Dizzying, insightful, and exhausting to behold. My refuge is swing state postcard writing , makes it so much easier to get through these heady mind-binding days🙈
I'd always associated the Lord of Misrule in British tradition with the period between Christmas and Epiphany (Twelfth Night), but Britannica tells me that his reign could last as long as three months. I realize it's only August, and early August at that, but could that be who's in charge here? I sure as hell haven't seen anything like it, and I've been around a while.
What disconcerts me most is how blatant the right (Heritage Foundation et al.) has been with its Project 2025. The anti-democratic tendencies on the (white) right were never a secret, and in recent decades they've been gaining steam, but to put it out there in the open like that? Did they miscalculate? Or are their calculations based on things I and the rest of us don't know, or don't fully credit -- something along the lines of the quiet part Trump said out loud about not needing elections any more.
The surprise I'd love to see, but am jaded enough to think I won't, is a resurgence of pro-democracy activism after the Dems win big in November. Too many people seem to assume that Trump is the problem, rather than the symptom of a problem that's been gestating for decades. The real work begins after this particular hydra head is lopped off, because the right-wing big money crowd will waste no time growing two more heads. They're playing the long game, but I'm afraid most of us aren't.
Surprises galore are inevitable because of our Freedoms! We allow the Evils of Humanity to continue their destructive behavior! When we learn that we have to stop condoning evil deeds!
Very plausible scenarios, and compellingly presented.
Some thoughts:
- Trump looks to be in bad shape currently, but the last time that appeared to be the case, he held his lie-infested own while beloved Uncle Joe unfortunately self-immolated in a debate with him. Call it like you see it, but we underestimate, at our peril, Trump's capacity to adapt to circumstances and surprise us. He's bad off, but not as bad off as we like to think.
- Trump will surely make it to election day, IMO; the more time he has to be safe from incarceration, the better he'll feel he's doing. If he loses the election, I expect that the moment it looks like the feds are closing in, he'll vamoose to Hungary, or wherever they'll have him. Not sure Russia will even want him, as his value to Putin will be significantly decreased.
- I don't subscribe to the theory that Trump is still operating entirely in crazy-like-a-fox mode - it's evident that he's pretty cognitively impaired. But neither do I believe that he isn't capable of suddenly cleaning up when it seems essential to do so, such as in the debate. My take is that he's sounding as wacky as he is in his rallies not just because he's nuts (which he is), but also because he genuinely doesn't believe he needs to politick in a conventional way. I think he's convinced he can keep his base intact, lose competitively, game the electors at the state level, win the elector vote or have it thrown into the house, and then, after winning that vote, rather than stay President forever (nice fantasy for him, but not plausible), pardon the heck out of himself, grab the cash, get out of Dodge as President rather than as a con, and retire to some nice Dacha with a gold toilet on the outskirts of St Petersburg.
- In 2028, we will run Big Gretch and Mayor Pete against JD Vance and whomever, and just like in 1974, facilitate an electoral obliteration of the Republican Party.
... But hey - Kamala's gonna win anyway, so, What - Me Worry? 😁
If Trump’s psyche collapses under the realization that he will lose this election, far more important than his first loss, he will abscond with his election support funds and fly to FL, with a final Nixonian wave, JDV will segue into the Presidential slot and either Mikey Johnson or Kevin Robert’s will take the VP slot. Then I expect self-immolation in a public sphere will happen spontaneously. The End.
There are so many bad actors on the other side and around the world. It’s alarming to consider what the next 3 months could bring. I’m usually left somewhat reassured by your pieces David but
not so much this time. Not helping that I’m watching Against All Enemies that Meidas Touch is premiering for free on YouTube. It’s scary AF. I hope this time we as a country are ready for each and every effort to overturn a free and fair election and any potential insurgences the RWNJ’s have in their wheelhouse. We have to do more than hope the center holds. We have to fight the good fight against these dystopian plans.
