… because if he hadn’t I doubt that he would have been permitted to write this article, which should be a wake-up call to all of us, even those who are already paying attention.
I’ll share several snippets here, but you really should read the whole thing.
This Is Not a Drill
There are two disastrously wrong ways to read the news from Los Angeles right now, and the rest of America over the next few days. The first is to believe that there is actually anything resembling an insurrection underway. The second is to believe that the Trump administration’s response to the nonexistent insurrection is simply cynical politics, an attempt to gain Donald Trump a few points in the polls.
What we’re actually seeing is much worse: An attempt to end politics as we know it, to deploy force to suppress dissent. Not eventually, but right now.
On the first point: No, LA isn’t a city in chaos, wracked by devastating riots requiring military intervention.
…
The chief of the Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement practically pleading with the Feds to stay out of the situation:
The Los Angeles Police Department, alongside our mutual aid partners, have decades of experience managing large-scale public demonstrations, and we remain confident in our ability to do so professionally and effectively.
Of course, Trump ignored that plea. He federalized part of California’s National Guard despite the opposition of the governor — something that hasn’t happened since 1965, when Lyndon Johnson mobilized part of the Alabama National Guard, basically to protect civil rights protestors. And Trump sent in some Marines, too, which would be completely crazy if the goal was to defuse tension and prevent violence. After all, the mission of the Marines, what they’re trained to do, is to deliver deadly violence.
It’s easy to see how this could spin out of control. Which is, of course, what Trump is hoping for.
But why does Trump want chaos? Many pundits and, I’m sorry to say, all too many Democrats assume that performative cruelty, both in the form of those ICE arrests and in roughing up demonstrators, will work to Trump’s political advantage. After all, isn’t immigration one of the few issues on which he polls positively? Doesn’t acting tough make him look strong?
Narrator: No! That’s not what the polls say.
And for those who don’t trust polls, Democrats keep beating expectations, often by very large margins, in special elections.
So have Trump and his advisers simply misjudged the politics here? No. The militarized response to the LA demonstrations and Trump’s warning that anyone protesting his military birthday parade (which millions probably will) will be “met with heavy force” aren’t about moving the poll numbers. They’re all about rejecting the idea that Americans have a right to oppose Trump policies. In the same interview Morris says it’s
part of his destruction of mutual tolerance for the party system, which is classic authoritarianism. And that’s it. That’s the motivation, and everything else circles around that.
In a follow-up note on Bluesky, Morris — who is hardly a wild-eyed radical — added this:
If Trump gets away with this, he will absolutely do the same thing during the 2026 & 2028 elections. He will manufacture unrest just like in LA and send federal troops to every major city as a way to intimidate voters and decrease turnout. Functional end to fair elex.
And Trump’s highly partisan speech to the troops at Fort Bragg — a name change the administration pretends is to honor a World War II hero, but is obviously a reversion to the old practice of naming forts after Confederate generals, that is, traitors — was a naked attempt to coopt the military in his tyrannical project.
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, gets it. I’ve never had strong views about Newsom, one way or the other, but this line from his big speech Tuesday was what everyone who cares about this nation should be saying right now:
Democracy is under assault right before our eyes, this moment we have feared has arrived. He’s taking a wrecking ball, a wrecking ball to our founding fathers’ historic project: three coequal branches of independent government.
If you’re a pundit who thinks that this is over the top, you’re part of the problem (and you have been wrong every step of the way.) If you’re a Democrat who wants to ignore the ongoing assault on democracy so we can talk about Medicaid — important as it is — you’re hiding your head in the sand.
This is the moment. Everything is on the line, right now.
This is why we fight. But how?
This should be a hair on fire moment. June 14 is in two days. What can we do right now, and on Friday and over the weekend, that will have an impact?
Steve LaBonne
Every morning I read Krugman’s and Richardson’s emails whilst sipping my coffee. The ratio of useful information to time spent is off the charts. I am very grateful for both of them (and I subscribe to Krugman’s Substack at the basic level in order to lift the paywall).
WereBear
Joining the “No Kings” protest in my town.
Hunter Gathers
Do not protest Trump’s B-day parade.
MAGA isn’t going to show and neither should anyone else.
Nothing would make him crack like a poorly attended birthday party.
Rusty
When i read it this morning, I had the same thought. The NYT editorial staff would have lost their collective shit if he submitted that for publication. I’ve decided to forgo a sign for Saturday’s protest and instead I got a large American flag. We are fighting for the soul of this country and I refuse to let the bastards take the flag from us as a symbol of what we can be as our better selves.
Professor Bigfoot
That one— it’s the CONSTITUTION that needs defense at this moment; and if the Constitution stands strong, the democracy part will take care of itself.
In fact, that’s part of the part of the challenge— it’s coasted along for so long and most people are so comfortable that they’re not at all civically engaged.
Like the people who don’t even register to vote because jury summonses come from the voter rolls… so they doubly refuse to actually participate in their own governance. [angry cursing emoi]
ETA- Remember Joe reminding the military to “remember your oath?” I pray the vast majority of them remain loyal to it.
