Post‑Trump GOP looks less like a party and more like a talent show for shamelessness. Marjorie Taylor Greene isn’t an outlier, she’s the blueprint…proof that when spectacle pays dividends, it becomes the business model.
The farce of justice I’ve written about is the same farce at play here: cruelty rewarded, dignity dismissed, and the stage lights never dim.
As I was reading the Article in Wired that you referenced, it occurred to me that these dark, off the books, coalition of self interest groups are so often referred to as “think tanks”. That term gives them some undeserved aura of legitimacy. These “think tanks” really are white collar gangs. They don’t “shoot people on 5th Avenue”; instead, they kill people by sucking up money so that a family cannot afford cancer treatment for their daughter.
It is very alarming how opportunistic some politicians are. Selfishness should be the antithesis of public office. It is astonishing how many poor candidates get elected.
Alarming, yes, but astonishing? I don't think so. Now, if it had worked out the way most of the founders envisioned (or at least fantasized), elected officials would be well-off white men who had no need (theoretically, at least) to indulge in various forms of political and financial chicanery. In the real world they probably knew that this was a crock, but they were, as the saying goes, high on their own supply.
Instead of worrying about the opportunism of individual politicians, pay more attention to what our economic system encourages: since the Reagan administration, it's rewarded the concentration of wealth. And what does concentrated wealth do when it gets the chance? Accumulate the political power that makes it easier to get richer. (I was about to blame this on Republican administrations, but the Clinton administration was responsible for the repeal of Glass-Steagall.)
I agree with you. Both parties bought into neoliberalism. In business school in the late 80's, I got into arguments with the professors regarding the focus on shareholder value at the cost of other stakeholders, like employees, communities, etc. What is BS is that the shareholders "own" the company - all they really have are a piece of paper that can be traded. I think that employees should have major stakes in the companies; after all, they actually do the work. CEOs operate as kings. And, why is financial finagling so rewarded - it produces nothing and in fact destroys (hint: they own the politicians). Ok, that is enough of a rant for now. LOL
I am in the middle of reading Dante's Inferno for the first time and astonished by its relevance today. So far, it is difficult to decide just which circle of Hell to place individual MAGAs as they fit in so many places - perhaps pieces of their souls could be allocated to each level (that is, if they even have souls). What is so sad about all of this is that it doesn't have to be this way.
Fealty is a sworn, one-sided vow of allegiance to a lord, while loyalty is a broader, more mutual bond of respect and faithfulness. Fealty is based on power and obligation, historically a vassal's duty to a lord, and can end when the power dynamic shifts. Loyalty, however, is a two-way relationship that endures because it is built on mutual respect and is not dependent on a power imbalance
Here’s a thought-Republicans could actually apologize to the nation and the world, and save humanity from Putin and Trump. I’m serious. They should elect a new Speaker and pass articles of impeachment. Senate Republicans should back it with enthusiasm and convict him in the Senate and remove him from office. That is the only way the cult would ever stop, think and support this.
Would people die? Of course, but many are dying under this regime, and families are being destroyed. Republicans took an oath to the Constitution-not MAGA!
I read-can someone verify?-that when a President is removed from office so is his staff and cabinet?
Republicans could be “heroes”-better late than never.
I’m an Independent voter, I will never join a political party.
I have relatives that voted for Trump, solely based on the abortion issue. I’m a Catholic. When did our Church start having a “group sin”? Should owning guns of massive destructive ability be considered a “group sin” too? Also,
establishment of a Christian nation is not something Jesus advocated-in fact, it was the opposite.
It’s way past time to look inward as to what our citizens are guided by.
I had to vent after this historically hideous week from our mentally ill “leader.” 😔
Article II, Section 4, of the Constitution: "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." First off, this has never been tested in real life. Presidents have been impeached, but none have been removed from office. Then consider that "treason" and "bribery" are relatively clear, but "other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" is not.
However, Section 1 of the 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, says that "In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President." There's nothing in there about "high Crimes and Misdemeanors." President Clinton's dalliance with an intern was by no stretch of the imagination a high Crime and/or Misdemeanor but the Republican House impeached him anyway.
In this article Indiana was mentioned as not caving to Trump, but If I am not mistaken Indiana has very recently announced that it will, in fact, meet and consider redrawing their maps. I hope I am wrong and missed something else about it, but that is very disappointing. One could hope, I suppose, that they will vote it down.
Post‑Trump GOP looks less like a party and more like a talent show for shamelessness. Marjorie Taylor Greene isn’t an outlier, she’s the blueprint…proof that when spectacle pays dividends, it becomes the business model.
The farce of justice I’ve written about is the same farce at play here: cruelty rewarded, dignity dismissed, and the stage lights never dim.
