Given that the tide might be going out, rather than coming in, it seems to be a good time to think about just what a Republican victory in 22 days might look like.
If we lose the House to the whackos, we may witness 2 years of chaotic idiocy. But if we keep the Senate, we will install lots of smart well qualified judges to balance out the toads brought to us by Mr Leo. Much of the government will plug along as the House just puts on a show and provides NOTHING in the way of help for the hard working poor. That and messing with Social Security secures their doom in 2024.
Call me an optimist. It's how I get through every day.
In the mean time, find someone to vote who had not planned to and drive him or her to the voting booth.
My particular worry is the bothsiderism inherent in the National press corps. NYT, Washington Post, USA Today, AP, et al., will all act as though the countless investigations, and proposals to gut Medicare and Social Security, and being “tough” on the deficit, etc., might be reasonable and are worth debating. It’s the resetting of “norms” further rightward that bothers me for 2024,
I totally agree. I used to believe there was a "conservative point of view", fiscally at least. Now there are just Fascist Liars and those who are too afraid to openly oppose them.
What just keeps blowing my mind is that the uber rich are funding the candidates that are appealing to the working poor for ideas that will make them poorer and the rich richer.
If Joe SixPack can vote for a candidate funded by Peter Thiel then there is a bridge in Brooklyn and a Ponzi scheme around every corner ready for suckers like Joe. It's just unbelievable.
Indeed, I wish the Dem leaders would shout it out. Nevertheless, we persist. On a positive note, I got a few Democrats responding positively out of 6000 texts I sent today, all the while writing 50 postcards to CA districts.
The thing is, there is no presidential campaign to capture national attention. Mid-terms are ALWAYS turnout turnout turnout. And Democrats are traditionally bad at that.
If Congress cannot agree on a time of adjournment, the president may prorogue them. Governors in Illinois and Indiana did that to Democratic legislatures during the Civil War. Biden may want to look into this.
Check out Judd Legum, et al, report on corporate funding of election deniers...the Crime Syndicate aka RNC has BILLIONS of DOLLARS to bombard the airways with lies and propaganda...it is a constant barrage of BS they are throwing at the democratic candidates. If you had that kind of “chump change,” wouldn’t you want to spend it on SOLVING issues like climate catastrophes, emerging viruses, or world peace?
The Republican blueprint outlined in WHAT IF THEY WIN? had been signaled by the party. The reemergence of Marjorie Taylor Greene. even bigger and more potent in her power to inflict madness and cruelty will provide us with the starring far-right nutcase, Cruella De Vil. The extremism and drama portrayed here may seem beyond enactment, but I do not doubt its unreal realness. Afterall, what was Donald J. Trump and his merrymen militias, plus Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, Jared Kushner, Stephen Miller and Melania?
After listing the planned investigations, impeachment of Biden, proposed legislation to wipe out the ability of Medicare to negotiate drug prices and to remove the cap on drug payments for seniors as well as remove the cap on the price of insulin..... take the debt ceiling and use it to demand cuts to Medicare and Social Security, etc., there may still be a loophole buried in this mad-right horror show. (TC)
‘Democrats could unilaterally defang the debt limit, regardless of the midterm results. They could raise it through reconciliation to some mind-numbingly enormous number, ensuring, at the very least, a many years-long buffer’ (TC)
Ah, but there is a loophole in this loophole. 'Democrats would still need to muster the support of Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema; Manchin often swallows even baseless Republican economic talking points.’
Yes, TC, and still, you did not deal with the Democratic Party’s, Cruella De Vil, KYRSTEN SINEMA. I was truly impressed by your vision through the tangle of the Republican Party’s corruption, greed, idiocy, cruelty, and madness, but what about KYRSTEN SINEMA? Life will be horrendous even if she’s dealt with and if she’s not? Just a question.
Protecting our Freedoms: Social Security for seniors like myself is right at the top of my list - along with Women's Health. Turn out. Turn out. Turn out. You're right. We can't let up. Thank you TC for raising the horror of giving Marjorie Taylor Greene an even bigger magaphone.
Good point. I am thinking about the Civil War,and the struggles with the John Birch Society, the McCarthy era. Maybe those are weak examples. I just cannot wrap my mind around the possibility that we will be ruled by an authoritarian regime. I appreciate your perspective.
Now is the time to plan for the worst. I've actually spoken to my editor in England about whether my publisher would be willing to sponsor my moving. Bad as things are there, nobody is talking about white supremacist authoritarianism, and a politician would still lose his position if he said what Lardass did this weekend.
a year or so I ago, I was researching other passports it's possible to get, and Portugal was, in fact, one of the easy ones. I have a genuine love for Ireland, and I wouldn't have to learn a new language, at which I'm lousy. yeah, it rains a lot, but I don't ever go very far anyway.
