This is going badly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

He said he would be a dictator on day one (and once someone is a dictator, they don't undo it) - why didn't you believe him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

It was totally obvious what would happen if he was elected. Now we are all porked bc people are idiots.

Obvious to you and me yeah. I think calling his voters idiots, isn’t really hitting the mark. Sometimes people in DC really forget how little regular people have to think about the things we do.

+1 I have met a good amount of people that vote but are simultaneously apathetic and don’t care all that much. A lot of people heard low groceries and no tax on overtime didn’t hear much else.

It wasn’t obvious to me that the GOP in Congress would give away their power so tamely. Sure I expected them to run away from the microphones and say they hadn’t read Trump’s most recent inanity. I expected them to be singularly focused on their tax cuts for billionaires. I did not expect them to sit by while the president ignored their appropriations or to shrug their shoulders as he destroys the U.S. economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

It was totally obvious what would happen if he was elected. Now we are all porked bc people are idiots.

Obvious to you and me yeah. I think calling his voters idiots, isn’t really hitting the mark. Sometimes people in DC really forget how little regular people have to think about the things we do.

And yet they say "we" are in a bubble and are coastal elites with fancy degrees. Look where that got us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

It was totally obvious what would happen if he was elected. Now we are all porked bc people are idiots.

Obvious to you and me yeah. I think calling his voters idiots, isn’t really hitting the mark. Sometimes people in DC really forget how little regular people have to think about the things we do.

+1 I have met a good amount of people that vote but are simultaneously apathetic and don’t care all that much. A lot of people heard low groceries and no tax on overtime didn’t hear much else.

It wasn’t obvious to me that the GOP in Congress would give away their power so tamely. Sure I expected them to run away from the microphones and say they hadn’t read Trump’s most recent inanity. I expected them to be singularly focused on their tax cuts for billionaires. I did not expect them to sit by while the president ignored their appropriations or to shrug their shoulders as he destroys the U.S. economy.

I am not sure why that wasn't obvious...the GOP has been circling the toilet bowl ever since Newt Gingrich came on the scene, and it got worse with the tea party and the "freedom" caucus. So here we are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

It was totally obvious what would happen if he was elected. Now we are all porked bc people are idiots.

Obvious to you and me yeah. I think calling his voters idiots, isn’t really hitting the mark. Sometimes people in DC really forget how little regular people have to think about the things we do.

+1 I have met a good amount of people that vote but are simultaneously apathetic and don’t care all that much. A lot of people heard low groceries and no tax on overtime didn’t hear much else.

It wasn’t obvious to me that the GOP in Congress would give away their power so tamely. Sure I expected them to run away from the microphones and say they hadn’t read Trump’s most recent inanity. I expected them to be singularly focused on their tax cuts for billionaires. I did not expect them to sit by while the president ignored their appropriations or to shrug their shoulders as he destroys the U.S. economy.

I am not sure why that wasn't obvious...the GOP has been circling the toilet bowl ever since Newt Gingrich came on the scene, and it got worse with the tea party and the "freedom" caucus. So here we are.

But the tea party and freedom caucus were all about bringing down the deficit. That’s not what the “blueprint” they passed for the budget does. It’s all so inconsistent and nonsensical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

It was totally obvious what would happen if he was elected. Now we are all porked bc people are idiots.

Obvious to you and me yeah. I think calling his voters idiots, isn’t really hitting the mark. Sometimes people in DC really forget how little regular people have to think about the things we do.

+1 I have met a good amount of people that vote but are simultaneously apathetic and don’t care all that much. A lot of people heard low groceries and no tax on overtime didn’t hear much else.

It wasn’t obvious to me that the GOP in Congress would give away their power so tamely. Sure I expected them to run away from the microphones and say they hadn’t read Trump’s most recent inanity. I expected them to be singularly focused on their tax cuts for billionaires. I did not expect them to sit by while the president ignored their appropriations or to shrug their shoulders as he destroys the U.S. economy.

I am not sure why that wasn't obvious...the GOP has been circling the toilet bowl ever since Newt Gingrich came on the scene, and it got worse with the tea party and the "freedom" caucus. So here we are.

But the tea party and freedom caucus were all about bringing down the deficit. That’s not what the “blueprint” they passed for the budget does. It’s all so inconsistent and nonsensical.

