this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2024
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Kamala Harris gets it. Yes, we should fear Trump—but we should also mock him mercilessly, because it drives him nuts.

Donald Trump is in free-fall. Read this description from Sunday’s Washington Post of how the GOP nominee spent last week: “[A]ides did not want a situation where he was watching the convention every night, getting angry, and then just golfing all day and stewing, according to people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private interactions. Trump also had grown annoyed with the news coverage that depicted him as not working as hard as his opponent, one person who talked to him said.”

If you didn’t know that the article was about Trump and you just read it cold without knowledge of the context, you might think it was a description of parents trying to figure out how to handle an ungovernable four-year-old. So they convinced Trump to get out of Bedminster and hit the road, trading suck-ups with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In the past, Trump has called Kennedy the “dumbest member” of the Kennedy family and a “radical left lunatic.” Kennedy has calledTrump a “terrible human being” and “probably a sociopath.”

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[–] nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 188 points 4 months ago (5 children)

It took them 8 years to realize what Thomas Jefferson found out in 1816

"Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions."

Bullies don't like when you hit back because they base their power on the fact that they think you're going to play by the rules while they're free to break them. You so much as look like youre bending a rule and they'll cry foul. Look at how Trump responded to Biden dropping out.

[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 75 points 4 months ago (1 children)

“Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions.”

I've never heard that quote before, but I love it.

[–] SkybreakerEngineer@lemmy.world 38 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Extra funny because Jefferson had plenty of unintelligible propositions himself, for which he was ridiculed while he was alive

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 14 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Like what?

(Not arguing, I just really need a refresher in colonial + early American history)

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 18 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (6 children)

Like how you can own people if "all men are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

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[–] Adalast@lemmy.world 11 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I have taken to using my a quote of my own with people recently, on both sides in different situations. Quote: "Those who neither ascribe to nor participate in the social contract of tolerance are not afforded the protection it brings."

I say it to the right when they complain about me calling them out on their BS or making it known that they are generally shit human beings.

I say it to the left when they try to call me out for saying that literal Nazis holding signs on the side of the road should have beverages thrown at them by passing cars at the tamest. I would prefer throwing much heavier objects, but the law protects them. The Law, not the social contract of tolerance. Within the confines of the law, people like that should not be tolerated and should be informed with as much force as possible.

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[–] penquin@lemm.ee 112 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Well no shit, Sherlocks. Ever heard of "bully the bully"? Glad they're finally catching on. Took too long.

[–] snooggums@midwest.social 75 points 4 months ago (12 children)

Trump had a known decades long overreaction to some reporter calling him a short fingered vulgarian when he ran in 2016.

Congrats on the Dems for finally using that to their advantage I guess.

[–] DarkDarkHouse@lemmy.sdf.org 24 points 4 months ago (1 children)

When they eventually hit on what his father used to call him, hoo boy

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[–] Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 31 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Bully the bully requires unity among their victims though, and if there's one thing bullies do well, it's sow discord.

[–] penquin@lemm.ee 10 points 4 months ago (6 children)

I mean, back in my country, I used to beat the shit out of the fuckers and they straighten up after that. Doesn't work that way in the USA unfortunately. Lol

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[–] teft@lemmy.world 84 points 4 months ago

“The news is saying I don’t work as hard as my opponent. You know what I’ll go do? Golf some. That will show them how hard I work.”

Every time i have a dumb idea i just have to remember there is always a bigger idiot in the world. That always makes me feel better.

[–] yesman@lemmy.world 73 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Trump has been ridiculed the whole time. The only people who treat him as a serious candidate are his supporters and the media. That was true in 2015, that's true today.

[–] Badeendje@lemmy.world 36 points 4 months ago (1 children)

That is not the impression I got as someone not from the US. I mostly saw scared and angry from democrats, and scared, angry or reverence from the news media. And that seems to be what he thrives on.

Ridicule came from stuff like the tv comedians and internet sources like YouTube.. but these are easy enough to ignore.

Now that the ridicule is coming from the actual establishment, it cannot be ignored.

I find it very cool that the vile hatred, fearmongering and general dispicable behavior can be countered with joy, ridicule and a general cheerful demeanor.

Just the other day one of the GOP ghouls came out and actually said there is no joy.. ROFL.. they're melting..

Now dial it up to 11 dems.

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[–] bastion@feddit.nl 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

You're right. He has been mocked the whole time, and mockery isn't the determining factor.

He has simply played out his power arc. The same mockery that didn't land before now lands, because he's on the downside.

Populism depends on emotional support from the people, but if you don't have a framework that actually meets the peoples' needs (or is effective at controlling them) you just rise as the restless populace tries you, then fall as they toss you aside.

[–] sebsch@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 4 months ago (1 children)

But having Obama bringing in the size of it's dick is somewhat of a new situation.

It hilarious and I am sure this does hurt little Donny deep into his heart.

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[–] zephorah@lemm.ee 58 points 4 months ago

Toxic masculinity always hates being laughed at. It’s that Margaret Atwood quote all over again. Too applicable when you consider complete abortion bans and project 2025.

[–] eran_morad@lemmy.world 45 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Christ. He’s so obviously bald up top, what a fucking ridiculous combover.

