Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

T R E 4 5 O N

Optimism opens the door to great things.

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

I really should read my own blog.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Consistently wrong since 2002

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

This fight is for everything.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

In my day, never was longer.

You are here: Home / Politics / Trumpery / Hail to the Hairpiece / Late Night Horrorshow Open Thread: The “Nativists” Come Out

Late Night Horrorshow Open Thread: The “Nativists” Come Out

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74Comments

  1. 1.

    craigie

    It’s a good thing history is about to end. Otherwise, all these clowns would look very bad when this era is documented.

  2. 2.

    Chitown Kev

    Blow’s argument can’t be any plainer nor can those tweets approving of and rationalizing Trump’s comments.

    EDIT- I agree with Oliver Willis but I am convinced that Trump already says the n-word on a regular basis…but he hasn’t said it that the public knows about it…I suppose we have to wait for those Apprentice tapes…but maybe not even that long at the rate he’s going.

  3. 3.

    Debbie(aussie)

    Where can I purchase some ‘can’t even’s, I have run out.
    Of course this was totally unsurprising, but just plain disgusting. Saturday morning news here in Aus (10 hours ago) seemed more worried about the ‘shit’ than the racism! Gutless wonders.
    Just want to say that you are all amazing people. Keep up the fight!

  4. 4.

    Damien

    I’ve been saying this forever: your vote is the amplifier for wherever you plug it in. If you add yours to turn whispered but clear racism into a screaming obscenity, and stand by that decision, you are a fucking racist.

    I said that to my aunt’s face, and I’d do it again.

  5. 5.

    Gemina13

    Ann Coulter
    ✔
    @AnnCoulter
    Announcing the opening of Shithole Air — Free, 1-way travel, back to the country of your choice!

    I believe “Shithole Air” already had its run, as the Trump Shuttle.

  6. 6.

    mai naem mobile

    I’m wondering if the Stormy Daniels story was in the WSJ because Rupert Murdoch is done with Dolt45 since he got his tax cut.
    Ofcourse the other side would be that Murdoch warned the moron about the story so idiot made the racist comments. Also, does anybody believe Dolt45 hasn’t used the shithole word around John Kelly,Scavino,Huckster Sanders,Conway etc while discussing DACA and immigration? And not one of them could take Dolt45 aside and gently tell him not to use the word in polite company.
    BTW any guesses what the House GOP would be doing if Barack Obamas lawyer had paid a pRon star hush money to shut up about an affair?

  7. 7.

    rachel

    @mai naem mobile:

    I’m wondering if the Stormy Daniels story was in the WSJ because Rupert Murdoch is done with Dolt45 since he got his tax cut.

    I don’t see how this hurts Don the Con at all. If anything, a consensual sexual interaction with an adult is a step up for him.

  8. 8.

    gene108

    I wish we could get a stamp and put on the foreheads of folks like Tomi Lahren, Rich Lowery, everyone at Fox News, etc that says “I am a Racist”, because they are and that way they cannot hem behind code words.

    Trump is a racist. If you agree with Trump, you aware a racist.

    This way there is no doubt.

  9. 9.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    CharlesMBlow blow gives a Master Class on how to handle folks, like Alisyn Camerota, who get offended & lecture you whoever you point out that Trump voters endorse & support his racism.

    but, but…. #EconomicAnxiety!

  10. 10.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    “Some people think that the people who voted for Trump are racists and sexists and homophobes and deplorable folks. I don’t agree, because I’ve been there.”

    ~ you know who

  11. 11.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    If they aren’t shithole countries, why don’t their citizens stay there? Let’s be honest. Call it like it is.

    Like her boss Rupert Murdoch. Like Drumpf’s wives, mother, grandfather.

  12. 12.

    Viva BrisVegas

    Just goes to show how wrong Hillary Clinton was.

    It was outrageous that she claimed that half of Trump’s supporters were “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic – you name it…”.

    She was wrong and should apologize for saying it was only half.

  13. 13.

    ZyklonBeaArthur

    Am I the only one who thinks the FauxNews pearl-clutching about bad language is some kind of preemptive strike against Kirsten Gillibrand’s penchant for F-bombs?

    The left was SO mad Trump said the word “shit” but their nominee says “fuck”—-typical libtard hypocrisy!

  17. 17.

    Amir Khalid

    @ZyklonBeaArthur:
    First, you speak of Gillibrand’s “penchant” for F-bombs, as though it were a word she said all the time. It is not.

    Second, it’s a pretty trivial point against her — compared to her being pro-abortion, pro-gay, anti-“real American”, pro-taxation, and a woman, among other Democrat sins.
    ETA: The gratuitous Holocaust reference in your nym is offensive. You really ought to change it.

  18. 18.

