May 10, 2017

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The Thread: The New York Times asks its readers to say something nice about Trump and Twitter blows up

Anyone who thinks Americans- read Democrats and liberals- are not still raw about Donald Trump in the driver’s seat has no clue. Americans are mad, very mad. So why on earth did the New York Times consider this a brilliant idea and crucial timing to carry out this experiment? “The establishment press has been vicious... Read More

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Anyone who thinks Americans- read Democrats and liberals- are not still raw about Donald Trump in the driver’s seat has no clue. Americans are mad, very mad.

So why on earth did the New York Times consider this a brilliant idea and crucial timing to carry out this experiment?

“The establishment press has been vicious about Donald Trump. He’s portrayed, day after day, as a narcissist, personally obnoxious, with a policy agenda to match. He deserves most of this criticism.

But does he deserve all of it? Does he never do anything right? Say anything wise? Are all his schemes to reform this agency and abolish that regulation utterly misguided? Can “President Trump’s America” really be compared to Vladimir Putin’s Russia?

Surely, if there is a “party line” among the establishment media in the United States, it is anti-Trump, not pro. That doesn’t make it wrong. In fact, it’s largely right. But the venom, the obsession, the knife-twisting are hard to understand.

With that in mind, we’re looking for a few positive words about the president, and we’re asking for your help. This is not about Trump the family man. It’s not another forum for debating the issues. It is a place to point out positive things Mr. Trump has said or done from the viewpoint of The New York Times and its readers. (And don’t tell me Times readers are too diverse to classify. You know who you are.)

As with so much new technology, Twitter works its magic by cutting out the middleman. But the benefit in this case is not just economic. Thanks to @realDonaldtrump, the average citizen now has a view straight into the president’s id. You may not like what you see, but you can see it.

So that’s one good thing he has done for the country. Can you think of another? Please let me know at somethingnice@nytimes.com. We’ll be revisiting this theme regularly in Sunday Review.”

Come on guys, what happened to putting feelers out? Twitter really took this the wrong way. See below:

&#@**!

What the F*CK is going on at @nytimes? This is pathetic, condescending, and insulting. Feel sorry for many fine journalists who work there. pic.twitter.com/JgsG5gtbxY

— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) May 8, 2017

It's not good. Imagine if they'd said the same about Obama – it would have been risible then too. It's bizarre.

— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) May 8, 2017

https://twitter.com/kim/status/861785632363864064

https://twitter.com/SeeDaneRun/status/861648638434566145

https://twitter.com/katetkacik/status/861748957982199808

https://twitter.com/elizabethminkel/status/861750228331921413

https://twitter.com/Green_Footballs/status/861666341673066496

https://twitter.com/AmyNiles4/status/861764663498989569

In search of balance?

https://twitter.com/AlexMLeo/status/859966456183877632

https://twitter.com/AlexMLeo/status/859966647783882753

https://twitter.com/AlexMLeo/status/859967328930467843

https://twitter.com/AlexMLeo/status/859968061000081409

https://twitter.com/AlexMLeo/status/859968183817646082

https://twitter.com/602Erik/status/859968483735478272

https://twitter.com/AlexMLeo/status/859968633656758276

https://twitter.com/snarkforce1/status/861748110145581056

https://twitter.com/OmanReagan/status/861676652870287360

Trump, Hitler, Stalin and the crew

its called "HEY! HEY! HITLER HAD SOME GOOD POINTS TOO" @nytimes

SO SAD – SO TRAGIC

— ROSIE (@Rosie) May 8, 2017

"Nice things to say about Stalin since we know all. about his foibles."

— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) May 8, 2017

Stalin was…uhhh…not homicidal when he was a small child?

— marty (@dj13p) May 8, 2017

"Maybe this tolerance for all and science education thing WON'T work out. Better pay lip service to the 'We Want Nazi Feudalism' folk."

— Darryl Mott (@Abstruse) May 8, 2017

Screams propangada

Odd at best and deeply unnerving. Sounds like propaganda.

— Sheril Kirshenbaum, PhD (@Sheril_) May 8, 2017

How is this not state sponsored propaganda?

— jul- (@snowflakeJul) May 8, 2017

Because the State isn't paying for it. This is purely private sector propaganda.

— Darryl Mott (@Abstruse) May 8, 2017

How do we know that? How do we know favors haven't been exchanged?

— jul- (@snowflakeJul) May 8, 2017

The motives are suspect.

— jul- (@snowflakeJul) May 8, 2017

No argument there.

— Darryl Mott (@Abstruse) May 8, 2017

Gone with the wind

https://twitter.com/PxlJedi/status/861750831477084161

https://twitter.com/Nebula63/status/861647386887634944

I cancelled my subscription today. Between this and the CC denier and the cranky toddler @GlennThrush I'm over it.

— Sea Monster™️ (@deangelis28) May 8, 2017

Joke? Prank? What the hell!

Is this a prank?

— Bertrand Marotte (@MarotteMontreal) May 9, 2017

https://twitter.com/Ziggy_Daddy/status/861741439117541376

Is it really for real?

— Anna Solomon (@SolomonAnna) May 8, 2017

https://twitter.com/QueenKika/status/861730055721852928

They said something, alright

#SaySomethingNice: The emperor who had no clothes is a sartorial exemplar when compared to certain part-time residents of 1600 Pennsylvania.

— 🌻 Dumfounded 🤯 (@j2dumfounded) May 8, 2017

#SaysomethingNice: Trump's shown that compassionate conservatism is dead; & GOP is fiscally responsible is dead. @stevesilberman @nytimes

— lawhawk (@lawhawk) May 8, 2017