Wouldn’t even stand up to Chump when he called his a “Chink” or whatever the fuck he called her…. He’s a gutless, spineless turd who has done more to sink Democracy than even Trump
This is well written and to the point. But, really, what is the point? We can rail against what is happening, and yet we are absolutely not going to change anything. This nightmare will unfold and it will be horrible for many. I mean, what more is there to say? We can march, sign petitions, write salient blogs, but it will change absolutely nothing or temper in any substantial way what is going to happen to this country. I realize this is not a popular thing to say in this forum, but we're screwed. He has the House, Senate, and SCOTUS, a pliable MSM, and a constituency besotted by Fox and Musk misinformation. Don't stop writing, though. Honestly, it's better than nothing, but just realize it's not much better than nothing. But I don't want to sit back and lick wounds for 4 years either, but we will have to see in 6 months or so, how unpopular his autocratic behavior is, and how the vectors of dissent might again rise to become potent again. But for now we are powerless to stop it, and we are basically like Lear, raging on the heath at the storm that has overtaken us.
Trump, Musk and Ramaswamy think the US runs like a privately-owned corporation and they'll proceed on this assumption, even though both of them have proven how poorly they run corporations. For some reason, a lot of pundits are assuming that "this time" Trump and his appointees will be on task and efficient. I have no idea why they're assuming this, these are not normal people. Assuming Pete Hegseth is appointed Secretary of Defense and Kash Patel as head of the FBI, Trump, Musk and Ramaswamy have no idea how to operate within a large bureaucracy. How do you think the Pentagon will react to a boss who's been an equity capital markets analyst, a Fox News host and a captain in the National Guard telling top ranking career military members what to do. Do you think the FBI will respect and fall in line behind Patel, an attorney and someone who was involved in a lot of questionable (i.e., illegal) activity during Trump's first term. Maybe some high-ranking FBI officers don't care, but none of them will want to be caught up in a scandal - that's bad for business - and they learned during Trump's first term that they'll be thrown under the bus when something blows up. Some of these government officials will retire, some will quit, some will asked to be reassigned outside of D.C., and most will switch into full-blown "bureaucracy" mode, which means, slow walk and delay, misunderstand orders or constantly ask for more specific written instructions, make mountains of paperwork that have to be filled out and signed, bury paperwork, constantly use jargon that's not understood by "the boss", get the Pentagon and FBI's lawyers constantly involved, and use the IGs in these organizations. People in high-ranking government positions must have the respect of those under their command, and without respect, it'll be a shit-show. Ramaswamy worked in a hedge fund (do you notice how all the corrupt Republicans are connected to finance) and owns a pharmaceutical company. How do you think he's going to get along with RFJ, Jr. and his anti-drugs approach. Trump et al are only motivated by money, accumulating it and keeping it, but since they all have massive conflicts of interest between their financial interests and their government jobs they will sabotage, backstab and throw each under the bus whenever possible. Hubris, arrogance, ignorance and stupidity will take its toll. They'll also have Congressional Republicans pushing their own agendas. It'll take maybe six months or so and this administration will be leaking like a dam about to explode. While I don't have a good opinion about the owners of MSM, they do like any story that'll get clicks and corruption always gets clicks. Yes, they probably won't go to prison since Trump has immunity and the rest expect to be pardoned, but they can all be weakened and voted out of office in 2026 and 2028 when they lose the House and/or the Senate.
It’s been said that this commission cannot be established without Congressional approval (a very low bar, unfortunately). Further, most if not all this level of government requires that the office holders place their financial holdings in a blind trust (I think that’s what it’s called) and I wonder how those two would deal with that or want to deal with that). Lastly, there is an oath of office which ultimately may prove valuable to us if they cross the line in their dealings (like doing stuff that gives them personal gains).
Patricia, you make excellent points. I see "accidents" in store for those who mess with the wrong people in the CI or the DOD! Perhaps defenestration will become big in the US too. Some might call it friendly fire. Unfriendly fire is more like it.
