Everyone has the right to protest what they want via the first amendment, but I ask, why did people adopt these useless slogans so willingly? Why is there so little variation? When I used to do protests, you could see a wide range of people and interests at one protest. There would be different groups and clubs there, sometimes people showed up who I didn't agree with. That's fine. These protests are such a monolith, I think that's what bugs me about them. I remember us driving around to the 3-4 local protests I witnessed with my own eyes. I wanted to find anti-war people to talk to, and other independents. They simply weren't there. Some would say people in the know, are already bugging out. They know the system is hitting a wall. Maybe so.
The same signs everywhere....[this one from Facebook Mountain News [Kentucky]
Pre-made opinions is an obvious one, because so much has been ignored to the point I am incredulous at the severe issues being ignored. Sheesh this meme is right about the "Slogans You Didn't Write!". I mean can't people tell this whole thing is an advertising campaign from the start? They took the personal out of protests! "No Kings" means nothing in the practical world, well we don't have a king even now. Trump wasn't the first one either to wage war without Congressional approval.
Ask yourself of the picture below: "What does this accomplish?" Seen on Facebook. Remember I don't like Trump. He's done things I agree with like leaving WHO, and things I adamantly disagree with like cutting Medicaid and going to war with Iran. This still makes Trump the CENTER of the universe which seems to be the end goal of controlled protests.
The protests seem too repetitive, too conformist, and with little variation. Protests have changed for the worse and I viewed them back to the 1990s. I knew years ago by the 2010s, protests were starting to be co-opted. Yes, there is part of me who has thought, "What was it all for?" Especially as you can tell our government has become less representative and politicians have grown even more corrupt and bought off. No one wanted war with Iran, not even most of the MAGAs but there's it's happening anyway! One of our local liberals, one guy I voted for because he seemed to be a pro-union sort that cared about the economy has now been exposed as a data-center sell-out I will never vote for again. The politicians obviously don't care what their constituents want anymore. How did this happen to such an extent?
No Kings just seems to be steam release sponsored by billionaires! I follow one website that photographs protest marches. There was one anti-war protest in Chicago I agreed with, but this was not a No Kings event but a smaller event. Yesterday, I saw a lot of the local pictures and videos, and was disappointed. No one mentioned Epstein. No one mentioned the Iran war. What are these protests for anyway? Some people have told me they have seen anti-war signs and anti-Epstein signs at their local no kings protests, I hope they are correct and their larger protests, have more independents mixed in the crowd that are not following the dictates of "Indivisible" so strongly. Maybe some are still using brain cells in their area to make independent signs. Some people still believe in the left. I don't. I don't expect Big Pharm loving politicians to change life for the better either.
I looked at a variety of photos, in different areas and videos and saw nothing about the economy too. Maybe a few had signs about gas prices with Trump saying "I did that!".
One article making the rounds from the Wall Street Journal claims that No Kings is just "feel good" group therapy that accomplishes nothing but makes its participants "feel better". People have the right to protest and practice their first amendment rights but there's truth in this paragraph:
"At their core, the rallies resemble bad group therapy—gatherings that offer validation, solidarity and emotional release. They feel good in the moment. Participants vent, find reinforcement among like-minded people, and leave feeling heard and aligned. The experience can seem productive, even clarifying. But like bad group therapy, it stops at validation. The feelings are processed but not challenged, reinforced but not examined. There is relief but little resolution, and the underlying problems remain. It offers the feeling of progress without the substance of it."
Maybe the fact is, that these protests are designed this way. I wrote about this in my other article on No Kings how they were billionaire funded. The messages are guided. You think the billionaires want anyone questioning the economy or the flood of money that will be leaving the country for more war? Wars that the left continued to conduct too?
No Kings Protests: Ignoring the Economic Elephant in the Room!
and then I have this thought....
No one protested the p*dos. No one protested the ones connected to Epstein. And we still have seen no justice for the children and young people who were abused.
I have seen no real demanded changes or calls for improvements to anyone's lives. Sadly, Trump remains the center of attention. Just like Goldstein in the book 1984, the room revolves around Trump for better or worse. There's a problem in that you see especially as society is having so many multiple problems at once. In my small town, it remains the geriatric crowd, those over 65-70 who are mostly middle class and above chanting "no kings". Obama and Biden crossed tyrannical lines too. Remember this meme? The hypocrisy about marching against tyranny when you wanted to FORCE an unwanted medical product on people was too much and something I will never be able to look pass. Yes, Trump is doing things I disagree with, but Biden tried to force clot shots on us all. The left broke tyranny records with that one, forcing people into poverty who refused, taking their jobs away and more. There are still states like Massachusetts and California who still force the shots for some jobs. That remains unforgiveable to me.
I don't want to hear you going on about tyranny if you support anything to do with that.
It's disturbing still how many people are dying around me. The denial is so thick, the ones who haven't woken up by now never will. The left isn't waking up even as the Gen Xers who took that crap among with many other demographics are getting wiped clean. I am still told that "Covid vaxxes saved lives" and other nonsense on. These are the people who are going to save me from tyranny? Nope that ship already sailed!
