My latest in PJ Media:
When the news broke that President Trump had contracted the coronavirus, many of his supporters immediately began to pray for his recovery, while many Democrats were thrilled. Some, including former Hillary Clinton staffer Zara Rahim, even expressed the hope that he would die. The sharply divergent reactions revealed yet again the growing divide in American society, as they demonstrate that the left and the right today are operating from two vastly different and irreconcilable worldviews.
Leftists celebrating Trump’s illness were many, and they made no effort to hide their sentiments. Chris Rock yukked it up on Saturday Night Live, saying: “President Trump is in the hospital from COVID and I just wanna say my heart goes out to COVID.” Film critic Simon Abrams tweeted: “For once, I’m rooting for the virus.” Daniel Golson, staff editor at Car and Driver, chimed in with “I don’t feel bad about hoping he dies because I’ve been hoping that since 2015.”
Many conservatives have been appalled at these reactions, and have pointed to them to illustrate how deranged the left has become in its hatred for the president. They’ve noted that the right reacted to the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with condolences and expressions of regret, without regard for the fact that Ginsburg was the embodiment of a leftist activist judge with no interest in respecting constitutional restraints. Many have asked why leftists can’t react with similar charity when someone among the dissidents from their agenda falls ill, even their primary bête noire, President Trump.
The answer is in this as in so many other areas, the left and the right are working from premises that are more or less polar opposites. Jesus says “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This has long been interpreted as meaning that one should treat everyone, even one’s political opponents, with respect, and have compassion for them when they suffer. This remained a cultural ideal long after many Americans began to discard their Christian faith and is still taken for granted among many people, albeit in the United States increasingly only among conservatives of all faiths.
That former Hillary staffer, Zara Rahim, in contrast, is a Muslim. The Qur’an doesn’t say that believers should love their enemies. Instead, it says “Muhammad is the apostle of Allah. Those who follow him are ruthless to unbelievers, merciful to one another” (48:29). What flows from this is that one should not have respect for one’s political foes, but rather, remain intent on destroying them.
There is much more. Read the rest here.
Aussie Infidel says
For the Left, politics is war by other means. Anyone to the right of Karl Marx is not just the political ‘opposition’, but the ‘enemy’. Rather than debate policies, the main tactics used by Leftists are ad hominem attacks and mudslinging to demonize anyone who disagrees with them.
Rod says
But you prefer rational argument, strictly factual, and would never think of abusing those who disagree.
Admirable concepts, Aussie. Let us know when you’re ready to put them into practice.
eddie says
Hi Rod:
The narcissist claims he’s the worst treated president in history.
JFK would be shaking his head, if he had any of it left.
I hope the tax dodger gets well, but not until November 4
Aussie Infidel says
Rod, Yes, I prefer rational, factual argument, and I never deliberately abuse those who disagree with me – unless they abuse me first. I realize that I’m only human and not perfect, and probably don’t always live up to those ideals; but I always try to practise what I preach.
I understand the Left better than most people, because I came from the Left (the Labor Party in Australia) over 50 years ago. I was heavily involved as an office bearer and sat on their policy committees for many years. I became involved in politics because I was a union delegate, and initially, most members were genuinely interested in improving the lot of working people. However, that gradually changed as more and more Marxist ‘intellectuals’ from academia, and communists from trade unions obtained positions of influence in the Party. And all the while their political stance moved further to the left.
The Party also became more accommodating of Muslims, and virtually wanted an open door policy on Muslim refugees. But none of them had read the Quran or understood anything about Islamic ideology. I had also become concerned about Muslim immigration, because I had got to know dozens of Muslims through my work and had studied Islam extensively.
I’m also not religious, and have been an atheist for even longer. However, I believe in freedom of religion and all the other freedoms in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – one of the few good things to come out of that useless organisation, which is now dominated by the Muslims and the OIC. But finally I had enough of Leftest bashing of western culture, and the so-called glories of socialism, and resigned in disgust.
Most rhetoric from the Left is empty emotive hype specifically designed to interrupt and silence discourse or debate – The mindless chanting from street protesters, “What do we want? More of whatever! When do we want it? Now!” If you’ve ever been along to any of these protests (and I’ve been to many), you could not help but be aware of the tactics used by Antifa, Extinction Rebellion, the Socialist Alternative, Black Lives Matter, and all the other Leftist inspired ratbags. Ask them anything of substance about the issue at hand – and unless you are lucky enough to get one of their leaders – they won’t debate the issue, because they are largely ignorant; they simply attempt to shout down and silence any opposing viewpoint.
