Snowflakes. Groomers. Cucks.

For years the MAGA movement has approached politics the way a bully would approach a schoolyard, sparring with labels so nasty, they seemed expressly chosen to appeal to the kind of people who stuffed nerds in lockers in sixth grade. And for years Democrats, abiding by the mantra to go high, not low, have responded by trying to be the adults in the room: defending themselves with facts, with context, with earnest explanations that nobody remembers (if they defend themselves at all).

The problem is that taking the high road only works if politics is a sport played mainly by people who act like grown-ups, which it is not. And also: Facts and context don’t make for particularly sticky messaging.

Enter: Weird.

Over the past two weeks, as “Brat” and coconut memes have taken over the internet and Kamala Harris inches closer to Donald Trump in the polls, the Democrats have finally gone low, deploying a bit of verbal jujitsu so delightfully petty it might just work.

  • scottywh@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    My only issue with using weird to refer to them is how much I love Weird Al Yankovic…

    Fuck it tho… if weird works to get under the skin of fascistsI don’t think it’ll hurt AL in the slightest.

  • rustyfish@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    So, this guy said he wants to bang his daughter back in 2016 and it took you 8 years to settle with “weird”.

    Woah, slow down there cowboy!

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      We called him out on it then. But man, this weirdo just took it in stride like being called a fascist by everyone from historians to neo nazis. But weird, he doesn’t like it when we acknowledge he’s weird.

    • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      No it’s perfect because harsh insults would turn off some Democrats, but saying they’re weird though, it’s just pointing out the obvious and making people think “Isn’t it weird that the guy says he’s here for the common folks but he’s a billionaire?” “Isn’t it weird to support someone who said women should be grabbed by their pussy?”

  • mightyfoolish@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I fear this is Harris stalling on detailing her platform. Please, don’t just bank on your age difference; even though Trump is a weirdo. Will someone run an actual campaign or am I just out of touch here?

  • Etterra@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Apparently the only way to put Republicans in check is to strategically sink to their own inate level.

    • GladiusB@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Only verbally to them. The goals are totally different. Republicans want ownership to women’s and children’s bodies and to make people feel guilty if they disagree.

  • Media Bias Fact Checker@lemmy.worldB
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    4 months ago
    New York Times Media Bias Fact Check Credibility: [High] (Click to view Full Report)

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    Factual Reporting: High
    Country: United States of America
    Full Report: https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/new-york-times/

    Check the bias and credibility of this article on Ground.News

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    Name: The Independent Bias: Left-Center
    Factual Reporting: Mixed
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  • Ferrous@lemmy.ml
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    4 months ago

    Regulatory agencies have been captured, scotus is corrupt, women’s rights have been taken, the largest industries are enriching a miniscule handful of Americans, fascism is increasingly coming into style and our noble democrats have only just started a new grand strategy of… name calling?

    Forget about getting people fed, using the new immunity ruling, stacking courts, or any serious material change for Americans. We are fucked.

      • ArxCyberwolf@lemmy.ca
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        4 months ago

        Seriously. Doomerism and defeatism are just pathetic and detrimental. When has giving up and rolling over in the face of opposition ever led to anything good? Especially when so much is at stake and worth fighting for every step of the way.

  • lennybird@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Can we make a meme referencing the MyPillow guy with Vance’s sofa smashing? After that all we’ll need is Trump embracing the Turks to get the Ottoman reference in there somehow and we’ll have a completely furnished set!

  • kescusay@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    …deploying a bit of verbal jujitsu so delightfully petty it might just work

    It’s not even petty. It’s just true. Republicans, with their obsessions over what’s going on in everyone’s pants and bedrooms, really are weird and creepy.

  • TipRing@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I think it’s missing the point. It’s not effective for being name-calling. It’s just saying what everyone is already thinking. Like in the 2020 debate when Biden said “Will you just shut up, man?” It was relatable because Trump runs his fucking mouth all the time.
    This is the same. It’s a relatable feeling - Trump is deeply weird and out of touch. Vance is so creepy people didn’t even bother to check if he really wrote about fucking a couch.

    • Vance is so creepy people didn’t even bother to check if he really wrote about fucking a couch.

      Nailed it. Pre-Trump era I would have frantically searched for a source. These days my expectations from the Republicans are so unbelievably low.

  • systemglitch@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    More of this bullshit? My god is this weak. No Republican gives a shit about this, nor does anyone not an already solid democrate.

    • BassTurd@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      The Republican reaction disagrees with you. It’s oddly put them I’m quite the tailspin, which I personally do think will have an effect on turning off some Republican voters. I don’t think it will pick up many voters, but it may indirectly dissuade some.

        • the post of tom joad@sh.itjust.works
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          4 months ago

          lol yes you are. You claim to be a democrat but you’ve got a lot of Republican genes in your beliefs. Also The way you talk is definitely Republican.

          Look if you want to “pass” as a Democrat you’re going to have to do a lot more work and maybe hide some of your more Republican tendencies in like a closet or something.

          You’ll never be a real dem but you might fool some folks if you keep putting on democratic clothes and practice passing.

          But i’ll never accept you, and it’s important to me that you know that, and what that means.

          • systemglitch@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            I’m not a democrate either. In the land of sanity I am a left leaning libertarian.

            If you don’t like what I say and think, then the likely difference between you and me is sanity.

            • the post of tom joad@sh.itjust.works
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              4 months ago

              Ah, sorry i don’t recognize that as a “real” political position. Make up all the fancy names for your beliefs that you (and people like you) please, but here in the real world you are Republican. That’s that.

              EDIT booo i think he blocked me, sensing somehow the colombo-esque point i was trying to make slooooowly closing around him. Beer says he couldn’t figure out what it was tho, even though i made it pretty blatant.

              A pity, soft but clever types like him will never learn their lesson. At least this savant isnt american…

                • the post of tom joad@sh.itjust.works
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                  4 months ago

                  Dont be afraid dude, learning is a necessary part of growth. Even your wish to block out my words is an important step. I didn’t want that part to happen, but it isnt necessarily a setback. I will be here waiting patiently for your third and final part of this lesson.

                  PM me when you’re ready.

  • Shadowq8@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    fuck us politics.

    Non of them ever adress the actual issues.

    The declining middle class.

    That you are just an industrial war machine that has to constantly be in war.

    That you are ruled by wall street.