Can't wait for the coverage of CPAC's Orbgásm. Will there be a contest between Hawley and Cruz to see which can debase himself more? Time to sell DEPLORABLE & PROUD T-shirts?
Have to give the right credit: they've gotten much closer to the average American's nearly complete unconcern with all things foreign than the Democrats ever could. The average American, especially in the middle of the country, cares more about the security of the Mexican border lest their area be overrun by taco trucks or (Gawd Forbid!) Spanish language TV stations than they ever will about anything outside North America. The only reason Trump seemed to be somewhat of an internationalist is that he knows there's dupes to be fleeced outside the US.
Who can the Democrats appeal to who aren't already Democrats? Do any independents care anywhere near as much about Ukraine as the price of gas?
If Americans are, in fact, an insular, ignorant, selfish, bigotted people, how should Democrats adapt?
Here's what I don't understand about Hungary and Serbia: They're NATO member nations. To be such requires that you have "a functioning democratic political system." How is that measured?
According to Freedom House, "Hungary today can no longer be regarded as a democracy but belongs to the growing group of hybrid regimes, sitting in the 'gray zone' between democracies and pure autocracies" (https://freedomhouse.org/country/hungary/nations-transit/2020).
To be a NATO member, states commit to collective defense, AKA "Article 5." If Hungary is no longer a democracy, and it is attacked, the US must defend it. We send our sons and daughters to defend an autocratic regime? Um . . . no!
Outstanding piece by Tim on Truth Social...you could smell the con a mile away.....the idea that they'd have the ability to build a technology platform from scratch was always laughable...I had no idea though how "all in" the Rep party was on the con.
I fear you're right. I'm cautiously optimistic the upcoming generation will arrive in time to save us. Might be too late but with a cohort of millennials and whatever decent citizens left today we might turn this around. Generation Z appears much more engaged and ready
Re Cotton and Nuremberg Trails - The judges at Nuremberg were appalled that the Nazi defendants didn't have counsel and insisted that ones be provided to the defendants. Goering was finally able to get one; couldn't find any information on the other defendants.
Charlie, you and JVL are my go to news and analysis sources I count on everyday. Thanks for being life preservers I cling to in these crazy, scary times. ( I also appreciate the other Bulwark writers. Please all of you keep doing what you are doing.)
Many thanks for the tip-off re: the 63 Republican votes against the resolution of support for NATO. I was not at all surprised to find my trump-loving congressman, Jeff Van Drew, among that anti-democracy 63. Let us recall that this is not Van Drew's first bite at the poison apple. On January 6, 2021, he stood in the well of the House to nullify the votes of the people of Pennsylvania. He just can't seem to get enough of autocracy.
I remember CPT Tom Cotton. He was an enormous douchebag in Afghanistan. Everyone could tell he was eying a run for President even while he was on active duty. No surprise that he’s turned out this way, though he’s moved hell and high water to get our Afghan allies out which is more than I can say for POTUS.
Separately, so now DeSantis is an agent for normalizing radicalism? Holy shit. And the reasoning is because he’s so normal and has a veneer of respectability? Hyperbole much?
The stupid is always strong and it is usually entertaining. One needs only look around the world (not just America) to see this.
More than enough stupid to go around for everyone.
Politics has largely become performance art. There was always a strong element of performance art (because, hey, I need the votes) but politicians used to actually do things (substantive things) for their constituents. That seems to happen a lot less these days.
I mean--what, exactly, has MTG accomplished legislatively for her district? What have most of these denizens of the Twittersphere actually accomplished?
The primary purpose of many of these politicians these days (besides their primary goal of remaining in office) is to play-act (at least I hope they are play acting, I am not too sure about a few of them) out the angst and fears and prejudices of their base. That's it. Legislation, WTF is that? Soap opera for the people who like to pretend they are too good and smart to watch soap opera.
It's kind of a shame that we can't have two governments--a play act government to provide the entertainment and stupidity and a quiet. serious government that actually thinks and looks at things and makes reasonable smart decisions and legislation.
