So this is what hell is. A week of the Trump era has been the seven days of Genesis in reverse, an unmaking of reality and civility and light. Trump said let there be me, and there he was, making and remaking himself in his own image. Instead of sea and sky we have a hall of gaudy mirrors. Instead of fruitful multiplications we have Eric and Ivanka and Jared and Don Junior. He saw that it was good, and everything else bad. And so it was. From the very first hour it was that apocalyptic vision of America as a city in pit, a Sodom and Gomorrah of crime and drugs and tombstones and bad dudes. Instead of John Winthrop he gave us Freddy Krueger. Instead of a salve to the poor, the tired and huddled masses he gave us Emma Lazarus as bouncer and Woody Guthrie as extreme vetter: this land is not made for you and me. It’s for those who pass Trump muster.
Evening came and morning came, and there he was again, making up new shit.
It’s all blurring together. There’s been so much of it in so little time. At one point he seemed to be describing the worst of the worst, to borrow a phrase from the now comparably tender Dick Cheney, when he was merely speaking of his predecessor presidents, of members of Congress he’s supposed to work with, of the “Nazi” intelligence community, or, supreme heretics worse than Nazis, members of the media, “among the worst people” he’s ever met. Those mirrors he cherishes have their blind spots.
Then came the lies about crowd sizes, an obsession as lurid as his exchange with Marco Rubio about something else he wanted to assure us was huge. He lied again about Muslims (remember those dancing Muslims on 9/11?), Syrians, Mexicans, the millions of illegal voters, those bogus cheers at CIA headquarters, at least partly juiced up by a bunch of fans Trump brought in, and of course the alternative-fact performance-artistry of Kellyanne Conway and Sean Spicer all week. They remind me of the old Sears hoax in the late 19th century—an actual newspaper advertising by the old company–that promised a sewing machine for $1. People who wrote in for it duly got a needle and a thread. The Trump illusion has been no different since its origins, down to Conway and Spicer making us believe they’re shilling for something new: their “alternative facts” are just a rewrite of Trump’s “truthful hyperbole,” itself a term invented by Trump’s ghostwriter in the 1980s to euphemize Trump’s lies.
“The Talmud allows three exceptions to the requirement of truthfulness — involving knowledge, hospitality, and sex,” the political philosopher Michael Sandel once wrote back in those innocent days of bestained blue dresses and cigars not being quite cigars in the other Clinton’s Oval Office. I don’t recall much of anything having to do with knowledge or hospitality in the past week, and I doubt there’s been any opportunities yet for pussy-grabbing. So it’s three strikes on Talmudic exceptions to truthfulness. And yet evening came and morning came, and the lies kept rewriting Genesis in Trump’s image.
We’re told us liberal losers to accept his victory, to move on and, give him a chance. We accept. We surrender. We want to give him a chance. We have moved on. But he hasn’t. He can’t accept the size of things. Can’t accept that he’s the least popular incoming president in memory. Can’t accept that his electoral victory wasn’t the Reaganesque landslide he pretends it was, or could have been if it weren’t for those dead Mexicans voting. So he harps. He rewrites history. He makes up more stuff. By himself. Him and his 140 characters in search of a play.
There’s been so much talk about fake news lately, worries about these rogue websites spreading lies that tip conversations or possibly even elections one way or the other. News organizations have been scrambling to come up with new methods on handling fake factories. The Czech Republic established a police department to combat the plague, like Centers for Disease Control, but for fake news.
The most promiscuous peddler of fake news is the president himself, Donald J. Trump.
We’ve all been looking in the wrong places. It’s not Facebook. It’s not rogue websites or Russian hackers we should be worried about. The greatest fake news organization on the planet is the Trump Organization, starting with the lie that its owner has divested himself from it. The most promiscuous peddler of fake news is the president himself, Donald J. Trump. That’s dangerous for media, for America and for democracy.
Fake news has been the halo or armature of leaders from Pericles to Caesar to Ferdinand (of Isabella fame), and was codified in Machiavelli’s “Prince” (modeled in part on the horrid Ferdinand). It’s the enduring how-to of dictators, presidents, CEOs and too many school principals. But it’s usually been a tactical necessity, not a strategy. Trump has turned it into his own little Sharia law: the guiding principle of every move he makes. Long before the first day, back when “there was darkness over the deep,” and his father’s spirit hovered over his watery ambitions, he created the lie.
He made up his big ratings for the Apprentice, made up 10 extra floors at Trump Tower, made up stories in “The Art of the Deal” to better sell the book, and called it all “an innocent form of exaggeration,” “a very effective form of promotion.” Nobody cared because the lies had no import. They went no further than tabloid gutters and tacky lobbies. But when Trump applied the deception to the public interest, when he built his electoral strategy around the racist myth of Barack Obama’s foreign birth, things got serious, then toxic, then vile.
It’s how dictators drug up their popularity. Ferdinand in his day was beloved by the people for the very things that soil his reputation today–his love of violence and torture, mutilating heretics, expelling Jews, Muslims and anything that didn’t comply with the purity of his creed. Mostly he was cheered for instituting the Inquisition, from which Trump seems to be modeling his contempt for immigrants and whetting his lust for new inmates at Guantanamo. Those appeals to the baser instincts of his base preserve what little popularity he has. And it is all built on lies.