But having said that, I’m just as critical of many on the right of politics. When Trump was running in the US primaries in 2015, the Never Trumpers in his own Republican Party were even more of an enemy to him than the Marxists and Muslims in the Democratic Party. All those old school, old money types who were hangovers from the Bush era didn’t have a clue how to handle the rhetoric continually being thrown at them from the Left and the Muslims, and were quite content to simply ‘loose gracefully’. Fortunately, enough ordinary Americans saw them for what they were – a bunch of ignorant useless losers – and voted for Trump.
At the time I was overseas and watched virtually every debate on satellite TV, and Donald Trump stood out above all the others. Trump was one of the few who raised vital policy issues like Muslim immigration; trade inequities with China, Mexico and other countries; the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran (negotiated largely by Joe Biden), the iniquitous Paris Climate Change accord, the destructive green-left regulations holding up thousands of vital infrastructure projects; the need to regain energy independence and get out from under the thumb of the Arabs, the need to bring manufacturing back to America; and the need to ‘drain the swamp’ in DC. (All of these issues apply to my own country as well).
If Trump did nothing else, he at least saved the US from four years of Clinton, who would have been a disaster for the US. Among other things, Clinton (with her Muslim advisor Huma Abedin), wanted to increase the Syrian refugee intake by 500%.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2016/06/15/politifact-says-trump-right-criticism-hillary-clintons-support-500-percent-increase-syrian-refugees/
JMB says
(From Sydney Australia) Good morning Aussie Infidel, I agree with what you have had to say completely. Yes, I too was involved with the Australian Labour Party some 50 years ago and just like you I had distanced myself from them totally by the mid 1970s. The Labour party betrayed the Australian people, Australian traditions, Australian values, worker’s values, and, together with that other great traitor (PM Fraser) forced multiculturalism on to our once great and special homogeneous nation. As for our present PM and voting system, I just breath a sigh of relief every day when I compare our PM and parliament with what is happening in the USA, Canada, the UK and even across the ditch in NZ.
James Lincoln says
Aussie Infidel,
An excellent post, my compliments.
I particularly liked your analysis of then Donald Trump’s 2016 US Presidential Campaign – spot on.
And yes, Pres. Trump saved the United States from four years of Clinton – which would’ve been *as bad* as four more years of Obama…
job says
Greetings from Adelaide. Your post hits the nail on the head. The Australian Labo(u)r Party has lost the plot. Here in SA, we are still recovering from their 16 years of mismanagement and destruction. While the Libs are better than the last lot, we really need a strong leader to stand up and not bend to the minorities.
As for the USA, go Trump 2020.
DazzleMe says
Well said Aussie Infidel, the only thing is I wish you were Christian! That would make my day!
mortimer says
Well said, A.I. The Dems demonize the least sign of resistance to their views! Most Dems (86%) say they feel at ease to share their voting choice with relatives and acquaintances. However, only 11% of Republicans say so. Republicans live in fear of the mean-spirited, smug, self-righteous Democrats who sneer at and attack those of other parties, if not work against their success. Some Dems don’t allow known Republicans to use their businesses. We have seen Republicans kicked out of restaurants.
It is clear that the Dems have created a political culture of quite vicious intolerance to other points of view. The Dems consider that their opponents are not just wrong, but morally evil … fascists, Nazis, or worse.
The Dems are modern Salem witch-hunters. They exude self-righteous superiority 24/7 … a party imbued with mass HYSTERIA.
James Lincoln says
+1
DazzleMe says
Indeed mortimer
James Lincoln says
If former VP Joe Biden contracted the coronavirus today, I would wish him a full and speedy recovery.
And I support the policies of Pres. Trump 100%…
gravenimage says
Just what I was going to note, James.
eddie says
The very best medical care in the world:
I’ve never seen $750 stretch so far……
Lauren Hermann says
I totally agree with you, James.
Actually, I think Joe Biden may have been an acceptable president had he been elected president in 2008, instead of vice-president under Obama.
But then again, that’s just speculation.
gravenimage says
He probably would have been better than Obama. This is, of course, the very definition of damning with faint praise.
gravenimage says
The Real Reason Why Leftists Can’t and Won’t Express Good Wishes For Trump’s Recovery
…………………..
To be fair, some on the Left *have* wished the President and First Lady a speedy recovery–but many others have sneered and even gloated over the prospect of his death. Ugly stuff.
Rufolino says
“Ugly” ?
This is one of the most disgusting and repulsive spectacles I have ever witnessed. The appalling things being said appear to suggest that civilised political discourse in the United States, is over.
gravenimage says
Rufolino, I don’t believe the use of the term “ugly” is in any way downplaying this.
