Getting closer to being a banana republic

[MrSquished]

After today's confirmation hearings it's pretty clear the Senate is just about to the point of being a rubber stamp for Trump. Soon with his nominees taking control of the most important parts of government, everything will be a crazy house for far-right loon policies, from the Dept of Defense to the FBI to our intelligence communities to all our education and environmental departments, and everything in between.

The House may have very brief moments of sanity only due to the extreme narrow R margin, but I think they will all get in line. So basically Congress at this point is so close to being banana republic level.

The SC is 3/4 of the way there. Roberts and occasionally one other justice will have moments of sanity, but they are too sparse now, and will likely get fewer and farther between. Forget it if Trump appoints another justice.

Basically the main thing holding us back from full banana republic status are other levels of the judiciary which can delay things from happening.

I'm still blown away the Dems are still pathetic when it comes to calling out the Trump party - proof is in their meek and feckless responses to the Trump party talking about witholding aid to California. Bunch of fucking wussy idiots.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

After today's confirmation hearings it's pretty clear the Senate is just about to the point of being a rubber stamp for Trump. Soon with his nominees taking control of the most important parts of government, everything will be a crazy house for far-right loon policies, from the Dept of Defense to the FBI to our intelligence communities to all our education and environmental departments, and everything in between.

The House may have very brief moments of sanity only due to the extreme narrow R margin, but I think they will all get in line. So basically Congress at this point is so close to being banana republic level.

The SC is 3/4 of the way there. Roberts and occasionally one other justice will have moments of sanity, but they are too sparse now, and will likely get fewer and farther between. Forget it if Trump appoints another justice.

Basically the main thing holding us back from full banana republic status are other levels of the judiciary which can delay things from happening.

I'm still blown away the Dems are still pathetic when it comes to calling out the Trump party - proof is in their meek and feckless responses to the Trump party talking about witholding aid to California. Bunch of fucking wussy idiots.

- I am always reminded of that one fatalistic quote "Just remember that some day, these will be the good old days..."

 

[VRAMdemon]

The purge begins.

Trump team is questioning civil servants at National Security Council about commitment to his agenda

At least some of these nonpolitical employees have begun packing up their belongings since being asked about their loyalty to President-elect Trump, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.

apnews.com

Trump’s Civil Servant Purge Has Already Begun ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Corruption’s gonna be partying like it’s 1879!

www.wonkette.com

Well, great. The AP reports that incoming senior Trump administration officials have already begun thoughtcrime-interrogating career civil servants who work on the White House National Security Council about who they voted for in the 2024 election, their political contributions, and if they’ve made social media posts that would be considered “incriminating,” AKA insufficiently suck-uppy by the President-elect’s team of suckups. Yep, the corruption is fixing to be balls-out this time. And sure is alarming that his first priority is making sure that there’s nobody who might speak out about national security issues! Whatever quos is this fucker planning to quid pro that we can’t even imagine yet? It’s going to be a pile taller than Trump Tower Saudi Arabia!
…
This is all very NOT NORMAL, unless you are Mao. And sure isn’t good for national security to trade people with experience who will give national security advice for ones that prioritize telling the Lord Emperor what he wants to hear! But only the security of his own flabby haunches matters to him, of course.

I’d cheer for the imminent massive failure of Trump’s administration except he’s running the country I live in and these are people that are supposed to make things fucking work.

 

[Jaskalas]

I'm still blown away the Dems are still pathetic when it comes to calling out the Trump party - proof is in their meek and feckless responses to the Trump party talking about witholding aid to California. Bunch of fucking wussy idiots.

Are you expecting a call to arms and violent overthrow of MAGA?
Just what are Democrats not doing, that you wish they would do?

 

[pete6032]

Just what are Democrats not doing, that you wish they would do?

Develop a platform based on helping working class rather than maintaining status quo.
Allow young party reps into positions of power.

 

[Indus]

Develop a platform based on helping working class rather than maintaining status quo.
Allow young party reps into positions of power.

LOL you're kidding right?

With Pelosi and Schumer pulling the strings where they're the underlings of the billionaire class?

That's why anyone with any common sense and pissed off at the system is full MAGA. They're not bad folks.. they're just ahead of the curve.. and we're the dumb stupidest fucks who don't realize we've been had by politicians that have no interest of changing things for the better as they're happy with the "status quo"!

Bernie was right all along!

 

[Moonbeam]

We are where we are owing to one simple fact in my opinion. Our political system reflects the average level of conscious awareness of voters. Nothing will improve if people don't evolve. Few seem even aware of this. One word most people have heard that describes this is Karma, although even that is poorly understood.

There is only one real hope for change owing to a second simple fact, namely, that we are the world. What does that mean. It means that how we see the world is dependent on who we have been conditioned. We can see in others that they have bee condition to believe in all manner of idiocy, but we don't see the same in ourselves.

In my opinion, again, if your are complaining about something outside of your sphere of influence, that which can be changed about yourself, you are just indulging an addiction to pissing into the wind. We can do nothing beyond our personal sphere of influence that others won't agree to. We can try to seeking personal change.

 

[nickqt]

LOL you're kidding right?