We certainly don’t have any chance of stopping anything if we lay down our arms and quit ten weeks before he even takes office. Don’t give him power he doesn’t have. Make him fight for every inch.
Well said. I didn't mean to sound defeatist, though rereading it could be interpreted that way. I think we have to be realistic, but we absolutely can't stop fighting for what we believe.
A key phrase in this astute observation, as referring to SCOTUS and recess appointments, is “wholly unconcerned”—the U.S. Supreme Court has seemingly ceased to care about precedence and rule of law. In the 21st Century it has become all about power and ass coverage. Snyder is proof thereof. As is the supreme idiocy of Trump v. United States. Law in Trump 2.0 will be whatever right wing nonsense the president or courts come up with.
Scott Dworkin wrote a similar piece but this one is much more thorough providing insight into how this practice flies in the face of the Constitution, especially the responsibility for checks and balances and the “advice and consent” provisions. Nonetheless, we are in deep poop if the incoming president gets his way. I wrote my two senators and have restacked this to my own SubStack post.
If Trump gets his key people confirmed within a year. We should start to see the entire federal government implode. Ramaswamy says he wants to fire 75% of the workforce. Does that include the armed forces, FBI, post office, IRS, NIH, FDA and Education Department? How about air traffic controllers?
It is laughable that the DOGE intended to streamline the US bureaucracy will start with not one but two directors Elon and Vivek - that is bloat from the get-go. Vivek should start his quest by firing Musk LOL.
One of the take-aways I have from this, is that all of these people may be cycled out if they displease the Oligarchs, who are the only MAGAs who count because they bought the presidency for Trump. None of them is sane either, as Oligarchs never are. So, we are getting ready for a revolving door of the in flavor of sycophants to worship either DT or JDV it is unclear. Remember, Usha rules.
Mitch the Bitch has EVERYTHING to do with this mess…. Fucking coward
Wouldn’t even stand up to Chump when he called his a “Chink” or whatever the fuck he called her…. He’s a gutless, spineless turd who has done more to sink Democracy than even Trump
This is well written and to the point. But, really, what is the point? We can rail against what is happening, and yet we are absolutely not going to change anything. This nightmare will unfold and it will be horrible for many. I mean, what more is there to say? We can march, sign petitions, write salient blogs, but it will change absolutely nothing or temper in any substantial way what is going to happen to this country. I realize this is not a popular thing to say in this forum, but we're screwed. He has the House, Senate, and SCOTUS, a pliable MSM, and a constituency besotted by Fox and Musk misinformation. Don't stop writing, though. Honestly, it's better than nothing, but just realize it's not much better than nothing. But I don't want to sit back and lick wounds for 4 years either, but we will have to see in 6 months or so, how unpopular his autocratic behavior is, and how the vectors of dissent might again rise to become potent again. But for now we are powerless to stop it, and we are basically like Lear, raging on the heath at the storm that has overtaken us.
