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Metaphorical

(2,505 posts)
84. There is a reason that satire is protected speech
Sun Aug 17, 2025, 05:40 PM
11 hrs ago

Authoritarian figures are bullies - they establish an image (usually as a tough guy) and try to make people afraid of them. Republicans by and large cave under this kind of bullying, because they are afraid their business, political standing, etc., will be destroyed if they don't.

The Democrats at this point frankly have nothing to lose by going the route of satirising Trump. Trump wants them cowed and compliant, but more to the point, he wants them to be the evil boogyman, the group that he can blame for everything. It's hard to do that if the Dems hold up a mirror to him, showing that everything he does is pathetic, weak, infantile, and ignorant. It's how you defeat malignant narcissists.

There are very few conservative comedians. Conservatives (especially MAGA) do not get humour - they see it only as a way to attack others, and most have surprisingly limited senses of humour. Democrats, especially progressives, are very good at being comedians, satirists, and speakers to power. Partially its because they are smarter on average, but partially as well because they enjoy word-play, double entendres, and not so gentle ripostes. They also enjoy debates, which for Republicans is hard to do because they see things usually in black and white terms, and also usually because they never see themselves as being wrong. This makes them very flustered when they have to debate someone capable of poking holes into almost any argument they make, especially because most of those arguments are usually very weak when actually examined.

So yes, I hope Newsom continues this.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Do you approve of Newsom trolling MAGA? [View all] DemocratSinceBirth Saturday OP
yes Celerity Saturday #1
troll baby Jimmy76 Saturday #35
I approve Deuxcents Saturday #2
Um, HELL YES? Maru Kitteh Saturday #3
Oh, Hell, Yes. Especially bc it's being done sooo humorously! electric_blue68 Saturday #4
Totally.... He is doing much to make himself into a national Democratic party leader, Jack Valentino Saturday #5
I agree, but not being Californian, slightlv Saturday #60
Not Californian either, and not sold on him for a 2028 presidential nominee--- Jack Valentino 20 hrs ago #71
Yes, FUCK YES ZDU Saturday #6
no looked lonely Shellback Squid Saturday #7
How? FoxNewsSucks Saturday #20
that opinion just needed a little company, and I do agree Shellback Squid Saturday #24
Umm, OK, but we are where we are because elected Dems always play nice FoxNewsSucks Saturday #26
dude, relax, get high Shellback Squid Saturday #37
Coke? Polybius Saturday #40
Quaaludes dude.....wtf?, you pulled me out of my ALCOHOL buzz! not cool, not at all Shellback Squid Saturday #42
It's cool, just wondering Polybius Saturday #45
I understand, you asked me if I was breaking the law and in the possesion of a Shellback Squid Saturday #46
Personally I like wine, mainly reds, FoxNewsSucks Saturday #54
Shot! nt mr715 Saturday #65
Ah do that explains the no vote. BannonsLiver 13 hrs ago #79
It's cool orangecrush Saturday #38
Translation: The "no" option looked lonely, so that's what they picked. Iggo Saturday #52
Such good reasoning. . . FoxNewsSucks Saturday #56
Fuck it, Im here with you rando friend. Hellbound Hellhound 10 hrs ago #87
Yes. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. Swede Saturday #8
I think it's silly EdmondDantes_ Saturday #9
Appreciate what he's doing because he's doing it so well. He, imo, must be cautious not to allegorical oracle Saturday #10
Hell yes! SalviaBlue Saturday #11
Hell yes larwdem Saturday #12
Why not? MAGA and its master are very appealing targets. Low hanging fruitcakes. Ping Tung Saturday #13
Absof.ckinglutely! Buddyzbuddy Saturday #14
YES! LogDog75 Saturday #15
Yes 4Sitka Saturday #16
Yes. Listen to Newsom's answer when he is asked about it. IcyPeas Saturday #17
THIS. RandomNumbers Saturday #30
Boom! JustAnotherGen Saturday #44
A man for these times not fooled Saturday #55
God yes! Paladin Saturday #18
The best part is he has gotten at least one reporter to... frogstar0 Saturday #19
FUCK YES!!!!!!!! How could anyone not approve? FoxNewsSucks Saturday #21
Every single Democrat in the country should be tweeting/messaging like this. NoMoreRepugs Saturday #22
Mixed feelings ... Raine Saturday #23
Oh how MAGA azureblue Saturday #25
Death by 1000 cuts. Westcoast4life Saturday #27
It's proportionate and well deserved Alice Kramden Saturday #28
Yes, yes, yes, its hilarious as well as serious... zorbasd Saturday #29
It's about damn time BlueKota Saturday #31
Give 'em hell Gavin. EndlessMaze Saturday #32
Trolling maga nimrods? mntleo2 Saturday #33
Absolutely. 100% behind him! hamsterjill Saturday #34
GAV gonna be president, hope magats get used to it, and the corporate shit always fake BOUGHT. "news" Nimble_Idea Saturday #36
It's brilliant mvd Saturday #39
I do. And he's trolling the lazy media mzmolly Saturday #41
Yes, it's awesom! JoseBalow Saturday #43
1500% Endlessmike56 Saturday #47
Welcome to DU ReRe Saturday #57
Thanks😁 Endlessmike56 Saturday #61
About time a Gen Xer stood up to the boomer bully. TrumanTheTiger Saturday #48
Trump does not represent Boomers any more than he represents America Skittles Saturday #50
normally I would not Skittles Saturday #49
I agree that politicians should not act like that. FoxNewsSucks Saturday #59
that's how I see it too Skittles Saturday #63
Yes! Jkanad Saturday #51
Not just yes, but Hell Yes Hekate Saturday #53
Isn't it normal to LilElf70 Saturday #58
I don't approve, or disapprove. LudwigPastorius Saturday #62
the GOP and the Supreme Court are enabling Trump's fascism Skittles Saturday #64
Who voted no? edhopper Saturday #66
Yes, but the messages are getting too long, IMO. CrispyQ Saturday #67
one suspects trump is not bothered at all nt msongs Saturday #68
Wrong. ANY sort of criticism, at ANY level, bothers trump. Paladin 20 hrs ago #72
Hope the trolling will make area51 Yesterday #69
Wow 410 to 4... I see the Majority thinks Cha Yesterday #70
Wished more would troll IzzaNuDay 19 hrs ago #73
It's about time someone stood up to them EnergizedLib 19 hrs ago #74
Yes, as long as he does it in all caps and signs off with "Thank you for your attention to this matter". Ohioboy 13 hrs ago #75
Since I'm tired of taking the high road to hell, that would be an emphatic yes. Borogove 13 hrs ago #76
Anyone who voted no must've arrived here by mistake Eliot Rosewater 13 hrs ago #77
lol imagine voting "no" BannonsLiver 13 hrs ago #78
what choice do we have? Roll over? F that. Evolve Dammit 13 hrs ago #80
What took so long? They all should!! sunflowerseed 13 hrs ago #81
MAGA's anxiety over the trolling Ilsa 12 hrs ago #82
Why not? Gives a couple staffers a chance to have some fun haele 12 hrs ago #83
There is a reason that satire is protected speech Metaphorical 11 hrs ago #84
And hes good at it Figarosmom 11 hrs ago #85
Where is wryter2000 10 hrs ago #86
It's giving me Bulworth vibes. TRHST82 10 hrs ago #88
ding. AllaN01Bear 9 hrs ago #89
I Approve. DemocratSinceBirth 9 hrs ago #90
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