How do you beat a bully?

Projected on Windsor Castle for Trump's visit

At some point, somewhere, I found a good post about this, specifically in regard to Trump. I believe it was on a 50501 page but I can’t find it now. In any case, here are a few of the good bits I remember that may help when dealing with the mango mobster’s cult.

*  For Trump, outrage is oxygen. The more emotional, reactive, and angry he can make his opposition (us), the more he’s able to frame himself as the victim. His faithful fan’s support mushrooms. 

As much as Trump loves to posture as strongman, he’s much more at home in the whiny poor-pitiful-me role.

Another thing, if he can drive us into an overwhelming state of seemingly uncontrollable rage, he’s succeeded in painting us as the wild, crazy enemy who must be defeated in any way possible. He's won.

*  One of Stinky’s favorite tactics is chaos. The more chaos he creates, the harder it is to fight him. The more he distracts us, the more he can get away with. Picking our battles is important. The problem is that there are SO many battles which need to be fought. How can we prioritize? Find a way.

*  Trump and his sycophantic fanbois like to be the ones setting the ‘debate’ agenda. Don’t let them steamroll you. Grade him/them. How successful is Trump at the job of President? How’s their boy doing? Show ‘em the score card.

Focus on the damage his edicts and actions have caused ordinary citizens – the damage wreaked by his and his appointees dictates. Have your facts ready. If you’re at all like me, you’re not gonna have facts and stats right at the tip of your neocortex, ready for instant retrieval. This is what Notes apps and cue cards are for.

Use facts, but frame them simply. Long-winded rebuttals lose people. They come off as condescending lectures – no one reacts well to those. Use short, repeatable statements like “That’s not what happened – here’s what went down…” Be concise and keep your cool.

IF whoever you’re talking/debating with is listening at all (versus just waiting for their turn to spew canned weaselshit) their bandwidth is, probably, short.

In other scrolling, I found the below text and pics on the How Everything Works Instagram page. How badly has a government fucked up when even the peaceful monks have gone full John Wick?

In 2022, Thailand saw a wave of political unrest that took an unexpected turn when Buddhist monks joined the demonstrations. Traditionally seen as peaceful spiritual leaders, they took to the streets to oppose government corruption and military-backed rule.

What followed was a series of tense confrontations between monks and riot police. Clad in saffron robes, some stood their ground against shields and batons, while others donned gas masks to withstand tear gas and smoke. The sight of monks, usually devoted to meditation and nonviolence, actively resisting in the chaos of protest shocked the world.

The events highlighted just how deep the frustration ran across Thai society—when even those most associated with peace and detachment were compelled to step into the fight.

Is there a U.S. equivalent? Will American Buddhist monks and nuns team up with Benedictines, Franciscans and Dominicans? Will Hindu monastic communities join in?

We have to be our own heros. We have to find our strength, energy, and ability to combat the fuckers who are stealing our country.