958 Comments

It’s absolutely insane. The patients are running the asylum. This is going to be beyond horrible; cataclysmically awful.

Expand full comment

The worst part is it may take years to bring back what it is we are losing: our system of governance as a democracy. Massive resistance will be required once those who voted for Trump realize they've been totally duped; plus, their lives will be worse under his Adminstration not better. It's a true tragedy. To me the downfall began and was made possible when the SCOTUS decided on Citizens United, in 2010, albeit a certain element has been working on getting their revenge since FDR's New Deal that they hated.

Expand full comment

We have put forth massive resistance during the past decade. Different playbooks entirely. One operates, for the most part, on good faith. The other playbook is complete thuggery.

Expand full comment
Comment removed
Nov 14Edited
Comment removed
Expand full comment

SPAM! Do NOT click on this link!

Expand full comment

I've been talking about Citizens United since SCOTUS pontificated. If I had a nickel for every blank look I got.......

Expand full comment

Make it a dime, Sandra (inflation).

Expand full comment

what makes you think they will realize they have been duped? If things get worse they will be told it's because of liberals, or Jews, or immigrants, or whoever.

Expand full comment

They will know when their salaries don't improve, gas prices soar, and their access to healthcare is shattered: just for starters. They will see the truth that the felon liar blaming others wasn't true. Count on it. People eventually know when they're had.

Expand full comment

I just don't know that there's any evidence for your outlook. Remember Jonestown. "Drinking the Koolaid" is no joke.

Expand full comment

Partly a result of lack of education or low IQ.

Expand full comment

Some will relate Trump's actions to bad consequences of course. I'm just not as sure as you are that things will be "self-correcting" and normalcy restored. The problem is that there is no unmediated given reality. People understand things and respond based on their interpretation, or FOX news interpretation as the case may be, of what is happening.

This is why we here should understand that our fellow Americans who voted for crooked Donald ,even though their vote is a betrayal of what our country stands for. have been propagandized and they can't "think straight" -Anthony Flew. I suppose it's hopeless to ask for pity on those who will cause much damage.

The Contrarian 2021 Max Chafkin on Peter Thiel

Art and Illusion Gombrich

Expand full comment

No blame: we must mount loyal opposition!

Expand full comment

What makes you think that we all have not been duped? I read that a few million mostly democratic voters have been removed from registered voters, in swing states, won by about hundred thousand votes. How is that checked?

We have this secret ballot provision, where the voters id is not on the ballot. So when 'they' do a recount, how can they tell a real ballot from a fake one?

Our two senators per state rule, and delegates decide the presentident, we know that the rules are already set by a minority. Why would anyone think that the minority favors the common man, rather than the elite? We have already seen the Supreme Court make laws in favor of the wealthy and dark money. Why would anyone trust that we have fair elections? From the very beginning or our nation, it was the rich men that rulled. What makes anyone think that things are fair now? If that is not enough, how can anyone in their right mind think that a clown like Trump with his bizzare campaign won against Kamala with her appeal to common sense? Sometimes I think he is there just to make the sheep realize that they have been duped all along. Doesn't the majority op people realize that money buys advertisments, and politicians, and votes?

Hell no, we have been living in an Oligarchy all these years. If we really want a democracy, the rules of elections must be changed. No more winner takes all. No more dark money. Severe penalties for corruption. We need a system that favors the middle ground, not the extremes. And, we need an education system that does a better job of informing how government is necessary to prevent abuse from below or above, and that we the people must do what is required to form that just government.

Expand full comment

I don't think most Americans care if we have a form of "democracy" that you or any one else envisions. They just want a society that treats them with dignity and what they feel is a fair shot at the American dream. That is it.

Dems have been judged by a the majority of voters to not be treating them wiht dignity and certainly not offering the any more shot at the American dream that what Trump is offering.

Fair elections? Do voters really care?

Expand full comment

I tend to agree with your opinion. But that is the problem. A lack of concern or care. A lack of thinking. A lack of involvement. And while the left studies, works, and makes a good life for themselfves, the dummies are left behind, neglected, without respect, and expect the con man will fix it for them.

Expand full comment

I think there are just as many members of Blue Maga as their are of Red Maga...

