I think the U.S. has been viewed by much older countries as a brash upstart, quick to temper and doing things our way. But even with a teenager's rambunctiousness, there were adults in the room. I didn't always agree with those voices, but they weren't out to destroy democracy. Now, we have a man AND HIS MINIONS just grabbing what they can get. Memecoin millions? Gimme! Venezuela's oil? Mine, mine, mine. Machado's Nobel Prize? That was mine, give it to me.
This is a man who flips off an auto worker for name calling? He is our president? Wake me up when it's over. Not really, I'm awake but like a waking nightmare every f***ng day.
Excellent writing Mary and thank you for getting my Friday off to a laugh out loud start. It's been a while since that has happened but your Gollum description was perfect
Because the Project 2025 adjusts for that. What I don't understand is how they knew (Russell Vought et al) that the Republican party would go along with everything they intended and planned to do. Was it, dare I say, a conspiracy?
Mary, thank you for this excellent post. Now I am seeing the Gollum and those eyes and the voice. And I do wonder what the hell is wrong with that woman giving him the medal. She just gave it to the world's least peaceful person and also managed to tarnish the prize. I bet it is about power.
I've lived my life as a Canadian, but I was born in the US (my RCAF Dad had a NATO posting in DC), so I was technically a dual citizen. When Trump was elected again, with the popular vote, I renounced my US citizenship (in spite of the US$2350 price tag). In the revulsion against what Trump is doing domestically & internationally, plus the pathetic complicity of the GOP, it may be overlooked that enough voters either voted for this or stayed home & allowed it to happen to give Trump the popular vote & the illusion of a mandate. His actions were not only predictable from his first term, they were predicted, and still he won. That has destroyed trust, probably for a generation, certainly until the world sees the US starting to break free from the oligarchs & the firehose of disinformation that characterizes US politics. All politicians spin, but most don't lie as brazenly as Republicans. The killing of Renee Good is a case study in how they don't even try to make their lies remotely credible. I include state governments that gerrymander & restrict Certain People from easily voting (I've never had to line up for more than 20 minutes or so, and that was during COVID). That the US electorate chose this path, either from tribalism, ignorance, or apathy is enraging for those of us who must share the consequences.
Not every one voted for him and those that did were receiving (and still are) bad information. The amount of garbage that floats through a person's social media is grotesque. And the algorithms decide what they see. And those algorithms are programmed by a human being who wants to get richer as people get stupider. So, I would say about 35 million Americans are stupid bigots, but the other 30 million that voted for Twump and Judy were misinformed and practiced stupidity. As for the rest of us, we voted for Kamala, or stayed home. That last group, they are responsible for Twump.
Another exquisite summary of "As the Cheeto Churns". I wonder if it is as difficult putting this together as it is reading.
I remember way back in the Cold War days, leaders of State were Statesmen. People in authority were held to a higher standard and they acted accordingly. Well, actually, they still do. Except our guy...
Sometimes the best leaders are the ones who almost have to be forced into a leadership role. And, of course, the reciprocal applies too...
As I listened to your opening paragraphs I pictured an aging bronzed gollum cowering under the resolute desk clutching and stoking the golden object of his desire while repeating over and over again “my precious “.
Meanwhile America dissolves into tyranny and anarchy.
Not exactly the vision of America’s future I had when I served under our nation’s flag.
During my corporate life I was involved in many business planning meetings. Not the "what do we put on sale" but the "what do we do next year". As part of those you decide several key goals, strategies, tactics. Imagine the meetings held by cabinet members which end with lie, cheat, steal, kill as tactics. There're a ton or people who are required to get on board with that, or this wouldn't be happening.
I have no hesitation holding eligible voters accountable for their choices.
Anyone who voted for Trump after his first term and January 6, 2021, or didn’t vote which had the same effect, has a piece missing in their values or thinking. It could be ignorance, greed, gullibility, criminality, hate, or something else. They could be good people in many areas of their lives.