Relic says
Langestraet’s charge at the Battle of Canal Street
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz0Ay13elzc
Rod says
I can’t get over the sight of a dozen doctors on parade outside a hospital to support one of them while he lies to the world’s media.
Do even Trump’s doctors have to be prepared, not to die, but to “lie for the President”?
Forgive me, but didn’t such ridiculous things happen in Hitler’s time? And wasn’t the pompous fool mocked for them?
gravenimage says
So if you don’t want the President to die you are Hitler? How does this work?
Giacomo Latta says
Yea, Hitler, Boo, Trump. Rod the (####-fascsist) neo-Nazi Antifan reveals his true colours yet again.
eddie says
I just don’t get it:
Trump was a cowardly draft dodger, but now his doctor says he’s probably got a purple heart.
Patrick Ludwig says
I too, think that Trump should die soon. And him catching Covid raised my hopes.
Nothing personal, I just think that he is far more dangerous to the world than Corona ever will be. And the world has been trying to get rid of Corona for months.
Why not put the same effort to greater effect and combat the real danger?
lucretia macevil says
Patrick Ludwig, I have noted that people like yourself make hysterical statements like yours. I would honestly like to question why you think so, but I expect a reply along the lines of,”If you’re THAT stupid, then I can’t explain it to you”.
DazzleMe says
Here-here lucretia!
gravenimage says
What a nasty piece of work. *Of course* he hates the President–he’s tried to protect his people from Jihadists, criminal illegal immigrants, and a nuclear Iran. Bad dhimmi!
lucretia macevil says
I can only imagine the outrage, pearl clutching, and indignation, if The Holy Cow Obama were ill and people wished death upon him.
eddie says
Pence once said that he never goes anywhere without Jesus:
I do hope his invisible, imaginary friend abides by social distancing rules during the debate with Kamala.
Wellington says
Making fun of Christians, eddie, is like being a Leftist, to wit, it’s a brainless and gutless decision.
eddie says
People who claim to chat to Jesus shouldn’t be anywhere near the corridors of power.
Imagine Pence in the White House with his finger on the button.
“Tell me when Lord, let me be your servant Lord.”
Christians like Pence really do believe in that whacky fire and brimstone ending described in the Book of Revelation.
Wellington says
eddie: I am an agnostic so I not writing this coming from a religious point of view but devout Christians feel they have a special relationship with Jesus that is very personal and subtle. Pence did not literally mean that Jesus talks to him but rather that Jesus has inspired his thinking. Christians pray to Jesus because they equate Jesus with God and often they are of the conviction that in an ineffable way Jesus guides them, reaches out to them somehow.
I have zero doubt that Mike Pence is perfectly sane. He is also quite intelligent, well educated, has many years of experience in government, is a very decent human being and has heaps of common sense. You have been too literal respecting what Mike Pence meant respecting the statement you have criticized him for.
gravenimage says
The idea that Christians are nuking people in the name of Jesus is *quite* false. Meanwhile, there really *are* people murdering in the name of their creed–and it isn’t Christianity.
DazzleMe says
Yes indeed Wellington
lucretia macevil says
Eddie, do you sneer also about the followers of Mohamed and his flying horse?…thought not.
DazzleMe says
+1 lecretia!
IanB says
Rod, Eddie and Pat prove Robert Spencer’s point. Case closed.
eddie says
Trump’s diseased America:
It is now safer reporting in North Korea than currently reporting at the White House.
wpm says
North Korea they feed people who buck the governments policies to be torn apart by packs of attack dogs .Visit North Korea and try to have a disagreement with a government official in public and see what happens to you eddie. The ruler of North Korea had his relative blown to pieces by a cannon, because he questioned the leader publicly. Yes Trump is feeding reporters live to packs of wild dogs, he is rounding up people and sending to the frozen waste lands. Yes he is worst then Hitler and Stalin combined. Trump is blasting his niece apart with a cannon for speaking out against him to reporters. I think the CO levels in your mom,s basement are effecting your judgement.
eddie says
Have you no sense of humour?
Loosen up:
I’m just taking the piss out of President Super-spreader.
lucretia macevil says
I guess eddie, you’re just being ‘ironic’. Why don’t you run along and have another soy latte?
wpm says
I get it eddie only kidding loosen up eddie your mom got some hot pockets and diet root beer for your dinner remember to take out the garbage and Burger King called they need someone that has experience making fries and swapping out the bathrooms. Your pissed off Trump got the China flu or he is recovering from it ,or no one in the White house is serious sick or dying of it?
gravenimage says
Why does the appalling eddie consider the horrors of North Korea amusing? Actually, I suppose that question answers itself–*Ugh*.
