Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Trump and His Fans Are Stuck Inside a Feedback Loop
The National Review ^ | November 29, 2015 | Charles C. W. Cooke

Posted on 11/30/2015 12:09:57 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

On Meet the Press this morning, Donald Trump insisted that:

he was "100 percent right" when he said he saw thousands of Muslims in Jersey City, New Jersey, cheering the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, even though fact-checkers have debunked his assertion.

In a phone interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump said he has heard from "hundreds of people that agree" that there were televised Muslim celebrations of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which he used as evidence to show his remarks were true.

"I saw it. So many people saw it," said Trump, who, in the race for the November 2016 election, has been among the most vocal of the Republican candidates in expressing skepticism about Muslims in the United States. "So, why would I take it back? I'm not going to take it back."

When NBC anchor Chuck Todd suggested the people Trump heard from are supporters and might want to agree with him, Trump interrupted to note the "huge Muslim population" New Jersey has. >

"Why wouldn't it have taken place?" he said of a celebration there. "I've had hundreds of people call in and tweet in on Twitter, saying that they saw it and I was 100 percent right."

This affair serves as the perfect illustration of the ugly manner in which the Trump phenomenon now works. That there is no evidence of "thousands" of American Muslims cheering 9/11 from New Jersey is, frankly, immaterial. Why? Well, because Trump is playing a character on TV, and his script includes no room for error. By the rules he has set out for himself, whatever Trump says he is, he must be. As such, he can't possibly have misremembered what happened after 9/11 - as might any human being - because he has the World's Greatest Memory, and the guy with the World's Greatest Memory doesn't misremember.

This rule applies consistently. If Trump says he's a conservative - despite holding positions that usually make conservatives shriek - then he's a conservative. If that requires redefining conservatism, so be it. If he says he wasn't mocking a journalist whom he was quite obviously mocking, then he wasn't mocking that journalist. If that requires his admirers to suspend disbelief beyond all possible limits, then so be it. And if he says that he saw something of which there really is no evidence, then he must have seen it. Worse still: If you like him, then you must have seen it too.

In this late stage, Trump's whole campaign has become a ghastly feedback loop from which there is no hope of escape. Typically, we do not accept "why wouldn't it have happened?" as much of an argument for anything. Customarily, we would privilege the ancient principle of ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat (the burden of proof is on the one who declares, not on one who denies) above an appeal to the mob. Not here, though. There's a SuperTrump to prop up. If 2+2 has to equal 5 to annoy Chuck Todd or to stick one in the eye of the politically correct, then 2+2 is 5.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 2016; artofthelies; campaign; catch22; charlescwcooke; demagogicparty; donaldtrump; feedbackloop; gopprimary; itstdstimekids; memebuilding; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; realitytv; tds; trump; trumpcult; whiteobama
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 141-144 next last
To: Cincinatus' Wife

I have no idea if thousands of arabs in New York and New Jersey were celebrating after 9-11.

BUT, I saw news coverage of Palestinians dancing in the streets by the thousands after 9-11.


61 posted on 11/30/2015 2:19:49 AM PST by TexasFreeper2009 (You can't spell Hillary without using the letters L, I, A, & R)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RginTN

funny because it seems to me that Democrats have been ignoring and insulting white males and christians for decades.


62 posted on 11/30/2015 2:23:07 AM PST by TexasFreeper2009 (You can't spell Hillary without using the letters L, I, A, & R)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

He’s more like a cult leader than a real leader. Doubters, skeptics, and real life long conservatives, are maligned by Trumpies because the cult leader now determines what is real conservatism and what is not. It’s weird. I never thought we’d have such an obvious fraud bamboozle so many conservatives.


63 posted on 11/30/2015 2:23:53 AM PST by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution. Go Cruz.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Figures you would be the one to post this crap.


64 posted on 11/30/2015 2:24:51 AM PST by McGruff (Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yardstick; MinuteGal; onyx; hoosiermama; DoughtyOne; Jane Long; entropy12; HarleyLady27; ...

“That is an excellent piece. Strongly argued and brings some new evidence to the table.”

Ahhhh, her one White Knight to the rescue. Let’s see the “strongly argued and bringing new evidence” article about Hillary being under enemy fire when getting off a plane, or Hillary and the night of Benghazi and the video being the cause of it; Hillary, the ultimate pathological liar, as well as the pathological lying of most of the liberal MSM on a daily basis.

You want to talk about lies? Then look to the whoppers being told every day by the socialists that run our country now, as well as the Obama regime/MSM/Dems/RINO’s/GOPe. And you prefer to look to Donald’s exaggeration in numbers at best (everything he does and says is “yuge”; it’s his outsized personality at work, lol). It isn’t even an exaggeration, as we all know those damnable Muzzies in great numbers were all celebrating behind closed doors on 9/11.

You will never convince me otherwise, and I had a personal experience with one of them in Chicago who was celebrating the fall of the twin towers in NYC and saying it was lucky that the Sears Tower in Chicago was still standing. So, Yardstick, I say you are full of cr*p, and just another Trump basher to be ignored. You and the poster of this hit piece article.


