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Suzanne's avatar

It was definitely worth reading to the last paragraph. When I started, a few days after you first posted, I thought, “Thinking about this is going to ruin my morning!”, but surprisingly, I’ve got hope that the worst won’t come, that we will survive. Frankly, the cruelty of the personality cults is what disgusts and scares me. I know the América of the past some of us would like to return never can now. We have seen behind each others’ KN95. We know which neighbors are racists and CN and homophobes. I can’t unknow that. I’ve looked up too many voter registration records to see who I am able to talk freely in front of and wish that still didn’t matter or won’t in the future. I’ve lost trust and don’t think any leader can give that back to me. But hoping it’s not a done deal and that we still have a voice in how it turns out is reason enough to get up, smile, and try to add a little kindness to the world today. Every little bit is an antidote. Thanks for giving me perspective.

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xencindy's avatar

What's Theil's next move, when Vance can't hold the base together? Who becomes the Vance VP?

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Phil M.'s avatar

Best guess? Reorienting around an ideology. But the leaders who put Trump in power are already oriented around an ideology. Trump was simply the chump they hired. The reorienting would have to be done on his MAGA base. But that is halfway there already too. It is the Christo-fascist nationalist movement that is working from every mainstream conservative church in America.

Anti-abortion was the hook, much like chem-trails hooked the conspiracy paranoids. Their "Christian principles" require the elimination of the bill of rights, since that directly violates their ten commands. And of course democracy itself. Jesus is their king. His messengers must rule like kings.

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Phil M.'s avatar

Will we ever learn?

Consider this reality. We are apes, monkeys with car keys, which instinctively seek an alpha male leader. Those who deny it the most, do it the most.

Democracy and human rights, are unnatural. No religion has ever had the concept of human rights. All of them support kings. Even Buddha was a prince. The majority of the world's population are religious primates.

Yes, we can learn. But the world's political and religious leaders are our new alpha male apes. Will they allow the people to learn?

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Jo Kurtz's avatar

You did not mention the Triumvirate stage where Julius Caesar won out over Pompey and Crassus and became dictator. What part does Curtis Yarvin have in this nefarious scenario? Maybe a split between Vance, Thiel, and Yarvin?

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Willa Davis's avatar

Thank you, Jim.

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Susan Keefer's avatar

I don’t think that Peter Thiel and certainly not the billionaires in Trump’s cabinet or the morons who Trump chose for government positions could overcome the loss of the cult leader.

Even now Trump’s own MAGA followers are starting to disapprove of Trump’s fascist agenda.

And no one likes JD Vance. He was not a smart choice by Thiel.

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JRance's avatar

There is so much to learn from global political history. Thanks for putting it all together—another great piece!

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Karin Loess's avatar

I greatly appreciate your skill for extracting key information from voluminous sources to provide clarity to current events. I look forward to more.

Thanks.

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Nora Sallows's avatar

Thanks for your comprehensive dictator analysis. Acceleration of the dictatorship is going to backfire on them because people are pissed.

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Gari Gold Richardson's avatar

Supported by history, the men are all currently in place. And so are we poised to reject the next phase of rejecting the fascists.

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GW B's avatar
3dEdited

Ahead of the curve, as usual. Thanks for this!

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Greg Olear's avatar

Livia, the wife of Caesar Augustus, is who really ran the empire for decades. Does Usha have it in her?

Great piece, Jim, as usual.

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Suzanne's avatar
5mEdited

Did you see that photo of her with the big grin as he was talking about being president! I kept thinking that the Rose Garden might not be paved long. Could we get a koi pond and some lotus flowers? I’m good with roses again.

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Jonji's avatar

And, was well-hated for it!

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