Of course all presidents lie, whether it’s Thomas Jefferson’s magnificent lies to acquire the Louisiana Purchase, Woodrow Wilson’s considerably less magnificent lie never to send doughboys to Europe, Johnson’s and Nixon’s morbid lies that cost the lives of 2 million Vietnamese and 57,000 Americans, or George W. Bush’s fake WMDs, his “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq, his heckuva job during Hurricane Katrina. But as Maria Konnikova writes in Politico, with indisputable evidence to back it up, “Donald Trump is in a different category. The sheer frequency, spontaneity and seeming irrelevance of his lies have no precedent. Nixon, Reagan and Clinton were protecting their reputations; Trump seems to lie for the pure joy of it. A whopping 70 percent of Trump’s statements that PolitiFact checked during the campaign were false, while only 4 percent were completely true, and 11 percent mostly true. (Compare that to the politician Trump dubbed “crooked,” Hillary Clinton: Just 26 percent of her statements were deemed false.)”
But facts and comparisons aren’t Trump’s business. They’re not his admirers’ business. Contempt for evidence is the dictator’s modern equivalent of the True Cross, relic of so many crusades. It neutralizes his most able opponents, who still think facts and words matter. It exalts his troops. That’s why his war on the media. He loves hating it because he could not exist without it, both as conduit and foil. That’s why his chief White House strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, calls the media “the opposition party.” That’s why Bannon thinks the media should “keep its mouth shut,” naturally praying it never does.
The strategy brought Trump to the White House, down to the mendacity of his billionaire narcissism pretending to care about the working class or his trillionaire cabinet somehow being separate from the elites he insults every day. Those are not innocent exaggerations anymore. They are attacks on the national character. This is dangerous. It is not only an unmaking of reality. It is an unwinding of America’s moral fiber.
“From barbarism to civilization requires a century,” wrote the great historian Will Durant. “From civilization to barbarism needs but a day.” We’ve had seven, with 1,450 to go.
Pierre Tristam is FlaglerLive’s editor. Reach him by email here or follow him @PierreTristam. A version of this piece aired on WNZF.
Ken Dodge says
To the horror of the political establishment (both parties), the mainstream media, the federal employee unions, the many George Soros organizations, the pro-illegal immigrationists, the mayors of American sanctuary cities, the pro-abortionists, the LGBTTTQQIAA movement, the pro-TTPers, the radical Islamic terrorists (and their lobbyist supporters), the anti-American-energy-independence faction, virtually all those in academia everywhere, the race-baiters and their Congressional toadies, the American Association of Corrupt Lobbyists (if there wasn’t such an organization, maybe there is one now!), the “safe-space” children’s group otherwise known as American colleges and universities, Mikey Weinstein and his Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the anti-God types, the European Union, the Iranians, the Palestinians, migrant men and jihadi infiltrators from the Middle East, the Islamic State, the Chinese Communists, all globalists everywhere, the Clintons, those who did the Clintons’ bidding while in high public office, the Obamas, those who did the Obamas’ bidding while in high public office, and many others too numerous to mention, Trump actually won!
~ quoted from Hal Lindsay Report
TeddyBallGame says
I didn’t vote for Trump, but he is now our democratically elected President. So I say give him a chance, because that is how our democracy works.
Sorry to hear that Pierre has been instructed say otherwise.
Leslie Yazurlo says
Pierre,
It’s so nice to read the truth and know that you are not being brought down by all the people who have bought into Trump’s version of the truth or have tried to shame you or say hateful things to you because you speak the truth. I know that you are a true honest man who cares for the truth and the reporting of it because I had to deal with it myself and you reported it truthfully the whole way. Thank you for that and this! !
C Iovanniitti says
Your writing is not only offensive but also shows a high degree of ignorance on your part. I just wonder how many votes you had to be were you are and who gave you the right to judge.
Chelsea H says
Thank you for this. With all the horror of the last week, it is comforting to know so many others see this man for exactly what he is.
C Buford says
Well Pierre Tristam,
You say you are a liberal that has accepted our new president and that you have moved on from negativity. Yet your actions by your article confirm that you are spouting negative thoughts continuously about YOUR PRESIDENT. You cannot see reality and are biased totally against him. You should be ashamed to write such a negative article. Remember the American people elected him and he represents the working people of America. Try looking at reality for a change.
BeechBoy says
Love watching the Live Meltdown…
Pogo says
@Pierre Tristam
Thank you. Well and bravely said. You are in good company:
Trump isn’t lying, he’s bullshitting – and it’s far more dangerous
BlueJammers says
My dear friends: once again Mr. Tristam has dipped his masterful quill into the magic ink and presented us with something to think about. But before you reply, take heart and ponder his words. Whether you agree or not, please be respectful.