Any non Trump supporting voter who was stunned Trump won so handily or who thought Trump was being controlled by Putin because of Russia Gate, which Mueller proved false, or that had no problem with Biden quashing the Dem primaries is as misinformed as Red Maga. I call those people Blue Maga..

So I choose not to call GOP voters dummies. My side has just as many. But i prefer to call them ordinary Americans... The "essential workers" the people we send to fight our wars, the victims of Neo Liberal Economic policy...

Dummies? I wouldn't call them that.

Expand full comment

Like.

Expand full comment

Or all of the above, Steve.

Expand full comment

did I mention trans?

Expand full comment

Steve. No, you left them out. Couldn't they be some of "whoever?"

Expand full comment

How have Trump voters been “duped”?

Any specifics, or do you just like making a fool of yourself?

Expand full comment

Guy Valmont, you took that line out of The Planet of the Apes.

Expand full comment

If I did, score!!!

Expand full comment

your "score" is Zero, like the rest of the MAGA's.....

Expand full comment

Guy, can you explain how deporting non-citizens or giving Elon Muck a tax break will lower the price of eggs?

One way they've been duped is if they believe he gives a rat's butt about what happens to them. He threw out Obama's pandemic playbook, and 1M people died. Studies show the number could have been cut by as much as 40% if he'd responded faster.

When the chips were down, all he cared about was how things LOOKED (was the stock market down, how would the truth affect his campaign). If there's another pandemic or a higher death rate from a covid variant, he won't care.

Expand full comment

The maga have been dupped by their belief that Trump and his oligarchs will do anything beneficial for them. They get words of 'respect' from their cult leader, but when it comes to action, they get harmed instead.

I suppose it might just be human nature: Having failed to be serious in school, and being raised in the boonies, they find that they have few opportunities to have a good life, and seek someone to blame. It must be those coastal elites.

Expand full comment

Trump is giving MAGA a sense of dignity and understanding that Kamala and the Dems have not given them for some time. Instead of mocking them or cancelling what they say, Trump validates their feelings and views in his rhetoric and physically goes among them, whether it is one of his rally's in nowhere fly over cities in nowhere fly over states or in NYC at a UFC match... He is among them...

The Dems.. not so much. In fact they are more likely to be calling these people "deplorables" or "racists" while shilling for money at a white wine and cheese tasting event in the Hamptons.

You asked "how have Trump voters been duped". That is easy.

Because they they think that Trump will make their lives one iota better economically than the Democrats. That wont happen under Trump... Infact MAGA's economic lives will get worse under Trump than Kamala. Min wage wont go up, their unions will get weaker, Rich Corporations will have more power to reduce wages and form stronger monopolies etc.. Everything he did the first time around.

That said, i get why they voted for him and not her. I do..

Expand full comment

And of course if — IF — the fever were to start breaking, that’s when you’d really start seeing the authoritarian stuff. But more likely he’ll lie and blame an outgroup and MAGA will happily train its poison on them

Expand full comment

of course that is what will happen

Expand full comment

Came here to say this. Nothing seems to penetrate the ether. The pump was primed more than two decades ago with Rush Limbaugh, the Tea Party, Freedom Caucus and now full-on MAGA delusion. I don’t know what it will take to get through Cult47.

Expand full comment

Joan, I don't think Trumpers and Trumpettes will realize they have been duped. Their system of lies and more lies will let them blame Biden-Harris for something, well, whatever they think they are missing. After all, doesn't Trump have their best interests at heart. He said he did. He told them he loved them, then immediately told them he didn't care about them, just wanted their votes. They think he was kidding about the last part; he wasn't.

Expand full comment

It was the abrogation of the 1964 Voting Rights act. That unshackled the South

Expand full comment

An excellent point! Why? Because it has very recently been proven that four years is not nearly long enough to undo the damage done by the four previous years of catastrophe caused by a bad president. Harris/Walz lost in 2024, not because they didn’t try to fix the damage caused by the first four years of DJT. But instead because they didn’t fix things fast enough.

Expand full comment

I completely agree with you Joan. We must continue to RESIST, and not STOP. What you said though is so very true!!!!

Expand full comment

Joan, if pump prices go down, they may never realize it.

