FYI: Liberals are at a loss.
The U.S. president, who turned out to be more vile and duplicitous than they even had imagined, may or may not be indicted within a year’s time. Meantime, the U.S. Congress is run by conservatives who, spurred by the greed of their donors and the fears of their base, are growing ever more comfortable telling blatant lies, preparing cover-ups and counter-narratives and overhauling the nation’s tax code in the manner of a Vegas caper -- hidden from view with the cash to be divvied among the plunderers.
Regards,
Ted
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-12-26/tough-times-for-liberals-mean-it-s-time-to-toughen-up
Comments
post-gazette.com/opinion/2017/12/22/We-broke-from-Britain-yet-we-re-infatuated-with-the-royals/stories/201712220019
I agree, but the Bloomberg author assumes this isn't already happening:
https://nytimes.com/2017/12/04/us/politics/women-candidates-office.html
It just needs to keep going forward.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/12/26/to-beat-president-trump-you-have-to-learn-to-think-like-his-supporters
nybooks.com/articles/2017/12/21/karl-polanyi-man-from-red-vienna/
I also think while he may be immune, Congress certainly isn't.
Lobbying and various unreported/disguised "contributions" are probably the biggest issues facing our political system. Corruption runs rampant, and only the wealthy will flourish. The system is failing us, but a majority of US citizens refuse to acknowledge this reality.
The 35% that are glued to Fox News will never admit that electing "45" was a mistake, no matter what carnage he inflicts on all our lives. With so many blind sheep, its no wonder Congress thinks they can pull the wool over our eyes.
Clarification: That should not be confused with the colloquial “wedgie“ - though some may see some semblance.
But as the wapo piece and so many others make clear, it is overwhelmingly reactionary resentment at condescension (real or perceived, doesn't matter) and the like.
An awful lot of it is racial fear mixed in; this is fully demonstrated.
Reason-based eye-opening does not often happen in such situations. It is odd that good ol' American grit and gumption and 'So get up and go do something about and for your situation' do not work here.
And what is wilder is that widescale polling about abortion and gun control and social service programs and foreign policy and taxation and all sorts of things shows broad concurrence, in general, across the so-called liberal-conservative spectrums.
"It does not matter that he is eroding the nation’s democratic institutions. That this combat is dangerous, hypocritical, built on lies. That you, after all, are innocent. His supporters are convinced that you are to blame. Until you can convince them otherwise, they will cheer him on. The name of the game is polarization, and the rookie mistake is to forget you are the enemy."
tnx
So what to do?
"Finally, there is indeed a place for your legitimate moral outrage: not the dining table, but the voting booth. Just ask Alabama Democrats."
Per me: Assassination may be our only hope, as nothing sticks to this guy. Pence is not the ideal replacement, but I cannot imagine another 3 years with a POTUS who lives only to tweet, lie, bully and tear apart social safety nets.
Well, after they butcher SS and Medicare in 2018, it will be too late. Then our IRAs will be the targeted next. Not sure where that will leave us. "MAGA".
regardless, we for sure do not want a 'pure democracy' without compulsory voting, and maybe not ever. You have read enough civics text to know that, I bet.
A look at the expression on my face will give you the quintessential image of despair.
Whilst the state of affairs in DC is worse than appalling, YOU people give me hope. Not that I was ever worried about where you stood on this madness, but it's nice for me to read your most eloquent descriptions of this insanity.
BTW, I'm sticking with the 'small hands = small endowment' ==> constantly having to prove that he's a man. Sorry, but there can be no other possible explanation for the constant braggadocio. (I'm guessing 4" or less)
and so it goes,
peace,
rono
I could sum it up in a single word based on various species of humans encountered in my 70+ years.
But won’t go there in a public forum.
Twain: “... for the reason that I have known him before--met him on the river.”
So far, the GOP has used him as a means to an end. The rich got richer with these tax cuts, but the related $1.5T of additional deficit will be "filled" by cuts to SS and Medicare (so, hit up the lower and middle class once again).
This prez has been played to perfection by some crafty rich men (see Putin).
It has been well documented, and there is absolutely no doubt, that the most significant amount of money invested in Donald Trump's election was provided by various organizations funded in large part by men such as the Koch brothers. These men and their operatives invested early and heavily to elect someone who was not too bright, was both avaricious and without conscience, and who could be easily controlled.
The current tax bill is nothing more than payoff time for these oligarchs. Andy J is correct: we were "plenty oligarchical" before; but now it's open in-your-face corruption starting at the presidential level and working right on down. We have indeed graduated from Little League to the Majors. And Mr. Trump is sitting there being manipulated exactly like the ignorant fatuous marionette that he is.
(The above commentary is a partial re-post of comments previously made in the "sen corker benefits and the passthrough ripoff" thread.)
@davidrmoran- Wasn't luck. He is the product of a well-planned, carefully orchestrated, and heavily financed conspiracy.
You do know L B J's early quote: "If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
And now the resentment is also channeled upward, toward the academy, experts, scientists, and the rest.
That’s one valid view. I tend to look at it a bit different. I’d call Trump’s support of the tax bill a payment (or bribe) handed to Ryan, O’Connell and their supporters in return for their tacit support of him. Must be tough to stomach, but money talks and B* walks - so they’e all singing his praises now - even to the point of trying to thwart the Special Counsel‘s work. Do bear in mind that he has no true allegiance to anyone.
Just a different perspective. I think we’re pretty much on the same page.