It was a great week!!! says
I am quite tired of reading your fake sky is falling nonsense! If you do not like it, please feel free to return to your country…or any other country you feel will more closely align with your values. This week I witnessed a man who is coming through on his promises to the citizens of this country…a safe border (mind you many countries have borders – Mexico has a wall on its southern border)…we need one..too many are dying because of drugs and illegals that are coming through…a pause on people trying to enter from countries that pose a higher risk of terrorism, who usually have no documents and can’t be properly vetted….on removing illegal immigrants who commmit crimes…none of this is a new rule…it’s just about time that someone is actually going to enforce them. Please for the nay Sayers… look up Canadian immigration laws…than complain about ours…
June carrieri says
You better get on Trump Train it’s been prophetic words Trump would be guided by Holy Spirit. By Kim Clement 2011 so if God is for us who can be against us. Trump stopped the killing of our babies God was mad about abortion you shoul look him up so be careful what you say about the chosen one
Fred says
Always WATCH both of a magicians hands.
Greg G says
How do we the people get rid of this outrageous writer Pierre, you do not speak for the people of Flagler County who voted for Donald Trump, please pack your bags and head to Berkley or some other socialist anti-american outposts
xxxx says
While this whole article could be portrayed as “biased”, I find it to be 100% honest and that is what our media needs to see a little more of these days. Pierre, I know that you get a lot of heat for your writings, but continue to voice your views, as many of us stand behind your factual articles.
usefulidiot says
Tristan has been true to himself in this op-ed piece. No surprise here. As one thinks, so they are. The best to he and family! No accord, however regarding his perspective on President Trump. Hillary Clinton, if she had won the election, she would have continued to follow up with the Obama administration policies of a myopic, Washington, DC centered, elite ruling class that was determined to turn as many citizens into subjects as possible. With the defeat of Hillary Clinton, America was spared a great evil. The times they are a’changing and moving away from the bankrupting ideology of a top down, centralized command and control arrangement by for and of the overarching globalist. The world has it’s eyes upon America for leadership once again as she has just rejected the “divine right of kings”, by the grace of God, one more time. God speed Donald J. Trump, stand and deliver.
PCer says
It is the duty of a free press in a democracy to constantly challenge and question the government.
Jimmy says
Great article and all true with a capital T
k. roberts says
Pierre, you are slanted as usual……………….ridiculous!
Ws says
President Trump is going down as the best President in my entire life and he has only been in office for 1 week. Which part don’t you like the oart about getting rid of criminal illegals or keeping out terrorists?? Oh Flaglerlive you are a crazy mess😂😂😂
RickG says
If you want to be informed read this. http://www.rense.com/general37/char.htm
Good job Pierre.
jim says
I don’t know what’s worse…. having to put up with Obama for the past eight years, or your tears and B.S. for the next EIGHT years!!!! U R FREE TO LEAVE!!
I/M/O says
Does Pierre know Emma Lazurus was a Sephardic-Ashkenazi Jew who supported Zionism?
She is an important forerunner of the Zionist movement. She argued for the creation of a Jewish homeland thirteen years before Theodor Herzl began to use the term Zionism.
By the way Pierre you were educated in New York and should know the Statue of Liberty had nothing to do with immigration and Ema Lazurus poem hs nothing to do with the Statue of Liberty. That’s New York City folklore.
The sonnet “The New Colossus” was not placed in the pedestal that the Statue of Liberty stands on until 1903. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and again had nothing to do with immigration.
The idea for the Statue of Liberty originated in France y the French Abolitionist Édouard René de Laboulaye, the president of the French Anti-Slavery Society, to commemorate the Union victory in the Civil War and the abolishment of slavery in the United States. To give the Statue of Liberty any other meaning detracts from that.
Jim L says
Another wimpy lib not willing to admit something is FINALLY being done in DC. A big contrast to the last eight years.
Anonymous says
Fake Media…..sooo sad we the people can’t get news as it is. I bet Trjmp will do more for us in 100 days than Obama did in 8 years!
Richard Smith says
Your math is somewhat miscalculated. Trump will be in office 8 years due to his overwhelming popularity and getting things done. That is 2921 days with an added day for leap year – 7days = 2914 days left to straighten out this country and get it back on track to be one of the world’s most powerful, prosperous and respected country. Draining the cesspool in Washington DC that has been going on for years plus getting rid of the corruption and self-serving bureaucrats will bring a breath of fresh air to America. For those that don’t want to breathe this clean fresh air, well you know exactly where you can go.
Marlee says
This guy who just took the oath to become president of all the people said this in his inaugural address (snipped in part):
~~We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny. The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.
Together, we will determine the course of America…And this, the United States of America, is your country. ..January 20th, 2017 will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again… We are one nation~~
In fact, he is speaking to just the 27% of the eligible voters who supported him.
He is not the President of all the people in this country.
His address is one more oh his alternative facts.
PeachesMcGee says
The Canadian border is still open…just sayin’
Frank says
Dictator? The last time I was forced to do anything was when it was “mandated” that I pay insurance companies. Trump hasn’t forced me to do anything.
footballen says
Dow hitting 20000 for first time says it all folks!!!!!!! Things are getting better fast and America is becoming great again!!!!!!!!!
