Have you seen the following smear job against the Democratic leadership (and the Roman Catholic Church perhaps)? When confronted recently about this Facebook post that was received over email by some local citizens, former NY Assemblyman David Townsend admitted that he sent it out, but called it “a joke.”
Dave Townsend
SAINT NANCY
A JOKE….?
Oh, it probably meets the broad definition of a joke – i.e., “a simple, basic word for anything said or done in fun or to excite laughter and may apply to remarks, anecdotes, pranks, etc.” It is also defined in the dictionary as somewhat RARE now for “joke” to mean “to make fun of; make a person the object of jokes or teasing.”
Unfortunately, it’s not rare anymore; not with Trump in the White House. As long as he is there, jokes will consist of something quite contrary to fun and laughter. As bad as Trump’s presence and behavior are as examples for our children (and even for adults who act like children), what worries me equally are the 35-40% of the electorate who support Trump no matter what he does, and who have an almost insatiable taste for someone who lies every day; denigrates anyone who disagrees with him; calls them mocking names and makes hurtful jokes about them.
Here are two more definitions that you should know about in this context:
1) “a form of aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort; can take the form of physical contact, words or more subtle actions” (APA – American Psychological Association) including unkind jokes or tricks directed toward the victim.
2) “any systematic dissemination or promotion of particular ideas, doctrines, practices or allegations to further one’s own cause or to damage an opposing one; now often used disparagingly to connote deception or distortion.” ((New World Dictionary)
I’m confident that you know something about what these definitions reference – they refer to bullying and propagandizing. It’s certainly not difficult to imagine that what has been posted and sent out by Mr. Townsend fits quite nicely into the two topics introduced here by definition. Especially since we have learned that other far-Right Republican operatives are distributing similar materials in their districts. And this week's hearing in the Senate with intelligence agency heads, makes it very plain that the Russians will be attempting to collude with these radical Republicans to influence the outcomes of the 2018 election. In fact, the testimony from these leaders of intelligence made it clear that the Russians have begun their plans to again disrupt our elections. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s indictments against 13 individual Russians underline this testimony.
Here’s what we have learned in relation to this so-called ‘joke’:
· The National Republican Congressional Committee conducted a survey across a mix of 40 House districts, including 30 that are competitive, during the second week of January that showed Republicans trailing by only four points on the generic ballot. Party officials said the tax bill was above water and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was more unpopular than any other political figure.
· NBC News’s Alex Johnson reports: “In an interview with Fox News … Tillerson said Russia was gearing up to meddle in the 2018 U.S. elections following the playbook it used in 2016. Saying Russia has ‘a lot of different tools’ at its disposal, he said: ‘I don't know that I would say we are better prepared, because the Russians will adapt, as well. The point is, if it's their intention to interfere, they are going to find ways to do that.
In addition to Facebook and Twitter, Russian trolls also dominated the blogging platform Tumblr in the run-up to the 2016 election. The trolls generated hundreds of thousands of anti–Hillary, pro–Bernie interactions and posted divisive messages aimed at highlighting racial injustice in the United States. This appears to have been part of an ongoing campaign since early 2015,” said Jonathan Albright, a top researcher at Columbia University. (Washington Post)
Joke of the Day: Nancy Pelosi is a saint -- by EDITOR on JULY 21, 2011 (Ihatethemedia.com)
Arizonahuntingforums.com resurrected and updated the same joke in its “Joke Thread” on Feb. 4, 2018
But, the origin of this joke apparently goes back even further according to the claim on gunandgame.com that it got mentioned in a March 2009 Discussion in 'The Powder Keg' by Brother Bob, Evangelist, Mar 21, 2009. Note the names of politicians which may indicate an even earlier origin of this ‘joke’.
