To me, with the 2024 election, it seems like we didn't merely lose a battle, we lost the war.

The political right won the war.

Republicans won the war because they've been playing the long game, whereas Democrats have always been short-sighted.

Another reason they won the war is because their highest priority has been the pursuit of power with the ends justifying the means, whereas the Democrats' highest priority has been on good governance and playing by the rules.

Republicans now have a lock on the federal government and will use Project 2025 to consolidate their power.

I hope I'm proven wrong.

I wish I had more hope because of my children and grand children, but no. I believe the oligarchs will strip any value left and stay in their compounds. With all, but a small percentage, of social media being far right wing, I'm not hopeful.
I hope and pray I am wrong and made to eat my words.

the government is. Now they are replacing thousands of people in government jobs with incompetant ass-kissers. Gee, I wonder how THAT will work out?

"seeee, government doesn't work!"

That's their whole thing .............They literally want Government NOT to work so they can make it "smaller" so people won't depend on any social safety nets because they need to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps."

Even if things get really bad, lots will stick by Trump’s side because they are in a cult or lack any empathy / knowledge.

They want some Christian fascist state and they’ll get it too

Too bad only a precious few of us can actually do that.

and DH's job will be there unless all the hospitals close.

So, we may be able to weather it, if it isn't forever.

My kids, however, are just starting their adult lives (one is still in high school), so they are screwed.

I mean, it’s the greatest country right? So wouldn’t it follow that everybody would just welcome people from the GREATEST country, the RICHEST country with the greatest education system and the greatest healthcare system and so on and so on?

We’ve all been sold a pile of shit and told, with religious furvor, that it’s platinum and honey.

I'm not sure that's a solution. is there a piney woods somewhere where you can escape the all-seeing eye of Musk?

The only thing that might save us is that he's so busy getting high on his own supply.

screwed for at least a generation. They need to start an apology tour. They have empowered the oligarchs.

but not all. We will be taking 10 steps back. It's going to take years, maybe decades, to undo harm.

recovers from trump's maladministration, as well as those from the other countries following in the fascist footsteps.

Cancel all your subscriptions. Time to hit the billionaire criminal scumbags where it hurts.

but your mental health will improve if you do these three things....

Taking it day by day right now.

Then run the flag to the top of it, and figure out how to make the flag hover at twice that height

I decided to quit drugs in the eighties, alcohol in 92, never regretted it. But if I live long enough
to witness him dying, I think I am going to smoke one for everybody, have three shots of dark
rum (extra-large) put on a set of headphones, dance in the street buck naked, listening to
comfortably numb while being comfortably numb. If it kills me then what a way to go.

Let's hope we live to see that day.

To provide proper ambiance, turn on your internet to the Tiki Lounge section of "At the Opera" by Sean Bianco.
Tiki Lounge programming by his wife.

https://live365.com/station/Bianco-s-Opera-Lounge-a27807

Bianco's Opera Lounge Schedule: Friday - Saturday - Sunday
The Tiki Lounge: 8-10am ~ 5-7pm
At the Opera: 10-2pm ~ 7-11pm
All shows broadcast at PST.

I recommend the evening times for Hawaiian drinks.



Dammit, I'm going to get the ingredients ready for the day.
https://insanelygoodrecipes.com/hawaiian-cocktails/

Circling the drain.

But the only person who's coming to save me is me, and hope is the power that drives me.

5 years or so. But that's not hope. Probably wishful thinking.

Other than that, I have none.

Once DoJ, DoD, and DHS are politicized and all the upstanding, knowledgable experts are gone, the EPA is gutted, the IRS is gutted, everything is deregulated, and disease and environmental disaster run rampant, the economy collapses, and people are destitute and dying (which is what they've said they want), NOPE.

I got nothing.

But I will never give up the fight.