Ben Hogarth says
Trump represents the single greatest existential threat to our Democracy. Russia represents the single greatest external threat. China represents the single greatest economic threat. Trump is still the biggest problem we face.
To those who continue to defend he and his administration, I can only say that you all do not need to pretend what your views and values anymore – no matter how bigoted or foolish. The facade you put on for the last 20-30 years is long over. White nationalism, fascism, or whatever you want to call the “alt-right” movement is NOT American and does not represent American values or a plurality of people in this country. You are a sick, poorly educated, and deeply disturbed group who’s views I would defend with my last dying breath as your right to express, but will NEVER value. Time is very much against you. The world is ready to be free of your ideologies and radicalism. It has been long overdue from the sins of the 20th century.
To those who merely voted for Trump because you were angry and every day simply hope that he learns to be a better President, all I can say is that it won’t and he won’t. Like an abusive relationship you feel obligated to stay, but I assure you it only gets worse for all of us from here. Yes, we do still have issues with our welfare system that need revision. We do have security issues that need correction. We can’t keep taKing all the Immigrants from across the world and expect that part of the world to change or our nation to improve overnight. Reasonable people understand these problems and your own. But reasonable people also accept that Trump is the last person interested in actually doing so; or qualified to do so. He has never understood the average American plight, why would he suddenly do so now?
To those of you who remain dedicated to the resistance, I say you must never give up. Speaking yesterday to one of the last remaining former Hitler Youth during WWII, he could not anymore agree with us that Trump is conducting himself in a similar manner as Hitler once did. The lessons men like he shared stay with me forever and I can tell you the lessons of history ring true today. The fanatics who support Trump and lash out at any critics represent the most angry and hateful group of people in our nation. Do not fear them – pity them and carry on OUR movement. If doing the right thing were easy, everyone would be doing so. We must focus our efforts on blocking every power grab or authoritative move by this sitting President and his administrators. There will be no rest for many of us.
I also wish I could say that the protests will remain peaceful and that Trump will quietly reserve himself and his policies. I wish I could say Trump’s alt-right, new-fascism brand won’t subvert democratic institutions or instigate violence among groups of Americans… but those of us who know the course of human conflict understand what all of this means if it continues down the current path. Whatever happens, never forget that liberty and democracy were not won and are not guarded by quiet onlookers. They are defended by the willing patriots of liberty. Neither apathy nor abstinence will safeguard our futures. The time will come where you will have to make a choice between tyranny and liberty.
No amount of propaganda or lies or untruths or ‘alternative facts’ will dissuade us from our duty to defend the Constitution and our democracy. To those who want to believe all of Trump’s lies because it fits their narrow views and agenda, just remember that even Hitler’s most devout supporters were eliminated shortly before he secured total power in Germany. Many more were expended in carrying out his twisted idea of a perfect society. What makes you think you are any different for Trump? In his eyes, you are a means to his end and are more than expendable.
And to those who continue to resist – stay informed and stay active. There are many public statesman more than willing to serve public office who have not already done so. Put your votes and support behind these individuals and let’s allow our numbers to win the day.
America is NOT for sale Mr. Trump. Let us remind you why.
Fredrick says
“We’re told us liberal losers to accept his victory, to move on and, give him a chance. We accept. We surrender. We want to give him a chance. We have moved on.”
Obviously Pierre you have not. I will enjoy reading your meltdowns for the next eight years. Guess your party should have had a better President the last eight because the path he took our country down was rejected by the American people. Guess your party should have put more lipstick on the pig you nominated to run against him. Guess your your part should have had a better message that did not push out the mass majority of areas of the country. When your party can take responsibility for its flaws and its members can start taking responsibility for themselves, the other side will have some sympathy for you and continue to put a hand out and help you up. But you have to be willing to help your self up and not just stick your hand out. You will find the other side is made up of a lot of good people. They are just tired of having their pockets picked. They are tired of being called a racist, homofobe…. blah blah blah when they fight back from being screwed over.
You will be OK Pierre . Hang in there. Find a good counselor. Take a deep breath, light some candles, find your Zen. You will be OK. I promise.
Knightwatch says
This disgusting little man has embarrassed America before the entire world. We can now look forward to tense, if not hostile relationships with all Muslim-dominated nations. And let’s not forget, he has shown hostility towards two of our largest trading partners, China (#1) and Mexico (#3).
He needs to go.
Sherry says
Thank you for another truly excellent article, Pierre!
Thank you for stating “proven facts” regarding the “LYING” of Trump! If we then added in all the statements he makes that he himself then contradicts . . . we end up with extremely little in the way of “fact based” and “reasonable” thinking at all!!! How is Trump to be trusted on any level?
For those who say over and over again that “he won. . . get over it”! This is NOT the boxing matches you prefer to golf! Trump has NOT “knocked ME OUT”! Trump has also NOT “knocked out” the MAJORITY of the American voters/people! The election was the BEGINNING, NOT the END!
