I'm 73 years old. I've lived through political assassinations, Watergate, 9/11, the Great Recession, Trump's first term, and many other events that alarmed me. In each case, I thought, We'll come out of this OK. This is the first time I've thought, I'm not sure we will. Yes, it is that bad.
Yeah, someone encouraged me to work towards the midterms. Really? It's been two weeks and things keep accelerating. Midterms? Two years? No, I am not sure we will be having normal midterms. Whatever gets done to thwart the destruction of democracy needs to be done now.
I agree. I am 75 years old, and in previous crises, a hardcore group of people, with power, fought back and saved us. I really do not see that happening now - HE has co-opted Congress and weakened The Supreme Court and worse, a large section of American voters either do not care or actively support him. Yes, this is bad.
I’m just a kid at age 70. We must formulate a strategy to impeach and remove Trump and have Musk arrested for his illegal shenanigans in obtaining access to the Treasury computers. Their actions are 1933 Germany all over again.
The problem is that the problem isn't just Trump. He's more a symptom, really. It's that he has near-unanimous support of every elected Republican (even the "concerned" ones). He has the support of the corrupt, illegitimate, and scarily religious Supreme Court, and the support of our lazy-minded, no-info maga neighbors and family. (I have no maga friends. I primaried them, in a manner of speaking, canceled with extreme prejudice.)
It's Trump who mirrors the maga throng and does their antisocial bidding, it's not the other way around.
Contrary to folklore, the frog will not actually remain in the pot as the water slowly heats to a fatal temperature. But clearly, people will. How do we defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign (e.g. Musk) and domestic (e.g. Trump)? Perhaps we have to recognize that a majority of the 2024 voters authorized a revolution, and we're seeing it happen. Now what?
They did not give Trump super majorities in Congress. Find just a few honest Republicans and Trump has wasted his "honeymoon" with his unbound hubris. We still have tools.
"Honest Republicans"? Are there any left? I'm not so sure. Peaceful protest on a massive scale might get his attention, and I'll be damned if I'm going to call for violence.
It is incredibly bad. Musk has entrenched himself and his acolytes in Treasury, USAID, OPM and who knows what other Federal information systems. This is a coup by any angle and most of the public shrugs their shoulders and says "How do tariffs work? Who cares?"
It's so bad that Trump and Musk could run out the the Treasury Building wearing striped Hamburgler costumes, carrying big fat bags with dollar signs on them, and Fox News would air an interview with Lindsay Graham reassuring voters that they were just delivering tax refunds to working class Americans, and people would believe it.
Rod Serling: Portrait of a sycophant. Meet Lindsey Graham, a man who needs a closet organizer to keep his guises straight. A Son of the South who gets the vapors just thinking about the guy squatting in the People's House, but will find to his regret that you are judged by the company you keep...here in the Twilight Zone.
I am looking forward to the day his supporters start feeling the effects of his tariffs at the grocery store, particularly the produce section, and restaurants - did you know that over 80% of all avocados consumed in the US come from Mexico? And wait until summer, when the famers in California need the water Trump dumped just now, water that has no viable path to LA. They will be nostalgic for the low inflation of the Biden years.
And yet I know tens of thousands of his supporters will somehow blame the Democrats/Deep State/George Soros/"international bankers" (we all know who they really mean) for what happens - not their orange messiah.
It was bad enough in 2017. Now it’s oligarchy with a helping of fascism, thanks to Musk. Write to your senators, which in my case is Thom Tillis. I am praying for a lot of pianos to fall from the sky.
What’s worse about the water thing is that the water is not needed now. It is not growing season. It will just cause problems downstream in the near future and be unavailable when it may be needed in the summer.
The problem with USAID (in Musk’s warped mind) is that it does humanitarian things. You have to believe in helping others to support the US reaching out to the poor and ill. Musk thinks the only thing to do for humanity is transplant “the best” to Mars. Let’s hope Elon is passenger #1.
All I can think about is France when the German Army ran around its defense and took over immediately. Total surrender. Immediately. Where is our law enforcement?
There’s an anecdote about Matisse and Picasso meeting on a street just after the end run around the Maginot Line. One asked the other, “Where are our generals?” “Teaching at L’École des Beaux-Arts!” was the reply.
You may wish to urge your local and state governments to restrict federal access to any and all state data repositories. It will hamper the efforts of the junta.
When I was unemployed from a Federal job, the State of Maryland did my unemployment. It paid my rent, bills and food. I had to do two new job applications every week to keep my payments. I did and got another better job in Texas. My last Maryland check arrive the month I started work. It was that close.
