Oh, please can the name "orange poodle" spread online, it would anger that waste of space of a man so much.

LIVE on the Senate Floor
^{— Senator Bernie Sanders · Feb 20, 2025 · 21m:40s}



Sanders is the real deal, genuine. And he's fine with me disagreeing with whatever policy he'd like.

A couple of thousand years ago, the first Roman emperor, Augustus, started turning the Republic into an empire. He told Romans he was the only one who could save Rome, and they believed him; he kicked off an imperial cult. A couple hundred years later, under Commodus, the Pax Romana ended, and the Republic had become an autocracy at the whims of the emperor.

Here's the delusionality of the Trump adminstration shown so well: JD Vance continues to rant in CPAC after Munich.



Europe has already started to close it's borders and for example Denmark has always been one of the countries against mass migration. We have already closed totally our eastern border against the international agreements that we've signed. And the EU is OK with that as they understand the threat of hybrid attacks. So this is all bullshit intended to create this idea of "woke Europe" that doesn't handle these issues, as if populist loonies are the only answer.

And furthermore, the whole "culture war" issue is meaningless chatter compared to the Pandora's box now opened by the US surrender. And I think these people are totally clueless on what is happening. Vance believes the 4-D chess negotiation tactic of Trump. As if Trump would suddenly change for the Putin's happy poodle -stance that he has had for even earlier than his presidency.

What we’re witnessing is the dismantling of the American Republic and the instigation of a one-party state. Plain as day.

What we’re witnessing is the dismantling of the American Republic and the instigation of a one-party state. Plain as day. — Wayfarer

Reckon it will happen under this cast of actors? Or might it take more productions of this play to be actualized?
In other words, how resilient is the Republic of the USA?
In your opinion?

curious smile

In other words, how resilient is the Republic of the USA? In your opinion? — kazan

Not resilient enough in my view. Trump is methodically dismantling and dissolving independent agencies and actors and replacing them with party apparatchiks and people who will swear loyalty to him over the Constitution. He is acting so brazenly and with such reckless haste that the judicial system cannot keep pace. He’s also now protected by the Supreme Court guarantee of immunity for all official acts by a President. You may remember he said on the campaign trail, vote for me in 2024, you won’t have to vote again. He walked it back later but I think he really meant it. We are watching a right wing takeover of the American Republic.

Bear in mind many of Trump’s actions directly contravene what would have been Republican policy before he took over. Marco Rubio used to lambast Obama for not being tough enough against Putin. Now he’s completely capitulating to Trump’s adulation of him. That’s only one example and there are many more. So Congress has entirely abdicated any responsibility to try and restrain him.

So Congress has entirely abdicated any responsibility to try and restrain him. — Wayfarer

You don't think that there's enough wanna-bes (power hungry) in the Congress to slow the Trump march down? Or don't they have the political/constitutional power to curb a runaway president? Or is it more of a "Roman Senate vs Julius Caesar" rerun?

Unfortunately, the overall impression is one of lacking the resilience for those reasons (et al) that you outlined.

Insightful and considered as expected, thank you.

And, no, your pocket is not wet. Just we're in agreement, this time.



thankful smile

Of course, where does that leave the USA's ex allies, now Enemies?
Time to get thinking and doing with the short, medium and long term implications at the top of the agenda.....perhaps.
Probably need to scrub out the local political toilet first.
Not meant as commentary one way or the other party wise, just how they do or don't interact. That's what needs the dunny duck/Ajax clean.
Pie in the sky?

wishful smile

What with Trump wanting to sack the whole CIA and most of the FBI, while spouting Russian propaganda - well, let’s just say, his security detail will have their work cut out.

@Wayfarer,
Maybe?
Better ere on the side of caution, even here.

sad self preservative smile

Not resilient enough in my view. Trump is methodically dismantling and dissolving independent agencies and actors and replacing them with party apparatchiks and people who will swear loyalty to him over the Constitution. — Wayfarer

Do you hold the view that America will be a Christian nationalist dictatorship before the end of this year?