The rapid pace news cycle and short attention spans of most people create this horrific cycle of ever more egregious stupidity in the frenetic search for likes and media face time--because plain ole stupid just doesn't cut the mustard these days. It also helps to be malicious and cruel towards whatever your opposition segment happens to be--because being malicious and cruel is "truthy." Not truthful, truthy--which means it seems more sincere than being nice, because everybody is an angry asshole, amiright?
If social media was nuked into oblivion today (along with the 10 minute news cycle), the universe would be a far better place and people would be a lot less angry. Barring something like that we are just going to continue to spiral down the drain.
The wildcard is as Jere stated is Democratic turnout ( probably have to be a record) and Independents. The economy is actually booming but how can you convince Independents of that?? Its about inflation and I guess our birthright to cheap gas. It's not looking good.
As an old Michigan Democrat it's sad to see we have just lost one of our best Republican congressmen. I see how proud Dump is about the situation, only six more to get according to his quote. Upton was/is an old time Republican that had the ability to deal with Democrats to cut deals that were best for the country. We are heading down the tubes fast if the Republicans are not willing to stand up to Dump.
After seeing this latest on Michigan and similar happenings in other states controlled by the GOP , the potential to slide into Banana Republic and quasi authoritarianism is getting real by the minute. I think Lincoln's Secretary of State William Seward said " There was always just enough virtue in this republic to save it; sometimes none to spare", we squeaked by in 2020...Do we have enough left in 2022 and 2024??
So much for a dignified supposedly not going to treat KBJ like Brett " I like beer" Kavanagh. What a cheap shot !! I would say below the dignity of a U.S Senator but nearly the entire GOP Senate has lowered that bar to a level where a ant would scrape it. The fact he would say such a thing again goes to the voters he's trying to reach sadly they love it.
The bad-faith attacks by Republican Senators against a public defender for taking on unsavory clients is just disgusting. These Senators are smart; they're just conniving assholes. They know full well the role of the public defender, and how little latitude one has in accepting clients. I know a lot of Americans don't know their history, but it's in front of mind for these Senators that John Adams defended the British who shot at the colonists in Boston in March of 1770, and took his job so seriously that he secured acquittals. Are we impugning the patriotism of John Adams? Is that what the GOP is?
Republican politicians do this because their voters let them get away with it. Their voters are paranoid and stupid, which is how people like Donald Trump and Mo Brooks incited them into an attack on the Capitol. And Republican politicians cynically take advantage of this paranoia and stupidity, rather than trying to lead their constituents to some sort of understanding based in reality.
I just wish Democrats would consider a campaign along the following lines: Republicans think you are stupid. Republicans don't actually believe the election was stolen, but they tell you they believe it, because they think you are stupid. Republicans don't think KBJ thinks racist babies are a thing, but they want to put on some embarrassing performance in the Senate, because they think you're stupid. Republicans know what the job of a public defender is, and how everyone has a right to competent defense in court, but they want to hide this from you, because they think you are stupid. Republicans are constantly telling you lies that they themselves don't believe, because they think you are stupid. Republicans run campaign ads where they are in a gym lifting weights or shooting automatic rifles and blowing shit up because they think you're too stupid to realize that this is just performative nonsense, and that it indicates nothing about whether they are qualified to hold the office for which they're running (if anything, it indicates lack of qualifications). Democrats won't lie to you; we respect you more than that.
Everyone is talking about Zelensky winning the information war. The videos his country have put together in the midst of everything going on there, have been incredibly moving and have resonated with people the world over. Why hasn't anyone here taken hold of the enormous opportunity to tell everyday Americans that "this is fascism in Russia" and "this is the fascism today's GOP wants to take us to"? Far too many people here do not understand the real danger being posed and what it would mean not only to themselves and their everyday lives, but also to their children and every child born into their families for generations to come.
