comment: >
  
  Clearly the Dems are doing everything in their power to pave the way for Trump to get nominated.
  Also Trump as opponent defangs the "too old" argument against a Biden 2nd term.
context: Trump broke journalism.
  Well, neoliberal capitalism broke journalism. But Trump exposed the rupture. >
  
  When ratings are the end goal, pushing false equivalencies like this is only natural. >
  
  When there’s no requirement and little consequence to the telling the truth why worry about it. >
  
  Propaganda going overtime on this story... >
  
  Biden pulled over for speeding, “well let me have the ticket and we’ll be on our way.” Trump pulled over for speeding, “they’ll never take me alive!” >
  
  "This is (D)ifferent, Biden has already handed over all the documents!" -reddit after each semi-daily new discovery by authorities >
  
  Ah, misrepresenting the facts I see. It was biden's team who is finding and returning the documents as they find them. It's almost like...they found some, and decided to do a comprehensive sweep over everything to ensure that everything gets returned. >
  
  “It’s okay to steal as long as you put it back when the media finds out you didn’t pay for it.” 
  Literally all I’m hearing. >
  
  This isn't theft, it was a few documents out of many thousands of thousands of documents that got misplaced, this kind of thing happens and they're doing their best to rectify the issue. Trump wouldn't return them even after being asked.. multiple times. Your theft analogy is dumb. >
  
  Also trump shipped them out of the White House and had means and motive to distribute them for personal gain. He also STILL has classified material. Not apples to apples even a little. >
  
  The media isn't falling into a trap, they're willing participants in the scam. >
  
  Worse than that, their knee-jerk reactions are the sole reason the Right creates these fake scandals. They know the "papers" will write it up as if they had been told to directly by Rupert Murdoch or Vladimir Putin's chef. >
  
  Bush Jr. and Obama almost certainly have docs laying around somewhere unknowingly. The issue with Trump is that he was deliberately stealing these from NARA. >
  
  The Ex-presidents get a government staff, and Archives staff and a Library staff. Likely everything that Bush or Obama had was taken to safe locations, except for a limited amount of personal stuff.
  Ex Vice Presidents are largely on their own. >
  
  That doesn't account for the classified documents he had that were dated to his senator days. >
  
  What a lousy article. The first four paragraphs are a pointless personal story just wasting space for no purpose. Then the article doesn't list a single example of a media outlet equivocating the two cases. The only evidence provided is an anecdote from one of their own columnists. Also I dislike this comment:
  
  some leading Democrats are choosing to advance the narrative about the classified documents, undermining their own president. 
  
  No, they're worried Biden's mistakes are going to hurt the party's chances in 2024. That's a rightful concern. Just because he's a Dem president doesn't mean the party has to back him all the time. An investigation is at least justified. Also it's rather strange how they link to another Salon article as an example of "leading Democrats." So Salon is just arguing with itself? >
  
  Yeah Salon.com is garbage. Yet somehow their articles always end up on here >
  
  That's because it usually advances the narratives we ant to hear >
  
  Yes - the circumstances are different...  
  But there are valid concerns about the processes and protocols of our institutions - how rules are ignored for power and favors - as well as a general disregard for these programs being shown by... everyone when its convenient.  
  These documents are controlled - to varying degrees - for a reason. If X person has some and they shouldn't, get em back and stop it from happening more. If they have them from GOD DAMNED TEN YEARS AGO we have serious issues with our information and document management processes.  
  I'm - personally - just really tired that America can't seem to do anything remotely close to well or right anymore. Its always someone else's fault, there's never any idea or solutions, and - don't worry - it's not a big deal anyhow.  
  If we're talking the risk of purposeful malfeasance of course the odds are way higher with Trump. But... oh... I'd say its probably just time to fix this shit and make sure it can't happen anymore and - most importantly - stop giving passes to politicians for crimes that would land you or I in jail regardless of how much we "oopsied" it. >
  
  Bingo >
  
  You know it shouldn't be a lure.  The media should be doing the reporting in the proper context and not as a false equivalence.   What they are doing is hyping it up as if this was bigger than taking 350 docs and lying about returning them. >
  
  I’m already over it.
  A special counsel was added, and I will trust their judges >
  
  I agree that we should leave this in the hands of special counsel but that’s not a guarantee that things will be handled correctly,  both republicans and democrats in high positions have been given passes for actions that technically constitute criminal behavior in the past. 
  My concern is that if things come back scot-free then we’re going to hear a lot of outrage from the GOP over “hypocrisy” about Trump.  It doesn’t have to be the same to galvanize them. >
  
  Yo ur e worried about Republicans hypocritically crying foul?
  Bad news for you… >
  
  I don’t care if they do it.  I care if they’re given a reason to on a silver platter. >
  