Why so little protest against the Iran war? Aren't even boomers upset about their grandchildren getting drafted to fight a war for Israel? I saw this news article claiming some were protesting the Iran war, but I did not see evidence of this locally. I did not see much focus on the Iran war on multiple protests I looked up online.
And STILL NO MENTION of the economy. [outside very few signs about gas prices] even now as things have gotten much worse. Yes, I do feel like protests have been ruined. Co-opted to the max. So now there's these national protests that don't even address the suffering millions are undergoing with economic and other. They never called for justice with the Epstein files--yes I know that could be part of a Psych Op too. They never called an end to what possibly could end up turning into WWIII and where a draft is being discussed. By the way, some are forecasting that "energy lockdowns" are on the way, and I agree with them. It's already happening in other countries. Research this one. I'll tell you this now, given what they did during Covid, the left will cheer those on too. This whole "no kings" protest feels like a distraction and not even a real protest.
Your reading of this is so upside down, I don't even know where to begin, in terms of commenting, as you asked. I would have to write a novel-length response to seriously address what you're saying.
ReplyDeleteI skipped this installment for the most personal of reasons -- I'm so pissed off at people, I don't know what I feel like doing for them right now, especially the "broken clock" crowd, as I'm calling them, who have finally figured out that maybe it wasn't such a good idea to re-install the man-baby. But guess what? They're about 18 months late on that score. Such a total lack of mental acuity goes a long way toward explaining why it's such an epic struggle in this country to get anything major done, like passing the civil rights bill, or the now (nearly-gutted) Voting Rights Act.
But I'm not letting anyone else off the hook, either, particularly those who chose not to vote in 2024, or tossed it away on some obscure third party guy with a Quisp helmet. They're just as guilty as the ones who voted for the orange clown, because elections do have consequences, whether anybody cares to admit that or not. I don't think a Harris presidency would have resulted in so much damage being done in such a short time, but apparently her experience was too "boring" for the lumpen masses to consider. Instead, the "thought" process -- if you can call it that -- went something like this:
"Hey, I'll take the angry man-baby lurking behind door number two. He'll blow everything up! Wow, it'll be really exciting! And gas will be back at two bucks a gallon!" Let's be real -- great politics isn't rocket science, but I found it frustrating that so many people approached it that way. And that's why I feel my heart is made of stone right now, because I refuse to listen to all the resulting wailing and gnashing of teeth. "Oh, prices are higher than ever! People are being killed by masked goons! We're at war again! How could we have been so misled? Why didn't we see this coming?"
Well, all I can say is -- they got the first part right. Kaboom-boom-boom has been the order of the day, and I think we could all use a great deal less excitement. Thanks, but no thanks to all the stupid motherfuckers who dragged us down the chute with them -- apparently, because Family Guy reruns are about as edgy as it ever gets for them, I guess.
I don't think you can seriously parallel Trump with his predecessors, except on deportations -- Obama actually sent more people back, for which he was roundly denounced, but even there, his government worked a bit differently, in sticking with due process. Both he and Biden did a lot of silly old-fashioned things, like consulting Congress, and not sticking their worst cronies in charge of government agencies. Nor did they send their entitled offspring to do their talking for them in the Middle East. Like it or not, those differences are important, especially when you have someone like the current guy ravaging our democracy with his unilateralist, maximalist approach.
So whenever I keep the bile from blurping back up my throat, I will probably be back for another go-round. But right now, I feel that I need to stifle the urge, and get my emotions under some kind of control.-- Mr. Peep
Hey I agree with you after Trump allowed Covid to come in, I don't know why he was given "another chance". I know my beliefs about the validity of voting are far different, in my beliefs about the elections being "selections". What did he do that was so great to bring him back in for another rerun?
DeleteI agree it seems really hard to get anything done anymore especially anything that serves the people instead of the Oligarchy.
I do think Covid was the deciding factor with Harris, I know you debate this point with me, but the Covid vaxxes and the forcing of them by the left probably cost them millions of votes. As you know this is the very issue I can't forgive. Another friend drops dead or I hear about another neighbor or someone else dying, it gets depressing. It's not like there's understanding therapists to go to, now, especially since so many are politically correct or "woke" to go unload about living in a dystopia watching everyone die, while you spent decades outrunning the Grim Reaper. Thus my jokes about "Are we really in hell now?" or did the timeline shift to a parallel universe. To be frank, that's what cost her the election.
I know anger about the economy especially Biden's denials also got many pissed off people to go vote for Trump, that was probably number 2 in why people voted for the other one. I also think there's some weird death wish/apocalyptical thing in the American psyche, where some seem like they can't wait for it to crash and burn so some actions are being taken, to make it happen faster? The sign of a dying civilization or one taken to the exhaustive brink? I'm not sure. Remember I'm the one who can't even find a church between the wokes and the crazed Christian Nationalists who want me to pay homage to the Orange One and helping make WW3 happen.