    Matt McIrvin

    We’re going to lose this one, right? I can feel it. Already it’s not any more about the basic fact that Trump obviously said he wants to keep black people out of the country and wants more super white people instead. That’s been lost, it’s about whether he called a country a naughty word.

  19. 19.

    Anne Laurie

    @ZyklonBeaArthur:

    Am I the only one who thinks the FauxNews pearl-clutching about bad language is some kind of preemptive strike against Kirsten Gillibrand’s penchant for F-bombs?

    Nah, they don’t think that far ahead.

    They’re just pretending that we libtards are offended at the “cursing”, so that they can keep pretending they’re not running from the label racist. Because there’s nothing, absolutely nothing, more horrible than calling a white person a racist — especially when they are one.

  20. 20.

    OzarkHillbilly

    I have been saying for a long time now, voting for trump did not mean one was a racist, it just meant one was OK with a racist in the White House. His racism is so blatant, one would have to be deaf, blind and stupid to not know it. Supporting him is supporting his racist agenda.

  22. 22.

    satby

    @Matt McIrvin: no, the fact that he called majority black countries shitholes and asked why more presumably white Norwegians weren’t admitted as immigrants hasn’t been lost at all. That’s why the wingers are working overtime to justify him using that word. THEY’RE trying to make it about the word, not the sentiment.

  25. 25.

    satby

    @Amir Khalid:

    The gratuitous Holocaust reference in your nym is offensive. You really ought to change it.

    Especially since Bea Arthur was Jewish and probably lost relatives in the Holocaust. If the nymholder thinks it’s edgy and snarky, they’re mistaken.

  27. 27.

    Amir Khalid

    @OzarkHillbilly:
    That’s what Trump voters tell themselves, that voting for the racist because he supports their agenda is okay. But it really goes both ways: if they vote for the racist, they’re effectively supporting his agenda in return, racism and all.

  30. 30.

    J R in WV

    A good friend of mine, wife was an RN, 72, PhD Socialogy at Columbia, did great work his whole life, died recently after a massive coronary not long ago. I’m sure Pablo got great reports from his doctor, too.

  31. 31.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    @Anne Laurie: When he says ” I don’t agree, because I’ve been there” is he saying when he was flat broke in the 60s and 70s he voted for George Wallace and Richard Nixon. It seems that’s what he’s saying. He’s saying, “I realize you voted for an ethno-nationalist who scapegoats minorities, but then so did I when I was young due to the anger, fear, and resentment I was feeling from my economic anxiety.”

  35. 35.

    randy khan

    @Amir Khalid:

    First, you speak of Gillibrand’s “penchant” for F-bombs, as though it were a word she said all the time. It is not.

    Well, compared to most politicians, she says it a lot. But that’s one of her endearing qualities.

  36. 36.

    Tokyokie

    @Amir Khalid: Sorry to Godwin, but in 1930s Germany, members of the Junkers class weren’t necessarily anti-Semitic, but they weren’t Jewish, either, so they tolerated Hitler’s race policies because they found him useful to their economic ambitions. I see the same behavior in the U.S., and I fear that these smart guys’ miscalculation will likewise have catastrophic results.

  37. 37.

    Cheryl Rofer

    Read this thread.

  38. 38.

    Sam

    @David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch: The average Trump voter is slightly better off than the average American. Economic anxiety is a lazy excuse. There may be, oh, 20,000 coal miners that voted as a block for Trump, but the other 63 million were just people who were Ok with voting for an asshole.

  39. 39.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Cheryl Rofer: Chet Powell thinks we’re the majority, but I really wonder. Just saw some poll saying a majority of Americans don’t think the “shithole” remark was racist.

    We definitely don’t have a majority of whites. A large majority of white Americans are with those guys in the Georgia courthouse who will be polite to a black person but are nostalgic for lynch mobs. And it’s not just old people–the main reason that sentiment is declining with time is that the proportion of white people is falling.

  40. 40.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @Matt McIrvin: Some of that can change with leadership. Now that we have a president who talks about shithole countries, and we all know what he’s talking about, the people who will feel that way no matter what will find it easier to speak and act out their prejudice. There are others who know there’s something wrong with that but will find it easy to go along. And still others who don’t like it at all but who will stand back. There is a full spectrum of attitudes.

    With a leadership that will say that our country stands for equality and the rule of law, the people who still think lynching is a good thing will shut up and sit down with only a few, like David Duke, who speak out. Others who might sympathize with them find other things to do, some of those things constructive. And those who stood back will agree with equality and the rule of law.

    Those majorities are malleable.

  41. 41.

    MattF

    I’m actually pleased that the WH claims to be celebrating a ‘victory lap’. Translation: they’re worried.

  42. 42.