What we’re witnessing is the dismantling of the American Republic and the instigation of a one-party state. Plain as day. — Wayfarer

And the part of the US who don't want this and oppose this will just sit there and take it? That's just lazy.

When there's an actual takeover into authoritarianism, people will pick up arms. I think Alex Garland's "Civil War" had a pretty clear setup for why the civil war started. A president doing a third term and who used force on his own people when they opposed it. A president like this would be lynched before ever making reality of his authoritarian fantasy.

Here's a question...

With how power-hungry and attention-seeking senators and politicians are, why isn't there republican politicians who take advantage of the current situation and oppose Trump? Like, use any consequence against them to build a following among republican voters who don't want someone like Trump, but still want a republican politician?

It's the perfect time for someone with their own politician ambition to stand up and make a name for themselves since Trump is the only one in focus when talking about the republican party. So anyone who's blatantly and harshly standing against him would stand out so much that the marketing creates itself.

Build a following among rational people, form alliances with the Lincoln project and any republican who's stuck under Trump against their actual will.

People and politicians need to be brave enough to risk criticism from colleagues. Where's the damn fighting spirit? It's remarkable how lazy and apathetic the opposition is.

Downright fucking pathetic really.

Do you hold the view that America will be a Christian nationalist dictatorship before the end of this year? — Tom Storm

If they’re not, it won’t be through lack of trying.

And the part of the US who don't want this and oppose this will just sit there and take it? That's just lazy. — Christoffer

There are some protests starting to appear but it’s going to take a lot more than protests. The Democrats don’t have a clear leader.

There are some protests starting to appear but it’s going to take a lot more than protests. The Democrats don’t have a clear leader. — Wayfarer

:100:

Dems need someone who's smart and articulate to regularly put forth an easy to understand narrative (i.e. the truth).

I’m personally very impressed by Jamie Raskin - I thought he was a stand-out during Comer’s ridiculous kangaroo court hearings about Biden’s supposed corruption (oh, the irony). But Raskin lacks gravitas, or at least it doesn’t convey it very well on the screen, which is where it counts nowadays. Chuck Schumer does his best but again doesn’t have the heft.

But something to bear in mind, is that DJT is making an enormous number of enemies. Who in the intelligence community or defence is likely to support him, after the way he’s denigrated them? He’s trying to replace everyone with MAGA loyalists, but how many are there, really? For every MAGA fanatic there must be half a dozen disenfranchised careerists who bear him only animosity. If push really came to shove and it comes down to ordering troops in against protestors…….

Raskin is very good. So is Pete Buttigieg.

Who in the intelligence community or defence is likely to support him, after the way he’s denigrated them? — Wayfarer

A problem is that most non-Trumpists will fulfill their Constitutional duty. Their only discretion will be to reject an illegal order. Sending troops against protestors has a legal loophole Trump will use: he has discretion to call anything an "insurrection" and use troops (per the Insurrection Act). Consider how he used his discretion to label Mexican cartels "terrorists", so he can bomb them if he wants to.

But something to bear in mind, is that DJT is making an enormous number of enemies. Who in the intelligence community or defence is likely to support him, after the way he’s denigrated them? — Wayfarer

Any visible opposition to DJT from these areas will be spun to give DJT the "Proof" of the "Deeeep State". At least in the current environment.

If push really came to shove and it comes down to ordering troops in against protestors……. — Wayfarer

The protestors will be labelled... traitors, unamerican, mostly illegal immigrants, deviants... the usual tropes, by DJT.

And who will protest such labelling? Obviously not the "average" US citizen or that would have happened by now. So far just tacit support for the President.

Sounds like similar vibs happening elsewhere in the world not just the US.



Just surmising.

sad smile

@Relativist,

Agreed. You're more succinct.

smile

There are some protests starting to appear but it’s going to take a lot more than protests. The Democrats don’t have a clear leader. — Wayfarer

They don't have a clear leader, but they have a clear cause. But it isn't enough, just look at younger generations who don't care about protesting or anything.