Suzanne
Paul Krugman is a national treasure. He’s bang-on target here.
kindness
I’ve never wished for one big beautiful bomb in my life. It’s bad karma. Yet if one hit Trump’s viewing platform during his birthday parade, I wouldn’t feel all that bad. Now that’s really sad. Look what Trump had done to the psyche of this liberal.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@Professor Bigfoot:
If this were 1996, I’d say yes.
Now? I wish I could talk to my classmates at the USMC Command & Staff College at Quantico, not exactly a librul bunch of people but always made it clear their loyalties were to that document and what it represents, to get a sense of how “the military” might react.
The last time we had a massive military betrayal of the Constitution were all the US military (and former) military officers who resigned commissions to fight for the Confederacy. So it can happen.
Thus endeth my Doomer screed for today.
Kristine
@Rusty:
That’s a good idea. I was wondering about my sign as well.
WereBear
@Professor Bigfoot: One bright spot is that the LAPD is with Gavin Newsome.
PR, professional pride, and Trump’s rapidly dimming appeal.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
Flags and rallies/protests:
The flag display is great messaging but when one’s flapping in your face for hours, it’s gets really annoying.
Llast time somebody had some kind of flag, not US, that stood next to me on the CO capitol grounds and I spent 2 hours pushing the damn thing out of my face. And no, I didn’t feel inclined to move somewhere else plus it was so packed, it was impossible to move someplace else.
Heh heh, I know first world problem and a small sacrifice to pay for a display of the flag. Could be worse, could be standing alone in front of a tank.
French Onion Soup
Upper class six figure income people don’t care about him now that he’s not at the NYT. So until you are willing to genocide their asses, what he says has ceased to matter. As you won’t, don’t mention him.
Bill Hicks
I agree, Krugman is much better out of the ny times, and not because of him, the times has enshitified itself. Krugman reminds me of a more passionate Kevin Drum, and it has been so helpful to me to have “unleashed Paul” around, now that Kevin is gone. A voice in the darkness that keeps you from going nuts.
Omnes Omnibus
@French Onion Soup: Please stop tarnishing the name of a delicious lunch item.
surfk9
@Rusty: I will be carrying a California Flag
TONYG
@Professor Bigfoot: I used to enjoy the comedy of George Carlin back in the day. But one thing about him still pisses me off 17 years after his death — his proud pronouncements about how he refused to vote (as if that was some kind of act of rebellion). To the degree that anyone took that nonsense seriously, he did a real disservice to the country.
Mr. Bemused Senior
You are mistaken as shown by his rising count of subscribers.
Hilbertsubspace
@Omnes Omnibus: That’s why I call him borscht.
twbrandt
Can soup be pied?
Professor Bigfoot
You speak of my nightmares, sir; the horror being it’s much the same people and much the same issues.
oldgold
Earlier this week I commented on how my prior personal experience with protest marches and my observations on the efficacy of recent protest marches has left me dubious as to whether they are worthwhile.
That expressed, I am seriously considering going to the No Kings march in my hometown on Saturday.
If I go, I will not be carrying a sign. Although the cynic in me was thinking of carrying a sign saying: “Hooray For Our Side.”
The reason I am seriously considering going has to do with my Dad. He fought in WW II and was something of a war hero in our town. I remember that when he marched against the Viet Nam War people were surprised and it caused at least a few people to think. Now, although I am not a war hero, I think a lot of people in town might be surprised to see someone like me marching and it just might cause a few of them to think.
Professor Bigfoot
You KNOW we’re in deep shit when the BRIGHT SPOT is LAPD.
Jeffg166
@Rusty:
I got a 3 feet wide 2 feet high No Kings in American sign and put it up on my porch. If I put it in the lawn it would disappear instantly. Then I order bunting to go on the porch iron railings. It faces my 90 year old MAGA neighbor.
Jeffg166
@kindness:
I am hoping for a fatal lightening strike. Let’s see the holy rollers spin that.
H.E.Wolf
I once accidentally set some of my hair on fire. I cannot recommend it as a course of action. :-)
That said: this is a good time to be appalled, and determined, and deliberately active. Talk less, do more: whatever that means in each of our individual circumstances. Embody, in our words and actions, the values we want to preserve.
Back to my database-update task for the local/state Dems. Folks are energized, statewide… including “red”-coded areas. We are mightier than we think.
Belafon
@oldgold: I will be wearing my Navy veteran cap Saturday.
They Call Me Noni
@kindness: I think “if only he hadn’t turned his head ever so slightly” on July 13.
H.E.Wolf
@oldgold: What a profound and beautiful way to honor your dad’s service and his memory.
If you attend, please let us know what your hometown rally was like!
Jeffro
I’m debating about what to put on my sign for Saturday…
Froette is in town and will be going to our local protest with me. Mrs. Fro is extremely nervous about it.