I understand your frustration, why are people surprised that everything is crap now? I get tired of the snide pundits who refer to the "enshittification". Like they are just excuse makers for everyone to eat their poo sandwich and be happy about it.
I'm not happy with the extremes of ICE, I'm against the endless illegal immigration pouring in, but they seemed to do everything the nastiest, most violent, crazed, rights-destroying way they could up with. That was disgusting.
Thanks, Peep. I don't think COVID undid Harris -- no one was talking about it in connection with her. What undid her campaign was the same thing that forced her boss off the political stage -- a mulish refusal to understand that 1) touting macro stats doesn't pay the bills, and 2) doesn't get you any love at the box office when people see different things going on in their lives.
DeleteTo me, this is honestly the most painful part of the 2024 debacle -- if only they had, we might have been able to keep Trump and his fellow barbarians away from the gates.
The other big problem, as Harris's campaign rolled on, was her unwillingness to embrace big thinking -- I don't know if you remember those NYT wise guy takedowns of her book that I sent you. But if you do, go back and re-read them -- because I think they nailed it.
Basically, the three writers who examined her book saw it proving two things: 1) It was written by a lawyer, and as we all know, lawyers tend to be an overly cautious crowd (the Saul Goodman persona notwithstanding), and 2) It demonstrated, as one of them said, "How much of a small bore politician she really is."
Aside from the $25,000 home owner assistance policy, which she only sketched with the broadest of broad brush strokes, she didn't offer anything radically new or different, even when voters seemed to be clamoring for it. And thus, enter the angry man-baby, behind Door Number One. And you know how that played out! --Mr. Peep
Finally, last but not least --
ReplyDeleteI don't know what you'll print any of this, but I hope you to start taking a more considered look at some of these issues -- the bottom line is, all of these big jobs aren't going to be left blank -- someone will fill them, and at this point, I want all the feral psychopaths OUT of them. And then, sitting in a jail cell, or at least exiled to their preferred authoritarian climes, whether it's Hungary, Russia, or South Africa, "so that they can't annoy the decent folks," to coin that old '20s phrase. I don't think it's asking for a lot, even if everyone makes me feel that it is.
Should it surprise anybody that three of the biggest uber-rich assholes -- Musk, Sacks, and Thiel -- are all South Africans who washed up here, once their Afrikaner racist nationalist shtick became about as welcome as a pork chop at a bar mitzvah?
It shouldn't, but considering the (lack of) thought that enabled Trump and his wolves to get back in the henhouse, I shouldn't assume too much, at this point. I remember my dad voicing the same frustration with that stuff about the con man crowd -- he'd say, "Why do they always seem to end up HERE?" To which I'd respond, a la Willie Sutton, when asked why he robbed banks: "Because that's where the money is."
But if we really want to take that MAGA bunny immigrant shtick seriously, how about a new rule: "No more rich guy broke overdogs, no matter how much money they hoard, or how talented they claim to be, to com here -- EVER?" Then maybe we could all finally get some sleep. Which brings me back to my current mood, I guess. But that's just me, isn't it? I can't stop seeing all those snakes in the garden of Eden. --Mr. Peep
I agree with some of the motives. I think they have stripped down the Constitituion, they pushed ICE into extreme absurdities.
DeleteI want feral psychopaths dealt with too. This of course includes all of Covid's finest like Fauci. I do see some psychopaths on the "other side" too, though I would fathom there does seem to be some very heightened evil on the right like they were villains made for TV like that crazed Hegseth guy.
Sadly humanity has that psychopaths in charge problem that have led so many civilizations to ruin. One thing I don't like about the present protests is they don't seem to take themselves serious and also seem to paper over and push away the most serious of issues like Iranian war, Gaza and the economy. Also if you really do see danger and a threat, you aren't going to put on pink pillowy unicorn outfits.
I do believe America is already authoritarian. We may have some first amendment rights left today, and still can criticize the govt online and elsewhere, but obviously all of that is in danger.
Yes Why did we get South African's refuse? Maybe after they already looted that place clean they came here to join the feast at the trough with the rest of the elite [parasites]
Hmm maybe your Dad was seeing something about America there, yeah this place sadly is a conman's paradise, I'm not even sure if other countries reached the height of this place in attracting the Elmer Gantry crowd. BTW I want to read that book soon too.
Yes this is where the money is, or WAS.
I agree close out the rich creeps too who are just here to feed at the trough, and take advantage. We can agree there are too many snakes here.
Yeah, that was a phenomenon my dad often commented on -- how all the fraudsters and flim-flam artists always seemed to choose the US as their top destination spot. I don't think that's an accident, as we've seen from all too many of these stories.
DeleteI can't speak for Sacks, or Thiel, but I have read that in Musk's case, his main motivation was to avoid getting drafted, because South Africa still had a mandatory military service requirement. Apparently, he went to Canada first, for that reason, then made his way over here. It's not hard to imagine his thinking -- straddling a rifle for the glory of apartheid might have felt appealing in the early '80s, but a lot less so by the early '90s, when it was more and more obvious that the whites-only regime was living on borrowed time (and he might have to deal with angry ANC members wanting to, shall we say, rearrange various parts of his anatomy in retribution, if they got their mitts on him).