65 posted on 11/30/2015 2:30:30 AM PST by flaglady47 (TRUMP ROCKS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Did you see where the Donald said he had 100 black minsters who were going to endorse him for president today? Well, it was news to those ministers. Of course, it’s unfair to point out what a lie that was for him to tell.


66 posted on 11/30/2015 2:31:37 AM PST by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution. Go Cruz.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre
Did you see where the Donald said he had 100 black minsters who were going to endorse him for president today?

No, I didn't. Do you have a link where he used the word 'endorse'?

/johnny

67 posted on 11/30/2015 2:38:16 AM PST by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: flaglady47

You need to apologize to “yardstick.”

This is the link/article being praised.

Frontpage - Nov. 30, 2016: Did New Jersey Muslims Celebrate on 9/11?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3366240/posts?page=38#38


68 posted on 11/30/2015 2:40:04 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

Comment #69 Removed by Moderator

To: Cincinatus' Wife
Barack Obama: Yes We Can
70 posted on 11/30/2015 2:56:33 AM PST by SkyPilot ("I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: flaglady47

I actually can’t help but like Trump. In fact I have a “Make America Great Again” baseball cap sitting nearby as I type this.

What I like about the FrontPage article is that it makes a good argument that yes, there’s good reason to believe that American Muslims celebrated 9/11 in significant numbers, in particlar in the Paterson area of New Jersey with its large Palestinian community, despite no slam dunk video turning up that shows what Trump asserted.


71 posted on 11/30/2015 2:56:55 AM PST by Yardstick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: JRandomFreeper

His campaign issued a press release which stated:

“Mr. Trump will be joined by a coalition of 100 African American Evangelical pastors and religious leaders who will endorse the GOP frontrunner after a private meeting at Trump Tower.”


72 posted on 11/30/2015 2:59:34 AM PST by dem bums
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrM0dAFsZ8k

Muslims in Israel and everywhere there are Muslims cheered along with their relatives in the U.S. Does anyone believe the scenes in the Islam-saturated areas of the U.S. were any different? Killing “infidels” and imposing their child molesting, mass murderer God on the world is what they are obsessed with. They wish no one else in the world well. This evil lot lives for destruction of others. Muslim parents send their children to murder those who love life and peace.


73 posted on 11/30/2015 3:02:50 AM PST by Seeing More Clearly Now
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dem bums
Got a link? I'm not big on hearsay. I've seen how that works on FR.

/johnny

74 posted on 11/30/2015 3:05:28 AM PST by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife; Yardstick; All

If that is the article (which I just read for the first time) that Yardstick was referring to, rather than the article you posted here, then indeed I do owe Yardstick an apology, and I do so now; however, as Yardstick was ambiguous as to what article he was referring to, it’s hard to tell.

If I misconstrued the article he was referring to, I was wrong in what I said to him. Not wrong about what you say, but perhaps wrong about what he said. I do have to thank you about one thing though, bringing this article you say Yardstick was actually referring to, to my attention. It is indeed a good article, and I shall refer to its contents in future posts I make. For that I actually thank you.


75 posted on 11/30/2015 3:08:57 AM PST by flaglady47 (TRUMP ROCKS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: Seeing More Clearly Now

What I find pitiful about this thread is the November 30, 2015 date of the article in question - 14 years hence that discusses what FrontPage could find and what it couldn’t.

In my own experiences with 9/11, one would be hard pressed to find detailed photographic and video coverage of the event as it transpired (in all its gore) because much of it has been sequestered by media (save that cached here and there by individuals) not to be shown because it would upset Muslims for fear they’d fear reprisals (or some such nonsense).

What is further troubling in all this is the unbridled hatred some have for Trump there is an overwhelming desire to back the side of these ‘moderate’ Muslims (and Media) who say these things did not happen in New Jersey. Imagine that. Someone hating Trump so much he is willing to join with Muslims in solidarity. Go figure.


76 posted on 11/30/2015 3:13:36 AM PST by Gaffer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

>> Still no defense of Trump’s politics/behavior?

Have you selected a candidate to support?


77 posted on 11/30/2015 3:17:16 AM PST by Nervous Tick (There is no "allah" but satan, and mohammed was his demon-possessed tool.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick
Have you selected a candidate to support?

Last we heard, she is still "analyzing" the candidates. Once Walker bowed out, she had to go find a new sponsor.

78 posted on 11/30/2015 3:26:20 AM PST by SMM48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: flaglady47

Yes of course that’s the article I was referring to. I accept your apology.


79 posted on 11/30/2015 3:28:48 AM PST by Yardstick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife; All
The only 'feedback loop' is your persistent hate of Donald Trump because he ran your last two failed candidates out of this race, Rest in Peace Rick Perry, Rest in Peace Scott Walker.

However I thank you for these threads, I print off your initial comments and article, use it for bird cage liner for my talking parrot, who I've trained to say "CW is nutz!!"

And he laughs and laughs and laughs...
80 posted on 11/30/2015 3:30:16 AM PST by mkjessup (Islam is the ENEMY of all civilized people. Obama is a Muslim. What's that tell ya?!?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 141-144 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson