Scarlet

The end game is the Dark Ages 2.0 with the corresponding decline in civilization especially in the standard of living we've come to enjoy. Take one aspect of this where Trumpists are proposing firing every "mid-level" civil servant in the federal government and replacing them with "their own people". With that pressure what scientist would want to work for places like the NIH, the CDC, the EPA, BLM, and on and on? And that doesn't even get into the kleptocracy that would form. See Jared Kushner. Nationalists also tend to wind up in wars in relatively short order.

The same could have been said for their foray into Afghanistan. The only thing the Russians have to show for 56 days of their war is untold carnage on both sides, loads of lost military hardware, demoralized and worn-out troops, dead commanders, a sunken flagship, etc., all for a few small gains in the east. I suppose that's the model Russian military campaign so you're probably right. Has throwing untrained and scared conscripts ever worked in the long run? At any rate, at this point they've definitely underperformed when we look back at thinking Kyiv would fall within a week.

Wait...but nobody's votes are being suppressed and no demographic is being targeted or whatever the Party talking point is.

That appears to be desperate sabre rattling from a failed regime getting it's hat handed to it by "weaker" neighbor.

Seems like this turned out to be a fiscally responsible move. But it was a worth it since he turned up how many illegals getting? What was the total? I think the last time I checked.... zero?

I'd agree up to the point that Sasse hasn't proven to be an insurrectionist who tried to overthrow a duly elected president. That's a big difference.

Or wearing pants. Wearing pants sucks. My Johnson gets cramped and uncomfortable every time I do. I can't image having to wear pants on a five hour flight. It's my constitutional right to flop my schwantz out whenever and wherever I want. This is tyranny!!

Can you imagine having to sit there after your country has been invaded by a murderous fascist while his ignorant, bloviating buddy lectures you like a 12 year old?

Keeping with the Republican's authoritarian theme, this situation is reminiscent of other places where a tyrant rose to power and good people (not that J.D. Vance is a good person) just allowed it to happen. He likens Trump to either Nixon at best or Hitler at worst but now carries his water? What the absolute f#&%?

This is a totally disheartening but crucial read on the authoritarian state of the GOP and what that means for the future of democracy in the USA. This is from a scholar of authoritarian dictatorships throughout history. Having started this thread a couple of years ago I was naively hopeful that the GOP was at an inflection point and would throw off the yoke of Trumpism and it's authoritarian bent but over two years later it's clear, the future, and present, of the Republican Party is authoritarianism. Think of where this will head when an axis is formed between the US, Russia, and China. The dark ages cometh again. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/04/16/history-shows-trump-personality-cult-end-00024941 The final bolded sounds familiar after headquarters puts out it's talking points. Good times ahead, y'all.

What a vile human being he is. He knows Sandy Hook wasn't a hoax but he was fine making money on the death of kids.

Probably won't want to show that in a Florida classroom for fear of triggering a slew of lawsuits

Another story buried in the news cycle. Mike Lee's involvement in scheming to overthrow democracy. Of course he's they guy that doesn't believe we live in a democracy.

Long thread and article on why Jared Kushner was given $2,000,000,000 to "invest" on behalf of Khashoggi's killer even though he has almost zero investment experience. Blood money. Every nook and cranny of this former administration was corrupt. I'm surprised by the lack of froth here over this especially considering Hunter's laptop was all the rage recently. Ok, not surprised.

But he's the Chosen One because he is flawed...or something like that

Tough gig...being a fascist and all.

Gonna need scuba divers to get facial recognition shots of these guys. I wonder how many special forces were lost as there was talk of an invasion of Odessa lead by the Spetsnaz.

Can you provide some data on how many illegal immigrants and illegal drugs were seized during this performative act? According to this not many so Abbott moved the goalposts to say "we found safety violations". Since he capitulated is he now comfortable that the trucks coming in are all safe now? If he was concerned about safety why would he cave? https://www.texastribune.org/2022/04/13/greg-abbott-texas-border-inspections-nuevo-leon/?utm_campaign=trib-social-buttons&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

I guess we're just numb to the depths of Trump's coup attempt but if any of his sycophants like Chip Roy or Mike Lee in this case, had any integrity they wouldn't be neck deep in trying to subvert the Constitution. Exhibit A of why it is far more than just whether a person will vote the party line or not. Conservatives should be able to get behind McMullin, but they won't, not because of policy, but because of Lee's fealty to Trump.

Then what? The Ukrainian mothers might band together to stop the war? Oh wait...the Ukrainians didn't start the war. Here's some background on why they Ukrainians might be trying this tactic. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2000/feb/03/chechnya.iantraynor1