Of course, SA's post-WWII history is a complicated subject -- one thing that fascinates me, and I still have to research this more closely, is that the country did boast a punk scene (small, but still visible), and also, its own version of the 2-Tone ska thing that took the UK and the world by storm, but one whose messages of tolerance would carry quite a different punch down there, to say the least!
Again, I have to push back on your comment that the protests aren't serious -- they are. But again, it has to be a focused thing. I remember demonstrations at MSU falling apart, because somebody would start chanting a different slogan, and soon, others would pick up on it, or folks would shout out something different, which would dilute the whole effort.
I guess you never witnessed those sorts of spectacles, but I did -- and the general impression left behind was less than complimentary. That's where I'm coming from -- one message, one messenger. It's the same thing in bands -- you can't have two featured artists, or two frontmen/women. With rare exceptions, it doesn't work. Or, at least, not as well as it should, if we want to be charitable.
I personally see the psychopathy as an extension of the rich bad guy's impulse to control and micromanage others, no matter how destructive the outcome -- those tendencies go hand in hand. The "command/control" urge might have worked beautifully for Captain Kirk -- man of action, who doesn't want to see him swing fists at the alien bad guy, right? -- but less so for those who THINK they're like Kirk, but lack his strategic ability and insight. And therein lies the difference. And the rub. --Mr. Peep
I'm not trying to be hard on you, because I love you so much -- you know that. So I apologize how some of these comments may come across, since I was responding in the moment -- I just want you to think about some of these points that I've raised. As I've mentioned, I'm struggling with some stuff, too, different issues than yours, maybe, but if you want me to craft an alternate response, I'll be happy to do that for you, too. Anything for my bird! --Mr. Peep
ReplyDeleteThanks I understand, I love you too! Remember I don't mind you responding here, to get the other take on it, or the person's take who does support these rallies and why. Yeah you are dealing with some stuff too, that's okay I posted these and responded.
DeleteI'm glad you understand, too, Peeps, and I know that I'm lucky to have you. It's amazing to have shared this much time with one person, especially one of your knowledge, warmth, and general caliber. I'm thankful for that, every day that we have together, and I don't take it lightly. --Mr. Peep
DeleteOK, to continue from where I left off...
ReplyDeleteBut what depresses me most is your willingness to recycle right-wing talking points -- when has the Wall Street Journal represented anything but the old monied establishment that would deny people like you a new CPAP? Or the Stephen Miller bullshit line, about the rallies being full of senior citizens? C'mon, you know better than to repeat that whopper!
Maybe here in our town, which has always skewed that way, but not everywhere. To quote my good friend, Mike Ehrmentraut: "It's a big country, Walter." I guess Pee Wee German doesn't get out much, which spares me the sight of looking at his shiny ugly bald dome, but that doesn't change the issue. If you're going to do their work, at least send an invoice, so you can get paid appropriately -- though I doubt they'd honor it, as they seem to have a certain "blockage" about equal pay for equal work, last time I checked.
The reality is that without the protests, things would be much, much worse -- it was true of the first Trump term, and it's even more so, on this go-round. The power of public opinion is one of the major reasons Trump gets his "TACO" nickname (Trump Always Chickens Out). If he didn't fear the public, then why is he trying so desperately to rig the midterms? Why is he putting out public trial balloons of sending his masked goons to "man" the polls this fall, or confiscate voting machines, as he openly mulled in 2020? It shouldn't take a lot of thought to connect those particular dots, really.
But fine, let's flip it around. Let's take hyper-purism to its conclusion -- what's the alternative? Stay home? Hold your tongue, keep your mouth shut, turn up your collar, and hope that nobody notices you? Pray really, really hard, and hope that some giant thunderbolt of reason strikes that shrunken brain? That worked for a milli-second in places like '30s-era Germany, until they came knocking on the door. I can't go with that logic, or lack thereof.
The reality is that without all the constant pressure from progressives, the Democrats wouldn't be doing some of the better things that they're finally trying now, such as holding up the DHS funding, until they can get their conditions met (such as ditching the masks, and requiring body cams). If you don't make the effort, you'll never know. Harnessing the power of public opinion is one of the first ways that do it, and mass protests like these seem to be making a good start in that direction. Keeping quiet seems like the least effective of any potential option you could trot out -- if nothing else, it reminds the regime that it's not going to be a walkover for them.
So, for the umpteenth time -- No Kings is designed to focus solely on the power grabs, for one major reason. How many demonstrations spiral into chaos, because everybody wants to have their pet causes heard? "Save the whales! Save the Iranians! Save the left-handed Albanian stenographers with gum disease!" And on and on and on.
If we allow that, we'd be there a lot longer -- Epstein and Iran are epic topics in themselves, and would require a separate protest, or public event, to address properly. You can't just do all those things in two hours. At a certain point, you want to keep the energy focused, so you don't wear people out. There is a limit how far you can push those boundaries, right? These are some of the practicalities that you have to deal with.