Well, if you accept that the modern Republican Party is about nothing more than grievance-based nihilism it makes more sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

It was totally obvious what would happen if he was elected. Now we are all porked bc people are idiots.

Obvious to you and me yeah. I think calling his voters idiots, isn’t really hitting the mark. Sometimes people in DC really forget how little regular people have to think about the things we do.

+1 I have met a good amount of people that vote but are simultaneously apathetic and don’t care all that much. A lot of people heard low groceries and no tax on overtime didn’t hear much else.

It wasn’t obvious to me that the GOP in Congress would give away their power so tamely. Sure I expected them to run away from the microphones and say they hadn’t read Trump’s most recent inanity. I expected them to be singularly focused on their tax cuts for billionaires. I did not expect them to sit by while the president ignored their appropriations or to shrug their shoulders as he destroys the U.S. economy.

I am not sure why that wasn't obvious...the GOP has been circling the toilet bowl ever since Newt Gingrich came on the scene, and it got worse with the tea party and the "freedom" caucus. So here we are.

But the tea party and freedom caucus were all about bringing down the deficit. That’s not what the “blueprint” they passed for the budget does. It’s all so inconsistent and nonsensical.

Well, if you accept that the modern Republican Party is about nothing more than grievance-based nihilism it makes more sense.

My brain just can’t comprehend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

It was totally obvious what would happen if he was elected. Now we are all porked bc people are idiots.

Obvious to you and me yeah. I think calling his voters idiots, isn’t really hitting the mark. Sometimes people in DC really forget how little regular people have to think about the things we do.

+1 I have met a good amount of people that vote but are simultaneously apathetic and don’t care all that much. A lot of people heard low groceries and no tax on overtime didn’t hear much else.

It wasn’t obvious to me that the GOP in Congress would give away their power so tamely. Sure I expected them to run away from the microphones and say they hadn’t read Trump’s most recent inanity. I expected them to be singularly focused on their tax cuts for billionaires. I did not expect them to sit by while the president ignored their appropriations or to shrug their shoulders as he destroys the U.S. economy.

I am not sure why that wasn't obvious...the GOP has been circling the toilet bowl ever since Newt Gingrich came on the scene, and it got worse with the tea party and the "freedom" caucus. So here we are.

But the tea party and freedom caucus were all about bringing down the deficit. That’s not what the “blueprint” they passed for the budget does. It’s all so inconsistent and nonsensical.

The last time a GOP president brought down the deficit was probably Eisenhower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m genuinely curious. When he said this was what he would do, did you not believe him?

OP here. Sort of. A lot of this is stuff that I knew he'd find appealing, but the guy says a lot of stuff that isn't true-- mexico paying for it and all that. Plus, for all his faults, I did think that he was sort of correct in his complaint that he was constantly stymied in his first term by entrenched power structures that hated him and thought he was a joke. Tbh, I still think that. The fact that a huge share of the country called themselves the Resistance-- as though they were standing up to tanks in the streets of 1968 Prague-- was sort of absurd, and I thought it was revealing that so many members of our social elite were like "yeah, that's a reasonable thing to do."

This time though it seems different. It seems like he's able to do a lot more of the stuff he said he'd do. But he's also not doing some of the better stuff he said he would. So from my vantage point, a big vibe I got from his campaign was that he would be pragmatic and approach even some Dems to high-level positions (which he did, I guess) and avoid weapon using the justice system. The hardcore small-government shtick and the EOs though all seem like he's just out for blood.

Perhaps you would like to consider that all of those people simply saw the writing on the wall and you did not.

From your posts, you seem to think you are a reasonable and intelligent person. Are you also capable of self-reflection?

OP here. I guess I think I'm reasonable and maybe intelligent, but that wasn't the thrust of the post. As for your question though, even with the benefit of hindsight, the resistance thing still strikes me (and I think many people) as ridiculous. Whatever his personal wishes, trump simply does not have enough control over any institution that counts to be anything even remotely approaching a dictator. I get that he may well like the aesthetics, and he's definitely way too close to a wannabe authoritarian for my comfort, but it always struck me (and still does strike me) as insensitive to pretend like it's the same experience to be a Democrat under Trump as it is to be a dissident under Ceausescu or something.