Jerry says
If you watched the financial markets you would have discovered that the smart money was concerned about Trump’s infection, reacted negatively to it and rallied when it appears that he may be better.
Roland says
It is OK to vigorously criticize Trump’s policies and personal conduct, but publicly wishing somebody dead is a dangerous form of incitement, no matter who is the source.
SamB says
Rod, Eddie and Pat does not understand Roberts’ underlying philosophy. Islam is the bane of the world which they don’t believe. Trump in 5 years have caused the world to implode; singlehandedly Trump has liaised with Si Ji Ping to unleash a deadly virus on the world. This is unequivocal since his vast empire only dispensed with $750.00 of tax. This rationale does not consider that the SARS virus the precursor to COVID-19 virus was the reason for its existence. The previous administration and the malleable press are completely exonerated for its creation and lack of recounting. Eddie. Rod and Pat demonstrates the chasm in decency prevalent in AMERICA(WORLD). Propriety is the sole preserve of Liberals (which presumably includes Pat, Eddie and Rod…). The fact that they are on this forum is to insult the integrity some fine people expiating their inner souls. Trump, as deficient as he is, is not less than Obama, Clinton, Biden, Kennedy AOC, Pelosi… that they venerate. Trump as I understand is presumably 8 years in power and with your vehemence is not even entitled to it…
eddie says
Cobblers!
I totally agree with Robert when he claims Islam is the most nefarious ideology on the planet.
By the way, when did I say I venerate Obama, Clinton, Pelosi, and the AOC?
I just believe that diseased Tump is a selfish, arrogant pig.
SamB says
Your denunciation of Trump is very strong, you were mute all these years when troubles brewed. Trump agitated you so much that you wish him dead or sidelined. All your rationale has become peripheral in the context of Trumps’ lack of coherency. You have voided his others strengths (if any). You rubbished(sic) his contribution to the Christian community(even if he is not stanch believer). Your narrative is [solely] based on your dislike of him[because of COVID-19?]. Furthermore, you are tight-lipped regarding the MSM’s inimical reporting and calumny of the present POTUS
Wellington says
eddie: It’s a lie that Trump screwed up with Covid. On January 31st of this year he banned flights from China, which most certainly was the right thing to do and saved untold thousands of lives. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci (who has reversed himself several times) on February 17th called the coronavirus “a miniscule matter.” Nancy Pelosi on February 24th said there was no reason why people should not come out to eat in the Chinatown section of San Francisco. On March 9th Mayor Bill de Blasio of NYC said that people under fifty who were healthy should not fear going anywhere in the city. Trump also stopped all flights from Europe for thirty days via his announcement on March 11th.
Trump was ahead of most everyone else and for being so was called xenophobic, racist, etc. Trump also provided ventilators to all who needed them and sent a hospital ship to NYC which was ill used by local authorities. Meanwhile, Governors Cuomo and Wolf of New York and Pennsylvania respectively were putting Covid-19 patients in nursing homes and which resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. The CDC also was a laggard in the matter of determining the lethality of the virus and the wearing of masks.
Did Trump do everything right? No. But he did more good than just about anyone else and was ahead of the matter from the start, with his great street instincts even ahead of many so-called experts—and by the way, the experts to this day disagree with each other about many aspects respecting how to treat Covid-19.
I think your hatred for Trump makes you engage in a terrible mistake, i.e., the avoidance of facts. Blind hatred can do that you know.
James Lincoln says
Wellington says,
“Did Trump do everything right? No. But he did more good than just about anyone else and was ahead of the matter from the start…”
From a licensed physician, board certified in two specialties, that is a correct statement.
Pres. Trump had to balance the morbidity and mortality from Covid-19 with the very real morbidity and mortality associated with a lockdown…
Wellington says
Thank you, James.
Stunning and instructive how Trump was ahead of most everyone else but gets blamed of most everyone else. Oh yeah, agenda time going on here.
eddie misses this but then eddie misses a great deal.
Rod says
Yet we have the awkward truth that, despite Trump’s faultless handling of the pandemic, the number of Covid deaths per million population in the USA, one of the wealthiest, most advanced countries, is among the highest in the world. (VP Pence, when asked to explain this recently, preferred to ignore the question).
Could this, just possibly, indicate appalling mismanagement at very high levels of government? And a disgraceful dis-service to the American people?