With Pelosi and Schumer pulling the strings where they're the underlings of the billionaire class?

That's why anyone with any common sense and pissed off at the system is full MAGA. They're not bad folks.. they're just ahead of the curve.. and we're the dumb stupidest fucks who don't realize we've been had by politicians that have no interest of changing things for the better as they're happy with the "status quo"!

Bernie was right all along!

This is 100% wrong.

Anyone with common sense and pissed off at the system is full leftist.

MAGA are the stupidest fucks in town, believing that a billionaire who doesn't give a fuck about them cares about them, as he surrounds himself with other billionaires to burn down the country and auction off the parts to his billionaire friends for a few dollars and fake compliments.

If you've gone the full MAGA route, that's on you.

 

[Indus]

This is 100% wrong.

Anyone with common sense and pissed off at the system is full leftist.

MAGA are the stupidest fucks in town, believing that a billionaire who doesn't give a fuck about them cares about them, as he surrounds himself with other billionaires to burn down the country and auction off the parts to his billionaire friends for a few dollars and fake compliments.

If you've gone the full MAGA route, that's on you.

I've not gone MAGA and I'm not going MAGA.. but just listen to what they're unhappy about and it's not different from what we're unhappy about.

They have fallen victims to the age old strategy of divide and conquer by the rich to make sure nothing gets done that threatens their wealth and control.

Just think about it.. who would bernie's socialist plans help most? Us or them? It would help them majorly and still be good for us.. so Bernie get it!

 

[nickqt]

I've not gone MAGA and I'm not going MAGA.. but just listen to what they're unhappy about and it's not different from what we're unhappy about.

They have fallen victims to the age old strategy of divide and conquer by the rich to make sure nothing gets done that threatens their wealth and control.

Just think about it.. who would bernie's socialist plans help most? Us or them? It would help them majorly and still be good for us.. so Bernie get it!

Oh, I understand that. I'm just pointing out that anyone who has fallen for the MAGA con isn't smart, they're fucking stupid. And they're extra stupid in worshiping a billionaire who surrounds himself with billionaires.

So the problem isn't "Democratic messaging", they message just fine.

What Democrats don't have is 90% or more of the "media" pointing reality out to people who might vote for Democrats, because that is not in the best financial interests to the very people who own and operate the "media".

There is a propaganda problem in this country, and the problem is one-sided. Democratic messaging is solid, and almost no one hears it. How are we supposed to fix that, because there's an obvious lack of liberal billionaires ponying up hundreds of millions to BILLIONS of dollars to create a megaphone like conservatives have as a side effect of representing the rich.

 

[nakedfrog]

LOL you're kidding right?

With Pelosi and Schumer pulling the strings where they're the underlings of the billionaire class?

That's why anyone with any common sense and pissed off at the system is full MAGA. They're not bad folks.. they're just ahead of the curve.. and we're the dumb stupidest fucks who don't realize we've been had by politicians that have no interest of changing things for the better as they're happy with the "status quo"!

Bernie was right all along!

Nobody with an iota of common sense is MAGA. To join MAGA you must part ways with critical thought.

 

[gothuevos]

After today's confirmation hearings it's pretty clear the Senate is just about to the point of being a rubber stamp for Trump. Soon with his nominees taking control of the most important parts of government, everything will be a crazy house for far-right loon policies, from the Dept of Defense to the FBI to our intelligence communities to all our education and environmental departments, and everything in between.

The House may have very brief moments of sanity only due to the extreme narrow R margin, but I think they will all get in line. So basically Congress at this point is so close to being banana republic level.

The SC is 3/4 of the way there. Roberts and occasionally one other justice will have moments of sanity, but they are too sparse now, and will likely get fewer and farther between. Forget it if Trump appoints another justice.

Basically the main thing holding us back from full banana republic status are other levels of the judiciary which can delay things from happening.

I'm still blown away the Dems are still pathetic when it comes to calling out the Trump party - proof is in their meek and feckless responses to the Trump party talking about witholding aid to California. Bunch of fucking wussy idiots.

Are you finally getting it?

 

[Indus]

Nobody with an iota of common sense is MAGA. To join MAGA you must part ways with critical thought.

Or just get pissed off at Pelosi and Schumer sabotaging every progressive drive.

Btw I don't disagree with you.. and two things can be true at the same time. It so happens we're in a feelz world without any critical thought.

 

[ivwshane]

Or just get pissed off at Pelosi and Schumer sabotaging every progressive drive.

Btw I don't disagree with you.. and two things can be true at the same time. It so happens we're in a feelz world without any critical thought.

If you think they are sabotaging anything then you aren’t paying attention.

 

[nakedfrog]

Or just get pissed off at Pelosi and Schumer sabotaging every progressive drive.

Btw I don't disagree with you.. and two things can be true at the same time. It so happens we're in a feelz world without any critical thought.

I mean, these were your words, but okay.

That's why anyone with any common sense and pissed off at the system is full MAGA.

 

[Indus]

I mean, these were your words, but okay.

You're not the only one confused by what you hear people say..

There are some new yorkers I trust who are smart.. who make triple or more what I make and they were dems but they went MAGA in the past year and a half.

