A mural by Australian artist Scott Marsh is seen on a wall at the Botany View Hotel on November 11, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The mural by Australian graffiti artist Scott Marsh was inspired by comments made by CNN reporter Anderson Cooper over Donald Trump's reaction to the U.S. election results and the current U.S President's refusal to concede to Joe Biden. (Photo: Jenny Evans/Getty Images)
Feel Uneasy. Feel Very Uneasy
Are we simply just stuck in the middle seat between a lunatic (Trump) and scumbag (McConnell) on an insane airplane ride.... or is it something much more sinister?
It's hard to rest assured. And that unease stems in no small part from the fact that it's almost impossible to ascertain Trump's true motivation ... at least, not with any certainty.
Is this just about a sadly insecure narcissist who cannot accept defeat? Are the sycophants and lawyers just placating his fragile ego? Are the Republicans simply going through the motions to avoid disturbing the sleeping dog of Trump's Twitter feed until he finally flees to Mar-a-Lago?
If so, is this cowardly clusterfuck really just about the GOP wanting to keep Trump's base from turning on them? Is it mostly about McConnell wanting Trump to keep them frothing at the mouth until Georgia's special election, so he can keep his iron grip on the throat of American politics?
Or is this about Trump's need for a second act? To wit, perhaps this is not just about grifting funds for his campaign's outstanding debt, but also about Trump positioning himself and his lucrative audience for the paydays he's gonna need to service that $900m debt he owes to a roster of shadowy creditors. If so, is this just Trump University writ large?
Frankly, if he and his GOP enablers are dragging us all through this embarrassing, messy divorce for any of those reason... or even for a combo of 'em... it would almost be reassuring. In fact, it would be understandable and, in the case of Trump, reflective of his limits as a human being ... as a pathetic man who is impaired by the gravity of his own shortcomings. It means he simply cannot help himself. And, therefore, we are just stuck in the middle seat between a lunatic (Trump) and scumbag (McConnell)... but the flight will end, and the plane will land, and we will make our connection to the next flight. We just have to be patient.
However... if none of those scenarios are the true motivation... but only ancillary benefits of Trump's conscious, devious plan to convince Americans that the Earth is flat, that up is down, and, therefore, to set the predicate for a move to usurp the will of the people as expressed in an historic election... and if the GOP is not just playing along until he does, but, instead, actively participating in a de facto coup... then the angst and agita we are all feeling right now is not nearly reflective enough of the dire moment we find ourselves in as a nation and a people.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
It's hard to rest assured. And that unease stems in no small part from the fact that it's almost impossible to ascertain Trump's true motivation ... at least, not with any certainty.
Is this just about a sadly insecure narcissist who cannot accept defeat? Are the sycophants and lawyers just placating his fragile ego? Are the Republicans simply going through the motions to avoid disturbing the sleeping dog of Trump's Twitter feed until he finally flees to Mar-a-Lago?
If so, is this cowardly clusterfuck really just about the GOP wanting to keep Trump's base from turning on them? Is it mostly about McConnell wanting Trump to keep them frothing at the mouth until Georgia's special election, so he can keep his iron grip on the throat of American politics?
Or is this about Trump's need for a second act? To wit, perhaps this is not just about grifting funds for his campaign's outstanding debt, but also about Trump positioning himself and his lucrative audience for the paydays he's gonna need to service that $900m debt he owes to a roster of shadowy creditors. If so, is this just Trump University writ large?
Frankly, if he and his GOP enablers are dragging us all through this embarrassing, messy divorce for any of those reason... or even for a combo of 'em... it would almost be reassuring. In fact, it would be understandable and, in the case of Trump, reflective of his limits as a human being ... as a pathetic man who is impaired by the gravity of his own shortcomings. It means he simply cannot help himself. And, therefore, we are just stuck in the middle seat between a lunatic (Trump) and scumbag (McConnell)... but the flight will end, and the plane will land, and we will make our connection to the next flight. We just have to be patient.
However... if none of those scenarios are the true motivation... but only ancillary benefits of Trump's conscious, devious plan to convince Americans that the Earth is flat, that up is down, and, therefore, to set the predicate for a move to usurp the will of the people as expressed in an historic election... and if the GOP is not just playing along until he does, but, instead, actively participating in a de facto coup... then the angst and agita we are all feeling right now is not nearly reflective enough of the dire moment we find ourselves in as a nation and a people.
It's hard to rest assured. And that unease stems in no small part from the fact that it's almost impossible to ascertain Trump's true motivation ... at least, not with any certainty.
Is this just about a sadly insecure narcissist who cannot accept defeat? Are the sycophants and lawyers just placating his fragile ego? Are the Republicans simply going through the motions to avoid disturbing the sleeping dog of Trump's Twitter feed until he finally flees to Mar-a-Lago?
If so, is this cowardly clusterfuck really just about the GOP wanting to keep Trump's base from turning on them? Is it mostly about McConnell wanting Trump to keep them frothing at the mouth until Georgia's special election, so he can keep his iron grip on the throat of American politics?
Or is this about Trump's need for a second act? To wit, perhaps this is not just about grifting funds for his campaign's outstanding debt, but also about Trump positioning himself and his lucrative audience for the paydays he's gonna need to service that $900m debt he owes to a roster of shadowy creditors. If so, is this just Trump University writ large?
Frankly, if he and his GOP enablers are dragging us all through this embarrassing, messy divorce for any of those reason... or even for a combo of 'em... it would almost be reassuring. In fact, it would be understandable and, in the case of Trump, reflective of his limits as a human being ... as a pathetic man who is impaired by the gravity of his own shortcomings. It means he simply cannot help himself. And, therefore, we are just stuck in the middle seat between a lunatic (Trump) and scumbag (McConnell)... but the flight will end, and the plane will land, and we will make our connection to the next flight. We just have to be patient.
However... if none of those scenarios are the true motivation... but only ancillary benefits of Trump's conscious, devious plan to convince Americans that the Earth is flat, that up is down, and, therefore, to set the predicate for a move to usurp the will of the people as expressed in an historic election... and if the GOP is not just playing along until he does, but, instead, actively participating in a de facto coup... then the angst and agita we are all feeling right now is not nearly reflective enough of the dire moment we find ourselves in as a nation and a people.