“The Cardinal completed his view of Pelosi with, "But, when compared to Senators Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid, and John Kerry, House Speaker Pelosi is a saint." (Gunandgame.com)
So, Mr. Townsend – let’s get back to critical reality. Just why would you be resurrecting what appears to be a vintage Republican joke (at least 9 years old) about Nancy Pelosi? I suspect there could be an array of answers, since this ‘joke’ appears to have been used for over a decade as a propaganda piece, not only to paint Nancy Pelosi in the worst possible light, but to include any politician (Democrat) who Republicans need to defame.
Why go after Nancy Pelosi? Well, why not? Republican research indicates that she remains something of a ‘lightening rod’ to the base of the GOP – the Alt Right. Since their latest research indicates that she is “more unpopular than any other politician” why not use her as a surrogate or whipping post for all Democrats, especially in tight district races?
But, Mr. Townsend, it’s still puzzling to me why you have brought this old saw to the foreground. Did you just find it on a website like gunandgame.com and feel it necessary to post it on Facebook and email it because it is so-o-o-o very funny? I realize you may not wish to answer so here are some of my conclusions:
· You’ll do anything necessary to help One-Term Tenney keep her congressional seat in 2018, and you know it’s going to have to include some ‘propaganda’ like this smarmy joke to turn out the votes of the base of your Party.
· My guess is that Rep. Tenney couldn’t risk the backlash from such a nasty little joke being circulated by her campaign, so you acted as her surrogate by putting it out under your name. Not bad reasoning….
· But Dave (can I call you ‘Dave’ now that we’re getting down to the ‘nitty-gritty’?), Nancy Pelosi is NOT the issue in this campaign. The issue is the non-representative, non-active and non-interactive, non-present, non-focused, non-listening Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, from the 22nd District of New York, who fawns over Donald J. Trump as if he is the next Fuhrer. Her loyalty to this crude dude is typical of her misplaced loyalty to sponsors and oligarchic funders from Washington D.C. and elsewhere. She prefers to represent Trump and special interests than to do the work of representing her constituents back home.
· Maybe you do not understand or appreciate the threat that Russia poses to our elections and to the cherished right to vote. Are Russian Trolls making comments on Nancy Pelosi and Democratic candidates right now using propaganda jokes just like this to smear whomever they choose?
· Let me ask, as I hope others will: are you aiding and abetting the Russians by posting this rotten little joke? Are you thereby inviting Russian trolls to download it from your webpage to incite a base constituency to elect Trump and Tenney, neither of whom have taken strong steps to stop the Russian technocrats or oligarchs; nor have they strongly supported more sanctions against the Russians for their prior interference in our elections of 2012 and 2016.
I In my opinion, you seem to be inviting Russian interference once again by pointing them to a joke that seems to endure in its appeal to a base crowd. And why do I have confidence in my opinion about this? Because I personally know of their ability to take material from innocent social media users and personal Bloggers to be used to their advantage wherever they choose.
Sorry Dave – this is not just a joke to make us laugh. This is a bullying propaganda piece that has been around for at least a decade. It has been used to smear Democratic leadership, and thereby to lessen the chances of Democrat wins in swing districts that hold the key to winning back the House. The joke even has a punch-line that has interchangeable parts. Anyone can use it to castigate a candidate or office-holder, they just need to insert the desired name(s) of an opponent. Hm-m-m-m, wonder who might be targeted next?
So, Dave – Mr. Townsend – it’s past time to take down your nasty propaganda piece. It’s not just a joke and was never intended to be just a joke. It’s a smear tactic that has worked in other races and at other times. But, our times call for something that this so-called ‘joke’ fails to do. These dark times under Trump’s authoritarian, de-constructive mode of operation, plus collusion with the Russians, calls for a new and different approach.
We are sick of bullying, of name-calling, of violence being praised and encouraged. We are upset by the alienation of our allies on the world stage. We are angry with the outrageous and overwrought support of the richest 1% among us. And, we’re not happy being forced to pay it off by cuts and increases levied against our own middle class. But, we are most alarmed by the hate-filled, racist, nationalistic, white supremacist attitudes and personnel that pervade this administration from the top down. And, let it be known, that we are finally disgusted by the attitude that 99% of the citizens are pawns in a game that results in the widest gulf ever seen between the filthy rich and the rest of us. This is the destruction (not just de-construction) of public service, public education, and community development that is not only un-called for but devastating for our citizenry.
