4 ms·

All of the above, plus death threats. Trump isn't the weakness. The weakness is the almost complete collapse of the checks and balances around the president. I

All of the above, plus death threats. Trump isn't the weakness. The weakness is the almost complete collapse of the checks and balances around the president. If those were in place Trump would have been in prison by the end of 2021 at the very latest. The DOJ, the military, both houses, the AIPAC wing of the Democrats, and corporate media are all fully captured. So are "independent" organisations like the NRA. The Supreme Court is mostly captured. The lower levels of the judiciary are still holding out, but have limited enforcement ability without the DOJ.

noir_lord 2mo ago
It's why I don't see the US making the course correction it actually needs - realistically the "best" feasible outcome is that a presidential election is held and a business as usual democrat is elected who will immediately not address any of the problems for whatever reason (part of the system/paid by the same people pick one). Candidates come and go but the system endures and it is the system that is rotten at every level all the way down to the core. Then 4-8 years later the GOP candidate wins subservient to the same interests as Trump and the US Gov is back there again. Not really sure what the outcome is for the US at this point, things will have to get a great deal worse before enough Americans decide this is unacceptable but that state can last years/decades before the dam breaks.
- SubiculumCode 2mo ago
  The winning Presidential campaign message would be this: I promise to work to reduce the power of the Presidency via supporting and campaigning for legislation and Constitutional amendments. It is time for Congress to once again be ascendent like it was in the first century of our great Republic. We need a G. Washington, who refused more power than he was offered, setting precedents and expectations.
  - don_esteban 2mo ago
    No, that is your wishful thinking. Based on recent years and the power of personalized AI influence campaigns, the winning Presidential campaign message (after 4 years of 'change nothing substantial Democrat' would most likely be 'I need real, full (silently: fascist) power, to finally drain the swamp'.
    - SubiculumCode 2mo ago
      That is an incredibly annoying answer that only puts forward learned helplessness and cynicism, and besides, altogether missed the point.
      - don_esteban 2mo ago
        Yes, it is cynical. It is still the most likely outcome, based on past experience. Please, enlighten me what was the point of your post, I really, genuinely, missed it. To me, it reeks of toxic optimism and wishful thinking, nothing else. There is no justification whatsoever why it should be true.

noir_lord 2mo ago

It's why I don't see the US making the course correction it actually needs - realistically the "best" feasible outcome is that a presidential election is held and a business as usual democrat is elected who will immediately not address any of the problems for whatever reason (part of the system/paid by the same people pick one). Candidates come and go but the system endures and it is the system that is rotten at every level all the way down to the core. Then 4-8 years later the GOP candidate wins subservient to the same interests as Trump and the US Gov is back there again. Not really sure what the outcome is for the US at this point, things will have to get a great deal worse before enough Americans decide this is unacceptable but that state can last years/decades before the dam breaks.

SubiculumCode 2mo ago
The winning Presidential campaign message would be this: I promise to work to reduce the power of the Presidency via supporting and campaigning for legislation and Constitutional amendments. It is time for Congress to once again be ascendent like it was in the first century of our great Republic. We need a G. Washington, who refused more power than he was offered, setting precedents and expectations.
- don_esteban 2mo ago
  No, that is your wishful thinking. Based on recent years and the power of personalized AI influence campaigns, the winning Presidential campaign message (after 4 years of 'change nothing substantial Democrat' would most likely be 'I need real, full (silently: fascist) power, to finally drain the swamp'.
  - SubiculumCode 2mo ago
    That is an incredibly annoying answer that only puts forward learned helplessness and cynicism, and besides, altogether missed the point.
    - don_esteban 2mo ago
      Yes, it is cynical. It is still the most likely outcome, based on past experience. Please, enlighten me what was the point of your post, I really, genuinely, missed it. To me, it reeks of toxic optimism and wishful thinking, nothing else. There is no justification whatsoever why it should be true.