Do you think we could maybe send Donald Trump into exile? I'm only half kidding.
Can't wait for the coverage of CPAC's Orbgásm. Will there be a contest between Hawley and Cruz to see which can debase himself more? Time to sell DEPLORABLE & PROUD T-shirts?
Have to give the right credit: they've gotten much closer to the average American's nearly complete unconcern with all things foreign than the Democrats ever could. The average American, especially in the middle of the country, cares more about the security of the Mexican border lest their area be overrun by taco trucks or (Gawd Forbid!) Spanish language TV stations than they ever will about anything outside North America. The only reason Trump seemed to be somewhat of an internationalist is that he knows there's dupes to be fleeced outside the US.
Who can the Democrats appeal to who aren't already Democrats? Do any independents care anywhere near as much about Ukraine as the price of gas?
If Americans are, in fact, an insular, ignorant, selfish, bigotted people, how should Democrats adapt?
Here's what I don't understand about Hungary and Serbia: They're NATO member nations. To be such requires that you have "a functioning democratic political system." How is that measured?
According to Freedom House, "Hungary today can no longer be regarded as a democracy but belongs to the growing group of hybrid regimes, sitting in the 'gray zone' between democracies and pure autocracies" (https://freedomhouse.org/country/hungary/nations-transit/2020).
To be a NATO member, states commit to collective defense, AKA "Article 5." If Hungary is no longer a democracy, and it is attacked, the US must defend it. We send our sons and daughters to defend an autocratic regime? Um . . . no!
Outstanding piece by Tim on Truth Social...you could smell the con a mile away.....the idea that they'd have the ability to build a technology platform from scratch was always laughable...I had no idea though how "all in" the Rep party was on the con.
I fear you're right. I'm cautiously optimistic the upcoming generation will arrive in time to save us. Might be too late but with a cohort of millennials and whatever decent citizens left today we might turn this around. Generation Z appears much more engaged and ready
Re Cotton and Nuremberg Trails - The judges at Nuremberg were appalled that the Nazi defendants didn't have counsel and insisted that ones be provided to the defendants. Goering was finally able to get one; couldn't find any information on the other defendants.
Charlie, you and JVL are my go to news and analysis sources I count on everyday. Thanks for being life preservers I cling to in these crazy, scary times. ( I also appreciate the other Bulwark writers. Please all of you keep doing what you are doing.)
Many thanks for the tip-off re: the 63 Republican votes against the resolution of support for NATO. I was not at all surprised to find my trump-loving congressman, Jeff Van Drew, among that anti-democracy 63. Let us recall that this is not Van Drew's first bite at the poison apple. On January 6, 2021, he stood in the well of the House to nullify the votes of the people of Pennsylvania. He just can't seem to get enough of autocracy.
I remember CPT Tom Cotton. He was an enormous douchebag in Afghanistan. Everyone could tell he was eying a run for President even while he was on active duty. No surprise that he’s turned out this way, though he’s moved hell and high water to get our Afghan allies out which is more than I can say for POTUS.
Separately, so now DeSantis is an agent for normalizing radicalism? Holy shit. And the reasoning is because he’s so normal and has a veneer of respectability? Hyperbole much?
The stupid is always strong and it is usually entertaining. One needs only look around the world (not just America) to see this.
More than enough stupid to go around for everyone.
Politics has largely become performance art. There was always a strong element of performance art (because, hey, I need the votes) but politicians used to actually do things (substantive things) for their constituents. That seems to happen a lot less these days.
I mean--what, exactly, has MTG accomplished legislatively for her district? What have most of these denizens of the Twittersphere actually accomplished?
The primary purpose of many of these politicians these days (besides their primary goal of remaining in office) is to play-act (at least I hope they are play acting, I am not too sure about a few of them) out the angst and fears and prejudices of their base. That's it. Legislation, WTF is that? Soap opera for the people who like to pretend they are too good and smart to watch soap opera.