Matt
This is underselling the real problem: they assume this is true for the population in general because the performative cruelty is 100% WORKING ON THEM.
They love seeing hippies & brown people get punched. That’s why they all lined up to lovingly tongue the prostates of cops back in 2020 with the “fund the police” shenanigans.
Captain C
@kindness: I would never set such a bomb, but if I was on the bomber’s jury, I would be receptive to an argument of self-defense.
Omnes Omnibus
@Matt: And this is, of course, why Trump’s poll numbers are dropping like a rock, especially on immigration…
planetjanet
@French Onion Soup: So you want to kill me. I read Krugman every day. Maybe you should rethink your eliminationist fantasies. Get some actual perspective about real people.
Jeffro
btw Krugman is 100% on target about this being a practice run for sending troops into cities prior to the 2026 and 2028 elections.
Frankly I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. My ‘sensible paranoia’ meter must be off.
They Call Me Noni
@Jeffro: A very good friend texted me last night and asked if she could go to our local protest with me. Glad to have the company! We have a good chance of storms, hopefully it’s just rain and not lightning.
zhena gogolia
@oldgold: I am totally not a protest person. But I just went to my local hardware store, and when I asked for materials to make a sign, the young man said, “What kind of sign? For a yard sale?” I somewhat reluctantly said, “No, for a protest.” He immediately started beaming, as did all the other clerks, and directed me to a lovely young woman who said, “I have all my stuff ready to go.” As she led me to the Sharpies, I said, “I’m not really a protest person, but . . .” and she said, “It’s necessary.” There’s something happening here.
They Call Me Noni
@zhena gogolia:Hopefully it’s extremely contagious.
bbleh
@Hunter Gathers: concur. Don’t give him an excuse to beat heads and get it on TV. Keep the imagery split-screen: tanks and very few people in DC, millions of ordinary people on the streets elsewhere.
Plus it’s going to rain in DC. And I read the entire parade route is … eight blocks.
@Professor Bigfoot: perhaps we could say, EVEN the LAPD!!
Oh and re OP, I’m marshaling for the Philly rally and march.
Baud
@zhena gogolia:
“Would you like to see our …. ‘nail guns’?”
Melancholy Jaques
@Omnes Omnibus:
Isn’t he still doing better than Democrats generally or any specific Democrat?
There are a lot of people who say one thing in polls, but quite another at the ballot box.
cmorenc
@kindness:
Or more simply and likely, what if Trump suffered a fatal heart attack? Would we be better-off resisting President Vance, on the assumption he would not be able to summon or sustain the cult-like MAGA following as Trump?
Old Dan and Little Ann
I saw the following sign on the book of faces yesterday.
The only person trump ever hired that was actually qualified to do their job was Stormy Daniels.
Baud
@Melancholy Jaques:
Everyone hates us. Especially us.
Redshift
As a companion piece of evidence, I listen to Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance’s podcast, and while I enjoy them and find them informative, they sometimes (especially Preet) bug me by being too measured and covering “there are ways in which X could be done legitimately.”
Not this week. The military moves were one of the two main topics, and they led off with “people should be much more alarmed about this than they are” before getting into the details.
oldgold
@zhena gogolia: There’s something happening here.
But what it is ain’t exactly clear. That’s why we old people need to speak our minds.
Omnes Omnibus
@Melancholy Jaques: The only thing I find polls useful for is seeing how they trend. By that measure, Trump is not succeeding.
JaySinWa
That’s kind of the definition of chicken pot pie.
I was wondering if there was a French onion version, and low and behold https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/french-onion-soup-pie-for-lovers/
scav
@Melancholy Jaques: Of course, if your standard for beginning to engage in a fight or a conversation is already to have won the conversation or fight. . . . well, sitting in the corner smugly congratulating yourself on your superior efficiency is a common option.
bbleh
@oldgold: as opined elsewhere, one of the main reasons (if not THE main reason) the TACO guy won was that a lot of Dems and Dem leaners simply didn’t show up to vote (note that in states where Dems did heavy GOTV, the numbers were like 1-2% higher), and I think one of the main reasons THAT happened was that they simply weren’t paying much attention. They were busy, and for the most part (not all) they were doing pretty well (the Biden Boom was one of the best expansions and softest landings, well, EVER). They were just tuned into other things.
I think that’s what’s changing. The horribleness is getting through to a lot of normies. (And the willingness of people to act and talk about it is part of what’s doing that.)
Jeffro
@JaySinWa: that looks good but even better, there’s a recipe for ‘Thai salmon noodle soup’ at the bottom of the page, and now I know how we’ll be having our salmon next week – thanks!
H.E.Wolf
@zhena gogolia:
I’ll be protesting via our sidewalk, with my trusty bucket of kids’ chalk….
Belafon
@zhena gogolia: This will be my first rally as well. My wife isn’t excited about me going, but she listens to the Paula Poundstone podcast (and because of that I had bought tickets for us to see her in the evening) and Poundstone will be speaking at the rally.