Trump is NOT the Emperor he thinks he is! He is NOT a King! He is NOT, yet, a Dictator. . . although he certainly acts as if he is! In his first week in office Trump is already alienating leaders of other countries. He is cavalierly extremely close to violating our constitution on several fronts. The law suits that will cost US tax payers millions, if not billions are already being pulled together:
1. Sending his “alt right” henchman, Steve Bannon, to try and silence the press. A direct violation of the 1st amendment!
2. NOT “completely” divesting himself of his financial “conflicts of interest” violates Article One of the constitution: ” no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress”.
3. Trying to ban anyone from the USA based on their “religion” also is a direct violation of the 1st amendment
FOX has spent decades twisting the truth and indoctrinating the weak minded into accepting an “Alternate Reality”. One where “actual facts” are incredibly brushed aside, and Trump’s “alternative facts” are used to spin a web of lies that has pulled us all into complete “fascism”!
RESIST! HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE! TRUST ONLY PROVEN FACTS!
Pete says
Pierre – there is a reason you have nobody willing to spend advertising on your site, and this is it. Putting ideology over building a commercially viable site is simply poor business (and there is nothing altruistic about failing for your beliefs). My belief is that i have reached my limit for your ridiculous opinion pieces. Off to the observer for local news from now on.
All the best.
Pierre Tristam says
Pete,
I doubt FlaglerLive would have been around seven years if we “have nobody willing to spend advertising” on this site. I think the 20,000 readers a day we’ve been pulling may have something to do with it (we’ve had a particularly good month). Are you seriously suggesting that businesses don’t want to do business with people who don’t think the way they do? Now that would be poor business. We also have a loyal and generous base of donors who provide us with an additional buffer. More importantly: the moment I start editing this site or writing columns according to what advertisers may or may not want to see, I might as well become a greeter at Walmart because I sure as hell wouldn’t be a journalist anymore. Something about pandering just doesn’t sit well with me. In any case enough people realize that these days require more fact-based reporting (and fact-based opinion writing, as my columns tend to be), not less. It can be difficult to handle for some, but that’s why FlaglerLive is not for everyone. I concede that we live in an ideologically diabetic society that needs its every pill sugarcoated, and that our pills are more black-coffee-like bitter: we’re a sugar-free zone. Yet the majority of our readers are conservative. Just look at this comment section. Where else can they vent so freely but in this one-sided slanted close-minded censoring liberal cesspool? There’s more irony here than in all the novels of Henry James.
As for news reporting, FlaglerLive and its staff of 600 this week alone ran 31 stories averaging about 1,000 words each, 29 of them news, 24 of them strictly local, the lot citing, quoting or relying on somewhere in the range of 100 sources, and two opinion pieces, this one being one of them. If you can’t handle the occasional opinion piece, published over the weekend when harder news (we hope) takes a break, that’s certainly your choice. But it seems to me to speak more about your oddly fragile sensibilities and comfort with echo chambers rather than our 31-2 ratio of news and opinion, or even this opinion’s bucking this county’s otherwise one-sided party line. You may be comfortable with one-party states. I’m not. I like my America pluralist, beyond the slogans. Have fun at the Observer: we love them too, but we’ve never thought of each other as mutually exclusive outlets, nor do most of our common readers. Flagler would be a pitifully poorer place without them, and I’m pretty sure they feel the same way about us. Anyway, you’ll be back: if every reader who claimed he or she was leaving us really was, we’d be in negative numbers by now, yet we keep growing. Must be the alternative we provide to alternative facts.
And for the rest of you readers, please make your support count beyond words and thumbs up and go here. It matters.
Just a thought says
[Thank you for that correction Just a thought–FL]
I absolutely disagree with you in so far as Woody Guthrie wrote and sang “This Land is Our Your Land.” Everything else I agree with.
Ws says
GO TRUMP! We finally have a real President. He cares about us AMERICANS FIRST AS HE PROMISED. HE IS THE GREATEST PRESIDENT EVER IN MY LIFETIME! Thank you for all you are doing. This is was Americans wanted. The crazy people want hate and violence and we have to pray for them.
Ken M. says
Suck it up Snowflake and go to your safe space. This article is glowing example of “fake news” and “alternative facts.”
Pierre, it’s time for you to accept the fact that Donald Trump is the President of the United States of America and he and his Administration are bringing sanity and responsibility back to this nation. By the end of his term, you may well be under the care of a mental health facility.
Veteran says
@Sherry. All 3 comments are false.
1. Nobody can silence the press.
2. Feds have ok’d his plans to separate himself from his companies. He’s even going to donate profit of foreigners staying at his hotels back to the treasury.
3. He has temporary banned immigration from countries with terrorist groups, not specific religions.
These are things the liberal media won’t report. Maybe you should watch Fox News once in a while.
Traveling Rep says
Yawn, another tiresome tirade. However, the liberal tears seem to get sweeter by the day! Your sore, beet red behinds are like a bouquet of roses to our republican eyes. This is like watching an upset, spoiled brat in the sandbox; screaming, crying, and pounding his fists in the sand. I want to tell you that it brings a tear to my eye too, albeit a tear of joy. Now, go get yourself an aspirin and an ice pack.
palmcoaster says
Thank you for the courage to write about the truth, a very sad reality!