As far as signs go, they don't have to be long statements, or elaborate works of art. In fact, the Ramones-ish approach of beauty in simplicity, right? With their early stuff, everything was either, "I wanna," or, "I don't wanna," which lends itself well to this kind of thing.
The last protest I attended, I dragged out a few old ones that seemed to fit, and made a new one -- a crown with a red slash across it, added "NO KINGS" at the top, and boom, I was done. That's how you've got to approach these things, sometimes. Of course, now that there's less gig work, I've got more time on my hands. So there is that, I guess. -- Mr. Peep
Hey remember I am not Republican because they don't treat the disabled too well. Well given my CPAP company has gone mad, lately, I'm a bit worried. Did you know they charged more for one of the masks now than the CPAP, that floored me?
DeleteThe senior citizens, well I've seen them here myself, remember I observed 3-4 rallies. I don't feel much in common with the wealthy liberal boomer crowd in our town. I'll admit this is where some of my disaffection comes. I just don't relate to those folks. Remember I've been in some of their circles, hey many of them were/are NICE to me, but their lives, are nothing like ours. That's who I see mostly attending our local protests. I have had others tell me things are different in their towns and I believe them but I have seen pictures/videos etc, from elsewhere where it does seem that people with grey-hair massively predominate. I know it's hard on you that I no longer consider myself a liberal [I'm neither] Classic liberal maybe but the labels have been so destroyed now. It's hard you know where do any politicians represent my life or my interests? Maybe for the poor none of them never really did though the USA got a few breaks with a few in the past that seemed to try to help, Roosevelt for instance.
Our town is so old, I expect this place to empty out when boomers die off, we are old ourselves now but think 10-15 years from now, who is going to be left here, I hope we don't get more in flood of tourists. I do think this town probably will return to it's former state because I don't see tourism doing that well in Depression 2.0.
LOL who is Pee Wee German? That's a funny name. Gen X seems checked out of protests, don't forget to read my other Gen X posts too. Mr. Peep.
Hey remember this blog is full of criticism for Trump. I don't think the still love Trump Magas are going to like my meme where I put up that Trump went to war to hide the Epstein files. Many MAGAS you must remember are jumping ship. Keep that in mind. They aren't going to "no kings" rallies but they are PISSED especially since Trump basically took a giant crap on America First revising the Bush era for his friend Bibi. The economy and gas prices have many working class people in a froth, and many have written online they are done with Trump. Trump and RFK too lost millions of supporters too with their double-talk and lies about Covid vaxxes and many ordinary medical freedom people signed out. Mr. Warp Speed remember was still promoting the mRNA. The controlled opps still kiss his butt but regular folks noticed the lack of action.
continuing...
DeleteI'm not sure Trump cares about public reactions, well you know conspiracy me, believes they are all front men who get ordered around behind the scenes, otherwise why are we at war with Iran, when Trump ran on no new wars and managed to piss off at least half his base. Just wait until the flood of deceased soldiers start coming back for funerals. He's not going to be too popular. If they do "energy" lockdowns, what I think is coming and rationing of gas. Trump will go down as far less popular than even Carter was near the end.
Why go into this stupid war then KNOWING he's losing his base and it will hand it to the "no kings" liberals. I expect a blue wave, here we go the pendulum doing it's usually swinging back and forth. I know some of this confuses me, why they do things or not. I try to boil everything down to MONEY. What makes them money. I suppose War does. What do their billionaire donors want, we can extrapolate some motives then.
I don't believe in being silent. Look at this blog, I speak out against stuff. I have been sick for a couple months but there's times I consider my own protests. If I could find a real anti-war group [I saw a real protest with antiwar people in it that I liked shown on that Chicago protest website] I would join it. I don't expect much of these politicians. The economy is so bad, I'm surprised there hasn't been more push back honestly like the picketing of food stores or something.
I know you still think good things can come out of the Democratic party, sometimes I envy your idealism, as people can tell I gave up on them long ago. I do really see the politicians as all sold out. Some can argue who is worse of course. I wish there were people out there, who were independents, who didn't go with billionaire sloganing, who did talk about the economy and war, and some of the harder heavier issues. I guess I am exposing some of my disappointment here. My God why didn't anyone take to the streets even for the Epstein creeps to be dealt with in a court of law? Yeah Yeah I know that may be Psych Op crap but they got court cases and affidavits on some of those people don't they? I suppose that is what troubles me. I also fear "distractions" where they keep things "light" back to those puffy unicorns again, to keep the harder issues from being dealt with as they seem hell bent on plucking every dollar from everyone and blowing up the world and destroying everything good in our lives.
Do research when you get a chance who is financing these protests and maybe mull over my musings about them being controlled or steered a certain way. Do you see that as a possibility at all? I know Republicans have their immediate popular slogans too. We saw the war with Iran being sold in that church I walked out of in 2015 so they've worked on their people just as long.