Jeffro
@They Call Me Noni: I did not even think to check the weather and it says “afternoon thunderstorms”
Hmmm…
I think me and Froette will go for the very start of the protest, and see if we can hang in there ’til 1pm
George
@Jeffro:
Everything that we see now from FFOTUS is a dry/test run for future, more expansive actions. ICE raids will only get more heinous. Sending detainees to concentration camps in other countries will only increase. Use of the U.S. military to combat American citizens and, eventually, open fire on them will happen.
FFOTUS is using a creeping gradualism so that the eventual end result will be accepted by a plurality of the population, and throughout it all, the GOP in Congress, the Supreme Court, and much of the media are giving him their full support. They are getting exactly what they want.
Nothing that we’ve seen from this administration is a simple occurrence unrelated to other simple occurrences, but rather the first steps on a long and destructive journey.
Belafon
@Jeffro: So, lets say Trump decides to do something in the middle of October next year in various cities, maybe more roundups, maybe worse, to get people to protest. Do Democrats show up to protest, or do people hold back and deal with the “Democrats don’t care about X” that would also come?
Professor Bigfoot
Thank you for your service, and I mean that 100%. Take care of them folks. 🙏🏾
No One of Consequence
@TONYG: Carlin is a bit of a mixed bag, but not much. He professed the desire to observe the American Experiment, not to partake in it, he accepted this in that the outcome would yield neither praise nor blame. He didn’t want to judge (allegedly), but he did want to be able to observe and comment.
I posit the great majority of his observations and comments (that I have thus encountered), greatly outweigh this shortsightedness. I always attributed this to his nihilism, myself.
That said, I do agree with you. It was a disappointment I have great difficulty in rationalizing for him.
A word of advice, though you did not ask, it is freely given: Never meet your heroes. Understand that Kant was right and ‘Out of the twisted timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.’ We are ALL of us, broken. All human, and all too human. Accept this fact, early in your life if you can. It will save you considerable sorrow.
I offer but a couple of countless examples: Van Morrison and Eric Clapton. Van, in my opinion, has done less Good than Eric. However, based on their statements and actions, it could be argued that either could be an actual shite human being. I don’t want to hear a single thing they have to say. But I don’t mind hearing them sing and play. Before I learned of their all too humanness, I held both of them in extremely high regard. Now I just realize that one is a gifted vocalist who’s voice will always move me, and the other is a very good guitarist who never quite grew into his own hype before he was eclipsed by greater talents. Some of his best tunes are JJ Cale songs, and when he took those songs in, he also co-opted JJ Cale’s ‘cool’ sound and approach and too many don’t know who JJ Cale was and think that Clapton wrote Cocaine and Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote Call Me the Breeze.
But I digress. If you made it this far into my response, thank you. I hope it wasn’t entirely wasted effort on your part.
YMMV,
-NOoC
Nick M
As Josh Marshall pointed out, this is a battle for public opinion and so far Trump is not clearly winning that battle and may well be losing. Wait until a Marine shoots someone or several someones, though, which is almost inevitable. Then we’ll what people think about having our military used against us.
No One of Consequence
@H.E.Wolf:
I too fervently hope to eternally be upwind of any truly hair on fire moment.
-NOoC
NutmegAgain
@Bill Hicks: Krugman was one of the first and loudest voices to speak out against the Bush admin’s reckless violence in the Middle East. I remember actually writing a note (that went nowhere, ha) to him thanking him for speaking up and speaking out against the lunacy.
TONYG
@WereBear: Planning to do that myself here in New Jersey on Saturday. (For what that’s worth.)
No One of Consequence
@Jeffro: How about the ever green:
“Not normally a sign-guy, but GEEZ.”
or
“How absolutely pleasant we can still do this, right Americans?”
or
“… I Pray we are on God’s side.” – Abraham Lincoln
or
“something unobjectionable, but clever and undeniably true”
If you give me a feeling you’re going for, I can dig for more.
Alternately, I can have a nice steaming mug of STFU, as you prefer.
-NOoC
Ohio Mom
@Belafon: That is too far off to worry about, we have no idea what things will look like then.
On flags: they come in lots of different sizes. Mine is a lightweight one, about 12”x18”. It’s not going to flap in anyone’s face. Even a tiny flag taped onto to a hat sends a message.
When I bought my sharpies at the art supply store the other day, the woman at the cash register told me that she has forbidden her children from using the president’s name in her house. It’s a bad word.
No One of Consequence
@zhena gogolia: Jeffro, there’s a good sign for you:
“There’s something happening here.”
If you know, you know. (one of the only songs I can sing and play)
-NOoC
feebog
We can prepare for Saturday. Invite likeminded people. You might be surprised how many people will be willing to go if they are with someone they know. We now have a small group attending but we are trying to expand it into double digits. And signs, make sure everyone has a sign.