The best October surprises would be a deep dive expose into all the money the traitor and his family made from foreign governments, especially in light of the latest Egyptian involvement. I would like nothing better than a big reveal of the depths of Barr’s corruption especially as Trump’s personal attorney. I’m hopeful flipping Jenna Ellis might open some doors to exposing and eventually holding all the house and senate R’s who participated in the insurrection accountable. I’d love to see the 26 women who previously accused Trump of improprieties come back out of the woodwork too. I want Tanya Chutkan to have an opportunity to fulfill our right to know. And I want Elon charged and out of the picture.
Brilliant! Thank you for for putting my free-floating anxiety into good form. This is a great to-do list. While they’re at it, sure would like to know what those elected officials were doing in Moscow on July 4th, several years back!
Yes. We’ve only touched the surface. I’ve read every book published about him. None positive-that’s my motivation. I read several about his alignment with Russia too. He’s an evil monster and we won’t have peace until he’s gone and MAGA is defeated.
He’s defied the actuarial tables thus far. He’s on his way to total narcissistic collapse and it’s going to escalate. He won’t resign. He has too much to lose.
He looks like maybe a lifetime of anger and bodily abuse will seal the deal.
I think from everything we see that his health is very compromised. He’s old and demented. He lives in a delusional world. Chuck Schumer said on tv that a Republican senator said we are going to lose because of this guy. His speech in Georgia attacking the governor was so out of control. I think we are going to see a meltdown he can’t come back from.
Undoubtedly but I still think he’ll persist unless the party finds its spine and turns on him. He has to stay immune from prosecution which an unlikely win will allow. Sad state of affairs.
Dizzying, insightful, and exhausting to behold. My refuge is swing state postcard writing , makes it so much easier to get through these heady mind-binding days🙈
I'd always associated the Lord of Misrule in British tradition with the period between Christmas and Epiphany (Twelfth Night), but Britannica tells me that his reign could last as long as three months. I realize it's only August, and early August at that, but could that be who's in charge here? I sure as hell haven't seen anything like it, and I've been around a while.
The icing on the cake would be a decisive Ukraine victory in October!!!
one thing for sure it's going to be weird and fascistic.
I Shared Mine In Restack And HAD SOME FUN!
It always makes my day, hearing from you. I don’t want you to feel responsible for me, nevertheless it is great to hear you.
What disconcerts me most is how blatant the right (Heritage Foundation et al.) has been with its Project 2025. The anti-democratic tendencies on the (white) right were never a secret, and in recent decades they've been gaining steam, but to put it out there in the open like that? Did they miscalculate? Or are their calculations based on things I and the rest of us don't know, or don't fully credit -- something along the lines of the quiet part Trump said out loud about not needing elections any more.
The surprise I'd love to see, but am jaded enough to think I won't, is a resurgence of pro-democracy activism after the Dems win big in November. Too many people seem to assume that Trump is the problem, rather than the symptom of a problem that's been gestating for decades. The real work begins after this particular hydra head is lopped off, because the right-wing big money crowd will waste no time growing two more heads. They're playing the long game, but I'm afraid most of us aren't.
Surprises galore are inevitable because of our Freedoms! We allow the Evils of Humanity to continue their destructive behavior! When we learn that we have to stop condoning evil deeds!
Very plausible scenarios, and compellingly presented.
Some thoughts:
- Trump looks to be in bad shape currently, but the last time that appeared to be the case, he held his lie-infested own while beloved Uncle Joe unfortunately self-immolated in a debate with him. Call it like you see it, but we underestimate, at our peril, Trump's capacity to adapt to circumstances and surprise us. He's bad off, but not as bad off as we like to think.
- Trump will surely make it to election day, IMO; the more time he has to be safe from incarceration, the better he'll feel he's doing. If he loses the election, I expect that the moment it looks like the feds are closing in, he'll vamoose to Hungary, or wherever they'll have him. Not sure Russia will even want him, as his value to Putin will be significantly decreased.
