Steve began:

“Unfortunately most of the political left has cherry picked part of the quote and left the context out, they’ve completely left out the fact that he also wrote “…He can no longer hurt innocent people!” This is an important point and the fact that most of the Democrats I’ve seen have left it out, they’re partisan hacks.

I don’t support Trump, I never have and I likely never will. The entire quote including the context that it was delivered is “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!” which is a rough rhetorical equivalent to people saying or writing in April 1945, “Adolf Hitler just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!”

No, that’s not an argument comparing Mueller to Hitler, it’s comparing the use of the context, and context does matter whether we agree with it or not. Also, this isn’t an argument supporting Trump; the narcissistic, loose cannon mouthed, unethical, POS Trump shouldn’t have written it, regardless of the context.

Selective stripping a quote of its context is wrong no matter who it’s done to, and it’s done far, far too often in the 21st century. Please don’t attack the messenger.”

[Verdict: Irrefutable ethics point. I take issue with “POS” but it has the effect of preempting accusations that Steve is just another MAGA cultist, so I give it a pass.]

Next, Steve observed,

“Ann wrote, “And yet imagine what Trump’s antagonists will say when he dies. Much worse, I predict.” I think that’s a reasonably fair prediction based on the FACT that they’ve already written and publicly screamed much worse.”

[Verdict: Nice! Setting a trap, which the Trump Deranged rushed into like Union soldiers into the crater during the Battle of Petersburg.]

In response to one of the more virulent (and obnoxious) commenters who took the bait, Steve wrote,

“AllAmericanJock wrote, “Unpopular, incompetent failure Trump is a classless, trashy, draft-dodging, economy-destroying, warmongering rapist, felon, and pedophile with rotting skin. Of course people will react differently do their deaths. President Trumpstein Files is still colluding with Russia. Imagine the paroxysms of rage from President Trumpflation and his army of dumb, fat incels if Ukraine was giving intel to Iran to help kill Americans. Russia does it, and the America Last rightwing MAGA cult bends over and begs Putin for more.”

I don’t know if you realize it, but posting that kind of pure propaganda makes you look like you have come down with an incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome?”

[Verdict: Thanks, Steve. I have been promising to post an official definition of  Trump Derangement Syndrome and its markers, since some commenters have argued that the description it is just a cheap ad hominem device to discredit Trump critics. I’d say that calling the President “Unpopular, incompetent failure Trump is a classless, trashy, draft-dodging, economy-destroying, warmongering rapist, felon, and pedophile with rotting skin.”  is signature significance.]

After a commenter wrote, “Of course Steve Witherspoon, we’d love it if you came on over to our side, but folks like you are desperately needed in the Democrat Party. Thank you,” weirdly concluding that Steve must be a Democrat, he responded,

“I’m 100% independent, I’ve never been part of a political party and I never will.”

[Ah-HA! Now I know why Ann gave Steve a forum! That’s how she sees herself!]

Another anti-Trump commenter responded to Steve’s assertion saying, “And you can take that to the food bank!!! while All American Jock wrote, *yawn* Steve Witherspoon should be more concerned that fewer and fewer Americans share his Trump D**riding Syndrome what with gas prices skyrocketing due to Trump and his drunken Defense Secretary’s illegal, unnecessary war.” [Is that guy an asshole or what?]

Steve’s retorts, first to the asshole:

“I think I might have psychologically triggered AllAmericanJock by pointing out how futile his intentional TDS propaganda trolling makes him look, I certainly hope he can unbundle his panties.

P.S. Trying to tell someone that they should be more concerned with something that’s way off topic is how trolling morons try unsuccessfully to deflect readers from their own moronic behavior and comments.
You have a nice evening AllAmericanJock and do come back when you’ve developed enough knowledge and intellect to actually debate using supportable facts and not propaganda that you’ve swallowed like a sheeple.”

Then to the “food bank” jerk…

“I’m really not sure what you’re trying to imply. Feel free to explain that rather obscure statement if you like.But just to be completely transparent, I’m retired and I regularly work at an area food bank donating and passing out food to families.”

Next, Steve made the necessary point about the claim that Mueller’s combat record should immunize him from criticism regarding his running of the “Russiagate” investigation…

“Mason G wrote, “Ok. So? Does receiving those awards excuse a person from doing shitty stuff later in their life?”

No.  Previous awards from honorable military service years ago have no relevance in this instance and anyone that says or implies they are related is either a baldfaced liar or a moron.”

[Oh moron! Definitely moron.]

