Many will not want to embrace Jim's wise words. They should think again. Social Darwinism and eugenics have lurked behind American political thought for decades. They surfaced brightly during Woodrow Wilson's presidency. In that instance they were associated with a very confused progressive movement's thought. I'd ask skeptics to answer a single question. If this is not the motive behind the MAGA policies, what is? If "Elonald" is successfuly, the world will certainly look as Jim describes it. If Elonald doesn't intend it, what do they seek?
That's a critical question, Glenn, and nobody is asking it. Or as a friend of mine once asked of a similar nonsensical endeavor, "Surely, this is all not without meaning." I think death and destruction are the meaning here.
It’s foolish to place hopes for a course correction with Republican lawmakers or the courts. Clearly they have been corrupted, live in fear and refuse to do their jobs. As such it seems to me that some form of a cataclysmic event will be required to alter this horrifying course. I wish I knew what that might be and when it will arrive.
Could we have seriously imagined this sinister form of eugenics coming to America and beyond! It’s a nightmare.
I don't know what now, Dave; I only know the question isn't being actively discussed. I swear it's like we are in the chorus of a Greek drama and simply singing our lines as we watch the tragedy unfold.
Jim, you wrote this in future tense. I have little doubt you'll be able to repost this four years from now by simply changing the action to past tense. I've read enough of the news in the last few weeks to accept that you're right. I'm well educated in both world and American history from Texas State. With that, I don't see this as a four year cycle; I expect more of a 20 or 50 year cycle of authoritarianism. Which leads me to, well what can I do. I feel like everyone is sending these messages prompting me to take action. Your last words were, "Who will stop him?" We know Congress and the courts have acquiesced. But fuck Jim, I voted already. I really don't see myself having anymore obligation or power beyond that. I'm not a gun owner. Do I need to become one?
I think you are articulating everyone's frustration, Ed. What does the single individual do to stop the richest man in the world who has been given the keys to our democracy? We need to bring some big brains together and figure that out, fast, because the courts are not going to help.
I hate and fear the answer to your question that is at the heart of the issue: What do we do? At this point, for our democracy to survive, the MAGA oligarchs, military and political leaders, and propagandists will have to be invalidated. Therefore, the powers that remain extant within government will have to remove those leaders from power. I fear that our individual ability to stop what's happening won't be effective, and, sooner than we will expect, we'll be standing on our own thresholds with whatever defense mechanisms are at hand. For now, I will be awaiting and supporting leaders who can gather and focus our collective efforts toward decisive action. I'll remain informed and ready to serve as best I can.
Do you actually think jack-booted thugs will be standing at the threshold of our homes? I can't get my brain running in that direction, yet; I keep relying on the soul and backbone of American people to come up with a plan to save us from ourselves.
We're not there yet, and I have hope for a plan that will save us. But without laws being enforced, what and who will stop the MAGAts? The historical record is clear on what dictators do to secure and hold power. Suppression will take many forms and those who resist most forcefully will receive the most force in response. I want to be proven wrong, terribly so. I do hope I'm wrong.
Exactly how I see it. It's depressing. I took the flag down from my front porch the day the Court ruled in favor of immunity for the President. I recognize that as the inflection point in what I believe will be a long haul. It took decades of gerrymandering to get to where we are today, and power is never given, it can only be taken. I keep hearing a refrain of what people attribute to a Chinese proverb that is ironically called a curse: may you live in interesting times. Like anyone else, I like to daydream of what it would be like to have lived during WWII. Now that we are entering interesting times, I'm fearful.
Maybe fly your flag upside down. That might prompt some of your neighbors to engage you in a discussion. In Texas, Democrats (or anti-oligarchs) don't feel comfortable (or safe) in expressing their views. This has to change. We have to come out of the shadows....
I, frankly, don't want to engage in discussions with anyone who thought it was smart to vote for Trump. They are not worth my intellect or energy and cannot be salvaged. We need to concentrate on getting more sane Americans to vote and call their members of congress.
“As Texas goes, so goes the Nation” is unfortunately true.