Last edited Tue Jan 7, 2025, 01:44 PM - Edit history (1)

But I have very little to lose. My animals depend on me and my farm but fighting back is worth the risk since Ive had a full and complete life. I would not blame younger people who choose to flee this Puritanical fascist hellscape, especially young women! The tech bros can fight over the few remaining trad wife types. 🙄

if Democrats ever regain power we are screwed for a few generations. Liberal policies will be shot down continuously even if they get passed by a Democratic congress. The theocratic fascist state has ascended. Sorry to be so negative. I take it day by day, enjoy the people I love and partake in the hobbies that give me pleasure, but I will resist where I can, whenever I can.

I want to be frozen a few hundred years like Kahn 😉

therefore I have hope

I think the trumpublican party will try to squeeze the life out of the Democratic Party with every single step.

I may get the daily medal for doom and gloom with what I'm about to say, but here it goes: I think the Democratic Party is on its way to becoming a perpetual minority party.

to taking back this country. (Or the part of it that's salvageable.)

I think that other leaders may need to emerge, and the battle may take place outside of the "system".

Impossible to predict, or maybe even imagine, what the future might look like.

It may soon be as non-functional as it is now in russia. I'm not prepared to speculate beyond that.

Last edited Tue Jan 7, 2025, 01:47 PM - Edit history (1)

Their two goals are "owning the libs", which is entirely destructive, and increasing the already insane wealth inequality, which is destabilizing, witness the French Revolution and the assassination of a figurehead for corporate greed.

While attempts have been made to "avenge the evil libs who destroyed the middle class and jobs" (A DAMNED GOP LIE), further increases by President Musk to automate the process that the GOP owns and uses lies to blame on others, given such a visible figurehead, will reveal the lie.


"What would you say you do here, that AI can't do? "

It is not good to be a lightning rod.



Under the guise of helping you correct your homework and remember your birthday, he intends AI to replace most of government and the workforce with computers. And pocket the billions.

Edit to add:
Not just my opinion. Anil Dash says it’s about PROCUREMENT CAPTURE. Please read.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219876755



People should know from Bond movies, the clearest analogy to the situation, that villains go down.




I do not advocate an iota of violence, but pacifists are hard to find. Check the movies. I sometimes feel like wearing a kevlar vest just to go check my rural mailbox.

All because people choose to compete rather than cooperate.

Greed is rampaging madness and destruction. I chose the gentle way to stop it. It worked once and failed last year. I persist.

Of course they didn't have trump, so it will be quicker for us. I expect it will be more like Hitler and Mussolini.

Study the 2 triumvirates. It smells similar (not exactly tho)
The democracy was very very dangerous to common people and very unstable.
It was hard not to get sucked in.

The Empire had remarkable staying power. Half of it lasted over a thousand years.
A lot of survival skills are hard to pin down because the survivors weren't getting killed
for the benefit of history writers. Staying out of the way of the emperors and senior
generals seems to be one element.

Could be a lesson for us.

Plagues, public health, lead, and simple infections were real problems. They had terrible
medical science compared to us, but still. Paying attention to your own medical care might be another lesson.

My heart was broken but eyes are now wide open...

...but I'm afraid the incoming nazi's are going to do some fatal damage to our society, so there won't be anywhere to get out from under TO.

Yes, there's always a chance the U.S. could rebound after the nazi's are gone, but that would only be helpful for the next generations, not us.

Emmigrating might be a possibility, but there aren't many countries left who are willing to take Americans, and I might be getting too old to start a whole new unfamiliar life at this point.

Perhaps an entirely different way of life here in the U.S. is the only option, going completely underground and off-grid, but that sounds extremely uncomfortable and unhealthy, though maybe less dangerous and soul-destroying than living fully in nazi America. I don't know.

to play by the same rules and privileges the Republicans have been using since Reagan!

The "Golden Age" for the Astors, Rockefellers and Carnegie ended with FDR. Now it has returned because we slept, couldn't believe it, or thought it would pass, IT WON'T!!! Every working person Democrat, Liberal, "commie" has to get off their butt and be 110% active.
FIRST: Turn the IRS loose on Thomas and Alito,
then overturn Citizen's United!
Then term limits!

Feel Free to Add to the List!