LOL that's true, I remember your short hand sign. You drew that one really quick. Hey I was used to years of carefully crafted signs trying to put the most into the messages I could. Remember that weird "They are narcissists" sign I drew. I thought that one was unusual. LOL
Pee Wee German is the progressives' nickname for Stephen Miller. I've seen others, but that seems to be the variant that's stuck, whether he likes it or not.
DeleteTrump is most definitely scared, again -- as illustrated by his attempt to rig the midterms, and notably, his DOJ trying to pry voting lists out of state governments. Why would they be doing that, if it wasn't about who they wanted to disenfranchise? Think about it. That's the only reason they would be doing that. They're even suing red states -- who would presumably be "friendly" to their electoral tactics -- to get their hands on those names. if that's not running scared, tell me what is!
As far as why Trump would start another war, knowing it might not pay off -- what you have to understand is that guys like him approach decision-making like the proverbial riverboat gambler. They're willing to risk it all -- and lose it all -- because A) they think they're better and smarter and more talented than us "shumucks" without money, and B) the hand of fate that they think will rescue them from their stupidest decisions will swoop down, and save them, anyhow.
It doesn't always work out that way, but if you read the book, LUCKY LOSER, this is how Trump has always operated -- by the proverbial seat of his pants, often moments away from collapse, only to be bailed out at the eleventh hour. And he's not the only rich "just over broke" guy who operates that way, since they usually sucker others into financing most of their foolish schemes.
I think idealism is an antidote to the prevailing notions of, "Ah, shut up and do the business, then take your cold shower once you've consummated it." I think we can do better than that -- I remember how it felt, when I decided to back Sanders the first time around. In doing so, I was saying, "To hell with all you so-called pundits -- I'm going this way, and that's the end of it."
It was like a dream you didn't want to wake up from -- I remember the same goosebumps I got, when I realized that there was more to life than the Top 40 radio that was starting to suck the life out of my brain. And that's probably I feel that way today -- it takes me back to all those boring '70s summers as a teenager, having the overproduced shlock mush of crapmongers like Andy Gibb and Leo Sayer being carpet-bombed into my ears, against my will, hour after hour after hour, thinking, "Oh, Jesus. There just has to be more to life than -- THIS. Anything but -- THIS!" --Mr. Peep
Isn't that Hegseth a neo-Nazi or something? Yeah Stephen Miller I don't like either. Just another stupid sycophant but you know I don't like most of the political class anymore, they all suck, probably all crawled out of the lodge. Even Bernie took millions from Big Pharm. I don't think voting is going to solve the problems we are facing, maybe some local votes can help, but that's it.
DeleteTrump is old and well he's in his second term, maybe he doesn't care about mid-terms. Who do we have to vote for more data center loving types? I thought of us both writing a letter to that one guy since we both voted for him to tell him off. Why should they get voting lists? Yeah that's kind of suspect. They always get busy over stupid crap instead of dealing with real problems. What can they do with the lists? Some of us feel like there's no one to vote for. I got Covid vaxx pushers and degenerates or war mongering Zionist idiots who cancel all medicare and help for the disabled.
Trump is doing the bidding of his handlers, they wanted this Iran war, long long ago. Remember what I told our friend visiting us yesterday. Whatever schlump was in, they'd probably have done it. You do realize I hate both parties because they sign off on all the wars. [and I've posted here about Ukraine long enough. He does take risks and thinks he is above it all.
Remember Trump has that White preacher woman who I think is insane directing him. He was hanging out with her and the other fake evangelicals the other day. They were doing their stupid war mongering stuff. I consider them Satan's followers. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/outrage-as-gospel-preacher-compares-trump-to-jesus-during-easter-lunch-at-white-house/ar-AA1ZWW0y?ocid=BingNewsSerp
These people are all nuts. Remember what I told you why I never went back into an evangelical church, the same insanity awaits.
Sure that book Lucky Loser is interesting, this is what you get with a guy who is bolstered by the system and learns he can do what he wants. I think he does obey some handlers but they also give him some open reign to experiment. He lost so much money but knows he can get people to give it to him for instant. You know whatever loans he got were off the books.
You are far more idealistic then me. I envy it. I know I see the world in a darker fashion. Sanders disappointed me with his suck up attitudes about the Covid vaccine and pay offs from Big Pharm and bowing to Biden. I know you still support the guy, he DOES say some of the right things, but I just don't see him producing any results and now that he is a Big Pharm suck up, who would have mandated the Covid vaxx, I really don't like him. Remember I feared dying of them trying to force that crap on me, and I have other beliefs too, so it is unforgiveable to me. I do wonder why he has not chosen a younger protoge, some of these boomers, think they are going to live forever which is a trait of them that is annonying. He's not preparing for the future in that way.