TONYG
@Nick M: Deploying the Marines is really ratcheting things up. United States Marines are elite trained killers (not law enforcement officers), and should be used only to kill enemies of the United States in declared wars. (And, of course, there has not been a lawful declaration of war by the United States Congress since December 8th, 1941.) With the Marines being sent to Los Angeles, the question is “Who are the enemies that the Marines will be killing?”. I guess we’ll find out soon.
cain
@Hunter Gathers:
1000x this.
He wants to see unrest at his parade.
But he would be even more pissed if only a handful of people show up and reporters talking about 100s of millions of dollars, and lost productivity for a non-event. It will piss him off so badly that he’ll start doing crazy EOs.
lou
@bbleh:
I live in DC. The parade route is on Constitution Avenue. Beneath Constitution runs the Tiber Creek and with manmade layers of piled up stuff above it. My dream is for the tanks to sink as they run roughshod on the parade route. Yes, they are trying to mitigate the weight of the tanks, but a girl can dream.
cain
@Omnes Omnibus: Bruh, you have french onion soup for lunch?
::writes notes::
Baud
@lou:
I would be pretty embarrassing if a tank got stuck.
Redshift
@oldgold:
You’re doing a good thing, that is exactly the kind of thing we need. We’re still in the movement-building phase of protests. (Sucks that we can’t already be in the “stopping shit” phase, but we work with what we’ve got.) A big part of movement building, and why the protests are being done everywhere instead of one impressive giant protest is to be where normies who are uncomfortable with what’s going on can see people like them protesting, and decide that’s something they could do.
cain
@Jeffg166:
we should all start singing “No More Kings” from School House Rock:
https://www.schoolhouserock.tv/No.html
(maybe modified since I’m sure native americans would be annoyed)
Steve LaBonne
@lou: That would make for quite a viral video. Fingers crossed.
Jeffro
and yet, #ETTD is a real thing, so the likelihood is up there!
(just nothing that injures a soldier, please, Karma)
Omnes Omnibus
@cain: When do you eat it?
Thank you.
Jeffro
@No One of Consequence: many thanks for the suggestions! I’m probably just going to do with one of the ‘No Kings’ logos I’ve seen
(a crown with a red circle/slash over it)
cain
@No One of Consequence:
yeah, I learned that myself. I am a huge Rush fan but I wouldn’t want to meet Neil Peart other than to take a selfie with. He had a profound influence in how I see the world through his lyrics.
I know all three of them are good humans. But I’m sure we would have disagreements about many things. I’m happy to just admire them from afar.
Ohio Mom
@cain: The DC hospitality sector — hotels, motels, airbnbs, etc. — must know what kind of crowd we can expect to see. But they aren’t saying or no reporter has asked them
I too hope for a small crowd. Not that Trump will admit it, it will be like his largest crowd for an Inauguration, ever! all over again.
cain
@TONYG:
His daughter also said he was a mixed bag FYI. I remember her saying something about him on twitter.
Captain C
@Baud:
OK, both.
Captain C
@cain: I think Neal Peart would have been interesting to meet in a bookstore, where you could pretend you didn’t know who he was and just talk books (and maybe take a selfie when you found out he was a ‘famous musician’).
Belafon
@Jeffro: I’m gonna buy an American flag.
Steve LaBonne
We will be doing an afternoon shift at our church’s table at the Brecksville – Broadview Heights Pride Festival (which I like to think is a form of resistance in itself) and then heading to the 16th birthday party of my wife’s granddaughter, so we have too much going on to make it to a protest. I’m sure there will be plenty of other protest opportunities, sadly.
cain
@Captain C:
True. He’s such a good writer too.
I would have liked to have seen his take lyrically on the current situation. Surprisingly, his lyrics have aged quite well over the years. His entire clockwork angels album seems like an ode to Trump before he was even president.
Trollhattan
When’s the last time you saw a huge group of happy teenagers?
Last night driving home past the community center, I passed a passel of be-robed soon-to-be HS grads heading to the entrance. Even in my car I could feel the energy, which these days is to be treasured whenever encountered.
They would have begun high school on Zoom, following the departure of the 2020s who didn’t get their chance to walk.
Belafon
What are the actual hours on the parade, so I can avoid all possible views of it?
Melancholy Jaques
@Baud:
@Omnes Omnibus:
Like many of us, I’m just dazed & confused at our current circumstance. I know, I know, messaging, eggs, FOX, Biden is old, school closing, blah blah blah, but this morning a random Pete Buttigieg interview excerpt showed up in my bluesky feed and he was, as usual, exactly what we would want and admire in the leader of anything we were part of, a country, party, company, whatever and I wonder for the umpteenth time, why are we not winning? What the fuck is wrong with people? It’s an emotion, not analysis. Like that SNL skit of Lovitz as Dukakis thinking, how am I losing to this guy?
cain
@Omnes Omnibus:
Dinner is when I like having it. I always it was a dinner thing but I suppose it is delicious enough to have any time.
When I was in France, I hardly saw french onion soup in restaurants outside of the main circle of Paris.
Melancholy Jaques
@Steve LaBonne:
My actual home town! Glad to see that. Sting ’em Bees!