The "element" that hated the New Deal is dead. This is a new element; imo it's worse because its adherents have no honor or ethics (and I suspect many don't like democracy because it lets all those people who are "different" have the same say they do).

Expand full comment

America is NOT a Democracy. The word "democracy" is not mentioned ONE SINGLE TIME in our constitution, you know, that thing our Framers wrote then they set up founded and set up our glorious country. You clearly never took a U.S. Civics, Government or Constitution course in Middle School, High school or anywhere else and Liberal Marxists like you really reveal how utterly dumb, indoctrinated and brainwashed you all are.

Expand full comment

PW, the US is a republic, a "representative democracy," where all eligible voters choose the representatives. Universal suffrage brings us closer to "real" democracy.

Expand full comment

Whoever you are, you are delusional.

Expand full comment

Read it in the fundie baby voice and it's just so stupid it's funny. No really, try it. Best laugh I've had in a while.

Expand full comment

Time to find somewhere else to live!

Expand full comment

NO!

Sure, it's going to be very painful and difficult and frustrating and rip at our ability to hope and continue. But continue to stay and fight we must.

Expand full comment

Nope. Let the trump voters learn the hard way that they are, indeed, the idiots we told them they were. Let them stay and try to clean up the mess THEY helped to make. Eff 'em.

Expand full comment

I am a tolerant and forgiving person. If the Evil Moron stood up in front of the people, acknowledged his misdeeds, apologized for misleading the public and offered to obey the rule of law and face the consequences from all those he has wronged, I could even forgive him. But I will NEVER forgive those people who ignored all the facts about his monstrosity, his mendacity, his cruelty, his vindictiveness, his duplicity, his lying, his self-serving, his thievery, and his insane drive for power and revenge; and entrusted him with the welfare of this country.

Expand full comment

In mitigation, most of them didn't know all of that. Denial and delusion is a tougher issue, but not, in my humble opinion, outside of forgivable human frailty. The hardest thing is, many will go all the way defensively after scapegoats.

Expand full comment

The worst moral cowards whenever they are called out on their denial or delusion about another’s brutalities always double down on victim blaming. It is how we can see who’s who.

Expand full comment

Pity and empathy is preferred to anger because it leads to deeper understanding. Or I have it ass backwards. U implies P and E.

Expand full comment

I feel exactly the same! But I can forgive Biden and the fools who voted for him and Kamala. Sure…They’re dumb, ignorant and self-destructive…But they’re still people…Aren’t they?

Expand full comment

Are you having fun yet, trolling the Bulwark?

Expand full comment

I feel the same way. So far, I’m still having difficulty even meeting the eyes of the average person in the community. And I live in a state that went blue! So sad.

Expand full comment

"Let the trump voters learn the hard way..." I can sympathize with that feeling.

But then I think about the folks who are going to suffer the most under trump's reign. I.e., LGBTQ folks especially trans women, immigrants, pregnant women especially those having medical complications etc. I would also include any journalists and public figures who've spoken up against him including a number of late night comedy hosts, etc. That will negate any satisfaction in watching his voters suffer for me.

Expand full comment

I'm with steve reed, above: the suckers will blame us, or whoever they are told to blame. It's hard enough in common everyday stuff to admit you were wrong. Admit you voted for catastrophe? Even to yourself, which is the step to taking responsibility for "cleaning up the mess." Me, definitely no optimist about human nature.

Expand full comment

Going from past experiences of how individuals in Northern Ireland who have supported vile individuals into politics whose crimes are then later exposed, they just go quiet. Many cease to participate or vote. How much of this reaction is due to individual’s shock and disgust and how much is to do with retreating to take stock, gather strength and politically resurge full of self righteous vengeance at some later date is unclear.

Expand full comment

As long as they stop participating, I can live with that.

Expand full comment

Absolutely to hell with all the Trump voters. The key is to let them get the brunt of the damage they have votes for while also limiting the damage done to those they would attack (minorities, immigrants, LGBTQ, anyone else who they don’t like).

Just standing by to watch Trumpies suffer for what they’ve done is to be enjoyed. But just standing by thinking others won’t suffer more if the Trumpies aren’t fought means even more harm to us than to them.

Expand full comment

Except we’re not going to suffer. We’re going to enjoy minute of it!

