Not long ago, all of us had spent our lives as part of a well-structured, generally well ordered political system made up of two parties, one more conservative in its outlook, preferring limited government, balanced budgets, and limited constraints on business and commerce, and another that favored using the economic power of the taxpayers to improve living conditions for all people at every socio-economic level.
I wish I were as optimistic as you both are. I look back through global history, and any populist fascist/oligarchical/dictator-esqe regime that has gotten this far (ignoring court orders) has continued to gain momentum like a giant turd rolling down a hill (because any plumber worth their salt knows which way shit flows) and has run its course in the most horrific ways. I believe it might be our turn. I apologize for my defeatist cynicism as I write to you from the Dominican Republic, where I have begun to put down roots and after one too many Presidentes.
Stewart, I agree that the path of this administration is toward a fascist structure led by the dickhead. That said, there is a lot of resistance out there and while it's not coalesced at this point, and there isn't clear leadership, the noise is significant already and we're only 6 weeks into the current administration. If an organized, inclusive opposition emerges, which I think it will, I think that we'll see a lot of anger and pushback that ultimately impacts the white house. My biggest concern is that the dickhead will attempt to combat opposition with violence, using the military. That would shut down resistance quickly and then he could go forward. I can't believe that this will happen, but hell, i wouldn't have believed that what's happened already happened, so I could well be wrong. Violence or no, we need to oppose.
Gee, Thad. I thought that the democrats had a great tactic last evening - just wear fuchsia and wave some little paddles in the air and all would become well again.
I was really hoping that every D in the room would follow Rep. Al Green's stance, by each one standing up individually, raising their voice in disgust and walking (or being 'escorted') out. That, I think, would have made the correct statement.
Joe, I was thinking that they would do something collectively but it didn't happen. While I continue to believe that there is going to be a powerful reaction from the Democrats soon, I don't think we can wait or rely on it. It's gonna be up to us, IMO.
I wish I were as optimistic as you both are. I look back through global history, and any populist fascist/oligarchical/dictator-esqe regime that has gotten this far (ignoring court orders) has continued to gain momentum like a giant turd rolling down a hill (because any plumber worth their salt knows which way shit flows) and has run its course in the most horrific ways. I believe it might be our turn. I apologize for my defeatist cynicism as I write to you from the Dominican Republic, where I have begun to put down roots and after one too many Presidentes.
Stewart, I agree that the path of this administration is toward a fascist structure led by the dickhead. That said, there is a lot of resistance out there and while it's not coalesced at this point, and there isn't clear leadership, the noise is significant already and we're only 6 weeks into the current administration. If an organized, inclusive opposition emerges, which I think it will, I think that we'll see a lot of anger and pushback that ultimately impacts the white house. My biggest concern is that the dickhead will attempt to combat opposition with violence, using the military. That would shut down resistance quickly and then he could go forward. I can't believe that this will happen, but hell, i wouldn't have believed that what's happened already happened, so I could well be wrong. Violence or no, we need to oppose.
Gee, Thad. I thought that the democrats had a great tactic last evening - just wear fuchsia and wave some little paddles in the air and all would become well again.
I was really hoping that every D in the room would follow Rep. Al Green's stance, by each one standing up individually, raising their voice in disgust and walking (or being 'escorted') out. That, I think, would have made the correct statement.
Right on brother!
Joe, I was thinking that they would do something collectively but it didn't happen. While I continue to believe that there is going to be a powerful reaction from the Democrats soon, I don't think we can wait or rely on it. It's gonna be up to us, IMO.
Time to dig out my 1969 radical non-violent resistance playbook. I’ll start printing the ‘raised fist’ logo onto t-shirts!