    Adria McDowell

    @Matt McIrvin: I don’t blame black folks in the least if they don’t trust white folks. The way Powell described that 180 when the black employee came in…..*shudder*

  43. 43.

    [email protected] (formerly glocksman)

    @Matt McIrvin:

    The remark *could* have been not racist, because there are “shithole countries” that are largely white.

    However, since Trump said it, along with wondering about Norway, it’s definitely racist in intent.

  44. 44.

    cosima

    @Adria McDowell: Where’s the tweet where Chet explains that he said to those horrible court employees ‘y’all are crazy. That’s some repulsive racist sh*t you’ve been spouting. You think just because I’m white that I agree with what you’re saying and so you feel free to say it?’ Chet is on the right side of this issue, but staying silent was wrong, and part of the reason that we are where we are today. All of these people staying silent. Silence = enabling.

  45. 45.

    Darrin Ziliak (formerly glocksman)

    @Matt McIrvin:

    The remark *could* have been not racist, because there are “shithole countries” that are largely white.

    However, since Trump said it, along with wondering about Norway, it’s definitely racist in intent.

  46. 46.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    Trump’s Irish and he’s talking smack like this? Just speaking of what was a shithole, civil strife turn ether addicted country up until recently.

  47. 47.

    m.j.

    Charles Blow is right.
    There are no non-racist Trump supporters. Also there are no moderate Republicans, or good cops, or responsible gun owners, and so forth.
    If you tolerate that which should be intolerable, you support it.

  48. 48.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @OzarkHillbilly: Physical isn’t going to look for dementia. Though how Trump doesn’t have high blood pressure with that diet of his boggles belief.

  53. 53.

    VOR

    An article in The Atlantic on why Norwegians aren’t moving to the US in bulk:
    “…Its per capita gross domestic product went from $1,441.80 in 1960 to $70,911.8 now, according to World Bank data. (The U.S. figure is $57,638.20.) Norway has higher life expectancy at birth than the U.S., lower rates of infant mortality, low unemployment, and access to the European Union’s labor market (though it’s not an EU member).

    Additionally, Norway is the world’s happiest country (the U.S. ranks 14), the place with the most political freedom (the U.S. ranks 45), most press freedom (the U.S. ranks 43rd), and most prosperity (the U.S. ranks 18). Simply put, there’s little economic incentive for Norwegians to immigrate to the U.S.”

  58. 58.

    lowtechcyclist

    @cosima:

    @Adria McDowell: Where’s the tweet where Chet explains that he said to those horrible court employees ‘y’all are crazy. That’s some repulsive racist sh*t you’ve been spouting. You think just because I’m white that I agree with what you’re saying and so you feel free to say it?’ Chet is on the right side of this issue, but staying silent was wrong, and part of the reason that we are where we are today. All of these people staying silent. Silence = enabling.

    I wish I were one of those people who has the ability, when blindsided by something like this, to instantly switch gears and have a response to an unexpected atrocious remark like that.

    But I’m not. It’s easy, reading the words and having even a moment to reflect, having the good fortune of not being in the room, to say, “here’s what I would have said, if that had been me.” For many of us, it’s a damn sight harder to do it in real time.

    Speaking for myself, not because I’m scared, or worried about being rude, but because, first, the remark catches me totally by surprise: my mind was going one way, and now first I’m just kinda stunned for a moment by the new direction, then catching up, and then, remember they’re still talking, I’m still processing what they’re saying as they say it. By the time the black woman walks in, I haven’t even gotten to ‘maybe I need to say something,’ and now when I do, I’ve got to juggle how to respond in a way that works for her as well as being an appropriate response to the racists behind the counter. All with a good deal less clarity in my mind in real time than what you see here on the page.

    There are people who are good on their feet in circumstances like this. I’m not one of them, and I’m sure I’ve got plenty of company out there.

  61. 61.

    Miss Bianca

    @OzarkHillbilly: I dunno, at this point I think it’s a pretty fine line between “being a racist” and “being OK with a racist in the White House”. In fact, at this point I’d be willng to say, “if you’re OK with a racist in the White House, then you are, in fact, a racist.”

  62. 62.

    Cluttered Mind

    @cosima: He was actually asked that in the thread and his response was that there’s more going on here and he’s trying to get to the whole truth about these events, therefore he couldn’t afford to alienate the people whose assistance he still required. Going off on them at that time wasn’t an option if he wanted to bring the entire buried tale to light. His silence makes more sense if you think of him as going undercover to expose criminals. He can’t afford to let them know what he’s really after or his mission fails.

  64. 64.

    Kay

    Trump’s a great lesson in racism because Trump contradicts a lot of the excuses for it. He was born and raised in NYC, he had plenty of “financial security”, he attended expensive private schools, and he was employed based solely on nepotism.