However, unless they own their small part in the foreseeable consequences of their choice, I reserve my right to give them no more than surface civility. They are the Germans in the 1930s who revered Hitler in denial of who he was and what he intended. Their progeny will have to bear the shame of their decision, and I hope they do.
The way in which Maria Corina Machado sold her soul to the person who arguably has the worst human rights record of any President in the history of the U.S., leads one to question her motives both past and present...
Just like the universities, law firms and various businesses that caved to Trump, she probably thought she would gain something. In her case, perhaps she was thinking it would help her people. But what is so obvious is that people who cave to him get treated worse than people who stand up to him. He is the classicd bully.
It’s definitely a lot of distraction, too much to read, too many ads, too much lying. That America is being isolated is NOT my doing nor yours. That America is the laughing stock of the world happened 15 years ago..is NOT my doing or yours and escalation is the verbal assault daily used by The Spin People.
Damned if we do or don’t : The intent to incite! Since Jan 6 2021 . No proof allowed. It’s all front page Denial and yet another Distraction.. behind the scene intentional Chaos…The Spin People Deflect and duty delivered by Duds…
It’s day late and dollars disappeared , reality in reverse as terms come due and those lapsing a feeble attempt to show backbone spelled worthiness…hopefully you’ll remember their names.
Trust is gone now world wide..Big Brother status is now Oh Brother .. and where art thou is a revenge filled eye locating every dissenter…doubt not “it’ll get worse”.
Thank You, Mary ( how you manage such succinct summations ..amazes me).
I am not comfortable with and don't understand Machado. She meets with the Pope and then fawns over Trump and gives him her medal. She appears rather delusional to me.
I think the U.S. has been viewed by much older countries as a brash upstart, quick to temper and doing things our way. But even with a teenager's rambunctiousness, there were adults in the room. I didn't always agree with those voices, but they weren't out to destroy democracy. Now, we have a man AND HIS MINIONS just grabbing what they can get. Memecoin millions? Gimme! Venezuela's oil? Mine, mine, mine. Machado's Nobel Prize? That was mine, give it to me.
This is a man who flips off an auto worker for name calling? He is our president? Wake me up when it's over. Not really, I'm awake but like a waking nightmare every f***ng day.
Excellent writing Mary and thank you for getting my Friday off to a laugh out loud start. It's been a while since that has happened but your Gollum description was perfect
Handy use of ring.
I wonder daily - how is it that this constant onslaught of lawlessness, ineptitude, and just plain ridiculousness go on with no correction factor?
Because the Project 2025 adjusts for that. What I don't understand is how they knew (Russell Vought et al) that the Republican party would go along with everything they intended and planned to do. Was it, dare I say, a conspiracy?
Mary, thank you for this excellent post. Now I am seeing the Gollum and those eyes and the voice. And I do wonder what the hell is wrong with that woman giving him the medal. She just gave it to the world's least peaceful person and also managed to tarnish the prize. I bet it is about power.
I've lived my life as a Canadian, but I was born in the US (my RCAF Dad had a NATO posting in DC), so I was technically a dual citizen. When Trump was elected again, with the popular vote, I renounced my US citizenship (in spite of the US$2350 price tag). In the revulsion against what Trump is doing domestically & internationally, plus the pathetic complicity of the GOP, it may be overlooked that enough voters either voted for this or stayed home & allowed it to happen to give Trump the popular vote & the illusion of a mandate. His actions were not only predictable from his first term, they were predicted, and still he won. That has destroyed trust, probably for a generation, certainly until the world sees the US starting to break free from the oligarchs & the firehose of disinformation that characterizes US politics. All politicians spin, but most don't lie as brazenly as Republicans. The killing of Renee Good is a case study in how they don't even try to make their lies remotely credible. I include state governments that gerrymander & restrict Certain People from easily voting (I've never had to line up for more than 20 minutes or so, and that was during COVID). That the US electorate chose this path, either from tribalism, ignorance, or apathy is enraging for those of us who must share the consequences.
