And that's the story of how Billy Bush saved the world from nuclear Armageddon.
— Nick Mamatas (@NMamatas) October 8, 2016
This tweet of mine really took off, thanks to retweets from Popehat, and then Andy Richter, and then Edgar Wright. Twelve hours later, it's still going strong.
What is interesting is the number of people who feel the need to respond to a joke tweet with their serious business. Stupid serious business, like:
"But Bill Clinton is a rapist!!", which, regardless of the truth-value of that claim, is irrelevant. At worst he's the rapist who had eight years in proximity to the nuclear button and demonstrably did not press it in a fit of narcissistic pique.
"But Hillary Clinton is the one who wants war with Russia!" which is clearly untrue and a political impossibility besides. Clearly, what Clinton wants is to limit Russia's international influence, which has been an abiding part of US foreign policy since 1917. It's also worth noting that a war with Russia need not be a nuclear exchange. Nor need a nuclear exchange involve Russia as the primary belligerent.
"But Billy Bush was just as bad!" And also not running for President. And on the level of "Will he press the nuclear button because he's a wannabe tough guy who doesn't understand international relations as at all!" even Billy Bush isn't as bad as Trump. Billy knows his level, and has found, far far far from the halls of power, except insofar as he leaked the tape to his aunt Barbara or something.
"It wasn't Billy Bush, it was the important work of David A. Fahrenthold!" The important bit of his reportage is right here: "After the video appeared online Friday afternoon..." Farhentold didn't find the video; he wasn't even given the video. The video was put online to be oh-so nonchalantly discovered by someone else...
"It wasn't Billy Bush, it was Hillary Clinton and everyone who believed in her!" Oh man. Almost nobody believes in Hillary Clinton except for the demographic of middle-class and wealthy women, almost all of whom are white. (That Barbara Bush again!) She's what the Democrats settled on. That's why this sort of media trickery was even necessary in the first place.
And now, shall we make the statue of Billy Bush of gold, or platinum?