    Trump had EVERY advantage. These advantages he enjoyed were supposed to lead him to a more tolerant and less bigoted world view, but they did not. THAT’S how powerful and irrational this is. Forget hurt feelings around being a southerner, economic anxiety, a lack of education or exposure to diversity- Trump had NONE of that. Yet. Still. He’s a bigot.

    He has none of the stereotypical factors that supposedly contribute to a racist world view, yet there he is, big as day.

  65. 65.

    Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA)

    @OzarkHillbilly: I think being okay with Trump’s racism (or sexism) does make someone a racist (or sexist). It’s disrespectful to black people/immigrants/women/etc. to see his behavior and hear the things he says about them (or us) and say, “I can overlook that.” The only proper response to his white male supremacist bullshit is rejection — anything short of that makes that voter no better than Trump.

  66. 66.

    Kay

    How horrible is it that the ONE thing the Trumpsters ran on and actually believe is racism. That’s the single piece they all share. Because Trump does believe it. It’s what he is. What’s horrible to contemplate is that it’s also ALL he is. He has no other firm beliefs or convictions. The North Star for these folks as far as politics and policy is “is it racist in either intent or result?” because if it is they all back it.

  67. 67.

    Kay

    @Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA):

    I;ve come around to agreeing because I can’t square this idea that there is some “better” Trump or Trump supporter apart from the actual Trump and Trump supporter. There’s only what they say and do. It reminds me of people who say Trump and Trumpsters aren’t “real” conservatives. They’re pretty real! They utterly dominate the GOP! Doesn’t get much realer than that! Is there some aspirational “better nature” somewhere in Trump and Trump supporters? I don’t know but the burden would be on them to show that. I can’t give it to them forever.
    If it doesn’t matter what they say and do when determining if they’re racist, then what does matter? What’s left?

  68. 68.

    Kay

    Trump should stay out of Pittsburgh next week. He’s a germaphobe and my daughter says they’re inundated with flu sufferers at her hospital and it’s a really bad strain of flu. They’re admitting A LOT of elderly and infants and small children because it’s a scary bug and they don’t quite know what it will do. ‘

  69. 69.

    cosima

    @Cluttered Mind: That’s good to know.

    I had a more comprehensive reply to the issue of (paraphrasing) some people aren’t comfortable with responding, etc., but it was eaten. I am a white woman who worked in the oil industry during a time when there were few women in the technical disciplines, and it necessitated living in some very red areas of the US. Even outside of the US the default was to presume/assume that my husband & I were republicans, and particularly white-American-first people. Ugh. All of that gave me quite a bit of practice in speaking up &/or speaking out.

    However, we are where we are, to a large extent, because of passivity & apathy, and that extends to speaking out against racism/misogyny/homophobia/etc. I believe that. I also believe that even for folk who are not comfortable speaking up about those things, there are ways to make your feelings known — leave the room, leave the table, hang up the phone, unfriend (facebook or in real life), don’t patronise businesses that you know do not support your political beliefs, and many many more. All of us on the left have the responsibility to do this moving forward, those of us who are comfortable speaking forcefully should do so, those who are not, should find other ways. I understand that some are challenged by circumstances at work, or their relationship(s), but there are subtle ways that this can & should be done if at all possible.

  70. 70.

    Kay

    I feel like the porn actress scandal gives us insight into how recklessly they may handle Mueller.

    It’s such a cheapskate pay-off (130k) and then they tried to stiff her. These are reckless, arrogant people. They assume they’ll skate no matter what they do.

  71. 71.

    Mike R

    @Kay:

    They assume they’ll skate no matter what they do.

    They are skating on thin ice and may yet escape justice, but probably not. The fall will be a joy to watch.

  74. 74.

    nice strategy

    Trump makes lazy generalizations and stereotypes and that has always been considered prejudiced enough to be “racist” — until now? It feels like we are going backwards and that a refresher lesson about 1:1 stereotyping is in order for the better half of the country. As Trump’s inadvertent series of teachable moments continues throughout his presidency, maybe we’ll get somewhere, one outrageous piece of evidence at a time. Shamefully, some are still stuck on casting aspersions on the evidence. Senator Perdue, shame on you.

    Trump’s lack of a filter is slowly eroding the plausible deniability of his enablers, but that doesn’t make it any easier for humans to admit that they were manipulated and wrong. At some point ignorance turns to cowardice, but the only tonic is to keep fighting ignorance. While I tire of fighting the same point over and over again, there is nothing else to be done. I do wonder if blogs are not the best forum, however, as sometimes it feels like a circle-jerk of righteous outrage when we’d all be better off saving our emotional strength for an opportune moment of calm intervention, instead of staying frothy and frustrated while in the company of friends.

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