I am almost 90, I thought being born in the Great Depression, and living memories of WW2 that I had lived through the worst of recent American history, I was wrong, now and what is to come will be worse than anything, even the Civil War, that we have ever experienced. I am happy I cannot expect to live through what is to come!!!!

If there is any hope to preserve the America of freedom and hope be prepared to fight for it, or accept a return to "The Golden Age'-at best!

ALAS, BABYLON

Trump winning doesn't change that for me. But I prioritize my mental health through therapy, meditation, and volunteering. Go do something local where you can see the impact of good work.

Progress isn't free and it requires work to maintain. It also requires adapting to changing circumstances. Right now, the message the party is giving isn't resonating with enough voters. But the underlying values are good. Harris barely lost the election under very difficult circumstances (inflation, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza), no primary, Biden's debate performance, and a 100 day campaign. We lost some Senate seats because we haven't invested in enough places. The House has a historically small split. Some investments in local elections, a candidate in a less challenging environment and things won't look so bad.

Just because things are hard doesn't mean they always will be. Unless people stop fighting to make things better.

seem to be fighting with all their might to make things worse for regular people, just as a 'fuck you' to the other regular people.

It's like the robber baron who said he could pay half the population to kill the other half. I'm thinking we're almost there, the suckers will never get paid but mostly they do it just for the fun of "owning the libs"

America is a very sick country right now and the prognosis is not good.

I'm hopeful that after humans are long gone, an actually intelligent species will evolve on what's left of Earth. It might take a while, but yeah, I've got hope.

I'll be harder if the planet turns into something more "Venus" like ... but not impossible.

A shame that we proved to be so totally ineffective at educating the chumps and fools that pass as our voters. There were a few years there that we might have been able to reverse course before destroying the planet.

One I did not expect, but for all intents and purposes, I'm on the ground working for 2026.

I am not the only one, and I am in Nebraska. We have a unicameral, so I can buttonhole anyone I please (I live in Lincoln) and I've never cared for the political badgering. I had one dolt ask me if I was a Republican, my answer was simple, "I'm not stupid enough to be a Republican".
I pressed him on farm issues, the building boom in Lincoln came about when farms were foreclosed after DJT's Soy tariff. He had sold off his farm, and was now worth several million. Speculators moved in, and his Seventhth Generation farm became part of a complex of Condos. A family legacy went into the pockets of others. Big problem though, the Nebraska economy can't handle the high price for a condo or rental.

Fight, discuss the obvious, and bring forth that which is hidden. It is essential to win back the House, and hopefully the Senate. Two years of t****'s antics will change the equation. He's an idiot, so he's no smarter than before. Watch what his underlings do, that is when the disaster of this presidency will begin.

Take heart, Democracy will not fail on our watch.



Edited: Bad "Title"

We are no longer in a situation where the older evolved institutions can stand against the Dionysian wave of fascism crashing down upon us. The Apollonian systems we have cultivated for hundreds of years are crumbling away before our eyes. Climate change leads to large-scale population migrations which fuel anti-immigrant resentment and ultra-nationalism. This generation of robotics and AI is far from being able to adequately provide the utopian environment humans might desire, but it's already good enough to obsolete many "middle income" human jobs and it will improve at a surprising pace.

I retain little hope for the young who will learn that inherited power and bullying are the fastest ways to get results. Perhaps in a century, the tide will turn but most of us won't live to see it.

long term - not looking so good for our kids either.

Invest in wine and drugs.

I just don’t know anymore. I’m so confused. The bad guys are now practically getting everything they want and people in this country just don’t seem to care.

I’m feel pretty down right now. It seems as though some truly evil force has taken over the planet.

drumphf's, and current Repuglican majority hold. Hopefully in 2026.

Unfortunately serious damage could happen before then to many vunerable groups.

I might lose my housing situation if they go after Gov't, Medical entitlements. I have occasionally fight off high anxiety, and a plunge into despair from imagining bad outcomes.

While I'm quite worried at times about myself, I also worry about other groups people in danger from potential policies (or lack thereof).

And Climate Change mitigation? Almost unbelievable at what might not(or continue) get done.