So there’s that,,,.

Expand full comment

We are going to suffer.

Thinking that somehow the Trump shitstorm is only going to rain on *other* people is a stupidity we should leave to those who voted for him.

Expand full comment

It's all about enjoying the cruelty. May it serve you well.

Expand full comment

Right! We have the midterms to get ready for. We cannot give up!

Expand full comment

The thing about the midterms is, there may have been a difference-making number of Harris voters who were complacent that she had it "in the bag." Who (maybe) will be raring to correct that error. Problem is, MAGA will have had two more years of kicking selected folks off the voter rolls and etc. see under Greg Palast, just those numbers are staggering. God bless us Everyone.

Expand full comment

Liked....despite recognizing that there is no god. There can't be.

"If God is good then he is not omnipotent. If God is omnipotent, then he (clearly) is not good”

Expand full comment

Glad I looked up the context. Whose quote? I think the unanswerable proof that there is no god is that humans have only two hands. Supposedly made in "god's" image. So, a "god" is schlepping around the universe with only two hands? How many times a (goddamn) day do we need more than two (goddamn) hands?

Expand full comment

Or, reject the assumption God is good. Guess that's a definitional issue.

Expand full comment

ps god also does not empower my Like button. So, Like.

Expand full comment

Perfect!

Expand full comment

Of course there is voter suppression. But i would double or triple check anything Palast says.

Expand full comment

Steve, I've reached the point where I double/triple check everything anybody says.

Expand full comment

Don't run, draw the line and fight.

Expand full comment

I am listening to MSNBC, they are engaging in self delusion, talking as if this was a normal congress and government and kvetching as to whether Gaetz will be ratified by the Senate.

This is not normal it will be a dictatorship on day 1. Trump will appoint him acting AG, which is good for 270 days in a normal world, and have him approved during a recess which Thune or who ever is majority leader willl call on demand. Same thing with Gabbard and all of his other appointments.

My only question is why are this pundits, hosts and editors engaging in self delusion, why are we engaging in self delusion.

Trump and Kevin Roberts have learned the first time, what to do, to destroy the constitution and the government

To quote Kevin Roberts, this is a second revolution and it will be bloodless if the left will allow it, well this leftist won't.

Expand full comment

DJT, or his Puppet Masters, is steadily dismantling the Constitutional Checks & Balances... The 'First 100-Days' of DJT 2.0 could be Horrific... At the Trump Organization, which is a Big Name with only about 30-People, DJT was extremely Volatile, and UnHinged... DJT ruled his Private Organization like a Tyrant... DJT also filed for Bankruptcy at least 5-times... DJT is very Vindictive & Cruel, Matt Gaetz will implement these impulses... I would study how the Nazi Party changed German Society, or how Stalinism has permeated Russian Society... If unchecked, DJT's MAGA Sycophants will cause great Harm to this Country that will be difficult to undo...

Expand full comment

Preaching to the choir Apache. Germany was primed and ready for Hitler. Women were having visible orgasms as his motorcade rode by.

Mao said: The revolution swims in the sea of the people, and by that I don't mean all of the people. All it takes is a motivated minority.

Students of social change know that the tipping point is 17%. And that accounts for the anxiety of Europe and why Hungary flipped to the fascist right, the cause is Muslim immigration.

Hungarians wanted fascism, a huge majority of Germans, French, Nederlanders even Brits do aswell.

Them are facts.

Expand full comment

I am Skeptical that People Realize how Terrifying Repression can be when Dissidents are Hunted Down, and Punished...

Expand full comment

"visible orgasms?" I suppose you're an expert? And it's women's fault, of course, that any of this happened.

Expand full comment

William, apparently millions of Americans don't mind either.

Expand full comment

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow has been calling out these likely transgressions for a while.

Expand full comment

She;s the only one really well Joe Reid has as well, the rest of them are and have been covering their ass

Expand full comment

Lawrence O’Donnell has also been outspoken. One of the reasons I like him is that he doesn’t withhold his comments, calling the dope the names that really apply. Plus, I’ve noticed that he never calls the orange monster “president”.

Expand full comment

For as long as I'm still here, I'll show them just how nasty a leftist can be.