The measures introduced in many other countries, like mine, were much different from those introduced by Trump, were introduced much earlier, and were based on expert advice from epidemiologists. The results speak for themselves.
Giacomo Latta says
No comments from Rod concerning muslims on the Jihad Watch website? Looks like he’s admitted total defeat on that issue.
So Rod thinks there are no deaths in countries other than the US? That’s narrow-mindedness to the nth degree.
”mine?” I’m surprised you didn’t write ”mein.” Just because you don’t name your country does not mean that your country, which I’m sure must have produced more genius than just Your Lordship, has not its 3.4 % of deaths, ignoring pre-existing medical conditions.
gravenimage says
Actually, America’s record on Covid is better than that of quite a few Western nations, including Belgium, the UK, Spain, and Sweden.
Rod says
from Giacomo –
“So Rod thinks there are no deaths in countries other than the US? ”
Giacomo, Rod thinks nothing of the sort. And said nothing of the sort. As you well know. Sadly, there have been many deaths in many countries, including mine.
One of the fascinations with jihadwatchers is the idiocy to which they’ll resort when cornered. Makes rational discussion impossible, but endlessly amusing.
Meanwhile, sorry, the issue of the near record US death rates under the near genius management of Trump remains, sorry again, unaddressed here.
Those, like me, who saw the pandemic sensibly dealt with, who saw mistakes made and swiftly corrected, who heard expert advice and watched it implemented and who followed it, who watched our case numbers and fatalities steadily falling, watched Trump burbling, fumbling, pretending, and lying, with incredulity. And he’s doing it still – 210,000 and rising. Go figure!
Do you really want this fool in control of your future?
Rod says
gravy, the US death rate is much worse than the rates of France, the Netherlands, Canada, Portugal, Denmark, Austria, and etc. Despite your wealth, medical expertise, inspired leadership, and wonderful public health system.
Canada? Interesting. Imagine what the Canadians could have achieved under Trump’s guidance!
gravenimage says
“Rod” clearly prefers Trudeau’s pandering to Islam. No surprise there…
Rod says
Hello folks
I’ve just checked and found no responses to my later posts of Oct 9. NONE! (Apart from gravy’s usual non sequitur, which can as usual be disregarded).
So it seems you have no response to obvious truths. I trust your views have been modified accordingly.
Thanks for your silent approval. As I said, “Do you really want this fool in control of your future?”
gravenimage says
My reply was obviously not a non sequitur–my point, quite clearly, is that the constant claims that the US has the worst Covid situation in the West is clearly not the case.
Then “Rod” is crowing over the idea that if everyone at Jihad Watch does not take time out to refute his constant claptrap that they ergo must agree with it. What rot.
gravenimage says
Note that eddie has been here since 2014, and only just started saying anything critical of Islam *in the last week*, and only then when called on it. His supposed newfound dislike of Jihad is pretty ridiculous.
Thomas Faddis says
Well said, haters like eddie are just duped by the propaganda
Sylvia Drummond says
Lefties don’t count. They are brain dead. Get well soon Mr President and First Lady.
Thomas Faddis says
So true!
john smith says
With you all the way on that comment.
DazzleMe says
Indeed Sylvia!
Brian Hoff says
tump said the virse was fake and he held rallies where many didnot practice social distane and didnot wear face mask. trump didnot wear face mask or practice social distance. he want to give Biden the illess.
Thomas Faddis says
Nope, you’re LYING! President Trump said, “…the democrats Reaction to ccp covid19 is a hoax!” (and that’s proven true!) There is No scientific study showing masks work, idiot! (Only studies showing social distancing…and his first rallies DID social distance, you scummy LIAR!
DazzleMe says
Here-here Thomas
gravenimage says
“BrianHoff”–really, “DefenderofIslam”–makes even less sense than usual here. If President Trump (supposedly) thought that Covid-19 was fake (never mind this is something he has never said), then how does it make sense that he was trying to give Vice President Biden a disease he didn’t even think existed?
This seems to be “Muslim logic”. Very sad.
DazzleMe says
Very good, I live your analogies gravenimage!
Loison Helmer says
The very same thing is happening to your neighbour to the north Canada. The only difference is that we are farther down the road. The Prime Minister Trudeau literally flaunts the rule of parliament and the law. If he continues in power within ten years we will be no better than Venezuela. The enemies of America are everywhere. Without America the free world is doomed.
eduardo odraude says
flouts
Yogi says
Trump 2021!!!
JHL says
In a so-called free society where the exchanges of ideas are supposed to be welcome, any ideas opposing The violent ideology of Islam and the far left, are met with hate.
gravenimage says
Grimly true.