Fingers crossed their hubris, and incompetence will blunt some damage, as mentioned.

They will never agree how to complete the coup.

Our country is imperfect in many ways. I wouldn't have chosen to try to burn it all down, but that choice is no longer mine to make. There are changes coming and maybe, in the long run, some things will improve.

Global warming is what worries me.

Why didn't you guys tell me? I would've dressed for occasion.

I'm 78, I woke up so that to me is something good. My kids are grown and doing good so thats a plus.
I beat cancer, so that's a plus. See there are so many things we can be grateful for, yes things in the future may not be looking good but we do have a lot of fighters like Schiff, AOC, Raskin, Crockett and so many more. One more thing, smile, you would be surprised how that helps.

there is not a lot of hope to be had here.

I'm just figuring I'll enjoy watching the MAGAts here get exactly what they voted for. Boy howdy will they be surprised....and not in a pleasant way.

The only way to lose is to quit resisting.

any real news.

Trump will fall, at some point. Every tyrant gets upended. Our job is to keep pressure on until the sunlight breaks thru again. There will be lots of grift, graft and corruption in the near future, but we can't let them destroy America without opposition.

https://russblib.blogspot.com/?m=1

Now it’s just rearranging chairs on the Titanic until it sinks. It’s going to get far worse, and fatal, for everyone.

I’m not even sure who survives tbh so there’s some solace that the oligarchs will have signed their own death certificate as well

it really does make me feel a little better today.

I think American democracy has failed. It has been a functional oligarchy for some time and the election of 2024 just discarded the pretense.

A functional democracy requires widespread commitment to some minimal literacy on issues and agreement with the moral proposition that we need to look after other people- strangers- as well as ourselves and those we are close to. Neither condition exists on a scale sufficient to support a democracy that serves the needs of the people.

History is long. It doesn't just stop now. The US has had terrible presidents before. It's also had good presidents that have done terrible things. This will pass.

It's the spark to start the roaring fire within all of us.
I have posted this in a prior discussion and it seems appropriate to repost my thoughts here.

TFG will keep his minions around as long as they serve his needs. He will fully support them as long as nothing more than a signature or his spoken word are required. He never has to run again so he has no need to fake his faith or support causes that don't enrich him. He wanted to be liked and admired but he was and is detested and ignored. As a result we now have a 240+ pound vengeful, hate filled reactionary baby with resources and an army ready to take control of our country and it's resources.
This person has a thug mentality and people are scared. STOP! Stop being scared. He feeds off of your fear. That's how bullies and thugs rule. They get you to do things you wouldn't normally do. When you begin to feel scared find a way to change your state of mind. Be determined. I felt that fear which quickly became anger. I recognized it and turned it into positive motivation.

Help each other. You may not see it now but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Step back from politics, news, social media and come back when you can handle the noise. Focus on 2 years, not 4. Become aware of the triggers. For me it's flags, hats and bumper stickers. Laugh to yourself about their gullibility. Realize how angry they're going to be when they finally figure it out. They will be the end of the party.
TFG was motivated by ego, money and power then fear of prison and a desire for retribution. We'll no more fear of prison, he won the election and now has the power. That only leaves retribution and greed. Therefore, he no longer needs to fulfill his campaign promises. He's already backtracked on prices and he's talking about working with Democrats on DACA. Now he's taken the side of Leon and Swarmy over the magas.
Rest assured, he will burn the party. Remember 2 years.

Everybody else when they would lose an election would just go well I guess my ass got kicked and go home and be gone and stay gone, but not this jackass. He kept trying to run the world feom a position of weakness but never acted it.

Subscribed to you, I’ve forgotten I could do that. I hope to stay in touch with you. Aloha.

In the long term? The best we can hope for is that a benevolent, super intelligent AI takes over the world and regulates the human race to survive and prosper despite its inherent impulse to destroy itself and the planet.

I was born 1944 in rural, Jim Crow Mississippi. A young black man who worked for my grandfather was lynched for trying to form an NAACP chapter in the county.