Not every one voted for him and those that did were receiving (and still are) bad information. The amount of garbage that floats through a person's social media is grotesque. And the algorithms decide what they see. And those algorithms are programmed by a human being who wants to get richer as people get stupider. So, I would say about 35 million Americans are stupid bigots, but the other 30 million that voted for Twump and Judy were misinformed and practiced stupidity. As for the rest of us, we voted for Kamala, or stayed home. That last group, they are responsible for Twump.
Another exquisite summary of "As the Cheeto Churns". I wonder if it is as difficult putting this together as it is reading.
I remember way back in the Cold War days, leaders of State were Statesmen. People in authority were held to a higher standard and they acted accordingly. Well, actually, they still do. Except our guy...
Sometimes the best leaders are the ones who almost have to be forced into a leadership role. And, of course, the reciprocal applies too...
If you took Stephen Miller out of the administration, the Convicted Felon wouldn’t know what to think or what to say. Miller is behind much of this
I foresee an agonizing and prolonged, hopefully public, demise of Stephen Miller.
As I listened to your opening paragraphs I pictured an aging bronzed gollum cowering under the resolute desk clutching and stoking the golden object of his desire while repeating over and over again “my precious “.
Meanwhile America dissolves into tyranny and anarchy.
Not exactly the vision of America’s future I had when I served under our nation’s flag.
During my corporate life I was involved in many business planning meetings. Not the "what do we put on sale" but the "what do we do next year". As part of those you decide several key goals, strategies, tactics. Imagine the meetings held by cabinet members which end with lie, cheat, steal, kill as tactics. There're a ton or people who are required to get on board with that, or this wouldn't be happening.
Agree! Twump is being held up by crooks, thieves, liars and bad people. Lots of them who are keeping an eye on the exit.
I have no hesitation holding eligible voters accountable for their choices.
Anyone who voted for Trump after his first term and January 6, 2021, or didn’t vote which had the same effect, has a piece missing in their values or thinking. It could be ignorance, greed, gullibility, criminality, hate, or something else. They could be good people in many areas of their lives.
However, unless they own their small part in the foreseeable consequences of their choice, I reserve my right to give them no more than surface civility. They are the Germans in the 1930s who revered Hitler in denial of who he was and what he intended. Their progeny will have to bear the shame of their decision, and I hope they do.
The way in which Maria Corina Machado sold her soul to the person who arguably has the worst human rights record of any President in the history of the U.S., leads one to question her motives both past and present...
Just like the universities, law firms and various businesses that caved to Trump, she probably thought she would gain something. In her case, perhaps she was thinking it would help her people. But what is so obvious is that people who cave to him get treated worse than people who stand up to him. He is the classicd bully.
I’ll add HEAR HEAR👏
It’s definitely a lot of distraction, too much to read, too many ads, too much lying. That America is being isolated is NOT my doing nor yours. That America is the laughing stock of the world happened 15 years ago..is NOT my doing or yours and escalation is the verbal assault daily used by The Spin People.
Damned if we do or don’t : The intent to incite! Since Jan 6 2021 . No proof allowed. It’s all front page Denial and yet another Distraction.. behind the scene intentional Chaos…The Spin People Deflect and duty delivered by Duds…
It’s day late and dollars disappeared , reality in reverse as terms come due and those lapsing a feeble attempt to show backbone spelled worthiness…hopefully you’ll remember their names.
Trust is gone now world wide..Big Brother status is now Oh Brother .. and where art thou is a revenge filled eye locating every dissenter…doubt not “it’ll get worse”.
Thank You, Mary ( how you manage such succinct summations ..amazes me).
I am not comfortable with and don't understand Machado. She meets with the Pope and then fawns over Trump and gives him her medal. She appears rather delusional to me.
It feels like this can't go on much longer. The damage is happening faster than damage control can respond, here and all over the world.