Thank you for continuing to interview these candidates and ask the hard questions, Bob. I appreciate your good work and diligence. I do have to confess, though, that I am usually left wondering why your brain doesn’t melt and leak out your ears when you have to listen their endless BS.
I wish more reporters would let their frustration show when these people are going on and on and on while saying nothing. That would be a very genuine reaction which would also reflect the feelings of those of us who have to read/listen to the nonsense. Thank you for your good work, Bob.
Excellent writing, as always. Of course, candidates running for office will only really engage with the press---actually answer your questions, for instance---if they have respect for such institutions, and believe in accountability to those they serve. And that is increasingly not the case.
“Talented and well-practiced in every vice, a stranger to compassion or empathy, a liar and a cheat so complete in perfidy that he has elevated his dishonesty to hold it up as an ersatz moral principle, violent, so long as he can order someone else to do the dirty work, grotesque in body, graceless in action, in possession of a wounded self-regard so colossal as to smother any spark of grace, treasonous, not only to country, but to every ally he has ever had, the poisoned fruit and rankest flower of racism and contempt for women, and utterly devoid of shame for his moral and spiritual bankruptcy.
That is your leader. That is to whom you give your money. That is who you follow and laud. That is whose banner you willingly carry. Why? Because he is a mirror, not a lighthouse. You see yourselves in him. He is what you would be, if you had inherited money and could shed the last vestiges of conscience and shame.
No, I do not “respect your choices,” nor do I admire your loyalty and dedication to this miserific, demoniac vision. You have demonstrated not only a lack of civic virtue, loyalty to the Republic and to the rule of law, but a willingness to engage in violence and sedition at his slightest expressed wish. And you will never, ever admit you were wrong.
Because you see your dark, twisted, resentful dreams in him. And to renounce him is to renounce yourselves.”
Thanks for fighting the good fight! My takeaway here is that Burgum doesn't want to win and/or isn't a serious candidate. All he'd have to do is be the one to say out loud what everyone is thinking, and he'd probably see a 10% bump in the polls on day 1.
Thank you for once again trying to get a straight answer from a politician, to no avail of course. I for one am terrified of even the thought of another 4 (to however many years he chooses) years under that administration. I can’t even say his name. 😵💫 Please, keep asking that question, and you don’t have to always be so nice. 😊
I am glad that you are focusing on this threat to our democracy. I think that what Trump is planning is really scary, and yes--reporters need to keep asking about it. Thank you.
Bob, this was interesting and I hope it contributes to a snowball effect where candidates are repeatedly asked this question so often that they can't brush it off or feign deafness.
First, your writing motivated me to (once again) write our federal delegation and ask if they believe the behavior and words of Trump threaten democracy? Second, your interview was informative--while we are aware Burghum frequently returns to promotion of fossil fuels, we learned he is concerned that authoritarian countries like Russia or China are threatening our country. Usually R candidates will throw Iran into the mix, to take a shot at Biden.
Thank you for continuing to interview these candidates and ask the hard questions, Bob. I appreciate your good work and diligence. I do have to confess, though, that I am usually left wondering why your brain doesn’t melt and leak out your ears when you have to listen their endless BS.
That could happen. There is a general level of frustration just below the surface and they can tell.
I wish more reporters would let their frustration show when these people are going on and on and on while saying nothing. That would be a very genuine reaction which would also reflect the feelings of those of us who have to read/listen to the nonsense. Thank you for your good work, Bob.
Excellent writing, as always. Of course, candidates running for office will only really engage with the press---actually answer your questions, for instance---if they have respect for such institutions, and believe in accountability to those they serve. And that is increasingly not the case.
Great headline, now that this man wants to be VP!
This doesn't surprise me at all. As you said it best, Bob, none of them want to alienate the base, the woefully uninformed base that they all helped to create. (the last part my words.) And your criticism of modern journalism for not pressing the issue is also well warranted. Here's another criticism on the mainstream press that I personally find spot on. Would love your take on it. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/24/2207078/-All-horse-race-no-substance-The-nation-s-major-papers-continue-to-endanger-democracy?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source=
They helped create the base...nicely put. And that analysis is chilling. Worse than I thought. Thanks for sharing.
“Talented and well-practiced in every vice, a stranger to compassion or empathy, a liar and a cheat so complete in perfidy that he has elevated his dishonesty to hold it up as an ersatz moral principle, violent, so long as he can order someone else to do the dirty work, grotesque in body, graceless in action, in possession of a wounded self-regard so colossal as to smother any spark of grace, treasonous, not only to country, but to every ally he has ever had, the poisoned fruit and rankest flower of racism and contempt for women, and utterly devoid of shame for his moral and spiritual bankruptcy.
That is your leader. That is to whom you give your money. That is who you follow and laud. That is whose banner you willingly carry. Why? Because he is a mirror, not a lighthouse. You see yourselves in him. He is what you would be, if you had inherited money and could shed the last vestiges of conscience and shame.
No, I do not “respect your choices,” nor do I admire your loyalty and dedication to this miserific, demoniac vision. You have demonstrated not only a lack of civic virtue, loyalty to the Republic and to the rule of law, but a willingness to engage in violence and sedition at his slightest expressed wish. And you will never, ever admit you were wrong.
Because you see your dark, twisted, resentful dreams in him. And to renounce him is to renounce yourselves.”
~ Advocatus Peregrini
Brilliant.
Thanks for fighting the good fight! My takeaway here is that Burgum doesn't want to win and/or isn't a serious candidate. All he'd have to do is be the one to say out loud what everyone is thinking, and he'd probably see a 10% bump in the polls on day 1.
Keep on asking, Bob!
Thank you for once again trying to get a straight answer from a politician, to no avail of course. I for one am terrified of even the thought of another 4 (to however many years he chooses) years under that administration. I can’t even say his name. 😵💫 Please, keep asking that question, and you don’t have to always be so nice. 😊
I am glad that you are focusing on this threat to our democracy. I think that what Trump is planning is really scary, and yes--reporters need to keep asking about it. Thank you.
My eyes fell asleep reading his pointless ramblings. If it hadn't been live I'd suspect it was written by AI. I feel bad for his horse.
Great piece Bob! Thank you for challenging the press and the rest of us to hold candidates’ feet to the fire.
Bob, this was interesting and I hope it contributes to a snowball effect where candidates are repeatedly asked this question so often that they can't brush it off or feign deafness.
You asked simple meaty questions and all he had was word salad.
First, your writing motivated me to (once again) write our federal delegation and ask if they believe the behavior and words of Trump threaten democracy? Second, your interview was informative--while we are aware Burghum frequently returns to promotion of fossil fuels, we learned he is concerned that authoritarian countries like Russia or China are threatening our country. Usually R candidates will throw Iran into the mix, to take a shot at Biden.