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NanceGreggs

(27,820 posts)
Sat Jan 18, 2020, 05:15 AM Jan 2020

"But what about him?"

As the mother of one son and one daughter, I heard this ‘legal argument’ for more years than I want to remember.

If I confronted my daughter for taking money out of my purse without asking, she would say, “But what about him?” – after which she would recount a half-dozen horrific tales about her brother’s filthy room, the times he snuck into the house hours after curfew, and the fact that he called me a bitch behind my back.

After her self-righteous tirade, I would always point out the obvious: If your brother was dealing heroin, robbed a bank, and poisoned the family dog, it doesn’t change the fact that you stole money out of my purse.

I heard ”But what about her?” just as often from my son, when he was confronted with his own wrongdoings.

My children are adults now, and we often laugh about their childhood efforts to persuade me of their innocence on the grounds that the other was somehow ‘more guilty’ of something totally unrelated.

So I’m left wondering when the Republicans are going to be grown-up enough to realize that wanting Hunter Biden to testify at Trump’s Senate trial is just another ”But what about him”? argument destined to fail?

When is the GOP going to realize that if Hunter Biden set fire to Ukraine orphanages so that he could roast live puppies to death and eat them in a public square, it still doesn’t change the fact that Trump stole money out of the taxpayers’ purse in order to bribe Ukraine into influencing the 2020 election?

Every time I hear a Republican say, “Let’s get to the bottom of what the Bidens did”, what I hear – loud and clear – is “Sorry, folks – we really have nuthin’ else.”

What it all comes down to is that when the only possible defence of your IMPOTUS is to point at someone else and say, ”But what about him?”, you’ve already lost the argument.

And I have one son and one daughter who can attest to that fact.

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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"But what about him?" (Original Post) NanceGreggs Jan 2020 OP
That was a great analogy. dewsgirl Jan 2020 #1
Perfect! True Blue American Jan 2020 #2
Well laid out analogy la-trucker Jan 2020 #3
K&R smirkymonkey Jan 2020 #4
They are a puerile bunch, those Republicans. It is an insult to children to say that... NNadir Jan 2020 #5
Yep, and... OldBaldy1701E Jan 2020 #6
I very much like the way you put it, with one minor caveat. NNadir Jan 2020 #9
That is what they do and have done since Nixon. They know what they are doing unlike many children. BSdetect Jan 2020 #7
There fantasy is that they can justify their defense of Trump by saying ... jimlup Jan 2020 #8
Perhaps we need a real time fact checking force. BSdetect Jan 2020 #10
Remember though jimlup Jan 2020 #11
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2020 #16
Well said! kentuck Jan 2020 #12
Post removed Post removed Jan 2020 #13
Appropriate name Dennis Donovan Jan 2020 #14
Buh Bye! hlthe2b Jan 2020 #15
Nice elemental understanding of the crime, 12 words or less 7wo7rees Jan 2020 #17

NNadir

(33,580 posts)
5. They are a puerile bunch, those Republicans. It is an insult to children to say that...
Sat Jan 18, 2020, 06:58 AM
Jan 2020

...the Republicans have the moral and intellectual development of children.

They are simply immoral and unlike children, it does seem that the worst of them will never develop a moral sense.

OldBaldy1701E

(5,184 posts)
6. Yep, and...
Sat Jan 18, 2020, 07:40 AM
Jan 2020

They are unethical as well. As you said, at least children will eventually grow up. These sub-human swine have no idea what a moral or a ethic is. They are greedy weasels who suffer from that most horrible of diseases, 'Upper Spinal Snobosis'. (This terrible affliction affects those who reach a certain socio-economic level and makes them only look up to the few people who have more than they do. Because of this affliction, they have no realization that they are doing better than the vast majority of the population, and therefore are completely oblivious to how well they have it. They can only look up with envy and greed in their eyes. When people talk about the rich 'looking down their noses', remember that it is the affliction that affects their neck and brains.)

NNadir

(33,580 posts)
9. I very much like the way you put it, with one minor caveat.
Sat Jan 18, 2020, 07:52 AM
Jan 2020

For historical and ethical reasons, I think we should avoid - although I can't definitively claim that I have always been aware enough to do so myself - the word "sub-human."

The word, along with the word "animals" is important in the lexicon of racists. As the most prominent racist in the world, these words are definitely in the lexicon of Trump. Given that he is poorly educated, has a weak vocabulary and an inability to think clearly, any words that are included in language are important to him, and define his immoral space, since he's so inarticulate.

From my perspective it is the nature of humanity to include evil people.

Personally, I think that most humans have the capacity to do evil, even people who are overall good people, even great people. I mean, I think Bill Clinton was overall a good person, and a very good President but really? Was it good to behave that way with a 19 year old intern? Can we not say that this was actually an evil act on his part? There are things - many things - that looking back on my own life, I regret having done, since they were selfish and harmful to others.

I'm not entirely convinced that humanity is, in fact, despite its claim to be so, a "higher life form," but I'm a cynic.

BSdetect

(8,999 posts)
7. That is what they do and have done since Nixon. They know what they are doing unlike many children.
Sat Jan 18, 2020, 07:47 AM
Jan 2020

If we ever get through this clusterfuck we will be faced with the same old crap from repugnants.

The msm has a lot to answer for.

Hilary tripped and they went nuts covering that trivia.

jimlup

(7,968 posts)
8. There fantasy is that they can justify their defense of Trump by saying ...
Sat Jan 18, 2020, 07:50 AM
Jan 2020

That Trump was "legitimately" investigating corruption in the Ukraine that happened to involve "The Bidens".

That is how they will spin it. Yes, of course it is absurd.

What stops me is how deeply partisan the Republicans have become. We couldn't and wouldn't dream of being so partisan. Perhaps because we actually still have morals and principles.

I think that there is a selection effect in place. In Republican politics, those who have no morals or principles quickly rise to the top. It is shocking to witness but I think that is part of what has happened to our country.

jimlup

(7,968 posts)
11. Remember though
Sat Jan 18, 2020, 07:55 AM
Jan 2020

Facts are completely irrelevant to the Republicans. As a result of the selection effect I described above they care only about their own rise in power and only about "facts" that support them in that pursuit. The truth is completely irrelevant to them.

They are masters of propaganda and have hoodwinked a good fraction of the population. FAUX news helps significantly in that regard.

Response to jimlup (Reply #8)

Response to NanceGreggs (Original post)

7wo7rees

(5,128 posts)
17. Nice elemental understanding of the crime, 12 words or less
Sat Jan 18, 2020, 06:52 PM
Jan 2020

HE STOLE YOUR MONEY.
TO PAY A BRIBE.
TO RIG THE ELECTION.

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