Raoul Paste
@zhena gogolia: God, I hope you’re right
cain
@cain:
Saw a reddit thread about this 3 minute video and essentially it did not age well. A lot of propaganda in it.
It’s interesting how badly maligned the British was in the origin story. :D
Kirk
@Belafon:
If you count the analyses and views of the route and units pre-parade, and the seemingly endless replays and analyses after the parade, I’d say you should probably avoid media starting around midnight tonight and stay off till … after July 4th, maybe?
Kirk
@cain: Honestly, it’s a delight as an occasional breakfast.
cain
@Melancholy Jaques:
Propaganda and rascism. I get a lot of insight from reading the leopardeatingfaces subreddit. How people think is fascinating. It’s like they’ve ignored everything he’s said and just voted on vibes.
Its’ amazing to me that his time on TV as The Apprentice is still in the forefront of people’s mind and not the disastrous 4 years as president.
The fact that he got more votes the 2nd time around is incredible to me.
Baud
@Melancholy Jaques:
Most people aren’t like us.
We wouldn’t win an election in Saudi Arabia either.
Leto
@TONYG:
Old School
@Belafon:
The parade itself starts at 6:30 p.m.
It will be followed by a concert at 7:30 and fireworks at 9:45.
(The forecast calls for rain though, so maybe it’ll be canceled.)
Ksmiami06
@cain: humanity mostly sucks with outliers .
cain
@Kirk: Well I suppose there isn’t a bad time to have french onion soup.:)
Professor Bigfoot
@Melancholy Jaques: Many beliefs and actions stem from unconscious and subconscious choices.
“There is no horseshoe. There is only white people who are at best uncomfortable with any power being held in Black hands. Those white people are at all points of the ‘left-right’ spectrum.”
Most of them couldn’t tell you WHY they shun Democrats because the fact of this unspoken discomfort remains shoved just under the surface; and until more white people are mindful of their subconscious beliefs, we’re gonna be stuck.
Redshift
I understand being dubious about the efficacy of protests. For a long time, I went to big protests, came home happy, and then was frustrated that getting hundreds of thousands of people out on the streets didn’t get much of a response.
It took me years to learn that protests are a starting point, not the final purpose. They get people involved (they’re fun!) but to make them effective, organizers need to use them to organize, to give the people they’ve recruited more actions to carry out; lobbying their reps, speaking out in town halls and other public events, contacting the media, etc. And since we’re no longer in normal times, this may include other actions that are less normal.
sab
@Leto: I know our former police chief. He was thrilled to recruit former military until they came on board. Then he learned the police needed to make a heroic effort to convince the new recruits that the people they were supposed to be serving were not the enemy.
Steve LaBonne
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-voter-gets-choked-up-after-ice-detains-a-third-of-his-staff/
WaterGirl
@Jeffg166:
Excellent choice!
Old School
@Steve LaBonne:
I thought those “Mass Deportations Now!” signs they handed out and waved around signaled a desire for nuance!
Steve in the ATL
@kindness: unfortunately, the whole chain of succession is a disaster. JDivans, Preacher Mike, Upchuck Grassley….
They Call Me Noni
@Belafon: Sounds like an awesome date day and night.
Redshift
@Ohio Mom:
The Pride parade in DC last week had an estimated 700,000 people attend. If he/the MAGAts claim more than that, it will be obviously ridiculous. If they claim, say 200,000 (also almost certainly false), I’m going to mock them for bragging about having a fraction as much as the LGBTQ+ people they think everyone hates.
TONYG
@Trollhattan: I live a block away from the local high school, and I see a lot of groups of happy teenagers. Good for them. They’re too young (and, I guess, too middle-class) to know how horrible the world can be. That’s a good thing.
Steve in the ATL
@Omnes Omnibus: this poster also apparently thinks $100,000 income makes one upper class. Bruh, that’s not even middle class in many blue states. Perhaps this poster is in Mississippi and no Russia as it seems.
Melancholy Jaques
@cain:
So I’m not alone in being baffled by people.
Melancholy Jaques
@Professor Bigfoot:
As a white guy who knows a lot of other white people, I can tell you that even attempting to make them mindful of their subconscious beliefs really pisses them off & that may be why we’re stuck.
sab
Any dairy farmers in jackaldom? I read somewhere that if cows are happy their ears go backwards, and if they are angry their ears point forwards, and if their ears are sideways or up and down they are just interested.
This is completely backwards from dogs and cats. So is it true?
Archon
I’m going to the No kings protest as a dress rehearsal for the protests of all protests we deep down inside ALL know is coming when Trump and his minions try to cancel elections in 26 or 28.
No One of Consequence
@cain: You’d have to hold a seance, my friend. Despite his ‘assumed’ political leanings, I would have dearly loved to speak with him for a few hours about just those very things. I don’t think that he had given time to, or run into anyone who could correct some of his (rather obvious) diametrically opposed ideas. The whole teenage fantasy books, one has orcs and the other one was written by Ayn Rand. He was, arguably, one of the top 5 if not thee greatest drummer when he was alive and in his prime.