I guess you don't see that the Democrats are sounding the alarm about what is coming if we do nothing. They are NOT saying that that is the way it is now. Where do you get your news ftom, BTW?

OP here. I heard the Dems sounding the alarm bell, but it always struck me (and still strikes me) as disingenuous. To take just one point, in Sept 2022, Biden gave a speech warning about democracy being in peril at a time when the Democrats controlled the presidency and both chambers of Congress. When you layer in the fact that Democrats make up the overwhelming share of academia, the press, and increasingly business leaders, it just felt silly to act like the only threat to our multiparty democracy came from the Republicans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

He said he would be a dictator on day one (and once someone is a dictator, they don't undo it) - why didn't you believe him?

Hun, I did. I’m talking about his voters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m genuinely curious. When he said this was what he would do, did you not believe him?

OP here. Sort of. A lot of this is stuff that I knew he'd find appealing, but the guy says a lot of stuff that isn't true-- mexico paying for it and all that. Plus, for all his faults, I did think that he was sort of correct in his complaint that he was constantly stymied in his first term by entrenched power structures that hated him and thought he was a joke. Tbh, I still think that. The fact that a huge share of the country called themselves the Resistance-- as though they were standing up to tanks in the streets of 1968 Prague-- was sort of absurd, and I thought it was revealing that so many members of our social elite were like "yeah, that's a reasonable thing to do."

This time though it seems different. It seems like he's able to do a lot more of the stuff he said he'd do. But he's also not doing some of the better stuff he said he would. So from my vantage point, a big vibe I got from his campaign was that he would be pragmatic and approach even some Dems to high-level positions (which he did, I guess) and avoid weapon using the justice system. The hardcore small-government shtick and the EOs though all seem like he's just out for blood.

Perhaps you would like to consider that all of those people simply saw the writing on the wall and you did not.

From your posts, you seem to think you are a reasonable and intelligent person. Are you also capable of self-reflection?

OP here. I guess I think I'm reasonable and maybe intelligent, but that wasn't the thrust of the post. As for your question though, even with the benefit of hindsight, the resistance thing still strikes me (and I think many people) as ridiculous. Whatever his personal wishes, trump simply does not have enough control over any institution that counts to be anything even remotely approaching a dictator. I get that he may well like the aesthetics, and he's definitely way too close to a wannabe authoritarian for my comfort, but it always struck me (and still does strike me) as insensitive to pretend like it's the same experience to be a Democrat under Trump as it is to be a dissident under Ceausescu or something.

I guess you don't see that the Democrats are sounding the alarm about what is coming if we do nothing. They are NOT saying that that is the way it is now. Where do you get your news ftom, BTW?

OP here. I heard the Dems sounding the alarm bell, but it always struck me (and still strikes me) as disingenuous. To take just one point, in Sept 2022, Biden gave a speech warning about democracy being in peril at a time when the Democrats controlled the presidency and both chambers of Congress. When you layer in the fact that Democrats make up the overwhelming share of academia, the press, and increasingly business leaders, it just felt silly to act like the only threat to our multiparty democracy came from the Republicans.

And yet, he was 100% right.

The GOP has full control, is dismantling our legal infrastructure, our educational infrastructure, our economic infrastructure and our political infrastructure.

Where did the democrats stage a coup or exer purges of our institutions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

It was totally obvious what would happen if he was elected. Now we are all porked bc people are idiots.

Obvious to you and me yeah. I think calling his voters idiots, isn’t really hitting the mark. Sometimes people in DC really forget how little regular people have to think about the things we do.

And yet they say "we" are in a bubble and are coastal elites with fancy degrees. Look where that got us.

Again, you can be bitter, or you can try and understand why things are the way they are and work with reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would take a handful of republicans in the House and senate to end this before tomorrow morning.

Alas.

I don’t think it’s as hopeless as you think. The hits are adding up. People I know who live outside of DC and voted for Trump, did not vote for this. They’re losing jobs and worrying about how to find work. The hat trick the project 2025 people want to perform was not on the ballot, and most people would never vote for it. The 18% that are falling for it, are untouchable koolaid drinkers, but the rest aren’t.

what did they vote for then? racism and xenophobia?

No, they thought he would be better for the red state economies. That’s not working out at all.

I don’t get this. He’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.