And yes I am giving Trump a chance but everyday he takes us deeper into the darkness..,
Jon says
Sherry. I’m calling bullshit on all three of your points. You need to reread and understand both the first amendment and article one. Where’s your proof on any of these points
Fredrick says
Pierre
Your reply to Pete is pretty much spot on. Though I disagree with your political views I am very much appreciative of the information you and your “staff of 600” provide to out community. They all deserve a good raise and more time off to spend with their family. See what you can do.
The only thing that I think your news reporting could use is to keep your opinion out of the articles and just report the news. That is what has gone wrong with the media. People just want the news and want to draw their own opinion. I am sure that is difficult but go look at some of your articles bout the county, Palm Coast or Flagler Beach. Can you honestly say that your political stance has not come out in those articles? When we read those articles we should not be able to tell what way you lean…… I think, that is what Pete was trying to say.
This piece is an opinion piece and though I think it’s way off base, it’s what opinion pieces are all about. If I read only conservative opinion pieces, life would be pretty boring.
Pierre Tristam says
Thank you Fredrick. All of FlaglerLive’s reporting is (I hope) based on extensive reporting and analysis, not just a transcription of what so and so says or what this and that document states. Analysis and context are not opinion, though they may be confused as such. For example documenting the fact that an official says something false, inaccurate or misleading is not opinion: it’s basic reporting, and not enough of it is done because reporters tend to be either too lazy, too incurious or too comfortably hung up by the mask of absolute objectivity (which does not exist) to do their job properly. (Imagine if reporters had been a bit more than transcribers back in the days of Bush’s claims of WMDs. A few were, but their voices didn’t rise above the din of yes-men until it was too late, though they were proven right. Or rather, their reporting was vindicated, though they, too, had been derided as opinionated journalists.) I’ve been at this a few decades now, and in Flagler 17 years, if history, context and analysis doesn’t inform every article on FlaglerLive (whether I write it or not), then the site is falling short. But email me an example or two or articles you think cross the line, as I don’t doubt some do on occasion (as happens in the best of media), and I’ll be glad to look it over and discuss it, and certainly correct it when appropriate. But again, thanks for your criticism: you hardly ever fall on my side of opinions, but if all critics had your temperament I’d die happy.
Bill Gordon says
Amazing how our political left WONT give this president a chance. I get not liking his policys as I and many on the right did not like 0bamas. We thought did not use all the vile words you leftist do all the time against the President. One week in and you are having meltdowns over him I LOVE IT. You use half at best “truths” to convince yourselves and others of your falsehoods against him and the right. examples ~1. Sending his “alt right” henchman, Steve Bannon, to try and silence the press. A direct violation of the 1st amendment!
2. NOT “completely” divesting himself of his financial “conflicts of interest” violates Article One of the constitution: ” no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress”.
3. Trying to ban anyone from the USA based on their “religion” also is a direct violation of the 1st amendment
~This disgusting little man has embarrassed America before the entire world.
~Trump represents the single greatest existential threat to our Democracy.
~He is not the President of all the people in this country.
This Nation was NOT set up as a “democracy” and thank God is still NOT one. I prefer our Republic over mob rule. He may NOT be the president of “all the people in this country BUT he IS the President of ALL American Citizens.
Sherry says
http://www.businessinsider.com/crew-files-first-major-lawsuit-against-president-trump-2017-1
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/01/donald-trump-conflicts-of-interests/508382/
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/23/511183740/ethics-experts-to-file-lawsuit-saying-trumps-overseas-interests-violate-constitu
Sherry says
http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/steve-bannons-war-on-the-press
http://www.businessinsider.com/news-media-should-keep-its-mouth-shut-jake-tapper-steve-bannon-2017-1
Sherry says
1st Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”.
The Muslim Ban is already creating law suits:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/28/politics/2-iraqis-file-lawsuit-after-being-detained-in-ny-due-to-travel-ban/
Makeitso1701 says
Pierre, another great article! The trumpsters are in denial just like their cult leader. The media is not their opposition, the truth is.
Anonymous says
@ footballen– say the same when Dow is at 15500
Katie Semore says
If Trumps’s lips or fingers are moving he is lying.
we the people says
You are just a fucking paid shill nothing else. Tell you bosses we the people stand by our President Mr. Trump!
Katie Semore says
@Bill Gordon, you have a very short memory. Most of the right hampered and obstructed Obama at every turn and the names he and the First Lady were called and the references made were often vile and horrific.
Pat says
You are preaching to the choir Pierre. And the rest of the congregation is rapidly departing.
Marlee says
At first I thought your headline said President Flake.
That would also apply.
Katie Semore says
@Marlee, LOL
Knightwatch says
All nations and all peoples of the world need to condemn this vile man.
I am truly embarrassed.
Susan Burrier says
You are the worse offender of the Liberal media that President Trump and many others despise! I hope you and your whole unpatriotic family leave my country!
Veteran says
@Sherry. You only reference liberal web sites. Not good enough!