—Johan
As I was reading the Article in Wired that you referenced, it occurred to me that these dark, off the books, coalition of self interest groups are so often referred to as “think tanks”. That term gives them some undeserved aura of legitimacy. These “think tanks” really are white collar gangs. They don’t “shoot people on 5th Avenue”; instead, they kill people by sucking up money so that a family cannot afford cancer treatment for their daughter.
It is very alarming how opportunistic some politicians are. Selfishness should be the antithesis of public office. It is astonishing how many poor candidates get elected.
Alarming, yes, but astonishing? I don't think so. Now, if it had worked out the way most of the founders envisioned (or at least fantasized), elected officials would be well-off white men who had no need (theoretically, at least) to indulge in various forms of political and financial chicanery. In the real world they probably knew that this was a crock, but they were, as the saying goes, high on their own supply.
Instead of worrying about the opportunism of individual politicians, pay more attention to what our economic system encourages: since the Reagan administration, it's rewarded the concentration of wealth. And what does concentrated wealth do when it gets the chance? Accumulate the political power that makes it easier to get richer. (I was about to blame this on Republican administrations, but the Clinton administration was responsible for the repeal of Glass-Steagall.)
I agree with you. Both parties bought into neoliberalism. In business school in the late 80's, I got into arguments with the professors regarding the focus on shareholder value at the cost of other stakeholders, like employees, communities, etc. What is BS is that the shareholders "own" the company - all they really have are a piece of paper that can be traded. I think that employees should have major stakes in the companies; after all, they actually do the work. CEOs operate as kings. And, why is financial finagling so rewarded - it produces nothing and in fact destroys (hint: they own the politicians). Ok, that is enough of a rant for now. LOL
I am in the middle of reading Dante's Inferno for the first time and astonished by its relevance today. So far, it is difficult to decide just which circle of Hell to place individual MAGAs as they fit in so many places - perhaps pieces of their souls could be allocated to each level (that is, if they even have souls). What is so sad about all of this is that it doesn't have to be this way.
Competence is unnecessary - and unwanted - in a cult.
+3
Fealty is a sworn, one-sided vow of allegiance to a lord, while loyalty is a broader, more mutual bond of respect and faithfulness. Fealty is based on power and obligation, historically a vassal's duty to a lord, and can end when the power dynamic shifts. Loyalty, however, is a two-way relationship that endures because it is built on mutual respect and is not dependent on a power imbalance
Here’s a thought-Republicans could actually apologize to the nation and the world, and save humanity from Putin and Trump. I’m serious. They should elect a new Speaker and pass articles of impeachment. Senate Republicans should back it with enthusiasm and convict him in the Senate and remove him from office. That is the only way the cult would ever stop, think and support this.
Would people die? Of course, but many are dying under this regime, and families are being destroyed. Republicans took an oath to the Constitution-not MAGA!
I read-can someone verify?-that when a President is removed from office so is his staff and cabinet?
Republicans could be “heroes”-better late than never.
I’m an Independent voter, I will never join a political party.
I have relatives that voted for Trump, solely based on the abortion issue. I’m a Catholic. When did our Church start having a “group sin”? Should owning guns of massive destructive ability be considered a “group sin” too? Also,
establishment of a Christian nation is not something Jesus advocated-in fact, it was the opposite.
It’s way past time to look inward as to what our citizens are guided by.
I had to vent after this historically hideous week from our mentally ill “leader.” 😔
Article II, Section 4, of the Constitution: "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." First off, this has never been tested in real life. Presidents have been impeached, but none have been removed from office. Then consider that "treason" and "bribery" are relatively clear, but "other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" is not.
However, Section 1 of the 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, says that "In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President." There's nothing in there about "high Crimes and Misdemeanors." President Clinton's dalliance with an intern was by no stretch of the imagination a high Crime and/or Misdemeanor but the Republican House impeached him anyway.
In this article Indiana was mentioned as not caving to Trump, but If I am not mistaken Indiana has very recently announced that it will, in fact, meet and consider redrawing their maps. I hope I am wrong and missed something else about it, but that is very disappointing. One could hope, I suppose, that they will vote it down.
Why do we as a country have to WAIT for an actual invasion of a sovereign nation to say ENOUGH?
The time to stop this fascist is NOW.
This is a great roundup of news as of late. Also, this picture is traumatizing.
Excellent piece but the past tense of "cheerlead" is "cheer-led," not "cheerleaded."
I think the attraction of “mass MAGA” is that it’s just a show: “Real Housewives of Pennsylvania Avenue”.
The great irony about MAGA and white supremacy is, Look who’s their spokesman is—dumb, whiney, and ill-spoken.