Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals:
[…] So corrupted indeed and debased was that age by sycophancy that not only the foremost citizens who were forced to save their grandeur by servility, but every ex-consul, most of the ex-prætors and a host of inferior senators would rise in eager rivalry to propose shameful and preposterous motions. Tradition says that Tiberius as often as he left the Senate-House used to exclaim in Greek, “How ready these men are to be slaves.” […]
I saw someone post this quote on Bluesky a couple of days ago, and it seems relevant to the last few days:
- Last night ABC announced a $15 million settlement with Trump over George Stephanopoulos using the same word the judge used to describe Trump’s assault of E. Jean Carroll. The settlement includes a “statement of regret” from Stephanopoulos.
- Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, will donate $1 million to Trump’s inaugural. He joins Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, as well as Sam Altman of OpenAI, as a donor.
- Zuck is not only a member of the $1 million club: his trip to Mar-a-Lago included him standing, hand over heart, while listening to a rendition of the national anthem sung by imprisoned January 6 convicts.
- The billionaire owner of the LA Times has announced that he’ll personally approve every opinion headline to make sure co-president Elon Musk won’t be offended.
What is the point of having billions of dollars*, private jets, opulent yachts and staff to cater to your every whim, if you also need to roll over and practice submissive urination to Trump?
* I just checked and Bob Iger, President of Disney (ABC’s owner) is only worth $700 million, so I guess that pauper might have to bend the knee…
Soapdish
If you think that’s what it takes to keep those billions then a few millions are just the cost of doing business with a fascist criminal government.
hells littlest angel
What does Trump have on these guys? Maybe depraved criminality is something billionaires just gravitate towards out of ennui.
WaterGirl
Fucking cowards.
Urza
Most humans, apparently the so called alpha males first and foremost, don’t actually want to think for themselves. They do tend to submit to whoever is in charge. One would imagine billionaires having dreams of world conquest or something though, financial or otherwise.
Starting to think all the centuries of talking freedom and equality in America was just an aberration, lip service to what should be but is not nearly so much a part of human nature as we would like to think.
hrprogressive
It’s not cowardice. These people want to rule in the Trump Reich.
Melancholy Jaques
@hells littlest angel:
He doesn’t have anything on them. They agree with him on everything. And they know that he is stupid and incurious enough that if they flatter him, he will let them do whatever they want in their business realms.
Another Scott
I’m having trouble getting upset about the $1M donations thing. It seems like fishing for clicks to me. Inaugural events have been paid for by donations for decades. Yes, it’s usually an avenue for corruption. Post-Bob McDonnell SCOTUS says that’s fine.
Outrage is a limited resource. I think that we need to pace ourselves. YMMV.
My $0.02.
Best wishes,
Scott.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl:
Cowards or simply fash-friendly?
Elizabelle
All these people are pigs at the trough.
With apologies to actual pigs, who have many delightful traits.
Urza
Everyone likes to think conspiracy theories behind why something is happening. But most people are just following human nature and the course already prescribed by society. Of late been coming to the realization that all the management above me, even to the billionaire CEO, is locked into a decision tree that they can’t really deviate from without Wall Street coming around to replace them. Wall Street demands profits as their only guiding force. There’s a governmental version that I can’t describe properly.
As is obvious recently human nature does include alot of stupid actions that are counterproductive even before the societal norms get locked in.
Nukular Biskits
As I asked on Bluesky, is ANYONE going to stand up to the bullies?
matt
They will get money out of it on the back end. This is just like sales tax on the money the Trump campaign spent with Zuck.
TBone
I hope Stephanopoulos goes rogue while on live one day.
It would take a lot more than the threat of losing my job and getting sued to keep me gagged if I had such a microphone.
Yes, I am a crank. And a starry eyed optimist.
If Judge Kaplan can do it, so say I: concur!
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/01/a-federal-judge-has-gone-to-great-lengths-to-make-clear-trump-really-did-rape-e-jean-carroll/
@mistermix.bsky.social
@Another Scott:
Yeah, I think absent the other bending of the knees, the inaugural contributions are pretty business-as-usual.
matt
@Another Scott: Yeah, compared to all the government money firehoses and things like antitrust enforcement expensively killing M&A deals, it’s tip money.
A lot of people are thinking this DOGE thing might reshuffle a lot of contractor money.
TBone
Sniveling fealty is revolting. Even when it’s “only” a million diapered ass kisses.
hells littlest angel
@Melancholy Jaques: You’re probably right.
Glidwrith
@Omnes Omnibus: Either way, they are visibly, actively supporting the orange puke. That’s a whole series of actions; how hard would it be to just NOT participate???
different-church-lady
I’m convinced! Trump leads the party of the working class!
narya
@Melancholy Jaques: And also too: they know that they won’t pay a price from their “customers.” People will still patronize their businesses, use their services, read their papers, etc., and sucking up to the coming maladministration means the owners will be in a position to suck even more out of us with fewer people on the consumers’ side. They will pay no price, except among some of the commenters on this top-10,000 blog.
Nukular Biskits
And if I “donated” a large sum of money to, say, one of my US senators, I’d be charged with bribery.
different-church-lady
@Glidwrith: Pssst: they want to participate.