Steve had definitely pushed “AllAmericanJock” to the edge of madness (I think the only reason Ann let this jerk’s comments through moderation was to allow Steve to take him down), so our Ethics Hero responded,

“AllAmericanJock: Did you actually just call me, a person who you’ve never met before, a “pedo” with absolutely no supporting evidence to support your claim, thus you know it’s a fabricated lie? That only needs a simple yes or no to answer.

“Maybe you missed what I very specifically wrote above, I’m “100% independent” and “I don’t support Trump, I never have and I likely never will”. In addition to those facts, I very clearly wrote in plain English exactly what I think of Trump, he’s a “narcissistic, loose cannon mouthed, unethical, POS”. I can’t be any clearer than that. It honestly appears to me that you’re intentionally making up lies to attack me or maybe you’re reading the clearly presented English in dumbass, you choose which it is.

“AllAmericanJock wrote, “IDGAF how I “look” to you. ” Awww, did I trigger you again and hurt your feelings?  I really don’t care how you feel. You freely walked into this rhetorical kitchen, suck up the rhetorical heat like an adult or head for the hills with your tail between your legs. I just don’t care about the feelings of an obvious internet troll.

“AllAmericanJock wrote, “Do not seek or want the approval of Trump’s un-American deplorables.”
Okay, so what? Since I’m not one of those, this has no relevance to me.

“AllAmericanJock wrote, “Guess your notion otherwise springs from the narcissistic delusionals that told you you control my presence.”

HA! You’re talking out of both sides of your mouth. YOU are the one that told me what I should be more concerned about, that sir is you trying to control what I think about and you’re showing hypocrisy. Plus; I wrote, “do come back when you’ve developed enough knowledge and intellect to actually debate using supportable facts and not propaganda that you’ve swallowed like a sheeple”. I was clear when I wrote “when” thus leaving it wide open for you to actually come back, on your own, and show some real knowledge and intellect, but you chose differently you chose to come back and show off some more moronic trolling. AllAmericanJock, there’s an old adage that you might want to commit to memory and recall when you put yourself in rhetorical situations like this again, when you find yourself in a rhetorical hole, you should stop digging otherwise you just look foolish.

“Now if you’re not actually intellectually stunted, try to apply what you’ve learned here.”

[Verdict: In  engaging with this guy, who reminds me of several Facebook friends who are beyond hope, Steve courageously risks proving the wisdom of Jean Kerr’s observation that “the real menace in dealing with a 5-year-old is that in no time at all you begin to sound like a 5-year-old.”]

Of course AllAmericanjock tried to respond (his whole witty comment could be characterized as “Oh yeah? Well, I’m rubber and you’re glue!” Steve wrote back,

“AllAmericanJock wrote, “I still DGAF what you have to say about me.” Ha, keep on telling yourself that if it helps you sleep at night. Your actions don’t support your words. Your replies, which are your actions, tell me that you care a great deal about what I say even though your words say otherwise. That’s a type of Freudian slip, which can be defined as ‘an unintentional error in speech, memory, or action that, according to psychoanalytic theory, reveals subconscious thoughts, fears, or repressed desires.'”

“AllAmericanJock wrote, “I criticize Trump, and you spent your entire evening tantruming about me in response.” Tantrumining? (That’s not an actual word, but I get what you’re trying to say) Again, here is my first reply to your comment that seemed to trigger you: “I don’t know if you realize it, but posting that kind of pure propaganda makes you look like you have come down with an incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome?” With all due respect to your obvious mastering of the English language, my comment doesn’t sound like a tantrum, which can be defined as ‘screaming, crying, kicking, or breath-holding.’ What I wrote was a simple statement of opinion with absolutely no associated “tantrumining”.

“AllAmericanJock wrote, “Cope and cry about it. And get a life. Loser.” Seriously? That sounds exactly like a 3rd or 4th grader in a school yard spat when they can’t think of anything else to say, they spout some nonsense like that and then bust out in tears.”

“AllAmericanJock wrote, “I’m still not refuting or taking back a single word I had to say about Trump.” I don’t expect you to and you’re welcome to your opinion, but your opinion still sounds and looks like you have come down with an incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.  Keep digging if you like.”

[Verdict: I’d ban a commenter who debated like AllAmericanJock. I also have decided not to get in these kinds of exchanges with my Trump Deranged friends. It’s a tough decision, because I also believe we have a duty to confront irresponsible purveyors of toxic discourse that makes other people angry, frightened or stupid. But unlike Steve, I’m not retired, and I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. ]