Just sayin' says
As if “Corrupt Killary” would’ve been any better.
Anonymous says
Still, so much better than Hillary.
Robjr says
Trump is a F’ing PIG.
It has been reported in several news agencies. Trump has signed an executive order that bans citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East from entering the United States for 90 days, according to the White House. His proposed list doesn’t include Muslim-majority countries where his Trump Organization has done business or pursued potential deals.
Pogo says
Thanks Pete. Your threat inspired me greatly. I suggest everyone who loves our country get busy and spread the word about subscribing and donating to Flagler Live.
https://flaglerlive.com/support-flaglerlive/
Make a meme of the phrase, I’m Flagler Live!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8h_v_our_Q
Spread the word everywhere you go on social media. Spread the word everywhere you go. Spread the word to everyone you know – I’m Flagler Live!
Why? Here’s why.
Sherry says
Thanks Rick G.! If this doesn’t define our current administration, I don’t know what does:
Fourteen Defining
Characteristics Of Fascism
By Dr. Lawrence Britt
Source Free Inquiry.co
5-28-3
Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism – Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights – Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause – The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
4. Supremacy of the Military – Even when there are widespread
domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5. Rampant Sexism – The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.
6. Controlled Mass Media – Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7. Obsession with National Security – Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined – Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s policies or actions.
9. Corporate Power is Protected – The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed – Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts – Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment – Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption – Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections – Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
Ben Hogarth says
Well Pierre you definitely stirred up the pot of psychotics with this one..
Actually I’m more inclined to think its the same handful of radical extremists repeatedly posting as different aliases.
Or maybe I am just in disbelief that so many can view Trump as a savior. It’s lunacy
YankeeExPat says
Don’t Ya see, Trump is not a Racist!
Just Look at the Picture …He is Raising his Fist for the Black Power Sign
Sticking it to the Man my Brother!
One might think he is the Rosa Parks of Fifth Avenue.
Zarathustra Redux says
Of the 58% of the electorate that voted (we’re exceptional) half of them less three million (did i mentioned that we’re exceptional?) chose the fascist, racist, misogynist, and ignoramus, my neighbors and yours. They now control the government, and they are taking names and placing spies throughout the whole State apparatus (sounds familiar?) add that into the mix i.e. history and the truth can be made up and our very fragile democracy is in deep trouble.
All this would not be so bad if it were not that America’s original sin “unity trumps everything” has never been address but instead reinforced.
By the way, Pierre, i’m using a synonym this time at least that the retrogrades are scary and that we’re joining an underground movement. You should also think of using a nom de plume along the lines of some Viking god.
woodchuck says
Maybe the Don can Make English the # 1 language again.
Sherry says
@we the people. . . maybe Pierre (the wonderful Editor and a Journalist of this HONEST news outlet) won’t call you out, but I most certainly will!
YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME! Not only that but, if you cannot refrain from your disgustingly crude language and abuse of this web site, and the community of those who offer mostly civilized and often meaningful discourse here, I would like to ask you to spew your vile comments someplace else!!! Try Breitbart . . . after all, they are your hate filled contemporaries!
Patick says
F – Trump and all the ignorant racist who voted for him
Brad W says
Very well said.
Makeitso1701 says
I think the phrase “Stupid is as stupid does” applies to the Donald and his cult followers.
Instigator says
Eight years of President Trump. Then eight years of Ivanka. ROFL Can’t we all pull on the rope in the same direction??
The Ghost of America says
I dunno guys, I mean hitler is our democratically elected president. I know he’s busy passing executive orders to send jews to concentration camps, but really I think we need to give him a chance.
You people are reprehensible.
Gkimp says
I think Pierre is a closet Trump fan after the first 100 hours in office.
NortonSmitty says
Oh my my. Where to begin? Pierre, the only thing that jumps out at me as false is your Talmud statement about lies. Both the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmud state that it is not only acceptable but a divine duty to lie to any non-Jews, or Goyim. As far as the rest of the posts from the Trumpsters, I have to warm up a bit .
TeddyBallGame says
When Obama was President I thought his critics were over-the-top in attacking him and his presidency.
But the current crop of self-described unbiased reporting venues; (read: abc, cbs, nbc, cnn) are so anti-Trump and so over-the-top-bias that it is IS WAY OVER the top. Read: False
I did not vote for Trump. But he was duly elected, and is now OUR president. The Dems lost me long ago when they started to divide people along race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and a hundred other differentiates.
Allowing rule by either pole of extremists is extremely dangerous.
Will says
Dangerous, maniacal despot. He knows exactly what he is doing. Press censorship, scapegoating an entire religion to make our country “great”, consolidating power and eliminating “enemies, making the country “pure”. No, I won’t give him a chance and people should have stopped Hitler too.
Ted Willison says
He IS your President. Get over your liberal self. Thank god Flagler went republican.
THE MODERN DAY DEMOCRAT IS A REPUBLICAN.
Marlee says
Folks ….this is the bottom-line:
WA. Gov. Jay Inslee and other elected officials held a news conference at the airport to denounce Trump’s order, calling it poorly coordinated, reckless and un-American.
