The only guardrails left in this (con)federacy of dunces might well be their incompetence and mistakes. They might not be able to do everything they want because they don’t have the skills to do it in practical or legal way.
Thank you Mr Kristol, for pointing out that this new Trump Administration will be dominated by Stephen Miller, Russel Vought, and JD Vance. This group of people will provide focus and discipline that did not exist in the last Administration. They won't distracted by flattery or misdirection as the soon to be president is and they won't take their eyes off their goals in pursuit of photo ops and viral quotes.
As to Musk's mother...well now we see some of the roots of his psyche.
A piece of Thanksgiving Day holiday advice: For tomorrow, at least, try really, really hard to just forget about the fact that we're all going to be seeing, hearing and dealing with the words and actions of turkeys for a whole hell of a lot longer than any of us would really like, no matter how much we might enjoy leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner.
I'm not willing to go demogauge, but I am willing to start looking at more superficial traits in terms of the 2028 Primary (if it happens).
We need candidates that are young, energetic, charismatic, and at least reasonably good looking. Faces that make casuals go "yes, I want to be on his/her team."
Not talking about supermodels here (men or women). But, say, Governor Whitmer. Senator Heinrich. Like that (not saying them specifically).
Not so much. The outgoing Mexican President was facing corruption allegations, and the new President of Mexico is considered to be his lackey. Still, you take your allies where you can get them.
Agreed. She’s right on the merits, but her and AMLO are horribly corrupt, with a left wing authoritarian / populist bent. I don’t trust them but a broken clock is right twice a day…
Okay, I'll say it out loud, since the media (perhaps afraid of offending subscribers) and the political right (with its own agenda) refuse to have the discussion ... at what point is the Fentanyl crisis more about the users who willingly choose to take it and keep using it and less about who is carrying it over the border and why ($$$)?
Ultimately supply is less significant than demand -- if people refuse to use it, the reason for smugglers to bring it in dries up. Yes, that simplifies the issue considerably, and there are many factors involved. Still, we need to have an honest discussion about who really is to blame for the crisis, including the skin color of those both transporting it for profit and using it for their various reasons, including addiction, and the need for more and better support services for the latter group, even if it (gasp) costs us some additional tax revenue to do so.
I'm old enough to remember -- and so are you -- when conservative voters generally and the GOP specifically believed in the concept of choices and consequences. If you do it, you take responsibility for it. You break it, you buy it. Make the smart choice, not the fast one. Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and make something of yourself rather than asking for a handout. And so on. Now, evidently, it's always someone else's fault, and usually those who are most vulnerable -- the low-hanging fruit that is easiest to pick and exploit. It sounds a lot like the people on the left whom Rush Limbaugh and others used to hate in the 1990s, citing political correctness and other reasons for people on the left to make excuses for whatever they considered to be society's ills. At what point do conservatives return to the concept of individual responsibility for anyone within their own tribe, and acknowledge that there are lots of white redneck guys in our own jails, and running loose, guilty of the same offenses or worse, who should be held to the same standard as those dirty-looking brown-skinned people who are a convenient target for problems that those on this side of the border and on the political right had no small hand in creating and sustaining themselves in the first place?
We don't want to address the reasons the users become users. That might involve costly interventions and long term treatment which is expensive. Taxpayers steeped in the idea that drug use is a moral issue, not a mental health issue, won't stand for paying what it might take to alleviate the problem. Far better to spend money waging a war on drugs to throw people into prisons. That war footing justifies the cost according to some people.
This attitude changed a bit with the opioid dominance in white populations. Now with fentanyl I sense a return to the war on drugs mentality.
I believe Musk is clearly on the autism spectrum. He looks it and acts like it - clearly brilliant but with the emotional intelligence of a Serengeti lioness.
I don't think he is as good as people give him credit. He might be intelligent but if he had to start from scratch I think he would be a keyboard warrior incel and not accomplish much.
I think you are being unkind to those on the spectrum. These poor people have enough on their plate without him! His family is or was worth $100M. That buys a lot of “brilliance.”
How about his pick to lead the navy? Mega-donor with zero military experience! An equity fund guy. Wow. I think this pick requires confirmation. Shame on the senate if they allow this to happen. What happened to actually picking someone from the high-up ranks, like an admiral? Unreal.
There was a book written in 1808 and part two in 1832 by Goethe called Faust. The legend of Faust warns people, “to be wary of the cult of the ego, the seduction of fame and the celebration of power.”
Trump made his pact with the devil a long time ago. He has been lawless, amoral and lacks any ethics and no accountability in exchange that the devil will send him to eternal damnation. Now he wants to take the world with him.