There is more to life then this, I believe that, life isn't supposed to be this way, having a bunch of rich jerks destroy our well-being. It concerns me that Americans are so passive and they accepted the Covid BS and now I worry they are going to accept even worse. Remember that saying "Do Not Comply" and it should apply to all the jerks. I wish we had people of conscience in some leadership positions, that is what we lack you know. The psychopaths are in charge of the asylum, and you know as a person into conspiracy I researched all the networks, but sadly even old school notions of statesmanship, and even rich jerks being of service to mankind, all that's been lost. Some may say they all were jerks since the first guy built a palace to hand out agricultural yields but I think in America there was some notions of right vs wrong and morality that maybe kept things a little more in check here.
Another thought just occurred to me -- idealism is all about demanding the impossible, and having the balls to say so. Look at Jello Biafra's run for mayor of San Francisco in 1979 -- he finished fourth, and pushed the top two candidates into a runoff, which meant they had to work a little bit, instead of phoning it in with the help of big money, like they always do. You really need to hear the side-long story he tells about that experience on his NO MORE COCOONS spoken word album -- they were backstage at a gig, when someone in the DKs said, "Biafra, you have such a big mouth, you should run for President!" Then, apparently, somebody else chimed in, and said, "What about for mayor?"
ReplyDeletePause -- count, one, two, three, and then, JB says: "I -- think -- I will." It puts a smile to my face, every time I hear that little anecdote, or think about it. But look at what happened! He got the chance to put some serious ideas across, and became more than a punk singer. And who knows, maybe inspired others to follow in his footsteps! That's what idealism is all about -- the balls to say, "I'm not putting up with this shit anymore, I'm going to do something about it."
Call it the punk equivalent of Gandhi's celebrated quote: "Be the change you want to see." That's what's it always been about, for me, anyway. The day it isn't anymore, well -- just throw the dirt over me, and be done with it! But I have a long way to go, I think, before it reaches that point, no matter how frustrated I may get. --Mr. Peep
Idealism is good but one thing you do want to put energy in things that will work, like small things even if that is what you can do. I speak out like on this blog. I don't regret it. I'm glad he run for mayor, too bad, he didn't win, I may have voted for him. I agree with the idealism of saying, I'm not putting up with this shit, or as I wrote above "Do Not Comply". One has to see what they will stand for or not. As you know they crossed the lines with me with Covid. Trump is a crazy war monger, and I understand why people voted for , and the conservatives, but I expected betrayal from the guy and I think many are disappointed, realizing all the American First stuff was a lie. RFK was also a giant disappoint. Heck I know they have all disappointed me including Bernie. Maybe we all need to protest and speak out, and accept the reality we may not have a "hero" to show up and set things right, but at least we can say "I'm not doing this" or saying NO to whatever crack-brain schemes they come up with next. People are too taken in with personality cults anyway. The politicial class doesn't give a shit about us. Some people can try to effect change on the local level like Jello did running for mayor. For those in the place to do some of that, that may be a positive. He got some ideas out there. I think neoliberalism and globalism sucks, and maybe ideas comes from people saying "Things don't have to be this way", We don't have to sit silently as they do all sorts of evil crap. We can say no, or say this is the way things should be.
DeleteThe e-mails that were sent out here (I didn't get one) said that "No Kings" was a downtown street party, to put on your costumes, make your signs, and bring instruments.
ReplyDeleteI didn't go - my doctors want me out of crowds.
But I had friends that went. I was told that the crowd was mainly made up of people in their twenties, some younger from the college in town, but not as many attendees as the last one in the Fall - mainly because it was so windy and cold.
The signs were really creative and all kinds of issues were raised in the signs from Ukraine, to the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, to the Epstein files, and the Minnesota protests, and the Gulf War, and detaining immigrants and non-immigrants, the inflation of food and gas prices, the ballroom,, and so much more.
Apparently it was festive with lots of cars honking with signs in their windows, drumming circles, chanting, singing.
The way I look at "No Kings"? It brings communitis together because at some point I think a lot of communities will say "F Washington and it's oligarchs! Boycott the oligarchs! Let's rely on each other for what we need!" My community has already been going in that direction anyway - for years!. All of the stores in the downtown are open (no dead retail zones), the Farmer's Market is so huge now that they pooled to buy a piece of farm land (in town! - how many communities have farmland within city limits?).
So my answer to "What good does 'No Kings' do?" is that it's bringing communities back together, celebrating together, supporting each other.
What if two-thirds of the nation decided not to send taxes to Washington? Would they arrest 200 million people? The people are more powerful than any government, always have been, always will be. I think Heathr cox Richardson said that throughout history it only takes 600,000 protesters to change a government's trajectory. Google AI says it only takes 3.5 percent of the population:
https://www.google.com/search?q=How+many+protesters+does+it+take+to+change+a+government%27s+policies
Hi Lise, Your No Kings protests do seem different with far more younger people and freedom in the messaging. I'm not sure what's going on here. I didn't pick up much community at ours. I even wondered if some of our folks were coming from out of town. I just wanted to see a few antiwar signs. Glad you had some of those. Yeah the weather would have impacted things too.
DeleteSorry to hear your doctors want you out of crowds. I am still nervous in them. So that makes sense.
It is interesting you have young people go to yours. Maybe we don't have enough young people here, this is a far older community, I joke when boomers are gone this place is going to be emptied out.