It's kind of a shame that we can't have two governments--a play act government to provide the entertainment and stupidity and a quiet. serious government that actually thinks and looks at things and makes reasonable smart decisions and legislation.
The rapid pace news cycle and short attention spans of most people create this horrific cycle of ever more egregious stupidity in the frenetic search for likes and media face time--because plain ole stupid just doesn't cut the mustard these days. It also helps to be malicious and cruel towards whatever your opposition segment happens to be--because being malicious and cruel is "truthy." Not truthful, truthy--which means it seems more sincere than being nice, because everybody is an angry asshole, amiright?
If social media was nuked into oblivion today (along with the 10 minute news cycle), the universe would be a far better place and people would be a lot less angry. Barring something like that we are just going to continue to spiral down the drain.
The wildcard is as Jere stated is Democratic turnout ( probably have to be a record) and Independents. The economy is actually booming but how can you convince Independents of that?? Its about inflation and I guess our birthright to cheap gas. It's not looking good.
As an old Michigan Democrat it's sad to see we have just lost one of our best Republican congressmen. I see how proud Dump is about the situation, only six more to get according to his quote. Upton was/is an old time Republican that had the ability to deal with Democrats to cut deals that were best for the country. We are heading down the tubes fast if the Republicans are not willing to stand up to Dump.
After seeing this latest on Michigan and similar happenings in other states controlled by the GOP , the potential to slide into Banana Republic and quasi authoritarianism is getting real by the minute. I think Lincoln's Secretary of State William Seward said " There was always just enough virtue in this republic to save it; sometimes none to spare", we squeaked by in 2020...Do we have enough left in 2022 and 2024??
So much for a dignified supposedly not going to treat KBJ like Brett " I like beer" Kavanagh. What a cheap shot !! I would say below the dignity of a U.S Senator but nearly the entire GOP Senate has lowered that bar to a level where a ant would scrape it. The fact he would say such a thing again goes to the voters he's trying to reach sadly they love it.
The bad-faith attacks by Republican Senators against a public defender for taking on unsavory clients is just disgusting. These Senators are smart; they're just conniving assholes. They know full well the role of the public defender, and how little latitude one has in accepting clients. I know a lot of Americans don't know their history, but it's in front of mind for these Senators that John Adams defended the British who shot at the colonists in Boston in March of 1770, and took his job so seriously that he secured acquittals. Are we impugning the patriotism of John Adams? Is that what the GOP is?
Republican politicians do this because their voters let them get away with it. Their voters are paranoid and stupid, which is how people like Donald Trump and Mo Brooks incited them into an attack on the Capitol. And Republican politicians cynically take advantage of this paranoia and stupidity, rather than trying to lead their constituents to some sort of understanding based in reality.
I just wish Democrats would consider a campaign along the following lines: Republicans think you are stupid. Republicans don't actually believe the election was stolen, but they tell you they believe it, because they think you are stupid. Republicans don't think KBJ thinks racist babies are a thing, but they want to put on some embarrassing performance in the Senate, because they think you're stupid. Republicans know what the job of a public defender is, and how everyone has a right to competent defense in court, but they want to hide this from you, because they think you are stupid. Republicans are constantly telling you lies that they themselves don't believe, because they think you are stupid. Republicans run campaign ads where they are in a gym lifting weights or shooting automatic rifles and blowing shit up because they think you're too stupid to realize that this is just performative nonsense, and that it indicates nothing about whether they are qualified to hold the office for which they're running (if anything, it indicates lack of qualifications). Democrats won't lie to you; we respect you more than that.
Everyone is talking about Zelensky winning the information war. The videos his country have put together in the midst of everything going on there, have been incredibly moving and have resonated with people the world over. Why hasn't anyone here taken hold of the enormous opportunity to tell everyday Americans that "this is fascism in Russia" and "this is the fascism today's GOP wants to take us to"? Far too many people here do not understand the real danger being posed and what it would mean not only to themselves and their everyday lives, but also to their children and every child born into their families for generations to come.