So are two friends, unrelated to each other, thinking about Portugal. There needs to be concentrated research and reflection on the options, here or there, enough to be able to move quickly, should it be imperative.
Well, TC, I am continually amazed at the breadth of your knowledge and understanding of so many timely topics in our political arena. I just read an article in The Atlantic about Efail and email scams that scared me. I use email and online banking, shopping, etc. all the time. Now I am choked about what to do going forward. Then I read your well-written article about debt ceiling, the results of Repubs taking over the House, and efforts to thwart Biden's agenda. And Marjorie Taylor Green is reported to have asked TFG if he would make her his running mate. Yi yi yi! Too much information. Thank you TC. I am compelled to read the information you share with us.
There’s just no recourse; Repug propaganda and brainwashing is deeply embedded in the American psyche, beginning with Reagan and his friends, the KKKoch Bros. Gang of Fascist Billionaires. Even with revelations of corruption, national security breaches, etc, tRump is still allowed to roam free and the RNC has made it clear that they will back ANYONE AND ANYTHING to gain power. The national media outlets have not touched the stories of corruption, scandal, OR OUTRIGHT TREASON conducted by Republicans. The courts are loaded with tRump loyalists; the RNC operates as a crime syndicate right under our noses; the FBI, like the SS and Homeland Security, is a loaded gun waiting to help the fascist takeover. What if they win? They have been handed the keys to the castle.
If we lose the House to the whackos, we may witness 2 years of chaotic idiocy. But if we keep the Senate, we will install lots of smart well qualified judges to balance out the toads brought to us by Mr Leo. Much of the government will plug along as the House just puts on a show and provides NOTHING in the way of help for the hard working poor. That and messing with Social Security secures their doom in 2024.
Call me an optimist. It's how I get through every day.
In the mean time, find someone to vote who had not planned to and drive him or her to the voting booth.
You're pretty much singing my song. But I'm doing what I can here to keep people busting their ass for the next 22 days.
My particular worry is the bothsiderism inherent in the National press corps. NYT, Washington Post, USA Today, AP, et al., will all act as though the countless investigations, and proposals to gut Medicare and Social Security, and being “tough” on the deficit, etc., might be reasonable and are worth debating. It’s the resetting of “norms” further rightward that bothers me for 2024,
I totally agree. I used to believe there was a "conservative point of view", fiscally at least. Now there are just Fascist Liars and those who are too afraid to openly oppose them.
What just keeps blowing my mind is that the uber rich are funding the candidates that are appealing to the working poor for ideas that will make them poorer and the rich richer.
If Joe SixPack can vote for a candidate funded by Peter Thiel then there is a bridge in Brooklyn and a Ponzi scheme around every corner ready for suckers like Joe. It's just unbelievable.
Well, now it's a two margarita night 🤬
Indeed, I wish the Dem leaders would shout it out. Nevertheless, we persist. On a positive note, I got a few Democrats responding positively out of 6000 texts I sent today, all the while writing 50 postcards to CA districts.
Good for you! Keep it up.
I applaud your effort Beth!
That's wonderful Beth B.
The 2020 election was supposed to be a
slam dunk for Trump. But then the Absentee Ballots started getting counted. I have seen nothing about
this part of the electorate at all. There
are hundreds of thousands of seniors
and people with disAbilities who would
be tragically harmed by a republican
take over.
How many Absentee Ballots have been
requested and registered to date?
Hell has a special place for the likes of
MTG and her cohorts.
The thing is, there is no presidential campaign to capture national attention. Mid-terms are ALWAYS turnout turnout turnout. And Democrats are traditionally bad at that.
Doesn't it stand to reason that if you
want to vote, but are to distracted -
notice I didn't say lazy - to get to your polling place and cast your vote
in person, within legal grounds, get
a frigging AB and vote from your
lounger. Complacency, as well as
silence, may IMO, cost us our
country, I'm getting a bit steamed
up and could go on a rant easily, so
I'll bid you adeau for tonight.
You go, Victoria. I understand.
If Congress cannot agree on a time of adjournment, the president may prorogue them. Governors in Illinois and Indiana did that to Democratic legislatures during the Civil War. Biden may want to look into this.
Check out Judd Legum, et al, report on corporate funding of election deniers...the Crime Syndicate aka RNC has BILLIONS of DOLLARS to bombard the airways with lies and propaganda...it is a constant barrage of BS they are throwing at the democratic candidates. If you had that kind of “chump change,” wouldn’t you want to spend it on SOLVING issues like climate catastrophes, emerging viruses, or world peace?
This one made me stop and say WOW. And I'm still recovering from the original TC post. Doesn't look like Tums is gonna do it.