I'm trying hard not to be an older person complaining about a younger generation as is always the case in all generations. But there's something off with younger people today not caring for how to run a nation. They are generally speaking so brainrotted on social media and trash culture that they seem to be totally oblivious and uneducated about how to actually care for democracy.

I think people in power have taken advantage of the apathy that western stable democracies formed and how lazy people within these nations truly are. The constant feed of bullshit that the common people eats up and is drawn to like flies have placed them in a state of trance-apathy, wandering around like zombies without any thought going into politics and how to care for the society they wander around in.

For these young people, "the world" and "the nation" is some fiction they experience in film, series, YouTube, TikTok and games. It's not something "real".

Like, I tried to ask a group of young people why they aren't putting any effort into supporting someone their age to go into politics with representing their issues, primarily being able to afford their own place to live and the problems of getting a decent income and the combined response was simply "there's no point" and "we're just doomed".

It's absolute stupidity.

It might be that these young people had so many helicopter parents that they never developed a necessary sense of responsibility. That without it, they always seek some other authoritarian figure to take care of things, take care of them. And when such a figure isn't around as they get into adulthood, they simply give up because they have no ability to take actual responsibility for themselves or other people.

While this is a generalization and there are some young people trying to fight for themselves, it's remarkably pathetic how few there are. Compare that to any other previous generation and how large young movements were. Either through counter-culture or outright political movements.

If young people continue to act like spoiled kids never growing up and taking responsibility for themselves and their future, then this generation will be named the pathetic generation or the apathetic generation.

Especially since they're "making it cool" to just attach themselves to some older authoritarian leader. Essentially just affirming the notion that this generation is unable to grow up and continues to be children with some daddy or mommy that they want taking care of them.

There's never been a better time to shout... grow up!

Here's a deep dive historical look into what we risk by letting the US approach the state of being an oligarchy.



That the concentration of market into a few hands, who are in allegiance with the central and highest power in the nation, is... in fact, the road to actual fascism.

And as long as it isn't prevented, it is an actual risk as this has been demonstrated building up the power behind the fascist states of the past.

It is rather interesting that in a time when all of the largest tech companies face anti-trust law court cases, they all gather around Trump and aligning with him. One has to wonder what has been said between them all off-record. But it seems pretty clear that Trump promised them something as long as they comply. And since Zuckerberg and Bezos, at the same time, removed DEI departments and got rid of fact-checking on Facebook and other social media, it's safe to assume they are all in allegiance with Trump in order to not be broken up or get into trouble with the law.

How is it not obvious what Trump is doing? How many laws needs to be broken? People getting angry when he says that he is above the law, but do nothing when he acts on it.

Isn't there enough here to warrant his arrest? Because this is as corrupt and fascist as Russia and the people of the US just accepts it. What a pathetic nation the US has become.

Let me just put on a tinfoil hat for a moment.

The US Vice President, J D Vance, is a fan of Curtis Yarvin, who is anti-democracy, and coined "RAGE" (Retire All Government Employees), Dark Enlightenment, and all that. This coincides somewhat with Trump's Schedule F, and some of Musk/DOGE's heavy-handed activities. Vance is 2nd in line for the US Presidency.

The US Speaker, Mike Johnson, is a young Earth creationist, holding that the Earth is about 6000 years old (actually the universe is about that age, too). The private/quiet Johnson can be described as a Christian nationalist, and has been working on a number of related projects. It's the Bible first (his reading thereof), plus whatever fringe, but he's not stupid. In most democracies, he wouldn't have much chance of such a high political position. Johnson is 3rd in line for the US Presidency.

Maybe the Secret Service should take extra care to keep Trump safe?

OK, tossing the tinfoil hat now. All better.

The US Speaker, Mike Johnson, is a young Earth creationist, holding that the Earth is about 6000 years — jorndoe

He should tell Trump there’s no use drilling for oil, then.

Here's a question...