Trump, Musk and Ramaswamy think the US runs like a privately-owned corporation and they'll proceed on this assumption, even though both of them have proven how poorly they run corporations. For some reason, a lot of pundits are assuming that "this time" Trump and his appointees will be on task and efficient. I have no idea why they're assuming this, these are not normal people. Assuming Pete Hegseth is appointed Secretary of Defense and Kash Patel as head of the FBI, Trump, Musk and Ramaswamy have no idea how to operate within a large bureaucracy. How do you think the Pentagon will react to a boss who's been an equity capital markets analyst, a Fox News host and a captain in the National Guard telling top ranking career military members what to do. Do you think the FBI will respect and fall in line behind Patel, an attorney and someone who was involved in a lot of questionable (i.e., illegal) activity during Trump's first term. Maybe some high-ranking FBI officers don't care, but none of them will want to be caught up in a scandal - that's bad for business - and they learned during Trump's first term that they'll be thrown under the bus when something blows up. Some of these government officials will retire, some will quit, some will asked to be reassigned outside of D.C., and most will switch into full-blown "bureaucracy" mode, which means, slow walk and delay, misunderstand orders or constantly ask for more specific written instructions, make mountains of paperwork that have to be filled out and signed, bury paperwork, constantly use jargon that's not understood by "the boss", get the Pentagon and FBI's lawyers constantly involved, and use the IGs in these organizations. People in high-ranking government positions must have the respect of those under their command, and without respect, it'll be a shit-show. Ramaswamy worked in a hedge fund (do you notice how all the corrupt Republicans are connected to finance) and owns a pharmaceutical company. How do you think he's going to get along with RFJ, Jr. and his anti-drugs approach. Trump et al are only motivated by money, accumulating it and keeping it, but since they all have massive conflicts of interest between their financial interests and their government jobs they will sabotage, backstab and throw each under the bus whenever possible. Hubris, arrogance, ignorance and stupidity will take its toll. They'll also have Congressional Republicans pushing their own agendas. It'll take maybe six months or so and this administration will be leaking like a dam about to explode. While I don't have a good opinion about the owners of MSM, they do like any story that'll get clicks and corruption always gets clicks. Yes, they probably won't go to prison since Trump has immunity and the rest expect to be pardoned, but they can all be weakened and voted out of office in 2026 and 2028 when they lose the House and/or the Senate.
It’s been said that this commission cannot be established without Congressional approval (a very low bar, unfortunately). Further, most if not all this level of government requires that the office holders place their financial holdings in a blind trust (I think that’s what it’s called) and I wonder how those two would deal with that or want to deal with that). Lastly, there is an oath of office which ultimately may prove valuable to us if they cross the line in their dealings (like doing stuff that gives them personal gains).
Patricia, you make excellent points. I see "accidents" in store for those who mess with the wrong people in the CI or the DOD! Perhaps defenestration will become big in the US too. Some might call it friendly fire. Unfriendly fire is more like it.
We certainly don’t have any chance of stopping anything if we lay down our arms and quit ten weeks before he even takes office. Don’t give him power he doesn’t have. Make him fight for every inch.
Well said. I didn't mean to sound defeatist, though rereading it could be interpreted that way. I think we have to be realistic, but we absolutely can't stop fighting for what we believe.
A key phrase in this astute observation, as referring to SCOTUS and recess appointments, is “wholly unconcerned”—the U.S. Supreme Court has seemingly ceased to care about precedence and rule of law. In the 21st Century it has become all about power and ass coverage. Snyder is proof thereof. As is the supreme idiocy of Trump v. United States. Law in Trump 2.0 will be whatever right wing nonsense the president or courts come up with.
That’s a gut punch below the belt.
Scott Dworkin wrote a similar piece but this one is much more thorough providing insight into how this practice flies in the face of the Constitution, especially the responsibility for checks and balances and the “advice and consent” provisions. Nonetheless, we are in deep poop if the incoming president gets his way. I wrote my two senators and have restacked this to my own SubStack post.
If Trump gets his key people confirmed within a year. We should start to see the entire federal government implode. Ramaswamy says he wants to fire 75% of the workforce. Does that include the armed forces, FBI, post office, IRS, NIH, FDA and Education Department? How about air traffic controllers?
It is laughable that the DOGE intended to streamline the US bureaucracy will start with not one but two directors Elon and Vivek - that is bloat from the get-go. Vivek should start his quest by firing Musk LOL.
This is Prof. Timothy Snyder's take on the incoming White house office.
He is aptly creating an analogy to a 1960s Sitcom. He calls it Oligarchs' Island.
https://snyder.substack.com/p/oligarchs-island
One of the take-aways I have from this, is that all of these people may be cycled out if they displease the Oligarchs, who are the only MAGAs who count because they bought the presidency for Trump. None of them is sane either, as Oligarchs never are. So, we are getting ready for a revolving door of the in flavor of sycophants to worship either DT or JDV it is unclear. Remember, Usha rules.
I'm not giving up, I'm not giving in and I'm sure as hell not gonna shut up.
I'm in for the long haul.