Government is not meant to take care of everyone, but government is also not meant to harm its citizens. Our government is mandated to “promote the General Welfare.” By using budgets and department heads to de-construct our administrative government, the current administration is making every effort to abuse people, not to promote their general welfare. We cannot further abide the destruction of lives by attacks on health care, food stamps, meals on wheels, or on special meals in the schools. We cannot abide the destruction of programs that enable young children to become more than ready for elementary schooling -- as Head Start has been shown to do; nor can we endure cuts of Pell grants and high interest rates continued on college loans.
Considering very recent BREAKING NEWS, we are sickened by the lack of control of gun violence which goes on and on, no matter how many children, grandchildren, teenagers, adults and senior adults are taken from us – innocent people killed by perpetrators who should never have been able to obtain a gun in the first place. The reaction from 2nd Amendment addicts is to flee from the underlying knotty problems and results of the loss-of-life that go much deeper, because our leaders do not deal well with complications.
Instead, they exacerbate the violence by proposing more guns, more police presence, more restrictive surveillance and all the protection for guns that can possibly be put forth. We are being bamboozled by an organization – the NRA – that cares little about the welfare of people, and more than usual about profitable gun sales by gun makers.
And so, Trump and his minions – like David Townsend and Claudia Tenney -- continue to do absolutely nothing to protect our citizens, except to say that mental health treatment must be improved. And that is nothing more than a palliative that misdirects, but does not resolve deep-rooted problems.
They would rather crudely joke about Nancy Pelosi than face a truly complicated and pervasive crisis that is becoming what many claim as a “new normal.” Amazing isn’t it? – the new normal in America is the killing of children with little on-going reaction, no solutions, no legislation, no research, no results – just more guns and more killings. Congress and the Executive seem devoid and afraid of any deep emotions which might disrupt their 'new normal.'
Is it so difficult to be a politician and still maintain human sensitivity and humane behavior? Is Party ideology and the need to win elections that much more important than protecting and enhancing innocent lives?
To be clear about this, de-construction is destruction, and our government is being blocked and prevented from carrying out its major responsibility of taking care of the people’s welfare. This is serious. It is not a laughing matter. It is not a joke. And the commitment of those of us who do care is not a matter for derision in the form of a ridiculous “joke.”
We take it personally when our children, our grandchildren, and our brothers and sisters throughout this country (and the world) are harmed by a government that seeks the welfare only of a chosen few. So, let it be equally clear that the stand-alone tax cut law and the Trump Budget now before the Congress will not be a cure-all for our critical issues, like gun violence.
First, because this ‘hyped’ middle bracket tax cut will be wiped out by the rise of other costs such as healthcare premiums and an expected rise in gas prices, home mortgages and maybe in property taxes.
Despite Trump’s exaggerated claims of what his only major legislation will accomplish, the tax ‘reform’ Act does little or nothing to address our crises, because Trump/Ryan budgets continue to attack the very programs and services – including mental health programs – that might allow for more research, and the chance to resolve some of the problems that produce gun violence. It is a sham -- like so many of the shams of the Trump administration -- because just as Trump calls for additional funding in Mental Health, his budget proposes huge cuts in the entities that operate those programs. You can’t come up with solutions by undertaking opposing budgetary strategies.
This is not a ‘new normal’; it is a crisis, and we are going to feel its effects in many aspects of our lives as its outcomes fall negatively upon us for many years to come. Invective in the form of political rhetoric; lie-filled propaganda used to win elections; and jokes that belittle not only public service, but every one of those killed by gun violence, is the epitome of unacceptable behavior.
Take the ‘joke’ down, Dave. It’s not only an affront to the persons it names, it is personally insulting to all those of us who believe that “do no harm” and ‘love thy neighbor’ are more than sayings. These are moral imperatives for individuals and their governments meant to create a ‘new normal’ of equal justice, equal access to the pursuit of happiness, and equal protection of our inherent human rights and freedoms, not only for ourselves, but for all the People.