Karl Rove was smart enough to count the Baptist churches and numbers in their members and tap into the meanest solid hard core voters in the state that lead to W’s victory as governor. That victory showed them, along with the gripe bags and the Texas independence ignorat voters, that they had sway and they’ve stayed with the sold right since. They elected Rick Perry, a below average small town councilman at best, to a record three terms, all with the evangelical, whatever, Baptist vote doing the real lift, and its continued with Abbott and the rest of our corrupt government officials. They always visit the big white churches at election time, even AG Ken Paxton who was sleeping around on his wife, hired the woman with a State job, and was under indictment for a Ponzi scheme swindling investors claims Christian faith in his life. They all like the hell fire and damnation Old Testament God, but somehow look over the forgiving, love thy fellow man, blessed are the meek, New Testament Jesus they claim to love.
The fact that a known liar, crook,grifter, dictator admiring scum like Trump could get elected has left me thinking the whole country IS like Texas.
I'm afraid that Texas is becoming, or has become, a template for the right to unfold across the country and in blue states. You're right, Mike, and it's all so wrong.
It was always a given that Trump cares only for him and his above all, and found the perfect patron in Musk. And boy, have they ever inoculated and surrounded themselves with the complicit...
I keep hoping, Steve, that a reasonable number of people who voted for him and/or are members of congress, will very soon have a moment of conscience and ask themselves what in the hell they are taking part in doing to their country. Probably won't happen but that would be a seminal moment.
In even marginally-"normal" times, a grotesque spectacle like Musk giddily, idiotically prancing around like a doughy Rambo wannabe, swinging a chainsaw at CPAC to signify his illegal efforts to gut the federal workforce would have been just the sort of optical abortion that would have summoned a party pushback to such a clown show.
But this ain't your grandparents', or even your parents' Republican Party. This is the Trump Party, and they have no more use for the Republic as they have for Democracy. It's strictly a wholesale cash-grab until the music stops and gerrymandering orgy until their heads start rolling down the gutters when the karmic forces finally align against them.
The majority of those on public assistance are white----I'm betting they were MAGA voters. The reckoning is already happening. I guess the assumption was Elonald would only hurt non-white people. It's the day of FAFO. What's the saying, when you dig a grave for someone else be sure to dig one for yourself. That also goes for Elonald, Abbott, and all those with "feet of clay." For all their scheming, they have not yet figured out how to cheat death.
Yeah, that's a point I should've made, Myra. And those white voters getting Medicaid are likely to start screaming if that $800 billion actually gets cut out of the program with this coming vote. A lot of members of congress will get unelected pretty fast.
I'm so goddamn lucky to have lived in Austin from '64-'68 and later from '72-75 with many visits in between. Even my four years of junior & part of senior high school in Abilene from '58-'62 shimmers happily to some degree. There were always a few lunatics and some endemic cruelty but the population was so much smaller that it didn't overwhelm the cities or the land and I think we were shaped more by Nature than is possible today. There was a general sense of fairness, even with the struggles, and it was easier to be proud.
Ain't no fairness, no mo', bro, since the Ronnie Reagan 80s America has been all about "I got mine, good luck gettin' yours," and the government and investors pull the ladder up behind them.
Jim, I wish you could write something up about LinkedIn's platform and get them off the fence and have more influence. The algorithm is only allowing about 10 to 20 percent of my post to go through.
I've thought about this, Steve. And still am. Linkedin is just a horrible place these days. A bunch of self-congratulatory bullshit and right wing politics with people thinking governments can be run like businesses. That's the stupidest damn thing I've ever heard and I've heard it throughout my entire political reporting career.
Just now seeing your comment Jim, not use to following the notifications on substack. I feel the same damn way. I'm continuing to post articles from Heather Cox Richardson and Joyce Vance and Smith on it.and half the time I want to guit, but I'm can't help myself..those bastards.