Im glad some there protested about the Epstein Files, why not here, I wish so! I just feel like people are uninformed about that, I even posted about Epstein Files to my social media, and just about everyone well except this one liberal friend ignored the issue. Why have Americans put up with so many politicians being exposed as horrible perverts? It's weird to me, one of the Duggars has been exposed as a pedophile, and they say he may get 25 years in jail but then we just had these politicians and celebs being exposed as doing even worse crimes and more numbers of crimes and they are still scott-free.
I think I have feelings of disenfranchisment from the left that trouble me. Like I don't fit in with them, so it doesn't feel like community to me. That revolves around the Covid issues I suppose in my case. It is kind of weird for me to see people I used to protest with myself and lots of old church members at these protests and face my feelings well I don't fit in there anymore.
I do think they need something that is more open to more kinds of people, not just something seen as for the left, does this make sense. Like where do us more conservative politically homeless go protest? Where does a pissed off ex-MAGA who still doesn't agree with Dem party go protest? I saw some people trying to bring protests together in BIG CITIES to protest Epstein from both the left and right, I would find that of interest. [I worry they could steer that stuff too but may as well make the issues known and say that's wrong!] It impresses me your local protesters dealt with the economy, maybe this place is too many rich boomers, I don't know but the lack of that shocks me here. I mean the economy is crushing the whole lot of us. Your community definitely seems more together on many things with the farmland and businesses, I think things are less grassroots here and more elitist by far. We have the very poor ghetto area too next to more wealthy area. I know different communities there's going to be a much different make-ups.
continuing...
I saw an anti war protest in a neighboring big city, I would have no problem being joined with. I did try to look up an anti-war group to join but they are all too far. I haven't had money to barely even travel 25 miles for my art club so going 100 miles is beyond me physically and financially. If people do say F the oligarchs, at this point that would be progress. I thought of taking anti tech signs at my one woman protest like No to Digital ID. LOL I just don't fit in with our local No Kings, and they support things I don't. It is weird I know because Trump has probably pissed me off more than them on some issues. I mean what a disappointment RFK was. That's interesting about the 3.5 %, I agree, that does take notice. I do think the saying in the medical freedom community more should embrace is "Do Not Comply". If enough people just say NO, then some of the BS will stop. It would have stopped the Covid nonsense. I wish soldiers would say NO I will not fight an unwanted war. Young people are already saying they would refuse to be drafted. People should say no to Digital ID and other freedom destruction. Problem is they do use fear and manipulation to enact their will on people. The people's will isn't even being listened to, on both sides. Oligarchs serving themselves to money, profit and power.
Deletehey when you get a chance check this video out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1cV57xMFUk&t=8s
"maybe this place is too many rich boomers" - could be. The last one here was more young people than old ones.
ReplyDeleteI just watched the PBS News Hour, and they put up recent polls. I think one was on the economy (25% approval rating, 75% disapproval rating).
The Congress and Senate have not voted on this war, so it is unconstitutional. Soldiers make a pledge to the Constitution, and not to any president, but I still can't figure out whether soldiers are duty-bound to fight in an unconstitutional war.
"No to digital ID" is worthy of a sign.
I'll go and check out the video.
I can see this town emptying out. You know I am on the fence about staying here, and even wanted to move back to my old town years ago, but that place is in too terrible of shape now, and everything is closed and everyone died or left. We kind of ended up staying here for medical care mostly and the "arts" stuff. I considered going to a small town but the medical demands, kept me here. Even a recent medical happening, I would have been screwed if I lived in one of the very small places. This town is all rich boomers though, and it's aging out. There's some millennials, but wondering if will empty out. I do think the tourist stuff is in decline, can't say I mind though I hope the art center makes as long as I am alive. The economy is so bad, I'm surprised there's not protests about food and gas yet, and just the cost of living. You see one of my worries about no kings is that they have successfully suppressed this, making Trump the center of attention as everyone's lives implode. I am glad PBS had some people protest the economy. I may just do a one woman protest, but will see how health goes. Yeah I can add in the no to digital ID. I told my friend yesterday it may be time to war protest, but I can't find a local group. Thanks for checking out the video. The presidents have too much power now and Congress is sold out and bought off by APAIC for this war. I plan to check who I vote for and if they took APAIC donations, I'm not voting for them. I checked this on occasion before. People in Israel are screwed over too by all these crazed war mongers. I may carry a sign on Agenda 2030. I do wish this town had more independents politically. LOL there's reasons I considered moving out of here you know. That's one of them. The medical care helped me but I know being around all rich people while I'm poor affected my psyche in negative ways. That's one reason you saw me hanging out so much in that one small town I like to go to, but it's too far from medical care to live there, and even the nearest pharmacy to the place is 45 minutes away. Just not doable.
DeleteHope you got my comment. There was a "bloop" and no "Your comment will be published by the discretion of the administrator".
ReplyDeleteYeah I have all the comments where I have to look at them before posting, I think of removing it, but I got a lot of nasty comments in the past to take down.
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