I don’t know what caused me to offer that free advice bullshit, but it isn’t bullshit, it is true, every word. I have not met many of my heroes. Been disappointed enough by your everyday human to bother with the starfuckery versions.
Geddy and Alex seem to be genuinely good people. Imho, they deserve their success. They toiled a long time in relative obscurity, where far lesser bands had quicker, greater rises and flame outs. The fact that they used to open for KISS just saddens me, though I understand how The Market works… Still. I listen to Xanadu or the entirety of Moving Pictures and just, wow.
-NOoC
Leto
@sab: I definitely believe it. I’ve read a bit about the problems police have with my generation of vets, former combat vets who did multiple tours, and trying to get them to unlearn that. It’s also part of the creep of the militarization of the regular civilian population that we’ve (all of us) had to deal with for the past 25-30 years. That mindset, training, coupled with all the military hardware we dump into localities…
zhena gogolia
@Melancholy Jaques: I know.
Steve in the ATL
@sab:
Helpful hints from “Farmer Wants A Wife”!
MaryLou
@comrade scotts agenda of rage: I suspect that today those officers wouldn’t even have the sense of honor to resign their commissions. They’ve bought into the strongman myth.
Captain C
@No One of Consequence:
I think he got better as he got older. The Ayn Rand-inspired stuff was mostly on the first few albums.
That’s my impression as well. Geddy donated his collection of hundreds of autographed-by-Negro-Leagues-players baseballs to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
Strangely enough, the lads seem to have had a thoroughly great time on that tour, and KISS seems to have enjoyed their company.
100% agree. ETA: I saw them on the 2011 tour when they played the entirety of Moving Pictures in the second set and it blew my head apart from the amazingness.
(edited to add the link)
Captain C
@Leto: I wonder what percentage of the current problems caused by out-of-control cops is due to untreated PTSD from the Iraq War.
Baud
Professor Bigfoot
@Captain C: From Adam’s writing here and on Bluesky, a lot of it is how they’re trained: “YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER IN EVERY ENCOUNTER, BE PREPARED TO DEFEND YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KILL YOU.”
I’ve no doubt there’s some PTSD involved, but American police culture is *sick.
Leto
@Baud: Spaceballs: THE SEQUEL FOR MORE MERCHANDISE! Remember seeing the talk around this a few months ago, glad it’s still moving forward. Can’t wait for Mel Brooks to assume the new role of Curdled Yogurt. It’s like a Force Ghost in the Spaceballs parlance.
Captain C
@Leto: Spaceballs the Flamethrower! The kids love it!
Baud
Sister Golden Bear
I’ll be at a local No Kings protest with a sign I made for the occasion: It’s the California state flag reimagined as a version of the Gadsden “Don’t Tread of
MeUs” Flag. I wanted to add “you mutherfuckers” but decided to keep it family friendly.Leto
@Captain C: “We asked, “what do the fans want?”; instead, we’re making this movie!”
/Dead. The man still has it.
Doctor Science
At 3PM Eastern time Ezra & Leah, the co-founders of Indivisible, are going to be having their weekly What’s The Plan? Zoom meeting. You can sign up for it here; I’ll be liveblogging it on Bluesky.
Kelly
@Baud: Threw him down and handcuffed him
https://bsky.app/profile/fritschner.bsky.social/post/3lrgkoj4jn22k
more
https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com/post/3lrgkqrrts22p
sixthdoctor
@Captain C: Neil Peart in 2012:
“While I believe in all that freedom, I also believe that no one should suffer needlessly. A realization I had lately: it is impossible to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and be a Republican. It’s philosophically absolutely opposed-if they could only think about what they were saying for a minute.”
https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2012/08/13/3264/New-interview-with-Neil-Peart-in-Macleans-magazine?p=2&n=10&o=DESC
BarcaChicago
My god. Just saw the images of Senator Padilla being thrown to the ground and handcuffed. Noem stated that the federal government will be taking over Los Angeles to “liberate it from the socialists and burdensome leadership”. This is really happening.
oldgold
@Kelly: Who were the uniformed people tossing Senator Padilla down and cuffing him?
Senator Padilla only represents 1/9 of the country’s population.
sixthdoctor
@oldgold:
steve g
I am actually getting tired of this sort of claim to absolute certainty when no such claim is possible.
If Trump dies between now and November 2028, the above statement is obviously false. No one knows this for sure. Stop pretending that you do.
chemiclord
@TONYG: There WAS a degree during the the 70s, 80s and 90s where it could be hard to see much daylight between the two parties, and that was the era that informed a LOT of Carlin’s comedy.
That said, it’s a meager excuse, because Carlin was plenty smart enough to know better.
Kelly
@oldgold: One of them had FBI on the back of his vest
Captain C
@BarcaChicago: I’m not saying we should do it, but Noem deserves to be tossed into a pit of large, hungry dogs.
