Mueller Report

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by henry quirk

...Whole whack of folks...

I learned a new use for an old word!

Cool. A little later, Ima smoke me a whack o' weed, and after that Ima drink a whole whack of Sprodka. Maybe two whacks o' Sprodka.

Go, Me, go Me!!!

[henry quirk]

"Everyone seems to have forgotten the purpose of this investigation/report."

There's the stated, formal purpose: then there's the real purpose.

#

"The unstated purpose was to find out how and prevent it in the future."

So: how does Bob suggest we do that? Surely: his recommendations are listed in the document, yeah?

##

"Go, Me, go Me!!!"

[xoxoxoBruce]

So you feel since Trump wasn't found guilty you don't care that the Russians (Chinese. Ukrainians, N Koreans, etc) fucked, are fucking, will fuck, with our elections?

[sexobon]

They only did that out of desperation because Hillary was running. The whole world was ABC (except for some misguided Americans). Water under the bridge. Reelect Trump, problem solved.

[Undertoad]

The Russians were/are looking to drive tribalism and create dissent. The election is a great way to do that, when it's an election year.

Intelligencer: More Than Half of Russian Facebook Ads Focused on Race

Fifty-five percent of the ads targeted race, which was also a primary angle for many of the 24 percent of ads that focused on crime or policing. The IRA’s use of divisive racial ads ramped up as Election Day approached in 2016, as well as after Trump was elected. In fact, the vast majority of ads from September 2016 to May 2017 focused on race in one way or another. And while it should be noted that many IRA ads did very poorly with Facebook users, the race-related content performed better on average.
...
The ads, which were purchased in rubles using 470 fake accounts and pages, rarely made direct references to Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, or any of the other politicians who ran in the 2016 cycle. (Very few ads targeted swing states, either.) Instead the IRA mostly mimicked the style and tactics of identity groups on opposing sides of the American electorate and tried to reinforce or expand already existing divisions.

Slate: Russian Trolls Were Obsessed With Black Lives Matter

[henry quirk]

Toad,

As I say: don't believe everything you read or hear, take it all with more than a grain of salt, be the gatekeeper of your head.

If you don't, if you rely on others to be honest, then -- baby -- you'll be screwed up one side and down the other.

The unfortunate thing: a great many folks can't (or, have been taught to not) gate-keep their own heads. Fodder, is what they are.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Gatekeep = Only believe what you feel jibs with your opinion.

[henry quirk]

Certainly a damn-sight better than lapping up crap just cuz some smooth talker tells you it's steak.

[xoxoxoBruce]

But then you never learn anything new.

[Undertoad]

don't believe everything you read or hear

Well that was based on the US House Intelligence that released a couple thousand ads that did actually run.

[sexobon]

US House Intelligence

Oxymoron territory.

[Undertoad]

LOL. Aye-aye chief

[Undertoad]

Oh I thought your point was made to me instead of to the average Facebook reader, sorry.

example russian ad from slate

[henry quirk]

Slang,

I think we're well past obstruction with some of these folks...enough has been said and written by them that testimony would just be gravy on an already tasty bowl of rice.


Toad,

I was talkin' to any one who cared to read.

The ad: that's an example of the vast subverting power of Russia? I can see 14 year olds gettin' all lathered up over it, but adults? C'mon, if that's viable 'interference' that actually moved anyone, then my low opinion of the average person is too damn high.

And: if such tame material actually motivates folks in large numbers then, all is lost (and probably has been for a long time).

If 'that' is sufficient to move folks then mebbe the commies are right: folks really and truly need to ruled and directed, cuz, plainly, the lot are too stupid to see after themselves.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Not that one ad, but similar ads, day after day, hundreds of them, have an effect. Not causing mobs in the street, that's not the intention, they are designed to keep picking at the scab over past racism grievances.