Those that are attracted to him and worship at his alter will experience the same fate, eternal damnation.
Trump embodies all of the seven deadly sins and has used these seductive sins to attract the morally weak to his corruptive ways. Trump is not the Antichrist, he is too stupid for that role, but he is the devil’s golden calf.
The explanation for the attraction to him and for the eagerness of reasonably intelligent people to provide cover for his pathologies is more complicated.
would be nice if the Bulwark could post some Articles about how good things are. Gas down, prices lower, cease fires , record high DOW, ect. We need a record of what Biden has done so we can reference it after January 20.
On the eve of Thanksgiving I am most grateful for those Americans who understand the dangers of the Trump administration to the culture and mission of the United States and fight for it with their writings and voices. The rest of us need these bulwarks to help support our outrage at what is happening. I am grateful to the 75 million voters who stepped up to the polls and expressed their disgust with what has become an opposition party of self inflicted ignorance. I am grateful for the candidates who populate our Congress who will fight tooth and nail to contain the damage coming at us. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
With regard to trumps "crazy" choices - The American electorate has a worse addiction problem than the one with drugs or food - it's with excitement.
I think one of the reasons the Democratic Party lost is because their candidates and policies were sensible, achievable and worth while. In other words - they were BORING! And we don't want to be BORED do we?
From morning to night, at school and at home, we are bombarded with stimulation. TV, radio and phones keep our adrenaline levels soaring. It's an easy thing to get addicted to - costs nothing, and you don't need a dealer. It gives you a heightened sense of power - and leaves you unable to recognise when you are doing something dangerous. Like voting for trump. You don't have to be a bungee jumper or skydiver to experience an adrenaline surge - if something raises your heartbeat while you're stationary, that's probably adrenaline.
The only guardrails left in this (con)federacy of dunces might well be their incompetence and mistakes. They might not be able to do everything they want because they don’t have the skills to do it in practical or legal way.
Regarding Bill’s reference to Tennyson; where were those troops going who were not to reason why? Into the valley of death. Seems appropriate.
Thank you Mr Kristol, for pointing out that this new Trump Administration will be dominated by Stephen Miller, Russel Vought, and JD Vance. This group of people will provide focus and discipline that did not exist in the last Administration. They won't distracted by flattery or misdirection as the soon to be president is and they won't take their eyes off their goals in pursuit of photo ops and viral quotes.
As to Musk's mother...well now we see some of the roots of his psyche.
A piece of Thanksgiving Day holiday advice: For tomorrow, at least, try really, really hard to just forget about the fact that we're all going to be seeing, hearing and dealing with the words and actions of turkeys for a whole hell of a lot longer than any of us would really like, no matter how much we might enjoy leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner.
Happy Thanksgiving to all at Morning Shots.
Shinola! Yum yum.
I'm not willing to go demogauge, but I am willing to start looking at more superficial traits in terms of the 2028 Primary (if it happens).
We need candidates that are young, energetic, charismatic, and at least reasonably good looking. Faces that make casuals go "yes, I want to be on his/her team."
Not talking about supermodels here (men or women). But, say, Governor Whitmer. Senator Heinrich. Like that (not saying them specifically).
Apparently Mexico has elected a rational, highly intelligent leader. Sadly we cannot say the same.
Not so much. The outgoing Mexican President was facing corruption allegations, and the new President of Mexico is considered to be his lackey. Still, you take your allies where you can get them.
Agreed. She’s right on the merits, but her and AMLO are horribly corrupt, with a left wing authoritarian / populist bent. I don’t trust them but a broken clock is right twice a day…
Okay, I'll say it out loud, since the media (perhaps afraid of offending subscribers) and the political right (with its own agenda) refuse to have the discussion ... at what point is the Fentanyl crisis more about the users who willingly choose to take it and keep using it and less about who is carrying it over the border and why ($$$)?
Ultimately supply is less significant than demand -- if people refuse to use it, the reason for smugglers to bring it in dries up. Yes, that simplifies the issue considerably, and there are many factors involved. Still, we need to have an honest discussion about who really is to blame for the crisis, including the skin color of those both transporting it for profit and using it for their various reasons, including addiction, and the need for more and better support services for the latter group, even if it (gasp) costs us some additional tax revenue to do so.
