"Every strongman fantasizes about a final, purifying strike – a moment of vengeance and strength so fierce it restores their place in the world."
This is on the nose, and is the ultimate point. With his impressive classical education, Rick has created stunning images for us drawn from history and literature of what we're facing here. Trump's lumpen followers cannot comprehend any of this, even now, but many of us do.
Rick calls it 'dangerous'. This is a flawed assessment. The implication that we can "do something about it" is a bit misdirected. Early in this whole debacle (think Trump I) there were voices among the Left cautioning that the situation was 'dangerous' and suggesting that the 'smart' thing to do would be to lie low and avoid making oneself a target. The idea seemed to be that, by 'depriving him of the attention he craves', we could succeed in cutting off his oxygen. Those voices are largely silent now, lying low gets us more of the same, as Trump and his goons become emboldened by our perceived weakness and thrilled by their bloodlust.
Rick's historical references demonstrate the chaos and blood that follows the fall of a strongman. He ignores our agency, though. No one but the elites had any in the past examples, American citizens have plenty (for now). That's where his analogies fail, and that's what sets up the next act.
This thing is going Shakespearian quick. There was an idea before that, by being 'smart', we can avoid a conflagration that will kill Americans. That idea is dead. There is no smart. There is only an inevitable history unfolding right underneath us. So, it's not really 'dangerous', it's just what was going to happen, happening.
What would happen if there are survivors of the Caribbean missile bombings? What would happen if there are testimonies from survivors about the people in these boats? What would happen if survivors could report about the purpose of these boats on the water?
No one knows the answers to these probing questions But Hegseth doesn’t want those answers apparently Maybe chronic alcoholic Hegseth wants to remain clueless about these boats and their occupants that are being blown up because he doesn't want Congress or the American people to know that people are being murdered by the US military and the Dept of Defense
These murders of survivors are “war crimes” and the International Court of Justice which has indicted Israel’s Netanyahu for his genocidal actions in Gaza and have openly opined that there are serious concerns about these US military actions amounting to murder
Nicely done, Evan, particularly (for me) the part about the DOJ and recommendations for prepping now for the mass numbers of future prosecutions of so many working in this regime.
(One note - not *all* women watch holiday rom-coms. 😏)
LOL very true, Lynn. That was more of an attempt to encourage young men to take a chance over the holidays. As for the future prosecutions, we have quite a hill to climb.
Evan -- bro you're killing it with analysis. You're right the next administration in 2029 if the Dems win, need to have a DOJ vetted from top to bottom and ready to go....briefs, subpeonas, writs, amicus briefs -- all ready to be filed and signed off by US Magistrates. There will be no second chances to get this right.
As far as SCOTUS is concerned -- I think the next President needs to wield the power that they gave Drumph -- "I'm immune from official acts" and force the resignation of the Chief Justice, Alito and Thomas. Either that or threaten them with Civil Federal Prosecution for fraud, bribery and treason for their resignations.
Next up - Codify the Voting Rights Act and Roe. Finish the fucking job and do it right. Make it airtight in legislation that no future court, Congress or District judge can block.
With that.....See you on the next set of downs.....
SCOTUS did more than help create the legal gray area for Trump to walk back into the Oval Office. They dug a tunnel through the Constitution in the form of presidential immunity for Trump to circumvent the rule of law. A bill of attainder is unconstitutional, so there is no way to undo the damage. There won't be much work left for the DOJ and special prosecutors because that immunity is extended to all of his army of thugs and co-conspirators through his pardoning power.
"Every strongman fantasizes about a final, purifying strike – a moment of vengeance and strength so fierce it restores their place in the world."
This is on the nose, and is the ultimate point. With his impressive classical education, Rick has created stunning images for us drawn from history and literature of what we're facing here. Trump's lumpen followers cannot comprehend any of this, even now, but many of us do.
Rick calls it 'dangerous'. This is a flawed assessment. The implication that we can "do something about it" is a bit misdirected. Early in this whole debacle (think Trump I) there were voices among the Left cautioning that the situation was 'dangerous' and suggesting that the 'smart' thing to do would be to lie low and avoid making oneself a target. The idea seemed to be that, by 'depriving him of the attention he craves', we could succeed in cutting off his oxygen. Those voices are largely silent now, lying low gets us more of the same, as Trump and his goons become emboldened by our perceived weakness and thrilled by their bloodlust.
Rick's historical references demonstrate the chaos and blood that follows the fall of a strongman. He ignores our agency, though. No one but the elites had any in the past examples, American citizens have plenty (for now). That's where his analogies fail, and that's what sets up the next act.
This thing is going Shakespearian quick. There was an idea before that, by being 'smart', we can avoid a conflagration that will kill Americans. That idea is dead. There is no smart. There is only an inevitable history unfolding right underneath us. So, it's not really 'dangerous', it's just what was going to happen, happening.
Get Rid Of The Evidence: Kill Everybody
What would happen if there are survivors of the Caribbean missile bombings? What would happen if there are testimonies from survivors about the people in these boats? What would happen if survivors could report about the purpose of these boats on the water?
No one knows the answers to these probing questions But Hegseth doesn’t want those answers apparently Maybe chronic alcoholic Hegseth wants to remain clueless about these boats and their occupants that are being blown up because he doesn't want Congress or the American people to know that people are being murdered by the US military and the Dept of Defense
These murders of survivors are “war crimes” and the International Court of Justice which has indicted Israel’s Netanyahu for his genocidal actions in Gaza and have openly opined that there are serious concerns about these US military actions amounting to murder
Nicely done, Evan, particularly (for me) the part about the DOJ and recommendations for prepping now for the mass numbers of future prosecutions of so many working in this regime.
(One note - not *all* women watch holiday rom-coms. 😏)
LOL very true, Lynn. That was more of an attempt to encourage young men to take a chance over the holidays. As for the future prosecutions, we have quite a hill to climb.
Evan -- bro you're killing it with analysis. You're right the next administration in 2029 if the Dems win, need to have a DOJ vetted from top to bottom and ready to go....briefs, subpeonas, writs, amicus briefs -- all ready to be filed and signed off by US Magistrates. There will be no second chances to get this right.
As far as SCOTUS is concerned -- I think the next President needs to wield the power that they gave Drumph -- "I'm immune from official acts" and force the resignation of the Chief Justice, Alito and Thomas. Either that or threaten them with Civil Federal Prosecution for fraud, bribery and treason for their resignations.
Next up - Codify the Voting Rights Act and Roe. Finish the fucking job and do it right. Make it airtight in legislation that no future court, Congress or District judge can block.
With that.....See you on the next set of downs.....
YES to the planning ahead for the next AG. Dems need to hit the ground running.
SCOTUS did more than help create the legal gray area for Trump to walk back into the Oval Office. They dug a tunnel through the Constitution in the form of presidential immunity for Trump to circumvent the rule of law. A bill of attainder is unconstitutional, so there is no way to undo the damage. There won't be much work left for the DOJ and special prosecutors because that immunity is extended to all of his army of thugs and co-conspirators through his pardoning power.
The Play Book has indeed hit the Public Square. Good article as always. Thanks, Evan.