“These people couldn’t run a two-car funeral,” Inslee said of the White House. “It is a train wreck. It can’t stand.
steadfast&loyal says
Laws of the land, finally getting enforced to protect the CITIZENS! Not harbor the criminals. Duty Honor Country..
John Dewitt says
Pierre,
You are a good writer and to some extent a good journalist. But, given that journalists are supposed to report facts and remain neutral you have failed. It is right to call out President Trump out on his many lies. Yes, he is a liar and a grandiose one at that! You would be much more persuasive if you were consistent. When did you call out President Obama for his many lies? Yes, President Obama told us many lies. His were just so much more polished! You should have been equally outraged but instead what did we hear from you? Crickets!
Pierre Tristam says
Clearly, John, you’ve been picking too many cherries even though they’re out of season. It is vulgar of me to advertise myself, but you’ll agree that it is a lot more vulgar to make baseless claims. Even though I was in the middle of writing a piece addressing our Supreme Leader’s latest slurs on our Constitution (stay tuned, it’s publishing soon), here’s a quick and by no means comprehensive sampling of my criticism of Obama. Crickets? I don’t think so.
Richard Smith says
I cannot believe the type and amount of profanity that FlaglerLive is condoning in this article along with some of the comments here. It is a sad state of affairs when journalism stoops to that level. Maybe it is time for readers to read the FlaglerLive’s Comment Policy. Here is a small section from that policy.
“Keep in mind: this is not a First Amendment zone. Anything does not go. Slanderous, libelous, gratuitously offensive language, name-calling and outright falsehoods are not acceptable. That the comment section will be treated as a noisy town square doesn’t mean you have a “right” to post whatever you wish. You don’t. Posting at FlaglerLive is not a right. It’s not a privilege, either. Consider it a service to the discussion and to public debate, remembering that your every thought isn’t necessarily interesting or worth posting to the world.”
Pierre Tristam says
The key word, Richard, is gratuitous. And the language you see here is akin to nursery rhymes compared to the profanity of this president’s first week. But we knew that going in, didn’t we.
Sherry says
Thanks Rick G.! If this doesn’t define our current administration, I don’t know what does:
Fourteen Defining
Characteristics Of Fascism
By Dr. Lawrence Britt
Source Free Inquiry.co
5-28-3
Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism – Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays
.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights – Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause – The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
4. Supremacy of the Military – Even when there are widespread
domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5. Rampant Sexism – The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.
6. Controlled Mass Media – Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7. Obsession with National Security – Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined – Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s policies or actions.
9. Corporate Power is Protected – The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed – Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts – Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment – Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption – Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections – Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
brian says
dude, you are a moron..congrats
John Boy says
Watch this video…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YafZkjiMpjU
Concerned Citizen says
You know what really amazes me is the tendency a political discussion has to reduce grown men and women to 5th graders with temper tantrums.
For the past year I have seen people attack, harass, insult and threaten others for having an opposing political views.
Almost every comment I read on editorials and social media starts off fairly civil then 5 minutes in someone is called an idiot, moron or worse. Sad really.
Yes the first amendment right gives us the freedom of speech but use it to make POSITIVE changes.
If most of you are pointing fingers at one person for dividing this country you might be correct to a certain point. However while you are pointing fingers reflect a minute on your behavior.
Instead of demanding change and having someone else do it stop the madness band together and make it happen yourselves!!
Dave says
Worst president in history and it’s only been a week, I hate to se what he is doing bit at the same time I love to see him tear apart the Republican party, he will be impeached within the first month
John Dewitt says
Pierre, in response to your reply to my earlier post I stand corrected. I read this web site often but somehow overlooked the times you wrote against President Obama. Yes, I am man enough to admit when I am wrong. But I also think when you get opinionated to such an extreme as a journalist something is lost in the process. You more closely resemble a political commentator which I equate with the entertainment industry be that person Sean Hannity on the right or Rachel Maddox on the left. We have more than enough political entertainers and not enough journalists. Journalism in America is essentiallly dead. Once your name is associated with the ideological left or right, half the readers essentially tune out what you write and no longer trust that it is anything more than propaganda. Do you know who I trust more than American journalists? Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Even Al Jazeera more accurately reports American news than Americans news outlets do. I suppose I am guilty of tuning you out many times and I totally disagree with your politics. I do not however dispute your love of country. So I’ll keep reading because you are essentially the best source for local news which is the reason I go to your site.
Anonymous says
Although Trump is a liberals worst nightmare it must be pointed out liberals would have treated any Republican the same way. There is not a Republican candidate that would not have received massive push back by liberals. A liberal may say they support freedom of speech and a 2 party system but their actions/words don’t support those concepts.
I will say I don’t agree with the way Trump is implementing his immigration policy but here is something worth noting. Why would someone want to spent Federal funds to deal with “new poverty/crime” before we take care of existing poverty/crime. Common sense just isn’t in play, on either side. The poor in our country are kept so far down by Liberal policy they often don’t understand much of their plight could be addressed if so much of our money/jobs didn’t leave our country to accomplish nothing elsewhere.