Oh, it probably meets the broad definition of a joke – i.e., “a simple, basic word for anything said or done in fun or to excite laughter and may apply to remarks, anecdotes, pranks, etc.” It is also defined in the dictionary as somewhat RARE now for “joke” to mean “to make fun of; make a person the object of jokes or teasing.”
Unfortunately, it’s not rare anymore; not with Trump in the White House. As long as he is there, jokes will consist of something quite contrary to fun and laughter. As bad as Trump’s presence and behavior are as examples for our children (and even for adults who act like children), what worries me equally are the 35-40% of the electorate who support Trump no matter what he does, and who have an almost insatiable taste for someone who lies every day; denigrates anyone who disagrees with him; calls them mocking names and makes hurtful jokes about them.
Here are two more definitions that you should know about in this context:
1) “a form of aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort; can take the form of physical contact, words or more subtle actions” (APA – American Psychological Association) including unkind jokes or tricks directed toward the victim.
2) “any systematic dissemination or promotion of particular ideas, doctrines, practices or allegations to further one’s own cause or to damage an opposing one; now often used disparagingly to connote deception or distortion.” ((New World Dictionary)
I’m confident that you know something about what these definitions reference – they refer to bullying and propagandizing. It’s certainly not difficult to imagine that what has been posted and sent out by Mr. Townsend fits quite nicely into the two topics introduced here by definition. Especially since we have learned that other far-Right Republican operatives are distributing similar materials in their districts. And this week's hearing in the Senate with intelligence agency heads, makes it very plain that the Russians will be attempting to collude with these radical Republicans to influence the outcomes of the 2018 election. In fact, the testimony from these leaders of intelligence made it clear that the Russians have begun their plans to again disrupt our elections. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s indictments against 13 individual Russians underline this testimony.
Here’s what we have learned in relation to this so-called ‘joke’:
· The National Republican Congressional Committee conducted a survey across a mix of 40 House districts, including 30 that are competitive, during the second week of January that showed Republicans trailing by only four points on the generic ballot. Party officials said the tax bill was above water and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was more unpopular than any other political figure.
· NBC News’s Alex Johnson reports: “In an interview with Fox News … Tillerson said Russia was gearing up to meddle in the 2018 U.S. elections following the playbook it used in 2016. Saying Russia has ‘a lot of different tools’ at its disposal, he said: ‘I don't know that I would say we are better prepared, because the Russians will adapt, as well. The point is, if it's their intention to interfere, they are going to find ways to do that.
In addition to Facebook and Twitter, Russian trolls also dominated the blogging platform Tumblr in the run-up to the 2016 election. The trolls generated hundreds of thousands of anti–Hillary, pro–Bernie interactions and posted divisive messages aimed at highlighting racial injustice in the United States. This appears to have been part of an ongoing campaign since early 2015,” said Jonathan Albright, a top researcher at Columbia University. (Washington Post)
Joke of the Day: Nancy Pelosi is a saint -- by EDITOR on JULY 21, 2011 (Ihatethemedia.com)
Arizonahuntingforums.com resurrected and updated the same joke in its “Joke Thread” on Feb. 4, 2018
But, the origin of this joke apparently goes back even further according to the claim on gunandgame.com that it got mentioned in a March 2009 Discussion in 'The Powder Keg' by Brother Bob, Evangelist, Mar 21, 2009. Note the names of politicians which may indicate an even earlier origin of this ‘joke’.
“The Cardinal completed his view of Pelosi with, "But, when compared to Senators Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid, and John Kerry, House Speaker Pelosi is a saint." (Gunandgame.com)
So, Mr. Townsend – let’s get back to critical reality. Just why would you be resurrecting what appears to be a vintage Republican joke (at least 9 years old) about Nancy Pelosi? I suspect there could be an array of answers, since this ‘joke’ appears to have been used for over a decade as a propaganda piece, not only to paint Nancy Pelosi in the worst possible light, but to include any politician (Democrat) who Republicans need to defame.