I'm old enough to remember -- and so are you -- when conservative voters generally and the GOP specifically believed in the concept of choices and consequences. If you do it, you take responsibility for it. You break it, you buy it. Make the smart choice, not the fast one. Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and make something of yourself rather than asking for a handout. And so on. Now, evidently, it's always someone else's fault, and usually those who are most vulnerable -- the low-hanging fruit that is easiest to pick and exploit. It sounds a lot like the people on the left whom Rush Limbaugh and others used to hate in the 1990s, citing political correctness and other reasons for people on the left to make excuses for whatever they considered to be society's ills. At what point do conservatives return to the concept of individual responsibility for anyone within their own tribe, and acknowledge that there are lots of white redneck guys in our own jails, and running loose, guilty of the same offenses or worse, who should be held to the same standard as those dirty-looking brown-skinned people who are a convenient target for problems that those on this side of the border and on the political right had no small hand in creating and sustaining themselves in the first place?
We don't want to address the reasons the users become users. That might involve costly interventions and long term treatment which is expensive. Taxpayers steeped in the idea that drug use is a moral issue, not a mental health issue, won't stand for paying what it might take to alleviate the problem. Far better to spend money waging a war on drugs to throw people into prisons. That war footing justifies the cost according to some people.
This attitude changed a bit with the opioid dominance in white populations. Now with fentanyl I sense a return to the war on drugs mentality.
I believe Musk is clearly on the autism spectrum. He looks it and acts like it - clearly brilliant but with the emotional intelligence of a Serengeti lioness.
I don't think he is as good as people give him credit. He might be intelligent but if he had to start from scratch I think he would be a keyboard warrior incel and not accomplish much.
I think you are being unkind to those on the spectrum. These poor people have enough on their plate without him! His family is or was worth $100M. That buys a lot of “brilliance.”
How about his pick to lead the navy? Mega-donor with zero military experience! An equity fund guy. Wow. I think this pick requires confirmation. Shame on the senate if they allow this to happen. What happened to actually picking someone from the high-up ranks, like an admiral? Unreal.
Republicans used to take national security seriously.
They aren't Republicans. It's ironic because in reality they are the RINOs
They still do but it's Russia's national security they care about.
There was a book written in 1808 and part two in 1832 by Goethe called Faust. The legend of Faust warns people, “to be wary of the cult of the ego, the seduction of fame and the celebration of power.”
Trump made his pact with the devil a long time ago. He has been lawless, amoral and lacks any ethics and no accountability in exchange that the devil will send him to eternal damnation. Now he wants to take the world with him.
Those that are attracted to him and worship at his alter will experience the same fate, eternal damnation.
Trump embodies all of the seven deadly sins and has used these seductive sins to attract the morally weak to his corruptive ways. Trump is not the Antichrist, he is too stupid for that role, but he is the devil’s golden calf.
Trump is who he is.
The explanation for the attraction to him and for the eagerness of reasonably intelligent people to provide cover for his pathologies is more complicated.
The sneakers are a tell.
would be nice if the Bulwark could post some Articles about how good things are. Gas down, prices lower, cease fires , record high DOW, ect. We need a record of what Biden has done so we can reference it after January 20.
Yes, Mona's essay is a gift to us all, especially those who (like me) are currently struggling with defeatistitis.
In other words, I am truly *grateful* for her inspiring words.
On the eve of Thanksgiving I am most grateful for those Americans who understand the dangers of the Trump administration to the culture and mission of the United States and fight for it with their writings and voices. The rest of us need these bulwarks to help support our outrage at what is happening. I am grateful to the 75 million voters who stepped up to the polls and expressed their disgust with what has become an opposition party of self inflicted ignorance. I am grateful for the candidates who populate our Congress who will fight tooth and nail to contain the damage coming at us. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
Now we need to find the 9 million Democrats who did not vote. Find out why they did not and get them back into the fold!
I don't know about all 9M, but I'm sure the new voter suppression laws played a role.
With regard to trumps "crazy" choices - The American electorate has a worse addiction problem than the one with drugs or food - it's with excitement.
I think one of the reasons the Democratic Party lost is because their candidates and policies were sensible, achievable and worth while. In other words - they were BORING! And we don't want to be BORED do we?
From morning to night, at school and at home, we are bombarded with stimulation. TV, radio and phones keep our adrenaline levels soaring. It's an easy thing to get addicted to - costs nothing, and you don't need a dealer. It gives you a heightened sense of power - and leaves you unable to recognise when you are doing something dangerous. Like voting for trump. You don't have to be a bungee jumper or skydiver to experience an adrenaline surge - if something raises your heartbeat while you're stationary, that's probably adrenaline.
What irony - "Jim Mattis, John Kelly, Jeff Sessions, Don McGahn, Gary Cohn, and John Bolton" - now seen as pillars of integrity and moral probity. . .
Trump is a spectacular example of how fast termites can eat through a House.