  You care what the people protecting Lying “George Santos” have to say?
  Can’t be me. >
  
  I understand where you’re coming from but I can’t argue against an argument I haven’t heard yet.  That’s why I want to know. A condemnation or an attempt at justification. >
  
  I don’t think there is going to be a justification for what POTUS did - the report will come back saying “Joe was bad, but did the right thing in the end, not lied to us and forced us to get a warrant. >
  
  There was no "trap."
  Media put the context in the articles, typically closer to the end. They did so knowing that many many people won't read beyond the headlines.
  The GQP-backing media talked about it with no context for the purpose of their target audience.
  Any talk with context to those who need to hear it fell on deaf ears.
  And the thing is - it is all business as usual. The systems are DESIGNED to give false equivalences and even bias the GQP.
  It is good to point out the false equivalence in the headlines, but it still fails to recognize how this is all by design rather than some clever play. >
  
  If you read between the lines, in the end this benefits Biden and the Democratic party line in '24, in that it brings Trump back from oblivion. 
  If Trump survives to the primaries, then the Democrats win against him in '24. He doesn't have a prayer of winning a third election, he already lost the previous two (popular vote) and lost the GOP every consecutive midterm since he entered politics.
  The media false equivalency was predictable, and it effectively neuters the documents issue for Trump -- which keeps Trump alive long enough to drag down the Republicans in '24 -- and that's why this is happening. They don't want Trump cratering too early.
  The Democrats have planted this nothingburger scandal knowing how the media would cover it, and knowing how it would benefit their erstwhile preferred opponent, Donald J. Trump. >
  
  This post isn't aging well.....
  News breaking as we speak as of 7:30pm, the DOJ searched Bidens home and found a 4th batch of documents.
  Of course, no ones using the language of 'Raided Bidens home', but nonethelss.... >
  
  I feel like its not really working though, I see so few people outside the hardcore morons eating it up. Its being overshadowed by this endless george santos circus. >
  
  Establishment media trying really hard to tell you not to believe the obvious. Lol >
  
  When our side does it then its all good. >
  
  You guys are blind if you don’t see that the powers at be, the same ones who got this guy in, now want him out. >
  
  In general, the National archive needs to do it’s job of identifying who still has files checked out. 
  I wouldn’t be surprised at this point if you search  all former Congress people’s homes and found something their system seems to be such a mess >
  
  Fuck Salon for saying this.  There is absolutely a fair comparison.  Comparisons don’t mean things are the same.  It means aspects of things are the same.  I wouldn’t use “like” or “as” to describe twins, because comparisons aren’t needed for things that are clearly identical.
  This do not HAVE to be the same in order to draw comparisons and telling readers not to be annoyed or skeptical of Biden for this is disingenuous and hypocritical. 
  The system clearly needs to be fixed.  Who knows how bad this was under Obama, Bush, Clinton, Carter, Reagan, etc. not to mention the thousands of politicians who probably have classified documents who haven’t been in charge of the executive branch before. >
  
  Biden fucked up, simple as that. Whether the comparisons are fair or not, they’re going to happen. >
  
  Only if you seriously think he did his own packing. >
  
  I don’t even care. 6 years is a long time to get it sorted out but no, he’s gotta pull this shit right after Trump gets caught doing it. They’re both idiots. >
  
  They weren't FOUND until 6 years later, due to sheer luck. NARA confirmed all returned documents so no-one had any reason to be looking for missing ones. >
  
  Exactly. They weren’t found until 6 years later. >
  
  Look man I can lead you to water but I can't make you drink. If you don't want to use critical thinking skills then there's nothing. >
  
  Don’t ya think this is a known solution for the GOP by now? It’s basically „what‘about‘ism“ >
  
  
  Biden's documents: Democrats, media fall into GOP trap one more time| There is no fair comparison between the Biden and Trump cases. But the lure of ~~false equivalency~~ ratings/site traffic revenue is irresistible... >
  
  So we’re supposed to be patting Biden on the back for his carelessness? >
  
  No one was that troubled by Trump having documents (assuming they were misplaced/etc), rather by his refusal to return them and lying about it, over a period of over a year. This was something everyone was saying at the time.
  If people are going to treat misplacing and then returning as soon as this was discovered (even before requested), to lying, hiding, suing and so on... after the documents are requested, there is going to be a huge incentive for politicians to lie, hide, sue and not cooperate.
  We have to decide what politicians we want.
  Best to have politicians that don't misplace, but what about politicians that don't lie, hide and not cooperate? >
  
  On top of that we didn’t even find out he had them until he refused to return them and the FBI had to execute a search warrant.  They asked privately for them back.  It wasn’t even a story and it wouldn’t have been. >
  