The Republican blueprint outlined in WHAT IF THEY WIN? had been signaled by the party. The reemergence of Marjorie Taylor Greene. even bigger and more potent in her power to inflict madness and cruelty will provide us with the starring far-right nutcase, Cruella De Vil. The extremism and drama portrayed here may seem beyond enactment, but I do not doubt its unreal realness. Afterall, what was Donald J. Trump and his merrymen militias, plus Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, Jared Kushner, Stephen Miller and Melania?
After listing the planned investigations, impeachment of Biden, proposed legislation to wipe out the ability of Medicare to negotiate drug prices and to remove the cap on drug payments for seniors as well as remove the cap on the price of insulin..... take the debt ceiling and use it to demand cuts to Medicare and Social Security, etc., there may still be a loophole buried in this mad-right horror show. (TC)
‘Democrats could unilaterally defang the debt limit, regardless of the midterm results. They could raise it through reconciliation to some mind-numbingly enormous number, ensuring, at the very least, a many years-long buffer’ (TC)
Ah, but there is a loophole in this loophole. 'Democrats would still need to muster the support of Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema; Manchin often swallows even baseless Republican economic talking points.’
Yes, TC, and still, you did not deal with the Democratic Party’s, Cruella De Vil, KYRSTEN SINEMA. I was truly impressed by your vision through the tangle of the Republican Party’s corruption, greed, idiocy, cruelty, and madness, but what about KYRSTEN SINEMA? Life will be horrendous even if she’s dealt with and if she’s not? Just a question.
You just count her as Against for the next two years, and then hope to support Ruben Gallegos when he takes her out in the primary.
We know what she banks on.
Again I say: “Oh Shit!”
OK TC. After reading this, acid is coming up my throat. Need a break.
Protecting our Freedoms: Social Security for seniors like myself is right at the top of my list - along with Women's Health. Turn out. Turn out. Turn out. You're right. We can't let up. Thank you TC for raising the horror of giving Marjorie Taylor Greene an even bigger magaphone.
“ But I'm doing what I can here to keep people busting their ass for the next 22 days.”
TC,simply stated, you guide me to think more deeply….with encouragement to “bust my ass” for the next couple weeks.
What if they win? We survive.
Regardless of the election outcome, history portends that we will survive and thrive. We have common sense on our side.
I don't know where you get that reading of history. When a state goes authoritarian, people like us generally suffer - if we survive.
Good point. I am thinking about the Civil War,and the struggles with the John Birch Society, the McCarthy era. Maybe those are weak examples. I just cannot wrap my mind around the possibility that we will be ruled by an authoritarian regime. I appreciate your perspective.
Now is the time to plan for the worst. I've actually spoken to my editor in England about whether my publisher would be willing to sponsor my moving. Bad as things are there, nobody is talking about white supremacist authoritarianism, and a politician would still lose his position if he said what Lardass did this weekend.
We are looking at Portugal.
a year or so I ago, I was researching other passports it's possible to get, and Portugal was, in fact, one of the easy ones. I have a genuine love for Ireland, and I wouldn't have to learn a new language, at which I'm lousy. yeah, it rains a lot, but I don't ever go very far anyway.
So are two friends, unrelated to each other, thinking about Portugal. There needs to be concentrated research and reflection on the options, here or there, enough to be able to move quickly, should it be imperative.
Would you have room in your luggage for me?
Jeanne, I think there will be a long line for a place in TC's luggage.
Moving as occurred to me with Canada. perhaps, being an option. Have you received a response from your editor? Could your mate move?
Since it wouldn't happen before 2024, that won't be a problem,.
Are you expecting you will be killed? Seriously?
Well, TC, I am continually amazed at the breadth of your knowledge and understanding of so many timely topics in our political arena. I just read an article in The Atlantic about Efail and email scams that scared me. I use email and online banking, shopping, etc. all the time. Now I am choked about what to do going forward. Then I read your well-written article about debt ceiling, the results of Repubs taking over the House, and efforts to thwart Biden's agenda. And Marjorie Taylor Green is reported to have asked TFG if he would make her his running mate. Yi yi yi! Too much information. Thank you TC. I am compelled to read the information you share with us.
There’s just no recourse; Repug propaganda and brainwashing is deeply embedded in the American psyche, beginning with Reagan and his friends, the KKKoch Bros. Gang of Fascist Billionaires. Even with revelations of corruption, national security breaches, etc, tRump is still allowed to roam free and the RNC has made it clear that they will back ANYONE AND ANYTHING to gain power. The national media outlets have not touched the stories of corruption, scandal, OR OUTRIGHT TREASON conducted by Republicans. The courts are loaded with tRump loyalists; the RNC operates as a crime syndicate right under our noses; the FBI, like the SS and Homeland Security, is a loaded gun waiting to help the fascist takeover. What if they win? They have been handed the keys to the castle.
Thank you, "John Irving"!