What must have especially pissed off Obersturmbannführer Muck is that USAid's health program in South Africa is one of its largest. Having a healthy Black population (81%+) in the Vaterland just won't do.
So I'm writing my feckless, spineless, sycophantic Congressman, who wants Bishop Budde to be deported, and I realize that to write him an email, you have to live in his district. So I am rallying my neighbors to also write the forking weasel, telling him to do his job. Also am writing the members of the Senate Finance Committee, asking "What would (traitorous) Mitch do?"
We should all call -- not write -- and yes any American no matter where you live. should call Republican members of the House and Senate Finance Committees.
They literally do not care about your opinion unless you are a voter in their district. If you write, your letter will be forwarded to the office off your actual representative or senator, and will be opened by some overworked junior staffer. Save the postage.
What I recommend is that you look up an address in the district of the MC you wish to reach, and spoof a name with that address on the correspondence. The intent is to confuse them with disinformation, in other words, taking a play from their book.
Career government employees seem to be all that's left. The Director of Security at USAID has been fired because refused to let DOGE troops into a highly sensitive area for which they did not have security clearance. And there seems to be widespread resistance across the FBI. Ironically, such folks are traditionally conservative.
It occurs to me "Trump and Musk" should read "Mump and Trusk."
Rump and Tusk
Or maybe”Trumski” to add a little Russian influence
I'm 73 years old. I've lived through political assassinations, Watergate, 9/11, the Great Recession, Trump's first term, and many other events that alarmed me. In each case, I thought, We'll come out of this OK. This is the first time I've thought, I'm not sure we will. Yes, it is that bad.
Yeah, someone encouraged me to work towards the midterms. Really? It's been two weeks and things keep accelerating. Midterms? Two years? No, I am not sure we will be having normal midterms. Whatever gets done to thwart the destruction of democracy needs to be done now.
I agree. I am 75 years old, and in previous crises, a hardcore group of people, with power, fought back and saved us. I really do not see that happening now - HE has co-opted Congress and weakened The Supreme Court and worse, a large section of American voters either do not care or actively support him. Yes, this is bad.
I agree with you. AND I am also 73 years old.
72 and I also agree. It has never been this bad.
I’m just a kid at age 70. We must formulate a strategy to impeach and remove Trump and have Musk arrested for his illegal shenanigans in obtaining access to the Treasury computers. Their actions are 1933 Germany all over again.
The problem is that the problem isn't just Trump. He's more a symptom, really. It's that he has near-unanimous support of every elected Republican (even the "concerned" ones). He has the support of the corrupt, illegitimate, and scarily religious Supreme Court, and the support of our lazy-minded, no-info maga neighbors and family. (I have no maga friends. I primaried them, in a manner of speaking, canceled with extreme prejudice.)
It's Trump who mirrors the maga throng and does their antisocial bidding, it's not the other way around.
Contrary to folklore, the frog will not actually remain in the pot as the water slowly heats to a fatal temperature. But clearly, people will. How do we defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign (e.g. Musk) and domestic (e.g. Trump)? Perhaps we have to recognize that a majority of the 2024 voters authorized a revolution, and we're seeing it happen. Now what?
They did not give Trump super majorities in Congress. Find just a few honest Republicans and Trump has wasted his "honeymoon" with his unbound hubris. We still have tools.
"Honest Republicans"? Are there any left? I'm not so sure. Peaceful protest on a massive scale might get his attention, and I'll be damned if I'm going to call for violence.
In DC, an honest pol is one that stays bought. Or in my case, one open to bids. Just offer them everything they want. Todos!
It is incredibly bad. Musk has entrenched himself and his acolytes in Treasury, USAID, OPM and who knows what other Federal information systems. This is a coup by any angle and most of the public shrugs their shoulders and says "How do tariffs work? Who cares?"
It is a very scary world out there right now.
The definition of "elites" was always people with knowledge. The millions who eschew knowledge don't care.
You'll have to explain the meaning of "eschew" to them.
Most never knew what a fascist was during the election. The rhetoric was above them.
Excellent point, Lynne.
Thx, John.
If there had been a poll option "I realize it's bad, but it may be even worse than I think", I would have chosen it.
It's so bad that Trump and Musk could run out the the Treasury Building wearing striped Hamburgler costumes, carrying big fat bags with dollar signs on them, and Fox News would air an interview with Lindsay Graham reassuring voters that they were just delivering tax refunds to working class Americans, and people would believe it.
Hey! Lyin’ Lindsay is my Senator down heah in Crackerlina. He’s so full of sh## that he doesn’t even know which side of his mouth to chew it.
