20 ms·

Sadly the era we're living in is that which blames Trump for every thing that goes wrong with no evidence whatsoever and many, many people cheer. That is danger

Sadly the era we're living in is that which blames Trump for every thing that goes wrong with no evidence whatsoever and many, many people cheer. That is dangerous as hell. I'm happy to be proven wrong but to also be clear: there is zero evidence that Trump had anything to do with this.

abrahamepton 8y ago
Zero evidence, sure. But a pattern of behavior that is deeply, deeply troubling and suspicious. As others have pointed out, he tweet-taunted Bezos a few weeks ago in a way that seems rather connected to this recent revelation. Joe Scarborough and Mike Brzezinski wrote an op-ed (in the Post!!) about having been threatened with blackmail by AMI, seemingly in direct connection to the White House's desires. Ronan Farrow came forward yesterday to say that AMI tried something similar with him. Sure, Trump may have nothing to do with it. But you and I aren't courts of law; we're people, and we're allowed to look at the evidence and come to our own conclusions. If your conclusion is that this is an "era ... which blames Trump for every thing that goes wrong with no evidence whatsoever" then you're just doing a bad job of evaluating evidence.
- wahern 8y ago
  A pattern of behavior is evidence. All evidence is circumstantial. That realization is actually foundational to our system of criminal Due Process. It's why nearly every piece of evidence entered into trial, even simple documents and scientific analyses, requires a witness to vouchsafe. Facts cannot be divorced from their human origin, and any fact can be challenged by challenging the credibility of its origin. All facts are messy things, and while some are messier than others there's no avoiding careful consideration in light of the available context. It follows that the distinction between fact and conjecture is one of opinion.
everdev 8y ago
> Sadly the era we're living in is that which blames Trump for every thing that goes wrong with no evidence whatsoever Before a crime is proven, there's usually speculation. Just like people suspected Nixon of being involved in Watergate before there was actual proof. The truth can come slowly. I agree that we need to follow due process, but it's just as dangerous to categorize any suspicion of criminal activity as "blaming Trump for everything". You're just on the opposite end of the spectrum as people who thinks he's guilty before we have proof. Evidence takes time, especially with plea bargains where there's incentive to hold out until the evidence against you is overwhelming. It's best to be somewhere in the middle where you're equally skeptical and open to whatever news and evidence comes out.
- malvosenior 8y ago
  You're right, there's obviously a spectrum. I feel it's gone too far in one direction. There's literally no proof on this particular issue that Trump had anything to do with the NE story on Bezos so it seems like quite a leap to start creating conspiracy theories that he used national intelligence agencies to dig up the dirt.
  - jandrese 8y ago
    I would have written it off as conspiracy theory nonsense myself, were it not for Trumps attack tweets a few weeks ago. While I don't think any US intelligence agencies are involved, it's absolutely possible that some foreign partners are providing "voluntary assistance" in the matter.
- YUMad 8y ago
  Yup, just like people suspected Hillary to be involved in Seth Rich's murder?

abrahamepton 8y ago

Zero evidence, sure. But a pattern of behavior that is deeply, deeply troubling and suspicious. As others have pointed out, he tweet-taunted Bezos a few weeks ago in a way that seems rather connected to this recent revelation. Joe Scarborough and Mike Brzezinski wrote an op-ed (in the Post!!) about having been threatened with blackmail by AMI, seemingly in direct connection to the White House's desires. Ronan Farrow came forward yesterday to say that AMI tried something similar with him. Sure, Trump may have nothing to do with it. But you and I aren't courts of law; we're people, and we're allowed to look at the evidence and come to our own conclusions. If your conclusion is that this is an "era ... which blames Trump for every thing that goes wrong with no evidence whatsoever" then you're just doing a bad job of evaluating evidence.

wahern 8y ago
A pattern of behavior is evidence. All evidence is circumstantial. That realization is actually foundational to our system of criminal Due Process. It's why nearly every piece of evidence entered into trial, even simple documents and scientific analyses, requires a witness to vouchsafe. Facts cannot be divorced from their human origin, and any fact can be challenged by challenging the credibility of its origin. All facts are messy things, and while some are messier than others there's no avoiding careful consideration in light of the available context. It follows that the distinction between fact and conjecture is one of opinion.

everdev 8y ago

> Sadly the era we're living in is that which blames Trump for every thing that goes wrong with no evidence whatsoever Before a crime is proven, there's usually speculation. Just like people suspected Nixon of being involved in Watergate before there was actual proof. The truth can come slowly. I agree that we need to follow due process, but it's just as dangerous to categorize any suspicion of criminal activity as "blaming Trump for everything". You're just on the opposite end of the spectrum as people who thinks he's guilty before we have proof. Evidence takes time, especially with plea bargains where there's incentive to hold out until the evidence against you is overwhelming. It's best to be somewhere in the middle where you're equally skeptical and open to whatever news and evidence comes out.

malvosenior 8y ago
You're right, there's obviously a spectrum. I feel it's gone too far in one direction. There's literally no proof on this particular issue that Trump had anything to do with the NE story on Bezos so it seems like quite a leap to start creating conspiracy theories that he used national intelligence agencies to dig up the dirt.
- jandrese 8y ago
  I would have written it off as conspiracy theory nonsense myself, were it not for Trumps attack tweets a few weeks ago. While I don't think any US intelligence agencies are involved, it's absolutely possible that some foreign partners are providing "voluntary assistance" in the matter.
YUMad 8y ago
Yup, just like people suspected Hillary to be involved in Seth Rich's murder?