Jeffro
@Baud:
@BarcaChicago:
Kristi Noem at that press conference: ” DHS is staying here to liberate this city from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor and this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into this city.”
so…no longer looking for ‘violent illegal immigrants’, then
Captain C
@chemiclord:
That era, as you pointed out, pretty much ended cold in 1994 with the ascent of Gingrich to the Speaker’s position.
Gretchen
@Ohio Mom: I saw a survey of DC hotel rooms for this weekend and they are offering discounts on them – like 25% off.
Gretchen
Senator Alex Padilla went to Kristi Noem’s press conference in LA and tried to ask her why she always cycles through the same 6 stories of bad guys to justify her gulag. She had him forcibly removed. It took 5 guys to throw him to the floor and drag him out.
Sure Lurkalot
@Leto:
Part of this is why I object to outfitting police departments military equipment. Beyond my opinion that it is totally inappropriate, it also serves as a recruiting tool for ex-military who have issues with readjusting to civilian life.
The original Star Trek had an excellent episode about hyper trained warriors who were segregated from society after their service.
lowtechcyclist
@Jeffro:
Can’t say it more directly than that: they’re using force in/against L.A. because they don’t like the politics of the elected leaders of the city and the state.
She has openly declared herself a traitor to the United States of America. Period, end of story.
Steve in the ATL
@Jeffro: @lowtechcyclist: I suppose I could ask a lawyer to confirm, but I don’t think that’s how the federal government operates in this country….
Gvg
@twbrandt: right away. And pay attention to how many thread suddenly have new commentors who only speak negatively. I bet this one claims to be a long time reader under a different nym soon also. I recommend pie and ignore. Move on. It’s not ignoring unpleasant facts, because a real discussion would be presented differently. This is dissent suppression, like voter suppression only for everything.
lowtechcyclist
@Gretchen:
When we were running errands this morning, my wife said something about a Craigslist ad offering to pay people to show up at the parade.
Not surprising that the hotels are offering discounts. Given the restrictions on traffic starting tomorrow and running through the weekend, who would be coming to DC right now for any other reason? The city will be a mess to get around, and good luck in getting near any tourist attractions near Constitution Avenue.
lowtechcyclist
@Steve in the ATL:
You mean, how it’s supposed to operate? Because apparently it now IS operating like that.
CliosFanboy
I think I may be flying an upside down US flag on Saturday
Spanky
@Baud: By clearly marked “FBI” goons.
BlueGuitarist
@zhena gogolia:
Thanks for sharing this awesome story!
The bigger the turnout the better.
Gvg
@George: we need to get better at derailing him too. And the courts. I think I see signs that both are beginning to come up with better faster responses. The media should too, but there I see no hope. Bah.
Timill
@Gvg: fos first appeared on bj on 2/27/25 in thread https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/27/this-country-hates-women/ comment 81.
...now I try to be amused
@sab: It might be that militarized police forces are the norm. I know that Wilhelmine through Nazi Germany preferred ex-soldiers as police officers, and the French Gendarmerie nationale is formally a branch of the army. The British model established by Sir Robert Peel of a police force that is explicitly not a military force appears to be the exception.
“To maintain at all times a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and that the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.” — Peelian Principle #7
Mike E
@Melancholy Jaques: and that’s why we suck
Fixed that for you!
BlueGuitarist
@oldgold:
Appreciate your Buffalo Springfield references. Neil has been protesting!
a lot of careful analysis showing protest participation matters in a variety of ways. Including in influencing the outcome of the next midterm election.
The more people who participate the better!
Mel
@oldgold: My grandfather was in the Pacific in the Navy during WWII. He gave up his Quaker faith to fight for, as he said, “Everyone who was suffering because of hate and violence.” He suffered from PTSD and his physical injuries the rest of his life, but he always said that he would do it again if he had to, because WWII was, to him, a fight for humanity.
After my father died last month, we found Grandpa’s medals, his uniforms, and the flag given to my grandmother when Grandpa died.
I intend to take his flag and medals to any event I attend, even going out to eat.
My health won’t handle a protest, under Dr.’s orders, but my hope is that the flag and medals will start some serious conversations about what is at stake, and what he meant when he said the words “a country that belongs to all of us”, and “freedom” and “patriot”.
We can carry them with us, and let them speak along with us.
Professor Bigfoot
@chemiclord: Bless his memory, George was a white guy; and the Dems turn to civil rights (and the correspondent GOP turn to white supremacy) did not affect him.
chemiclord
@Melancholy Jaques: Simple answer, roughly half of us want a fistfight with Republicans, and half of us don’t.
Gloria DryGarden
Restraining order hearings in process, to stop military in LA
Gloria DryGarden
@Gloria DryGarden: also I read on bsky, the security people should have known who he was.
Security ought to have known Padilla
Mel
@Gloria DryGarden: Thank you for this link.
No One of Consequence
@Captain C:
oh you lucky fucker. I has a jealous a mile wide.
-NOoC