Rod Serling: Portrait of a sycophant. Meet Lindsey Graham, a man who needs a closet organizer to keep his guises straight. A Son of the South who gets the vapors just thinking about the guy squatting in the People's House, but will find to his regret that you are judged by the company you keep...here in the Twilight Zone.
I am looking forward to the day his supporters start feeling the effects of his tariffs at the grocery store, particularly the produce section, and restaurants - did you know that over 80% of all avocados consumed in the US come from Mexico? And wait until summer, when the famers in California need the water Trump dumped just now, water that has no viable path to LA. They will be nostalgic for the low inflation of the Biden years.
And yet I know tens of thousands of his supporters will somehow blame the Democrats/Deep State/George Soros/"international bankers" (we all know who they really mean) for what happens - not their orange messiah.
As an international banker, I agree.
The WeinCoin is in the making.
As long as they don't blame the "Rootless Cosmopolitans"...the last term of art Stalin had for Soviet Jewry.
I think the new term of art is "globalists".
We will starting importing avocados from Peru. It happened a few years ago. It messes with the jingle though.
It was bad enough in 2017. Now it’s oligarchy with a helping of fascism, thanks to Musk. Write to your senators, which in my case is Thom Tillis. I am praying for a lot of pianos to fall from the sky.
What’s worse about the water thing is that the water is not needed now. It is not growing season. It will just cause problems downstream in the near future and be unavailable when it may be needed in the summer.
The problem with USAID (in Musk’s warped mind) is that it does humanitarian things. You have to believe in helping others to support the US reaching out to the poor and ill. Musk thinks the only thing to do for humanity is transplant “the best” to Mars. Let’s hope Elon is passenger #1.
All I can think about is France when the German Army ran around its defense and took over immediately. Total surrender. Immediately. Where is our law enforcement?
There’s an anecdote about Matisse and Picasso meeting on a street just after the end run around the Maginot Line. One asked the other, “Where are our generals?” “Teaching at L’École des Beaux-Arts!” was the reply.
Where are our congressmen and senators?
Teaching at Trump University
"Where is our law enforcement?"
Well the Feds are looking for info on collecting unemployment only to find the web pages are gone.
You may wish to urge your local and state governments to restrict federal access to any and all state data repositories. It will hamper the efforts of the junta.
When I was unemployed from a Federal job, the State of Maryland did my unemployment. It paid my rent, bills and food. I had to do two new job applications every week to keep my payments. I did and got another better job in Texas. My last Maryland check arrive the month I started work. It was that close.
I'd been wondering if all employees who were and will be let go can still collect unemployment. This is even more depressing.
For a "foreign" take on all this: https://www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/musk-s-junta-establishes-him-as-head-of-government.
This “outside looking in view” is absolutely chilling to read. 👆Thank you, Suzanne, for posting it.
You're welcome!
Loyalists control "parliament." But yeah, the tepid response from our elected leaders has been stunning.
Spot on
What must have especially pissed off Obersturmbannführer Muck is that USAid's health program in South Africa is one of its largest. Having a healthy Black population (81%+) in the Vaterland just won't do.
Muck is a great name for him.
Muskrat
Actual muskrats are offended.
The Dildo of Consequences seldom arrives lubed !
“The Dildo of Consequences” deserves a place in the language
I do believe it is bad, an' gittin' badder
So I'm writing my feckless, spineless, sycophantic Congressman, who wants Bishop Budde to be deported, and I realize that to write him an email, you have to live in his district. So I am rallying my neighbors to also write the forking weasel, telling him to do his job. Also am writing the members of the Senate Finance Committee, asking "What would (traitorous) Mitch do?"
We should all call -- not write -- and yes any American no matter where you live. should call Republican members of the House and Senate Finance Committees.
On a zoom presentation yesterday, we were urged to make appointments for in person visits to Senators. Not just in DC but at their local offices.
They literally do not care about your opinion unless you are a voter in their district. If you write, your letter will be forwarded to the office off your actual representative or senator, and will be opened by some overworked junior staffer. Save the postage.
What I recommend is that you look up an address in the district of the MC you wish to reach, and spoof a name with that address on the correspondence. The intent is to confuse them with disinformation, in other words, taking a play from their book.
Career government employees seem to be all that's left. The Director of Security at USAID has been fired because refused to let DOGE troops into a highly sensitive area for which they did not have security clearance. And there seems to be widespread resistance across the FBI. Ironically, such folks are traditionally conservative.
Well there's nothing conservative about the current regime.
They are radical nihilists, even if they don't know the word.