…Each of us have four choices once the Trump regime takes power in January: 1) Resist, 2) Silence, 3) Flight, 4) Collaborate…

Some people are going to choose collaboration.

This morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brezinski reported they made a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago. I immediately changed the channel.

On social media:

Jeff (Gutenberg Parenthesis) Jarvis ‪@jeffjarvis.bsky.social‬
Oh, Lord. Joe and Mika went to Mar-a-lago. “What we did agree on,” Mika said, “was to restart communications.” Access. “He seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats.” Credulity. They revert to their mean.
[….]
November 18, 2024 at 5:14 AM

Jeff Jarvis continued:

Mika: “We know this will be a consequential presidency. The question is whether it will be constructive. It will take a new approach from all sides from both parties and a leader who can bring them together and only time will tell whether Donald Trump is that leader.” Yeesh.

“Don’t be mistaken: We’re not here to normalize Donald Trump,” Joe says after having done just that. “Obey in advance.

Meacham pontificates on patriotism and nationalism. “Nationalism is a loyalty to people who are already in your tribe, in your clan, with a ‘c’.” That he had to clarify the spelling while getting it wrong. This is white, christian nationalism with a ‘k’.

Of course, there is no one on the panel to ask, “How the fuck could you?” as we all are at home. No Glaude, Molly Jong Fast, not even a Heileman. Instead, Ignatius and Meacham fall over their fumfering rhetoric in obeisance to this betrayal of MSNBC colleagues and us.

I’ll bet Comcast bosses are happy with them. It’s a Republican company. That is what makes the betrayal to colleagues all the worse, as some MSNBC hosts are all we have left in a field strewn with the #BrokenTimes, #BrokenPost, #BrokenCNN, #BrokenNPR, #MurdochJournal
.
The Scarborough doctrine: “You can’t root against the president of the United States without rooting against America.” He won’t root against authoritarianism, racism, misogyny (against his own wife), fascism. He won’t root for the people and our Constitution. There you have it.

Was there any journalism to come out of this? No. The meeting was “on background.” Joe assures they asked for an interview. Of course, they did: giving Trump just what he wants–airtime and attention. This is how they helped get him elected in the first place.

Right after that pathetic display, Mika reads headlines about attacks on LGBTQ people and Trump drawing up a list of military officers to court martial and there is no nod to the irony. Oh, yes, let’s get along–with the destruction of the nation.

I try to envision [Joy Anne Reid], [Rachel Maddow], Lawrence, Nicolle Wallace, [Chirs Hayes] and others watching Joe and Mika’s betrayal this morning. Did they throw coffee at their TVs or merely shake their heads, knowingly?

[emphasis added]

“[….] Rule #4: Be outraged. If you follow Rule #1 and believe what the autocrat-elect is saying, you will not be surprised. But in the face of the impulse to normalize, it is essential to maintain one’s capacity for shock. This will lead people to call you unreasonable and hysterical, and to accuse you of overreacting. It is no fun to be the only hysterical person in the room. Prepare yourself. [….]” – Masha Gessen – Autocracy: Rules for Survival – November 19, 2016

Some of the responses to Jeff Jarvis:

Timothy Snyder “Do not obey in advance”

Joe and Mika: “Actually, we think we will”.

Were they scared he would come for them. It’s pathetic

I changed the channel

Jesus on a 3 legged blind poodle. I just turned off Morning Joe. Just how fucking stupid are they? Who in their right goddamn mind thinks Hair Furor Donald is suddenly going to become reasonable & bipartisan & listen to/work w/Dems?

This is why I haven’t watched the show since the election.

I’m done with them

Trump: MSDNC are traitors and must be put against the wall

MSNBC: The question is whether the wall can absorb the bullets properly, and the guns are maintained efficiently.

WTF morning Joe are you in drugs… definitely I won’t be watching you nor msnbc if you keep talking about unity with this morons. After all the thing they have done and all the atrocities they are going to do. ITS NOT JUST POLITICS. No common ground with this fascist FU….

Groveling before the warlord’s throne. Very undignified, but they gave up any claims to dignity long ago.

We’re going to see much more of this bowing and scraping. One thing has always been true about Trump: he forces people to reveal their true selves—their genuine strengths, deepest weaknesses, fragile breaking points, willingness to compromise or buckle, and their most base qualities.

I have no patience for this. They’ve all capitulated. Every single one of them. From Polis to Mika. The “shock and awe” hasn’t even started yet and they are kissing the ring

Had to turn off morning Joe. If you really believe what you said and trust your convictions, what are you doing in Mar-a-lago?

This is part of the reason why their ratings will continue to tank. Turned off after the election, was considering turning back on today…but no thank you to normalizing America’s Hitler

Turned it off as soon as she said that. Access journalism at its worst.

Oh FFS these two

Their ratings will just continue to tank. Being Fox News Lite only alienates their audience; it doesn’t win new viewers. The only clear business choice for MSNBC after the election was to replace its Lincoln Project types with strong, unapologetic progressives.

I turned on this morning to give them another chance to be real journalists and got gobsmacked with the fact they not only interacted with Trump but went to Maralago to grovel. Beyond sickening. Never watch again and any of their guests will also lose credibility.

“He seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats.” Oh, did he now, Joe? Did he? And did he have any suggestions about how he intends to do that after years of dragging the entire party through a stinking gutter of his made-up stories? Maybe he has some sort of a “weave” in mind?

So they think they could actually negotiate with a dictator. They believe he has met them on common ground.

How people manage to lie to themselves this way, I will never understand.

Definitely an “obey in advance” with these two. Goodbye to their show/podcast.

The state of the nation: literal nazis marching in the streets of Columbus, and these dipshits heading to Mar-a-lago to kiss the chief nazi’s ass.

Leopards, face, etc

The fact that the press had to go out to Trump’s compound to essentially kiss the ring should be far more troubling to them than anything he said.

He lies like he breathes, and this is not a great look for the media’s future.

Rich folks gonna do rich folks stuff. I’m done with them. There is no compromise with MAGA. Ever.

“We’re not here to normalize Trump!” they exclaim as they normalize Trump.

Historian will marvel at the abundance of cowardice in our generation.

“.. was to negotiate the terms of our surrender”

Mika looked like she was choking down vomit as she was saying the words on the teleprompter. She does not look on board or happy.

‘He seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats.’

Yeah right. And I hear the cow just jumped over the moon.

Fools

Previously:

The resistance (December 18, 2016)

Practical Dissent: Protest Signs (November 17, 2024)

Practical Dissent: Resistance – OSS Manual (1944) (November 17, 2024)