Tim C.
The mystery to me is this, “Do they really think this will end well?” I mean… It’s nincompoop morons all the way down. Literally a mid tier commenter on this blog would be a better president in terms of policy outcomes. All the normies Republicans who kept at least a few guardrails up last time are gone. This is going to be a shit show for everyone. And then what? What happens next Zuck? What happens next Elon? What’s your plan?
brendancalling
What a timely open thread! I just published this week’s Progress Pondcast. We talk with Philip Longman, Washington Monthly senior editor and policy director at Open Markets, about how 50 years of bad, bipartisan antitrust policy has hurt Democrats with working class voters, and what we can do to win them back. I learned a lot this episode: it’s one of my favorites so far. We talk quite a bit about these cowardly, self-interested monopolists and how they fuck EVERYONE over. Give us a listen, a like and a share, and consider supporting us on Patreon (link at the show).
different-church-lady
@Nukular Biskits:
[shrug] "If you can't beat them, join them!"I mean, the people we’re talking about here are the bullies.
JPL
@WaterGirl: Seconded.
different-church-lady
@hrprogressive: That.
Sure Lurkalot
George Conway:
Further:
narya
@Nukular Biskits: not necessarily. The SCOTUS has shrunk what can actually be prosecuted as a bribe such that it would pretty much take you saying, “Can I offer you a bribe of X amount to do Y for me?”
Jackie
TCFG hired the guy who sued a cow over mean tweets. What scum won’t he surround himself with?
What could possibly go wrong? 🤦🏼♀️
different-church-lady
@TBone: I hope Judge Kaplan has 15 million to fork over. Otherwise he might end up in a gulag.
Omnes Omnibus
@Glidwrith: I think of people acting out of fear differently to those acting out of agreement.
Nukular Biskits
@different-church-lady:
Sadly, that is true.
different-church-lady
@Omnes Omnibus: I mean, we’re talking about a man who thought it was out of line to endorse a candidate, but who has no problem throwing money at one of them.
Nukular Biskits
@narya:
I had forgotten about that SCOTUS decision. Thanks for reminding me.
But, you’re forgetting that by not being a member of the favored class in this country (the wealthy), that exemption wouldn’t apply to me.
catclub
Ask the russian Oligarchs who owe it all to Putin.
@mistermix.bsky.social
@brendancalling:
Thanks for letting us know. I listened to your previous episode and thought it was pretty good.
Harrison Wesley
If Trump staffed up with sane people and spent four years lining his pockets to ths exclusion of anything else – that would be the best we could have expected. Alas, we won’t get even that.
Harrison Wesley
If Trump staffed up with sane people and spent four years lining his pockets to ths exclusion of anything else – that would be the best we could have expected. Alas, we won’t get even that.
Omnes Omnibus
@Nukular Biskits: But we are saying that you have a notional large sum of money to donate. So, in this scenario, you could well be in the favored class.
oldgold
DOGE and the tariffs are going to result in the President unilaterally being able to name winners and losers among American businesses. Given this new reality, these corporations are acting rationally.
It’s a real good bet, the
bestworst is yet to come.schrodingers_cat
My outrage meter broke in June after the debate. If find this daily outrage exhausting.
jefft452
ABC, the Washington Post, Facebook, and the LA Times were all in the tank for Trump long before he got elected
They cant bend a knee that is already bent
different-church-lady
@jefft452: Yeah, but before now they were at least looking for a fig leaf.
Ruckus
@Urza:
These are not people that do things, create things, these are the people that own things. Stuff, property, businesses, people. These are the people that have enough of the stuff they worship – money, that they can buy anything they want. And they already have bought every THING they want. What they haven’t been able to purchase is EVERYONE. This is no different than slavery, it is a return to the days when most everyone worked with their hands to create things, be they food or newspapers. But today we have people that have the money to buy anything, be they full sized jets so they do not have to mingle with the common, everyday people or 12 homes so they never have to stay where someone else slept 2 nights ago. They are above the fray, figuratively and actually. They own the world, just ask them. Oh wait you don’t have to ask. And down here on the ground are all the little people, the ones that make the electricity, grow the food, build those 12 homes (and many, many others) and on and on, because the only real thing that many of the uber wealthy can do is sign checks, oh wait they have someone who does that for them. And now they are taking over a country that has existed for a long time where EVERYONE is supposed to be equal, the rich the, not so rich, the laborers, those sleeping on the street. We’ve always had the monied in humanity, today they just have more than could ever spend no matter how hard they try. And so they want to purchase that which is left – which is all the rest of us.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@hells littlest angel:
The personality trait they share is that they’re all narcissistic sociopaths.
Just like 99% of developers.
Nukular Biskits
@Omnes Omnibus:
Well, “large sum” being a relative term, I guess.
For me, a large some would be a couple of thou. That definitely doesn’t put me rubbing shoulders with the Gilded Crowd.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@brendancalling:
Washington Monthly (and Booman over at Progress Pond) have been pounding this drum for about a decade. One can’t argue with their analysis.