[–] TheBat@lemmy.world 23 points 4 months ago (2 children)

“She often described the mechanics behind it to friends: an absolutely clean pate—a contained island after scalp-reduction ­surgery—surrounded by a furry circle of hair around the sides and front, from which all ends are drawn up to meet in the center and then swept back and secured by a stiffening spray.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ivanka-reveals-the-truth-about-trumps-hairand-mocks-it-too

[–] samus12345@lemmy.world 10 points 4 months ago

"Bury her body on my golf course and let the grave become overgrown."

[–] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 10 points 4 months ago

She often described the mechanics behind it to friends

I’m gonna choose to believe that was a misattributed source. Description of the hair? Not an expert but doesn’t sound wrong. Her daughter frequently describing the hair? Uhhhh

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[–] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 43 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I thought we figured this out way back when he was losing his mind over the "small hands" thing.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 23 points 4 months ago

The establishment wanted to take the high road even though budget cuts meant the foundation hasn't been repaired since Reagan.

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[–] bastion@feddit.nl 35 points 4 months ago (1 children)

This is not his Achilles heel. His Achilles heel is doubt. Populism depends on belief, and is inherently unstable. He started doubting. His people stated doubting. He is now going down, and the ridicule he always dishes out now also lands for him.

The mockery of him has been constant from day one.

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[–] cultsuperstar@lemmy.world 32 points 4 months ago

Wait, you're telling me that the man that constantly calls people names and ridiculed his Republican presidential opponents can't take the heat?

[–] joel_feila@lemmy.world 23 points 4 months ago (1 children)

They are just now learning this

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[–] Eldritch@lemmy.world 22 points 4 months ago
[–] SassyRamen@lemmy.world 19 points 4 months ago (5 children)

I hear if you splash water on him he melts.

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[–] abracaDavid@lemmy.today 19 points 4 months ago (5 children)

How is the DNC this slow and clueless?

You're telling me that we could have been rid of him years ago if these dummies had just been parroting all of us making fun of him on social media?

How are these giant conventions with billions and billions behind them so dumb?

[–] luciferofastora@lemmy.zip 26 points 4 months ago

Because they assumed that the moral high ground would net them more voters than joining in the mud-slinging. "They go low, we go high" is a quite noble sentiment that should appeal to decent people to vote for them, if for no other reason than to keep the rude man-child out of office. They hoped that even the apathetic non-voters would be moved to cast a vote against the Temper-Tantrump.

It didn't work, as we know now, but I can't fault them for remembering the times when class and dignity mattered and hoping to extend those times.

Harris' team seems to have learned that lesson. Here's to hoping this actually works better.

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[–] Etterra@lemmy.world 18 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I could have told them that 10 damn years ago. Clearly these politicians were never bullied as kids.

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[–] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 18 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I mean, we already knew the entire reason he ran in the first place was because Obama made a joke about him publicly at a political dinner.

[–] CeruleanRuin@lemmings.world 18 points 4 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

I've been saying this for years. Trump is a LOSER, both literally and figuratively. His businesses hemorrhage money, he has lost in two presidential elections so far and in the one he won, he lost the popular vote, ~~which is practically unheard of for a Republican nominee~~. He wears lifts in his shoes to fix his weird posture that he got from a life of physical inactivity, he sprays himself in orange to look like some bizarre version of tan to cover up his hideous pasty skin. His hair has always been bizarre. He is a born loser, who only "succeeded" because he was literally born rich and has skated on his daddy's money ever since.

Call him what he is: a sad, ugly, weird little loser who people only tolerate in hopes they might pick up a few hundred dollar bills after he's done wiping his ass with them.

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[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 17 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Non-idiots have been literally saying this for 13 years.

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[–] dnick@sh.itjust.works 17 points 4 months ago

Trump doesn't know how to handle people laughing at him because he's never had anyone laugh with him.

[–] Myxomatosis@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago

Crybaby bitch.

[–] exanime@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago

Maybe it's hindsight being 20/20 but, it seems so obvious ridicule would hurt a narcissist

[–] Nuke_the_whales@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I feel like there's an old school, ancient parable about laughing at the monster to make it go away that I'm trying to remember

[–] tegs_terry@feddit.uk 13 points 4 months ago (3 children)

It was something on the Vikings' radar. They often used to settle differences with a slagging match. I think they also had guys who would mock the enemy prior to battle to affect morale.

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[–] Kalysta@lemm.ee 14 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Um. Millinneals and zoomers figured this out the first time around, but they were too busy vote shaming us and squawking about emails to listen.

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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 14 points 4 months ago

"Theatricality and deception are powerful agents to the uninitiated... but we are initiated, aren't we Don?"

"Stop calling me that!"

[–] ArugulaZ@lemmy.zip 12 points 4 months ago

"When they go low, we go high! Ah, that brilliant political strategy that worked so well for the Democrats in 2016!" - Ronny Chieng

[–] 800XL@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago

They don't even have to ridicule him. All they have to do is take every single thing he has ever boasted about and one-up him. That's it. Get someone better at golf that Trump to play Mar-A-Lago and beat Trumps score. Get that person speaking at Harris's rallies and talk shit about the course and how they got the best score ever recorded there. Never even mention Trump by name but rest assured he'll hear about it and freak out.

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