As a college student in Alabama in the 1960's, I marched in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma. I was knocked down by Bull Connor's fire hoses and bitten by his police dogs.

When the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were passed in 1964 and 1965, I thought we had won. I was wrong.

With the election of Trump, the South has won the Civil War. Our experiment is over.

long. It sounds like you've earned some rest. You are one of many reasons we won't quit. We can take it from here and when you're rested, please join us. You may not know it but you are the definition of hope.

The paradigm shift will occur when we embrace the reality of where we are today, and quit yearning for the days of the past.

It "officially" fell yesterday when the orange magat was certified. We are now officially an oligarchy.

Because a casual reading of history shows that actual tends cannot be discerned from the events of a few years, or even a few decades.

One day, maybe unexpectedly, in the not to distant future…you will open the news you read and see his obituary in huge print…front page.

Humanity has more to worry about than this asshole.

Climate change has announced itself and will erase most of the bad, taking most of the good with it.

No is the time to demand much more from our elected officials and to lean in and apply for committees and commissions.

Peace.

Last edited Tue Jan 7, 2025, 02:48 PM - Edit history (1)

I do because I believe in a Higher Power. As a recovering alcoholic/addict, I absolutely believe in Divine Intervention because I believe it's a real miracle that I'm still alive....

I may not win but I'll do my best.

a big giant asteroid. It's what we deserve. Well, not everyone, but enough to make it worthwhile maybe.

is knowing now how some relatives and "friends" support the demise of our democracy. It reveals the fact that many Americans are just plain stupid - that is the rotten core that will bring us all down. Stupidity has power now.

looking around and knowing that about half of the people out there (more, I'm in Iowa) just threw it all away for a handful of promises that will never be kept and our party leadership is largely behaving as if this is all fine.

It isn't fine.

The sun is shining, the birds at singing, I interacted with many friends today, I am going to lift after work and then go see the person I love most in the world and then have an amazing dinner. Gonna watch the sunset; got to watch the sunrise this morning and it was stupendously beautiful. I am surrounded by love and beauty 24/7/365 and try to put love and beauty back out into the world.

Life is a gift. Happiness is a choice. I will not exist in despair.

"This too shall pass."

Not only am I hopeful the future, I am grateful for as much of it as I am given.

I'm struggling to follow his advice.

but its not the following the advice that matters. Its the TRYING to follow the advice that does

So, no. I do not.

Move past what I cannot. And try to know the difference.

I am increasing my stamina. I am 68 years old and I am riding an exercise bike, going for walks and I have tuned my violin and I have started practicing. I have no hope for a happy future, but I am not going to lose what I have without a fight. Being physically fit and able to think quickly in case of a break glass situation is the only hope that I have.

If I didn’t, I’d be constantly depressed and I don’t want that.

It requires a lot of different routines and skills to remember to live, love, and keep some perspective. The worse it gets, the bigger the perspective needs to be.

I used up all my hope in 2016 and 2024 and all the years between when we were slo-mo hung out to dry.

And to make matters worse, I don't hear our leaders rallying us, giving us messages of hope and encouragement.
Instead, I'm hearing them volunteering to "work with him".
Son of a bitch.

The undemocratic electoral college led to a corrupt supreme court which led to Citizens United which led to plutocracy.

It must all burn down before the stupid people among us realize they were lied to.

Like Trump said he hopes the economy crashes before he takes office.

.

Not within the foreseeable future though, and certainly not within my lifetime.

I feel like humanity may be heading towards a new dark ages.

gonna hit the skids faster now.

But it’s pretty bleak at the moment, to put it mildly.

This is due primarily to the growing evidence that Earth's climate system is unraveling at an accelerating rate. Yet we still do nothing.

Everything dies eventually. Til then we’ll have all kinds of ups and downs as countries, religions, political organizations, as a species.

All is not lost til it is. It just changes. It can change in countless directions and ways we cannot imagine. What we owe one another is to fight for good changes for as many people as possible. And that’s a vast undertaking.

would just turn off his microphone when he starts spewing stupid shit for attention, it would help.