- I don't subscribe to the theory that Trump is still operating entirely in crazy-like-a-fox mode - it's evident that he's pretty cognitively impaired. But neither do I believe that he isn't capable of suddenly cleaning up when it seems essential to do so, such as in the debate. My take is that he's sounding as wacky as he is in his rallies not just because he's nuts (which he is), but also because he genuinely doesn't believe he needs to politick in a conventional way. I think he's convinced he can keep his base intact, lose competitively, game the electors at the state level, win the elector vote or have it thrown into the house, and then, after winning that vote, rather than stay President forever (nice fantasy for him, but not plausible), pardon the heck out of himself, grab the cash, get out of Dodge as President rather than as a con, and retire to some nice Dacha with a gold toilet on the outskirts of St Petersburg.
- In 2028, we will run Big Gretch and Mayor Pete against JD Vance and whomever, and just like in 1974, facilitate an electoral obliteration of the Republican Party.
... But hey - Kamala's gonna win anyway, so, What - Me Worry? 😁
Excellent summary and analysis.
If Trump’s psyche collapses under the realization that he will lose this election, far more important than his first loss, he will abscond with his election support funds and fly to FL, with a final Nixonian wave, JDV will segue into the Presidential slot and either Mikey Johnson or Kevin Robert’s will take the VP slot. Then I expect self-immolation in a public sphere will happen spontaneously. The End.
There are so many bad actors on the other side and around the world. It’s alarming to consider what the next 3 months could bring. I’m usually left somewhat reassured by your pieces David but
not so much this time. Not helping that I’m watching Against All Enemies that Meidas Touch is premiering for free on YouTube. It’s scary AF. I hope this time we as a country are ready for each and every effort to overturn a free and fair election and any potential insurgences the RWNJ’s have in their wheelhouse. We have to do more than hope the center holds. We have to fight the good fight against these dystopian plans.
The best October surprises would be a deep dive expose into all the money the traitor and his family made from foreign governments, especially in light of the latest Egyptian involvement. I would like nothing better than a big reveal of the depths of Barr’s corruption especially as Trump’s personal attorney. I’m hopeful flipping Jenna Ellis might open some doors to exposing and eventually holding all the house and senate R’s who participated in the insurrection accountable. I’d love to see the 26 women who previously accused Trump of improprieties come back out of the woodwork too. I want Tanya Chutkan to have an opportunity to fulfill our right to know. And I want Elon charged and out of the picture.
A wish list to assuage my fears.
Brilliant! Thank you for for putting my free-floating anxiety into good form. This is a great to-do list. While they’re at it, sure would like to know what those elected officials were doing in Moscow on July 4th, several years back!
Yes. We’ve only touched the surface. I’ve read every book published about him. None positive-that’s my motivation. I read several about his alignment with Russia too. He’s an evil monster and we won’t have peace until he’s gone and MAGA is defeated.
Gas prices will skyrocket as autocratic nations cut off supply to try to tip election to trump.
China will attack Taiwan or try to cut off their supplies (food, oil, etc.)
Our electrical grid will be attacked
Trump will claim that Biden Harris is responsible for the chaos and that he is the candidate of stability. MSM will parrot that line.
At that point, he has a chance of winning again.
I don’t think Trump makes it to election day.
He’s defied the actuarial tables thus far. He’s on his way to total narcissistic collapse and it’s going to escalate. He won’t resign. He has too much to lose.
He looks like maybe a lifetime of anger and bodily abuse will seal the deal.
I think from everything we see that his health is very compromised. He’s old and demented. He lives in a delusional world. Chuck Schumer said on tv that a Republican senator said we are going to lose because of this guy. His speech in Georgia attacking the governor was so out of control. I think we are going to see a meltdown he can’t come back from.
Undoubtedly but I still think he’ll persist unless the party finds its spine and turns on him. He has to stay immune from prosecution which an unlikely win will allow. Sad state of affairs.
It is sad. It is hard to believe we have been burdened by him for nine years. Who would have thought we would end up here.
We did all sense something bad was going to happen in the end with all the RWNJ’s and their stollen (sic) election bs.
excellent insite