I can't explain it.. I don't think it's just the price of eggs though..

 

[Brovane]

Looks like Fetterman has decided to go his own direction.

In interview, Pennsylvania senator says party needs to be part of the conversation, not get ‘freaked out’

 

[Moonbeam]

..

 

[Moonbeam]

Oh, I understand that. I'm just pointing out that anyone who has fallen for the MAGA con isn't smart, they're fucking stupid. And they're extra stupid in worshiping a billionaire who surrounds himself with billionaires.

So the problem isn't "Democratic messaging", they message just fine.
What Democrats don't have is 90% or more of the "media" pointing reality out to people who might vote for Democrats, because that is not in the best financial interests to the very people who own and operate the "media".

There is a propaganda problem in this country, and the problem is one-sided. Democratic messaging is solid, and almost no one hears it. How are we supposed to fix that, because there's an obvious lack of liberal billionaires ponying up hundreds of millions to BILLIONS of dollars to create a megaphone like conservatives have as a side effect of representing the rich.

I you think they are properly messaging but the media's the problem? Where's the Democratic messaging and action on that. Why aren't they screaming for legislation to end private for profit media ownership and demanding it be owned only by non-political public interest groups.
Give me a break. The establishment Democratic party is owned by corporations. They all get elected by corporate campaign donations. Democrat voters are as deluded as Republican voters.

 

[Jaskalas]

Looks like Fetterman has decided to go his own direction.

In interview, Pennsylvania senator says party needs to be part of the conversation, not get ‘freaked out’

Yes... let us discuss invading Canada, Greenland, Mexico, Panama.... betraying NATO and saddling up to Genocidal madmen who turned their own people into human meat waves in Europe.
Now Fetterman may think there are merits to be found. I respectfully disagree and I move that people are not freaked out enough. That MAGA even exists is a problem. That they want to blackmail US States into begging for emergency aid. That's not a conversation starter. That's a call to revolution.

He can go play chess with a pigeon if he likes. Rest of us need to rally around the more extreme and reactionary. We need more who think like Bernie Sanders, and we need to organize them.

 

[Franz316]

It's important to remember that CEOs and the super wealthy don't really have any convictions or true beliefs of their own. Their only belief is to do whatever increases their wealth and power. Once you accept that, it's easy to see why they act the way they do. It's why they have fully embraced the alternate reality of maga now, and why they went all in on equality and inclusion a decade ago. Whatever makes them more money.

That drive for power is the natural progression of a market system that doesn't have strong enough guardrails, of which have been slowly dissembled by the same people they were meant to control. Barring some unlikely alliance between the left and right working class, I'm not sure how you go about rebalancing the lobsided power dynamic right now. My only hope is that with the new administration being staffed and aided by multiple billionaires, the facade of not being oligarchy is finally off for all to see.

 

[brycejones]

Looks like Fetterman has decided to go his own direction.

In interview, Pennsylvania senator says party needs to be part of the conversation, not get ‘freaked out’

Lurch can fuck off.

 

[Brainonska511]

Looks like Fetterman has decided to go his own direction.

In interview, Pennsylvania senator says party needs to be part of the conversation, not get ‘freaked out’

What a maroon. It's not about "freaking out". It's about doing what is right and having some fucking principles.

Democrats also did quite well electorally by playing the "resist lib" card. They just need to finish threading the needle and actually use power when they get it, then make sure to message the hell out of whatever sells wherever they are talking (because voters are dumb, and voters don't care about or notice good policy).

It's important to remember that CEOs and the super wealthy don't really have any convictions or true beliefs of their own. Their only belief is to do whatever increases their wealth and power. Once you accept that, it's easy to see why they act the way they do. It's why they have fully embraced the alternate reality of maga now, and why they went all in on equality and inclusion a decade ago. Whatever makes them more money.

That drive for power is the natural progression of a market system that doesn't have strong enough guardrails, of which have been slowly dissembled by the same people they were meant to control. Barring some unlikely alliance between the left and right working class, I'm not sure how you go about rebalancing the lobsided power dynamic right now. My only hope is that with the new administration being staffed and aided by multiple billionaires, the facade of not being oligarchy is finally off for all to see.

People like Zuckerberg and Musk are forever 16 years old and mad about getting stuffed in a locker for being a loser, and they just can't get over it, so they'll slobber all over someone's shoe for an extra buck and some attention.

 

[K1052]

I find the probability that his stroke rearranged some stuff upstairs to be more than likely.

 

[MrSquished]

Well right now they need to message better. And putting fossils in their top taking of high profile committees Is is an abject failure, let alone over someone who is excellent at communication and has a passionate following and can get the word out.

These Republicans calling to withhold aid from California I mean call them disgusting call it obscene call it absolutely horrific. Those are proper terms in this kind of scenario. And as far as this first hearing for this drunk Fox News host, start calling this a clown show and similar attention grabbing things. It is a fucking clown show, he is a clown, it is obscene to watch, it is an insult to intelligence.

The pelosi move to quash AOC is the perfect symbol though of where the Democrats find themselves now. The leadership is clueless and has no fucking clue what is going on.