Why go after Nancy Pelosi? Well, why not? Republican research indicates that she remains something of a ‘lightening rod’ to the base of the GOP – the Alt Right. Since their latest research indicates that she is “more unpopular than any other politician” why not use her as a surrogate or whipping post for all Democrats, especially in tight district races?
But, Mr. Townsend, it’s still puzzling to me why you have brought this old saw to the foreground. Did you just find it on a website like gunandgame.com and feel it necessary to post it on Facebook and email it because it is so-o-o-o very funny? I realize you may not wish to answer so here are some of my conclusions:
· You’ll do anything necessary to help One-Term Tenney keep her congressional seat in 2018, and you know it’s going to have to include some ‘propaganda’ like this smarmy joke to turn out the votes of the base of your Party.
· My guess is that Rep. Tenney couldn’t risk the backlash from such a nasty little joke being circulated by her campaign, so you acted as her surrogate by putting it out under your name. Not bad reasoning….
· But Dave (can I call you ‘Dave’ now that we’re getting down to the ‘nitty-gritty’?), Nancy Pelosi is NOT the issue in this campaign. The issue is the non-representative, non-active and non-interactive, non-present, non-focused, non-listening Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, from the 22nd District of New York, who fawns over Donald J. Trump as if he is the next Fuhrer. Her loyalty to this crude dude is typical of her misplaced loyalty to sponsors and oligarchic funders from Washington D.C. and elsewhere. She prefers to represent Trump and special interests than to do the work of representing her constituents back home.
· Maybe you do not understand or appreciate the threat that Russia poses to our elections and to the cherished right to vote. Are Russian Trolls making comments on Nancy Pelosi and Democratic candidates right now using propaganda jokes just like this to smear whomever they choose?
· Let me ask, as I hope others will: are you aiding and abetting the Russians by posting this rotten little joke? Are you thereby inviting Russian trolls to download it from your webpage to incite a base constituency to elect Trump and Tenney, neither of whom have taken strong steps to stop the Russian technocrats or oligarchs; nor have they strongly supported more sanctions against the Russians for their prior interference in our elections of 2012 and 2016.
I In my opinion, you seem to be inviting Russian interference once again by pointing them to a joke that seems to endure in its appeal to a base crowd. And why do I have confidence in my opinion about this? Because I personally know of their ability to take material from innocent social media users and personal Bloggers to be used to their advantage wherever they choose.
Sorry Dave – this is not just a joke to make us laugh. This is a bullying propaganda piece that has been around for at least a decade. It has been used to smear Democratic leadership, and thereby to lessen the chances of Democrat wins in swing districts that hold the key to winning back the House. The joke even has a punch-line that has interchangeable parts. Anyone can use it to castigate a candidate or office-holder, they just need to insert the desired name(s) of an opponent. Hm-m-m-m, wonder who might be targeted next?
So, Dave – Mr. Townsend – it’s past time to take down your nasty propaganda piece. It’s not just a joke and was never intended to be just a joke. It’s a smear tactic that has worked in other races and at other times. But, our times call for something that this so-called ‘joke’ fails to do. These dark times under Trump’s authoritarian, de-constructive mode of operation, plus collusion with the Russians, calls for a new and different approach.
We are sick of bullying, of name-calling, of violence being praised and encouraged. We are upset by the alienation of our allies on the world stage. We are angry with the outrageous and overwrought support of the richest 1% among us. And, we’re not happy being forced to pay it off by cuts and increases levied against our own middle class. But, we are most alarmed by the hate-filled, racist, nationalistic, white supremacist attitudes and personnel that pervade this administration from the top down. And, let it be known, that we are finally disgusted by the attitude that 99% of the citizens are pawns in a game that results in the widest gulf ever seen between the filthy rich and the rest of us. This is the destruction (not just de-construction) of public service, public education, and community development that is not only un-called for but devastating for our citizenry.