Many will not want to embrace Jim's wise words. They should think again. Social Darwinism and eugenics have lurked behind American political thought for decades. They surfaced brightly during Woodrow Wilson's presidency. In that instance they were associated with a very confused progressive movement's thought. I'd ask skeptics to answer a single question. If this is not the motive behind the MAGA policies, what is? If "Elonald" is successfuly, the world will certainly look as Jim describes it. If Elonald doesn't intend it, what do they seek?
That's a critical question, Glenn, and nobody is asking it. Or as a friend of mine once asked of a similar nonsensical endeavor, "Surely, this is all not without meaning." I think death and destruction are the meaning here.
Jim, you nailed it. And now what?
It’s foolish to place hopes for a course correction with Republican lawmakers or the courts. Clearly they have been corrupted, live in fear and refuse to do their jobs. As such it seems to me that some form of a cataclysmic event will be required to alter this horrifying course. I wish I knew what that might be and when it will arrive.
Could we have seriously imagined this sinister form of eugenics coming to America and beyond! It’s a nightmare.
I don't know what now, Dave; I only know the question isn't being actively discussed. I swear it's like we are in the chorus of a Greek drama and simply singing our lines as we watch the tragedy unfold.
Jim, you wrote this in future tense. I have little doubt you'll be able to repost this four years from now by simply changing the action to past tense. I've read enough of the news in the last few weeks to accept that you're right. I'm well educated in both world and American history from Texas State. With that, I don't see this as a four year cycle; I expect more of a 20 or 50 year cycle of authoritarianism. Which leads me to, well what can I do. I feel like everyone is sending these messages prompting me to take action. Your last words were, "Who will stop him?" We know Congress and the courts have acquiesced. But fuck Jim, I voted already. I really don't see myself having anymore obligation or power beyond that. I'm not a gun owner. Do I need to become one?
I think you are articulating everyone's frustration, Ed. What does the single individual do to stop the richest man in the world who has been given the keys to our democracy? We need to bring some big brains together and figure that out, fast, because the courts are not going to help.
I hate and fear the answer to your question that is at the heart of the issue: What do we do? At this point, for our democracy to survive, the MAGA oligarchs, military and political leaders, and propagandists will have to be invalidated. Therefore, the powers that remain extant within government will have to remove those leaders from power. I fear that our individual ability to stop what's happening won't be effective, and, sooner than we will expect, we'll be standing on our own thresholds with whatever defense mechanisms are at hand. For now, I will be awaiting and supporting leaders who can gather and focus our collective efforts toward decisive action. I'll remain informed and ready to serve as best I can.
Do you actually think jack-booted thugs will be standing at the threshold of our homes? I can't get my brain running in that direction, yet; I keep relying on the soul and backbone of American people to come up with a plan to save us from ourselves.
We're not there yet, and I have hope for a plan that will save us. But without laws being enforced, what and who will stop the MAGAts? The historical record is clear on what dictators do to secure and hold power. Suppression will take many forms and those who resist most forcefully will receive the most force in response. I want to be proven wrong, terribly so. I do hope I'm wrong.
Exactly how I see it. It's depressing. I took the flag down from my front porch the day the Court ruled in favor of immunity for the President. I recognize that as the inflection point in what I believe will be a long haul. It took decades of gerrymandering to get to where we are today, and power is never given, it can only be taken. I keep hearing a refrain of what people attribute to a Chinese proverb that is ironically called a curse: may you live in interesting times. Like anyone else, I like to daydream of what it would be like to have lived during WWII. Now that we are entering interesting times, I'm fearful.
I definitely don't want this kind of "interesting," Ed. I hope we can facilitate something more interesting.
Maybe fly your flag upside down. That might prompt some of your neighbors to engage you in a discussion. In Texas, Democrats (or anti-oligarchs) don't feel comfortable (or safe) in expressing their views. This has to change. We have to come out of the shadows....
I, frankly, don't want to engage in discussions with anyone who thought it was smart to vote for Trump. They are not worth my intellect or energy and cannot be salvaged. We need to concentrate on getting more sane Americans to vote and call their members of congress.
“As Texas goes, so goes the Nation” is unfortunately true.
