns out that Harvey rumors are unsubstantiated and he never harassed anyone and there is no truth to rumors of rape, maybe then you can say that the comparisons Trump have been appropriate.

But as of now, the allegations against one, that appear to have at least some merit, are significantly worse than the allegations against the other. You just can't compare the two.

Dislike Trump all you want. There are plenty of things you can say about him. You can say that HIS videotape was shocking, inappropriate, unpresidential, immoral, and awful. All of that is true.

But comparing someone who is possibly a rapist to someone who is definitely not is doing no favors for the victims of rape and sexual harassment.

Just One Word About Harvey Weinstein

Honestly? My capacity to care about Harvey Weinstein, the horrible story that it truly is, is very limited. Hollywood's and leftists' hypocrisy is coming out, ok, what else is new?

Nothing will change.

After Harvey is done, it's going to be back to business as usual. Harvey is a scapegoat for hundreds or thousands more like him that will go unpunished, and the only reason he got caught is probably because someone seeking revenge, leaked the story.

I honestly can't understand how this can be all everyone can be talking about for a week, when there are far more important issues going unaddressed.