Doing Putin's bidding, Donald Trump is dismantling government, torpedoing the economy and turning foreign policy into a protection racket. It doesn't square with public opinion, but makes Putin happy.
We can’t just throw in the proverbial towel. I have read and listened to respected experts who all are painting the same hopeless picture as you James. It’s pretty clear from the obeisance and complicity of the Gov of Putin that this was our last election that will be free-not that this last one was fair. The GOP is not about serving their constituents and consistently put party over principles to avoid the wrath of the mad king and his cult. I guess my question is is this really the death of democracy? If somehow enough R’s suddenly found a modicum of courage, and a significant portion of his voters rebelled, could we impeach everyone including Rubio/Johnson for treason? What about all the dangerous supplicants in key cabinet positions? How do you get rid of that corruption legally? Trump is clearly cognitively impaired and I could easily see his party invoke the 25th Amendment to put the worst of the worst in his place. Otherwise, it seems we’re headed for violence on top of a whole world of hurt. And we still have the rogue Supreme Court to contend with.
The opposition had years to prepare for this and here we are. Everyone I know is as enraged as me. We need a master plan.
Yes, the far-right has done its methodical planning over many years. Now that they have got their ducks in a row, they are methodically and swiftly putting into place the elements for autocracy. They are not playing by the rules any more while the Democrats continue to do so. And the Dems continue to flail helplessly. That’s why their approval numbers are sinking. The future looks dim.
If it’s too late to launch a mass counter-movement, then what? Just a decade or two of suffering before (maybe) an actual revolution? Or is it not too late for [fill in the blank]?
That sounds sadly, tragically realistic, and yet I can’t begin to imagine how any strength or resources would remain in 5-20 years from now for an effective backlash…. or how many mini backlashes would get violently quashed first. So I want to hold out hope that Jamie Raskin gets his “couple of Republicans” for an impeachment. I want to cling to the fantasy that the death threats keeping so many Republicans in line can somehow be prosecuted, freeing them. Hegseth seems to be inviting an attack on our country at their earliest convenience, so I realize all of this amounts to layers of wishfulness. But I’ll still write postcards and doorknock for special election candidates and stand outside a Tesla dealership with a sign. And read all the news and analysis. And enjoy creature comforts/good food for now. I appreciate that you responded to my comment!
Well written. Thanks for sharing your well informed thoughts.
Krasnov thinks he understands the game because he watched a lot of movies in the 60’s and 70’s. He’s not ideological. He’s driven by a fantasy about himself that others, like Putin, stroke and cultivate. He’s a sad little boy with a grossly outsized image of himself and the reality based consequences fall on the rest of us, especially the most vulnerable. Unfortunately, the broligarchy suffers from the same malady and they have their own strokers. I’m not terribly optimistic.
We can’t just throw in the proverbial towel. I have read and listened to respected experts who all are painting the same hopeless picture as you James. It’s pretty clear from the obeisance and complicity of the Gov of Putin that this was our last election that will be free-not that this last one was fair. The GOP is not about serving their constituents and consistently put party over principles to avoid the wrath of the mad king and his cult. I guess my question is is this really the death of democracy? If somehow enough R’s suddenly found a modicum of courage, and a significant portion of his voters rebelled, could we impeach everyone including Rubio/Johnson for treason? What about all the dangerous supplicants in key cabinet positions? How do you get rid of that corruption legally? Trump is clearly cognitively impaired and I could easily see his party invoke the 25th Amendment to put the worst of the worst in his place. Otherwise, it seems we’re headed for violence on top of a whole world of hurt. And we still have the rogue Supreme Court to contend with.
The opposition had years to prepare for this and here we are. Everyone I know is as enraged as me. We need a master plan.
Thank you James! I’ve read a number of books on the topic-Dana Milbank’s, Stuart Steven’s, HCR’s, Leibovich’s, Levitsky’s et al.
I was hoping it wasn’t too late. I sense not without a rebellion.
Yes, the far-right has done its methodical planning over many years. Now that they have got their ducks in a row, they are methodically and swiftly putting into place the elements for autocracy. They are not playing by the rules any more while the Democrats continue to do so. And the Dems continue to flail helplessly. That’s why their approval numbers are sinking. The future looks dim.
The boldness, rapidity, and sheer criminality.
If it’s too late to launch a mass counter-movement, then what? Just a decade or two of suffering before (maybe) an actual revolution? Or is it not too late for [fill in the blank]?
I fear that it’s the former - many years of downward spiral and widespread suffering and oppression before a backlash forms.
That sounds sadly, tragically realistic, and yet I can’t begin to imagine how any strength or resources would remain in 5-20 years from now for an effective backlash…. or how many mini backlashes would get violently quashed first. So I want to hold out hope that Jamie Raskin gets his “couple of Republicans” for an impeachment. I want to cling to the fantasy that the death threats keeping so many Republicans in line can somehow be prosecuted, freeing them. Hegseth seems to be inviting an attack on our country at their earliest convenience, so I realize all of this amounts to layers of wishfulness. But I’ll still write postcards and doorknock for special election candidates and stand outside a Tesla dealership with a sign. And read all the news and analysis. And enjoy creature comforts/good food for now. I appreciate that you responded to my comment!
Well written. Thanks for sharing your well informed thoughts.
Krasnov thinks he understands the game because he watched a lot of movies in the 60’s and 70’s. He’s not ideological. He’s driven by a fantasy about himself that others, like Putin, stroke and cultivate. He’s a sad little boy with a grossly outsized image of himself and the reality based consequences fall on the rest of us, especially the most vulnerable. Unfortunately, the broligarchy suffers from the same malady and they have their own strokers. I’m not terribly optimistic.
If we ever correct our current downward spiral, many years, likely decades, will have passed.
I don’t know what to do.