  How about no politician left or right takes any government secrets……. >
  
  Biden wasn’t trying to. >
  
  He needs to be more careful with these documents.  Also, If someone else did it, then who?  Hopefully with security clearance privilege access. >
  
  Correct me if I’m wrong but these were offices he used during his Vice Presidency. Not places he just moved these documents to after Obama left office. >
  
  The VP is not legally allowed to store classified documents anywhere outside of the White House or government secured offices, only the President had that liberty. >
  
  Yeah, no. >
  
  We know already WE KNOW.
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  deadhorse.jpg >
  
  Imagine holding two Presidents accountable for handling classified info differently but not securely would lead to a “trap”. >
  
  
  differently
  
  "differently"
  I've got some questions for you about those "differences"
  who asked trump to return the documents? how about biden?
  how long did it take biden to return the documents when asked? how about trump?
  did trump refuse to return the documents? how about biden?
  how many documents did biden have? how about trump?
  just curious about how well informed you are on the "differences". >
  
  wait, context matters? but muh both sides
  You also have to ignore the fact that the media can actually focus on this one thing.  Remember when there was a new scandal every other day under Trump? >
  
  While this is all true, when the trump doc scandal rolled out, the media was aghast at how such sensitive material could be missing and in such insecure location as mar a lago. That same concern seems to vanish when these classified docs began “appearing” .
  While both Trump and Biden are handling it differently, Both people were in violation of housings classified material, no matter what way you slice it. 
  Both cases required the DOJ to get warrants to search the private residences of a former and current POTUS, both unprecedented. 
  I hate Trump, but the msm simping for Biden is so obvious, that it makes me (a leftist progressive) have no choice but to either buy the D and MSM talking points, and continue to gaslight and twist myself into a pretzel trying to contrast the two cases, or be labeled a fascist or MAGA for criticism of the current administration. 
  When the MSM was crying “national security threat” with Trump, but with Biden , they’re like “meh, whatever, he’s innocent because he’s letting the DOJ search his home”, C’mon man! 
  TLDR: Journalistic integrity is dead. Ratings trumps democracy (no pun intended) >
  
  
  Both cases required the DOJ to get warrants to search the private residences of a former and current POTUS, both unprecedented.
  
  That’s not true. There was no warrant or subpoena for the search of Biden’s property; it was voluntary. >
  
  FBI conducted the search . Last I check they require a warrant or otherwise it’s unreasonable search and seizure. >
  
  I stand corrected. Thanks for sourcing! >
  
  No problem! >
  
  Is that water you carry heavy? >
  
  Ugh, ‘false equivalency’ is the new thing people are saying to sound smart and insightful. 
  Seems like every year we get a new ‘false equivalency’, ‘toxic masculinity’, or ‘mansplaining’ >
  
  Are you a toxic bro mansplaining that this isn't a false equivalency? >
  
  Lol no but that would be funny
  I’m just commenting that it seems to be the big phrase I’m seeing a lot lately >
  
  Here’s my favorite quote from this article:
  ”Predictably, the mainstream news media is helping to amplify this fake scandal. It is almost inexorably compelled toward stories of scandal and controversy, especially around presidents and other leading political figures.”
  Is “being compelled toward stories of scandal and controversy” a bad thing for a media organization? 
  Particularly when such stories involve some of the most powerful people on earth. >
  
  How is it a "fake" scandal?
  Though not as big as trumps, this is still nonetheless a scandal. Worse yet, the White House has been less than transparent on the whole ordeal.
  Can't wait to see the White House press Secretary ignore questions again on Monday. When Trump's press secretary did it, people wanted his or her's head on a spike. But when the great magnificent Kareen Jean-Pierre does it, she gets a pass. >
  
  Exactly my point! 
  Just because this is a Democratic President, it doesn’t mean it is not a scandal. >
  
  How many did President Biden sell to the Saudis to get his son a $2 billion gift? >
  
  The point of the Biden documents "scandal" is to revive Trump's chances to win the Republican nomination. After the midterms, the Democrats have no doubts that Trump is going to be a third run loser and a drag on the GOP ticket - so long as he can survive long enough to get nominated.
  The Mar a Lago documents investigation had wounded Trump too much, and they need him alive. This nothingburger Biden documents "scandal" has been manufactured exactly to provide false equivalency, and to keep Trump alive long enough so he can lose again - or, put another way: so the Democrats can win in '24. 
  We already knew the Democrats propped up far right Q Anon candidates to win their GOP primaries in '22. This is the same shit, done to Trump. 
  Frankly, I'm glad the Democrats are being crafty and smart. Nothing is what it seems in politics. >
  
  Yeah, trump running again will be a disaster for the GOP. Dems should be praying he runs again and wins the nomination.