No he’s not. Project 2025 was not on the ballot. He disavowed it. Those of us inside the beltway knew he was FOS but his voters didn’t believe he was going to do this. They figured he’d deport some people and lower their taxes, ease some regulation. Not decimate the world economy, create global instability, and try to be a dictator.

It was totally obvious what would happen if he was elected. Now we are all porked bc people are idiots.

Obvious to you and me yeah. I think calling his voters idiots, isn’t really hitting the mark. Sometimes people in DC really forget how little regular people have to think about the things we do.

I don’t think hand waving away what these people failed to recognize is going to help us now. God speed to all of us.

I’m not hand waiving it away. They are about to get hit hard, and we need to come together now. Calling them idiots isn’t going to help us now either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m genuinely curious. When he said this was what he would do, did you not believe him?

OP here. Sort of. A lot of this is stuff that I knew he'd find appealing, but the guy says a lot of stuff that isn't true-- mexico paying for it and all that. Plus, for all his faults, I did think that he was sort of correct in his complaint that he was constantly stymied in his first term by entrenched power structures that hated him and thought he was a joke. Tbh, I still think that. The fact that a huge share of the country called themselves the Resistance-- as though they were standing up to tanks in the streets of 1968 Prague-- was sort of absurd, and I thought it was revealing that so many members of our social elite were like "yeah, that's a reasonable thing to do."

This time though it seems different. It seems like he's able to do a lot more of the stuff he said he'd do. But he's also not doing some of the better stuff he said he would. So from my vantage point, a big vibe I got from his campaign was that he would be pragmatic and approach even some Dems to high-level positions (which he did, I guess) and avoid weapon using the justice system. The hardcore small-government shtick and the EOs though all seem like he's just out for blood.

Perhaps you would like to consider that all of those people simply saw the writing on the wall and you did not.

From your posts, you seem to think you are a reasonable and intelligent person. Are you also capable of self-reflection?

OP here. I guess I think I'm reasonable and maybe intelligent, but that wasn't the thrust of the post. As for your question though, even with the benefit of hindsight, the resistance thing still strikes me (and I think many people) as ridiculous. Whatever his personal wishes, trump simply does not have enough control over any institution that counts to be anything even remotely approaching a dictator. I get that he may well like the aesthetics, and he's definitely way too close to a wannabe authoritarian for my comfort, but it always struck me (and still does strike me) as insensitive to pretend like it's the same experience to be a Democrat under Trump as it is to be a dissident under Ceausescu or something.

Close your eyes for a second, OP. Relax. Breathe. Now imagine that you’re a Latino male — a citizen. How might you feel? Secure? Certain that the taxes you pay will translate into basic services and supports if you should need them? Certain that some poorly trained, maybe racist, government representative won’t misunderstand (ha!) your tats and ship you off to a prison in a foreign country with no due process? Breathe some more. Now imagine yourself as a 9 year old girl — raped and impregnated. Now you’re gonna be a mom. And if you survive the delivery, your kid is gonna have a 10 year old mom. Sounds good, right? I’ll stop with those two possibilities. How are you feeling about what it’s like for at least some of us “under Trump”? I won’t even do the “Democrat” experience that you suggested yet. Start with those two situations— and unknown, but limited resources. No loving parent whisking off the 9 year old to a foreign country or even another state. No family member who happens to be a lawyer with major money to ride to the rescue of the innocent Latino guy. I’m really interested in your response— if you’re up for it.

This is the best you can come up with as a set of hypotheticals? None of this is everyday life. Everyday life under a real dictator like Ceausescu was actual oppression.

The problem with you is that being oppressed is part of your identity. It’s how you feel important. In the absence of finding some way of being oppressed you don’t feel important enough and your existence isn’t meaningful. That’s mental disorder. And it’s endemic. You lost an election. That’s what happened. There are no dictators here. You still have air conditioning, free unlimited internet, and can go to a grocery store and buy exotic fresh fruit. Get a grip.

This will take time in the U.S.

Sounds like chemtrails coming to get us. Any day now.

[Anonymous]

“A growing number of conservatives are pushing back against Trump’s moves, with a nonprofit backed by right-wing megadonor Charles Koch leading a lawsuit against the tariffs, while some Republicans in both chambers of Congress are organizing a legislative effort to roll them back.”

When you’ve lost Charles Koch…