Government is not meant to take care of everyone, but government is also not meant to harm its citizens. Our government is mandated to “promote the General Welfare.” By using budgets and department heads to de-construct our administrative government, the current administration is making every effort to abuse people, not to promote their general welfare. We cannot further abide the destruction of lives by attacks on health care, food stamps, meals on wheels, or on special meals in the schools. We cannot abide the destruction of programs that enable young children to become more than ready for elementary schooling -- as Head Start has been shown to do; nor can we endure cuts of Pell grants and high interest rates continued on college loans.
Considering very recent BREAKING NEWS, we are sickened by the lack of control of gun violence which goes on and on, no matter how many children, grandchildren, teenagers, adults and senior adults are taken from us – innocent people killed by perpetrators who should never have been able to obtain a gun in the first place. The reaction from 2nd Amendment addicts is to flee from the underlying knotty problems and results of the loss-of-life that go much deeper, because our leaders do not deal well with complications.
Instead, they exacerbate the violence by proposing more guns, more police presence, more restrictive surveillance and all the protection for guns that can possibly be put forth. We are being bamboozled by an organization – the NRA – that cares little about the welfare of people, and more than usual about profitable gun sales by gun makers.
And so, Trump and his minions – like David Townsend and Claudia Tenney -- continue to do absolutely nothing to protect our citizens, except to say that mental health treatment must be improved. And that is nothing more than a palliative that misdirects, but does not resolve deep-rooted problems.
They would rather crudely joke about Nancy Pelosi than face a truly complicated and pervasive crisis that is becoming what many claim as a “new normal.” Amazing isn’t it? – the new normal in America is the killing of children with little on-going reaction, no solutions, no legislation, no research, no results – just more guns and more killings. Congress and the Executive seem devoid and afraid of any deep emotions which might disrupt their 'new normal.'
Is it so difficult to be a politician and still maintain human sensitivity and humane behavior? Is Party ideology and the need to win elections that much more important than protecting and enhancing innocent lives?
To be clear about this, de-construction is destruction, and our government is being blocked and prevented from carrying out its major responsibility of taking care of the people’s welfare. This is serious. It is not a laughing matter. It is not a joke. And the commitment of those of us who do care is not a matter for derision in the form of a ridiculous “joke.”
We take it personally when our children, our grandchildren, and our brothers and sisters throughout this country (and the world) are harmed by a government that seeks the welfare only of a chosen few. So, let it be equally clear that the stand-alone tax cut law and the Trump Budget now before the Congress will not be a cure-all for our critical issues, like gun violence.
First, because this ‘hyped’ middle bracket tax cut will be wiped out by the rise of other costs such as healthcare premiums and an expected rise in gas prices, home mortgages and maybe in property taxes.
Despite Trump’s exaggerated claims of what his only major legislation will accomplish, the tax ‘reform’ Act does little or nothing to address our crises, because Trump/Ryan budgets continue to attack the very programs and services – including mental health programs – that might allow for more research, and the chance to resolve some of the problems that produce gun violence. It is a sham -- like so many of the shams of the Trump administration -- because just as Trump calls for additional funding in Mental Health, his budget proposes huge cuts in the entities that operate those programs. You can’t come up with solutions by undertaking opposing budgetary strategies.
This is not a ‘new normal’; it is a crisis, and we are going to feel its effects in many aspects of our lives as its outcomes fall negatively upon us for many years to come. Invective in the form of political rhetoric; lie-filled propaganda used to win elections; and jokes that belittle not only public service, but every one of those killed by gun violence, is the epitome of unacceptable behavior.
Take the ‘joke’ down, Dave. It’s not only an affront to the persons it names, it is personally insulting to all those of us who believe that “do no harm” and ‘love thy neighbor’ are more than sayings. These are moral imperatives for individuals and their governments meant to create a ‘new normal’ of equal justice, equal access to the pursuit of happiness, and equal protection of our inherent human rights and freedoms, not only for ourselves, but for all the People.