Karl Rove was smart enough to count the Baptist churches and numbers in their members and tap into the meanest solid hard core voters in the state that lead to W’s victory as governor. That victory showed them, along with the gripe bags and the Texas independence ignorat voters, that they had sway and they’ve stayed with the sold right since. They elected Rick Perry, a below average small town councilman at best, to a record three terms, all with the evangelical, whatever, Baptist vote doing the real lift, and its continued with Abbott and the rest of our corrupt government officials. They always visit the big white churches at election time, even AG Ken Paxton who was sleeping around on his wife, hired the woman with a State job, and was under indictment for a Ponzi scheme swindling investors claims Christian faith in his life. They all like the hell fire and damnation Old Testament God, but somehow look over the forgiving, love thy fellow man, blessed are the meek, New Testament Jesus they claim to love.
The fact that a known liar, crook,grifter, dictator admiring scum like Trump could get elected has left me thinking the whole country IS like Texas.
God help us.
I'm afraid that Texas is becoming, or has become, a template for the right to unfold across the country and in blue states. You're right, Mike, and it's all so wrong.
Clear as can be.
It was always a given that Trump cares only for him and his above all, and found the perfect patron in Musk. And boy, have they ever inoculated and surrounded themselves with the complicit...
I keep hoping, Steve, that a reasonable number of people who voted for him and/or are members of congress, will very soon have a moment of conscience and ask themselves what in the hell they are taking part in doing to their country. Probably won't happen but that would be a seminal moment.
In even marginally-"normal" times, a grotesque spectacle like Musk giddily, idiotically prancing around like a doughy Rambo wannabe, swinging a chainsaw at CPAC to signify his illegal efforts to gut the federal workforce would have been just the sort of optical abortion that would have summoned a party pushback to such a clown show.
But this ain't your grandparents', or even your parents' Republican Party. This is the Trump Party, and they have no more use for the Republic as they have for Democracy. It's strictly a wholesale cash-grab until the music stops and gerrymandering orgy until their heads start rolling down the gutters when the karmic forces finally align against them.
The majority of those on public assistance are white----I'm betting they were MAGA voters. The reckoning is already happening. I guess the assumption was Elonald would only hurt non-white people. It's the day of FAFO. What's the saying, when you dig a grave for someone else be sure to dig one for yourself. That also goes for Elonald, Abbott, and all those with "feet of clay." For all their scheming, they have not yet figured out how to cheat death.
Yeah, that's a point I should've made, Myra. And those white voters getting Medicaid are likely to start screaming if that $800 billion actually gets cut out of the program with this coming vote. A lot of members of congress will get unelected pretty fast.
Didn't they pay attention? Geez!
Not closely enough. They only paid attention to his hatred of people of color, which they liked.
I'm so goddamn lucky to have lived in Austin from '64-'68 and later from '72-75 with many visits in between. Even my four years of junior & part of senior high school in Abilene from '58-'62 shimmers happily to some degree. There were always a few lunatics and some endemic cruelty but the population was so much smaller that it didn't overwhelm the cities or the land and I think we were shaped more by Nature than is possible today. There was a general sense of fairness, even with the struggles, and it was easier to be proud.
Ain't no fairness, no mo', bro, since the Ronnie Reagan 80s America has been all about "I got mine, good luck gettin' yours," and the government and investors pull the ladder up behind them.
True dat. The heart would make it better though, if only for a while.
Jim, I wish you could write something up about LinkedIn's platform and get them off the fence and have more influence. The algorithm is only allowing about 10 to 20 percent of my post to go through.
I've thought about this, Steve. And still am. Linkedin is just a horrible place these days. A bunch of self-congratulatory bullshit and right wing politics with people thinking governments can be run like businesses. That's the stupidest damn thing I've ever heard and I've heard it throughout my entire political reporting career.
Just now seeing your comment Jim, not use to following the notifications on substack. I feel the same damn way. I'm continuing to post articles from Heather Cox Richardson and Joyce Vance and Smith on it.and half the time I want to guit, but I'm can't help myself..those bastards.