With how power-hungry and attention-seeking senators and politicians are, why isn't there republican politicians who take advantage of the current situation and oppose Trump? — Christoffer

Trump is still popular, and they fear the Trump croud. And Elon Musk.

After Americans have felt what those sweet tariffs in a trade war mean for their expenses, they will still support Trump. And the diehards will support even after the economy goes into recession.

Only then will they go after him. Now the start is that they correct the evident lies, like Ukraine didn't start the war.

* * *

The likely new Chancellor and election winner Merz didn't hold back on his critique of Trump & the Gang.

Friedrich Merz did not even wait for the final results in Germany's election before delivering what could well be a defining verdict on U.S. President Donald Trump, consigning Europe's 80-year alliance with the United States to the past.

The Trump administration does not care about Europe and is aligning with Russia, said Merz, who is on course to become Germany's new leader. The continent, he warned, must urgently strengthen its defenses and potentially even find a replacement for NATO — within months.

Merz's comments mark a historic watershed: They reveal how deeply Trump has shaken the political foundations of Europe, which has depended on American security guarantees since 1945.

Trump did congratulate the victors of the German elections, the first diplomatically reasonable thing to do, if he doesn't want to anger the conservatives even more. Likely outcome I assume is a coalition of the CDU/CSU with the social democrats.

If Trump thinks the CDU will get in bed with the AfD, think again...

But where the US is now is somewhere where we haven't seen it:

(Politico) A U.S. effort to sink a draft U.N. resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine failed Monday after European countries and Kyiv marshaled support for strong language against Moscow.

The United Nations General Assembly passed the resolution with 93 countries voting in favor. The U.S. and Russia both voted against it.

Alongside North Korea among others...

It’s a dark day in history when the US refuses to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the UN, because Trump :heart: Putin.

Never in history has a Great Power destroyed it's own structure of power as Trump has done now. You lose credibility only once.

The incoming chancellor of Germany says it well, adding to the comment that US interference in the elections was worse than Putin's interference:

"And what we also see with the greatest concern, of course, is the attempt (by Trump) to make a deal with Russia on Ukraine over the heads of the Europeans, over the heads of Ukraine," Merz told a press conference.

"It will come as no surprise to you when I say that this is unacceptable both for Ukraine and for Europe," Merz said, adding it would be difficult if those who put "America First" actually made their motto "America Alone".

Trump is doing such great job in alienating the former allies of the US, than even Putin has to intervene in his moment of triumph to get his plans through, as Trump in his stupidity would wreck it from the start.

(CNBC) Europe’s participation in Ukraine peace talks will be needed eventually but Moscow first wants to build trust with Washington, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday, while suggesting that a deal to end the conflict may still be far off.

I guess some kind of insanity has taken over Americans, as the Trump supporters simply cannot see how detrimental all this is to the position of the US in the global stage. It boils down to this ludicrous idea that somehow the US doesn't need the World or it's prosperity has nothing to do with the World outside it's own borders.

Never in history has a Great Power destroyed it's own structure of power as Trump has done now. You lose credibility only once. — ssu

Yet, if the US rid themselves of this cancer and forms a new paradigm of politics with an exclusion of charlatans and the corrupt, they may return their credibility. Most people know that what drives and leads the US today is a sickness, not a vision.

The sickness need to die and the world waits for the US immune system to deal with it.

It is interesting to wonder what would become of Europe without American hegemony to hide behind for the past half century. Would they be able to afford their welfare states had American soldiers never defended them while they slept and subsidized their lifestyles? Perhaps now we can find out.

At any rate, if Germany is any indication, it appears they squandered that opportunity and followed their natural inclination towards totalitarianism. Massive censorship regimes and online “safety” bills brought about by frigid commissars stand largely unopposed by the people they are meant to censor, and routinely do. And it appears no party of freedom rises to correct the trajectory, just right-and-left versions of the same regime.

Now that their benefactor pulls away and no longer supports their chosen trajectory, it’s no surprise they nip at the hand that has fed them for so long. What more can be said about the birthplace of fascism and communism, save for that the European Union is beginning to look like the Soviet one.