Re: #19. Spot on. What liberals don't seem to understand is that all laws (including the US Constitution) are merely pieces of paper unless they're enforced, and with the DOJ in the hands of facist crakpots it's foolish to expect that the law will protect us.
Political homelessness can be very exhausting, in a relentless, centuries-old, mindfucked kind of way. Rationalizations are self-serving. Thanks for the list, a healthy breath of clear air.
#19: At least in part, Republicans are using executive orders to define what is, and what is not, a core executive power of the office of the Presidency with goal of destroying the federal government separation of the power doctrine. You often write about the Weimar Republic, and I think the fascists are well on their way to a bloodless coup where through executive orders Trump's control over Congress and the USSC make him unstoppable. I mean, one day Hitler was appointed Chancellor if Germany, which was then followed by the declared National Emergency giving the Socislists plenary authority in response to the burning of the Reuchstag, which not to long after was then followed by the Night of the Long Knives'. So from somewhat democratic federal German elections to a National Emergency Declaration to military/political/legal seizure of powere for the executive orders of a fascist president.
PS: I know my presentation of the sequence if events in the Weimar is shoot from the hip at best, but I think there is an analogy to be drawn.
Also, Trump's continuing destruction of important administrative agencies/cabinet secretaries who own their political careers to Trump is akin to the Long Knives.
Asumming as I do the immigration policies will result in deaths, the use of deadly military force against those not legally in the USA will be accepted until such time as they are turned on Americans such as CNs who will until that moment believe Trump is one their side.
Regarding number 19: Trump can’t do that. It’s illegal.
I’m reminded of a documentary on Kunstler - Disturbing the Universe — that I’ll bet you and many of your readers have seen. (Now I’m bordering on being like the guy you mentioned in your list who quotes Hedges, MLK, etc.)
The film (and trailer) shows Kunstler saying he suspects more great people have met their deaths after going through their society’s legal processes than through any illegalities. (I just looked at the trailer on YouTube. Kunstler speaks of the “Aura of Legality”.)
Thanks Paul. I'm surprised. I've heard all these too. It feels good to have you articulate and catalog them. And I have to say, I'm really struggling. Although, 12 days in, it's much worse than I first imagined, even *after* I'd told myself it was going to be worse than I imagined! It is in fact, un-imaginable! But I (I think) I can somehow manage to cope.
Where I'm *really* stuck is that my fellow citizens actually voted to put this fascist human abomination back in power. In 2016 I came around to giving tЯump voters the benefit of possibly not knowing who he was, even though you had to be utterly blind not to. But in 2024, *they knew first hand*, the gobsmacking ignorance, constant lies, blatant grift, vociferous 4th grade level midnight Tweets, malevolent cruelty, demented megalomania, and total narcissistic self-absorption of this severely damaged man. Yet they chose this insane aging dotard over an experienced, competent, uplifting *sane* woman. "Would you prefer the steak? ..or the reheated festering dog shit tonite, Mr. Voter?" As each was presented for their inspection, they chose to dine on dog shit! And ask for seconds! I can't bring myself to reconcile this. THIS is what 'Merica WANTS. Undeniably, this is who we are.. or at least a voting majority. (which is A LOT!)
Gore Vidal wrote about the US being a nation of amnesia. Yes, but not amnesia, collectively we are largely ignorant of history not simply forgetting it. What Paul makes clear is that we are collectively a nation of deniers of anything that disturbs individual peace and comfort. I lived in Latin America for many years and the first thing I recognized is the culture of comfort that is the US. When gross and lethal danger faces us, fhrow off this deep-seated comfort-seeking and wake up.
Re: #19. Spot on. What liberals don't seem to understand is that all laws (including the US Constitution) are merely pieces of paper unless they're enforced, and with the DOJ in the hands of facist crakpots it's foolish to expect that the law will protect us.
Political homelessness can be very exhausting, in a relentless, centuries-old, mindfucked kind of way. Rationalizations are self-serving. Thanks for the list, a healthy breath of clear air.
#19: At least in part, Republicans are using executive orders to define what is, and what is not, a core executive power of the office of the Presidency with goal of destroying the federal government separation of the power doctrine. You often write about the Weimar Republic, and I think the fascists are well on their way to a bloodless coup where through executive orders Trump's control over Congress and the USSC make him unstoppable. I mean, one day Hitler was appointed Chancellor if Germany, which was then followed by the declared National Emergency giving the Socislists plenary authority in response to the burning of the Reuchstag, which not to long after was then followed by the Night of the Long Knives'. So from somewhat democratic federal German elections to a National Emergency Declaration to military/political/legal seizure of powere for the executive orders of a fascist president.
PS: I know my presentation of the sequence if events in the Weimar is shoot from the hip at best, but I think there is an analogy to be drawn.
Also, Trump's continuing destruction of important administrative agencies/cabinet secretaries who own their political careers to Trump is akin to the Long Knives.
Asumming as I do the immigration policies will result in deaths, the use of deadly military force against those not legally in the USA will be accepted until such time as they are turned on Americans such as CNs who will until that moment believe Trump is one their side.
Regarding number 19: Trump can’t do that. It’s illegal.
I’m reminded of a documentary on Kunstler - Disturbing the Universe — that I’ll bet you and many of your readers have seen. (Now I’m bordering on being like the guy you mentioned in your list who quotes Hedges, MLK, etc.)
The film (and trailer) shows Kunstler saying he suspects more great people have met their deaths after going through their society’s legal processes than through any illegalities. (I just looked at the trailer on YouTube. Kunstler speaks of the “Aura of Legality”.)
Thanks Paul. I'm surprised. I've heard all these too. It feels good to have you articulate and catalog them. And I have to say, I'm really struggling. Although, 12 days in, it's much worse than I first imagined, even *after* I'd told myself it was going to be worse than I imagined! It is in fact, un-imaginable! But I (I think) I can somehow manage to cope.
Where I'm *really* stuck is that my fellow citizens actually voted to put this fascist human abomination back in power. In 2016 I came around to giving tЯump voters the benefit of possibly not knowing who he was, even though you had to be utterly blind not to. But in 2024, *they knew first hand*, the gobsmacking ignorance, constant lies, blatant grift, vociferous 4th grade level midnight Tweets, malevolent cruelty, demented megalomania, and total narcissistic self-absorption of this severely damaged man. Yet they chose this insane aging dotard over an experienced, competent, uplifting *sane* woman. "Would you prefer the steak? ..or the reheated festering dog shit tonite, Mr. Voter?" As each was presented for their inspection, they chose to dine on dog shit! And ask for seconds! I can't bring myself to reconcile this. THIS is what 'Merica WANTS. Undeniably, this is who we are.. or at least a voting majority. (which is A LOT!)
So just where the hell do I go from here?
Gore Vidal wrote about the US being a nation of amnesia. Yes, but not amnesia, collectively we are largely ignorant of history not simply forgetting it. What Paul makes clear is that we are collectively a nation of deniers of anything that disturbs individual peace and comfort. I lived in Latin America for many years and the first thing I recognized is the culture of comfort that is the US. When gross and lethal danger faces us, fhrow off this deep-seated comfort-seeking and wake up.