But, it’s something that’s never caught on as a real issue with “working class voters”…I always feel the thing they don’t address is that “white” part missing when they talk about how this *should* resonate with “working class voters”
zhena gogolia
@catclub: those who are still alive
different-church-lady
@comrade scotts agenda of rage: Goddammit, Trump ran on a naked platform of hate and rage, and we’re still in “How is our policy messaging not registering with normies?” mode? Totally missing the forest for the trees here.
Ruckus
@Tim C.:
Their plan is that they have so much money that no matter what they will be safe and sound. Because money buys people in addition to everything else. Not all people but you wave enough in front of most of us and eventually enough will take your offer. No matter what it is that you are giving away for what is pocket change to the purchaser.
Nukular Biskits
@Ruckus:
IOW, “The Golden Rule” – He who has the gold makes the rules.
Another Scott
@oldgold: Yup.
Tim Apple’s visits to the WH in the previous go-round is an example of the rich tech folks having to play the game. Even if they disagree with him, they have to look like they’re playing the game.
I think similar things are going on thus far with the Senate.
There will come a time, of course, when they have to actually put their interests above DJT’s (or JDV’s). That’s when things will get interesting…
Thanks.
Best wishes,
Scott.
Kathleen
From Marc Elias in his latest Members Only Newsletter:
AWOL
I’m sure brilliant DOJ strategist and professional urinal Merrick Garland has a few bucks he can chuck into the inaugural kitty.
zhena gogolia
YEAH MERRICK GARLAND IS TO BLAME FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE REELECTING TRUMP
Ksmiami
@AWOL: 😡Don’t get me started on that limpdick
Glidwrith
@catclub: I have found it the height of irony, those Russian oligarchs don’t live in Russia. They need the West and its relatively uncorrupted governments to actually enjoy their booty.
Omnes Omnibus
@zhena gogolia: Forget it, Jake….
zhena gogolia
@Omnes Omnibus: So tiresome.
zhena gogolia
@Glidwrith: Those who are still alive.
Chris
When I was a teenager beginning to notice and be interested in political ideas, especially in fiction, one of the creepiest moments I remember came from, of all things, an episode of Stargate SG-1. Daniel is infiltrating a meeting of the big bads by posing as a servant, and at one point tries to tell one of the other servants that the bad guys aren’t gods as they claim to be – they’re just parasitic aliens who possess humans. The servant agrees. For a moment Daniel thinks he’s found an ally… Then the servant reveals that he can’t wait until it’s his turn to be possessed by an alien. Finally, he’ll get to share in all the wealth and power of his overlords!
Watching politics as an adult has been about two decades of being reminded again and again that at least a third of the human race literally is that guy.
Chris
@Glidwrith:
As I’ve pointed out a number of times, the same is true in America WRT big blue cities versus red rural hinterlands. Watch where our oligarchs choose to live, even as they bemoan the “socialism.”
Ruckus
@Nukular Biskits:
Yep.
And he who has the MONEY is elon. shitforbrains has money, with a little m. elroy has MONEY. Most of us have loose change. At best. And contrary to the old saying money may not buy love but it will buy everything and anything else, those are for sale as well. And often buying everything and anything makes MORE money. And makes one think that their money will also buy everyone. It may not but it will buy many, maybe most. There was a good reason we used to have a small number of taxpayers that reached the highest income tax level – which was a lot higher than the 37% of today and paid it and a bad reason that doesn’t exist as it did any longer.
matt
@brendancalling: Seems to me that Biden cracking down on antitrust didn’t help him with the voters.
jefft452
@different-church-lady: Not really
Dont you remember pulling the endorsements of Harris?
John S.
@matt:
Unfortunately, the results weren’t meaningful enough for anyone to really notice. If the Democrats went big on antitrust (which would really just be a proxy for anti-billionaires), that would be an entirely different story.
And for what it’s worth, a lot of people here have been calling for just that.
TBone
@different-church-lady: it’s on his permanent record, too!
And also (proudly) on mine, since the Internet never really goes away…
TBone
@different-church-lady: don’t forget revenge on that little list.
Ned F
In lieu of a cash donation, Bob Iger will promise to make an animated movie of Kash Patel’s book, The plot against the KIng.
Yes, I can see it now…
AWOL
@zhena gogolia: He should never have had a chance to run. Period. He should have been in prison for attempting an autoglope on 1/21/21.
Fuck Garland.
azlib
@WaterGirl:
Yep, they are all cowards. And also stupid. If they think their millions are going to put them in Trump’s good graces, they have learned nothing.
Subsole
@Tim C.:
Their plan is to take the billions they sucked out of our pockets/the treasury and retire to their survival bunker/sex dungeon on some desert island.
There, one presumes, to spend their days staggering from the treasure pool to the harem.
Scott S.
@Melancholy Jaques: +1
brendancalling
@@mistermix.bsky.social: thanks. This one is better. It’s always better when we have an interview.
brendancalling
@matt: neither did forgiving student loans or passing the IRA or capping the price of insulin or saving the economy or the CHIPS act or walking a picket line or anything else.
Doesnt mean it’s not worth doing. Democrats never get credit for anything.