Expand full comment

Me too, but I'm 85 and have lived a good life and am in remission from lung and brain cancer. But I am still making plans.

Expand full comment

76 this past Monday. I'm with you and William Farrar. The time has passed for going high when they go low. When controlling wildfires we fought fire with fire.

Expand full comment

But they not only have all the power, they have all the guns.

Expand full comment

No, they don't! They want you to think that, but it's not true unless we roll over and play dead. Mid-term elections happen in 2 years. By then I expect some of his cult members will have awakened to the fact Trump devours his own, same with members of Congress that are currently supporting him, thus I believe they'll protest by voting for who ever doesn't support him. As for guns - While the NRA seems to have the GOP in its back pocket, gun ownership isn't reserved for Republicans only.

Expand full comment

Now there's a conversation-stopper!

Expand full comment

Yeah…Fight! 🙄😂

Expand full comment

Patience and courage!

Expand full comment

Unless you are in the Uber wealthy class or a professional placed within the protective structure of a big company or institution, uprooting and becoming an immigrant anywhere in an increasingly politically and economically polarised world will carry with it its own difficulties.

Expand full comment

Odd then that here in France and in the European and international news there are many reports of Americans currently applying and getting visas to live in various European countries.

My local property agent friend has had a nimber of American clients property hunting over the summer, even in this small, out of the way little town.

My neighbour, an American who has lived here for 20 years, says she has had many requests from people she knows on where to get help and advice for their applications.

I did it myself. Not difficult, just need some patience. My British/Chinese friend did it and they even accepted her birth certificate, hand written in Mandarin!

Please don't make things seem more difficult by spreading rumours and falsehoods and uninformed opinions. It doesn't help anyone. There is enough to deal with without that.

Expand full comment

Where do you live, Alternative?

Expand full comment

I was going purely on my own personal expat US experiences. So glad to hear you and your circle have encountered nothing but good things in emigrating 🐈‍⬛

Expand full comment

Bye!

Expand full comment

Sorry, but easy for you to say! Vaya con Dios, if you can do.

Expand full comment

These miscreants are all agents of chaos engaging in their primary function. To sow chaos no less.

Whereas our job is to obstruct, deny, undermine, discredit and in the end, cover them with their own rot and leave them like a bad smell in memory.

Quite an undertaking now since they're dug in so deep. But what else are we gonna do?

Expand full comment

Where’s Maxwell Smart when you need him

Expand full comment

Dammit! I could use a shoe phone right now. There is a miscreant who's been bleating and berating in this forum that could use a sharp blow right upside his head. Motivate that tiny mind to semblence of... never mind.

Expand full comment

What was that about “deep state”?

This permeation of the democratic republic model may put us back to the neanderthal period…

Expand full comment

Bad example using Neanderthals, Dooglas. They are extinct. Except for miniscule traces in our genome. On the other hand, that may be all that is left of our democracy too. So not so bad an example after all.

Expand full comment

We're pretty much there and spreading global.

Expand full comment

What else? Use the "patriot" own end game against them.

Expand full comment

What are you going to do?

Nothing. You’re all talk.

You’ll sit down and be quiet.

Expand full comment

I wish you would.

Expand full comment

I know you do. You don’t like Freedom of Speech.

That’s one of your Party’s biggest problems.

Expand full comment

Who pays you to write on this forum? China or maybe Russia?

Expand full comment

Nobody. Just an idiot emboldened by a 2% win when his guy got about 34% of eligible votes in the country, and when 9 million fewer votes than 2020 were cast. Sounds like the 9 million forgot the horrific handling of COVID (not to mention impeachment and loads of embarassing ignoramous moves) by the first Trump term which led to the 7 million vote win by Biden in 2020.

Also, just a troll here who cares nothing for facts, just being a pest to trry to discourage and infuriate. Ain't working. Stay or go, we don't care. If you care to actually have a conversation, we welcome you. Otherwise, you're not going to gain anything---except if you are getting paid as a troll.

Expand full comment

Whenever I see a Lib shouting “Russia! Putin! Russia!” I know I’m not speaking with a serious intellect.

That hoax was debunked 5 years ago. Did you notice?

Expand full comment

Fight. Tell the truth. Never give up.

Expand full comment

You’re gonna’ fight?

Okey-dokey…