Disney’s axing director James Gunn for his atrocious tweets was understandable. But it was wrong.

Let’s say this up front. Writer-director James Gunn wrote some appalling things on Twitter years ago.

His jokes about rape and sex with children not only cross the decency line, they continue to run for another couple of miles at full speed.

It’s not hard to understand why Disney — with its vast, rich empire resting on a foundation of wholesomeness and family friendliness — cut him loose late last week, despite his monumental success at the helm of Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. (The first two grossed $1.6 billion; the third was due to start production this fall.)

The casual observer might be inclined to say good riddance to a guy who could respond to the hashtag #unromanticmovies with the suggestion: “Three Men and a Baby They Had Sex With” or come up with this tweet: “The best thing about being raped is when you’re done being raped and it’s like ‘whew this feels great, not being raped!’ ”

I can’t defend those writings and don’t want to.

…

Gunn made disgusting jokes on the Internet. He didn’t harass people or use his power to demand sexual favors.

In short, you can’t defend James Gunn’s tweets, and it’s hard to defend him.

But in an era of escalating bad-faith attacks, it’s much worse to reward the mob with a scalp.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/disneys-axing-director-james-gunn-for-his-atrocious-tweets-was-understandable-but-it-was-wrong/2018/07/24/b46cf61a-8f4a-11e8-8322-b5482bf5e0f5_story.html?noredirect=on

Did Trump Put The Deep State On Notice With Syrian Withdrawal?

The reason so many people continue to misread the actions of US President Donald Trump is because they tend to confuse him with the actions and behaviors of past US administrations, where indiscriminate death and destruction was America’s calling card around a shell-shocked planet. Although certainly erratic in his actions, Trump thus far has been predictable on one score: keeping the powers-that-be guessing.

Last week, Donald Trump, acting unilaterally and within full power as Commander-in-Chief, derailed the Deep State’s plans for yet another disastrous regime change operation, announcing the withdrawal of US troops from Syria.

In a video released via Twitter, the American leader announced that, “We have won against ISIS…and it’s time for our troops to come home.”

In the not-so-distant past, such an announcement would have been greeted with cheers since it is generally agreed that war is - at least for those doing the grunt work - a very unpleasant enterprise. But the times have changed, together with the national agenda, and instead of applause filling the airwaves, the American people can hear nothing but the screeching of incensed hawks on both sides of the political aisle. That screeching is the sound of the Deep State expressing its deep displeasure and even pain.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-25/did-trump-put-deep-state-notice-syrian-withdrawal

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