Choosing Hegseth over me made Trump the only president who’s had two cabinet nominees requiring a Vice-Presidential tiebreak after a 50–50 vote. No other president has had even one. Which says everything about the quality of his choices.
For those who believe Democrats’ unanimity in voting no was purely political, votes for the previous SecDef nominees, Democrats and Republicans, were as follows: Lloyd Austin, 93–2; Mark Esper 90–8; James Mattis 98–1. Ashton Carter 93–5; Leon Panetta 100–0. Robert Gates 95–2. The difference: credentials. If not all R senators are stupid enough to think Hegseth is qualified (?), only 3 had the guts to vote no, one of whose cynical hypocrisy put us where we are. It’s shameful and cowardly.
Arriving at the Pentagon, Pete went to work implementing Project Trump 2025: his first communiqué was about ending DEI, because any military member not straight, male, white, and Christian is inferior. Then, calling them “dishonorable” and “liars,” he banned trans people who, because they had the courage to be public about who they are, are braver than most; and about whom there’ve been fewer deportment issues than non-trans members. And he announced plans to interview top general officers to see which will kowtow and which won’t. Shoot protestors in the legs.
Beyond turning the military into his domestic enforcers, Trump is eliminating people and programs that would keep him in check. He fired inspectors general of virtually all government agencies. His Department of “Justice” ousted every prosecutor who worked with Jack Smith and will subject them to “investigations,” and it just ended further pursuit of Trump’s crimes. The firing of the IGs was clearly illegal because the law requires thirty days’ notice. The message: Whatcha gonna do about it?
Same with the TikTok law passed by Congress, signed by President Biden, and approved in a rare 9–0 ruling by the Supreme Court. Trump ignored it. Likewise, his demented attempt to rewrite the Constitution by executive order. He’s convinced he’s above the law, which, thanks to congressional pusillanimity and judicial corruption, it turns out he is. Then, because they’d get in his way, he rescinded the ethics rules ordered by President Biden.
In a silent coup, our country has been captured by a group of very wealthy men, Christian nationalists who are anything but Christian, whose aim is to remove from government all institutions that have, till now, protected us from people like them; that stand in the way of unchecked power and unregulated self-enrichment; that let people not like them retain the power of the vote. And they’ve put in place enough judges and justices to clear their path.
It’s been a concerted effort for years. In Trump, they recognized the perfect stooge, one they could convince he’s in charge because he so desperately needs to be; a frontman willing, for his needy gratification, to keep public eyes off what’s happening; to cede the agenda to Project 2025. It’s not Greenland or Panama or Canada. It’s in the backrooms of the White House, into which they’ve charmed and threatened unimaginably rich oligarchs to bankroll their efforts. Trump gives them what they want because they give him what he needs.
Trump was elected by a minority of voters, strategically convinced it was about eggs and immigrants. People who look worshipfully at his self-pity and rejoice as he strikes at the vulnerable, who will include, before long, themselves. When they realize that, it’ll be too late.
It’s hard to accept, to know whether to tune out or scream into the night. Trump has the limelight. For him, vengeance is the goal; that, and validating his neediness. He’s president of people who see the cruelty and love it. And of the string-pullers. The more distracting outrage he engenders, the more he lies and pounds his chest, the more he fools the media into focusing on the hole rather than the donut, the more easily the Project-iles can take down our democracy, all but unreported, brick by brick.
For those who still believe in democracy and kindness, it’s hard to watch and harder to know what to do.
Great piece, Sid! I forgot you have a Purple Heart as part of your service record, and if you had been named SecDef, I'd be super happy. I know you wouldn't have removed General Milley's portrait from the wall of the Pentagon, or former SecDef Esper's either, not to mention targeting transgender service members. The pettiness of these folks is something I haven't seen since junior high, and I don't mean that in a hyperbolic way. Even in high school, in the late 60s and early 70s, people had much more integrity and class. Morals and ethics.
ReplyDeleteI am slightly heartened by what I think is the grassroots deciding they are still alive and in the fight. Why else would "It" reverse his order on cutting federal funding? I think the phone lines to DC must have been on fire all day in response to that stunt. Apparently, the outcry was from all corners of all states, so the MAGA crew found out a little bit of what they can and can't get away with. I know the fascists are not done trying but it seems like the Democratic AGs, lawyers for non-profits, ACLU, and more have refilled their pens and gotten busy with lawsuits. So, I'm a tiny bit heartened that we are not done.
I have to say though, one of the most petty and dangerous things "It" has done is to remove security protections from Milley, Pompeo, and Bolton. Those last two have no love from me, but I wonder why "It" wants to put them so clearly in the literal crosshairs?
Note: Now that "It" is no longer TFG (the former guy), I am going to refer to him as "It" and his VP as "It2". I'm no longer in the place of "I can't believe this happened".
I, too, find it heartening that public outrage still can have an effect.
DeleteI think I'll refer to "it" as FFOTUS, where F is for first and F is for felon. I'd planned to this time, but, as is regularly the case nowadays, forgot.
With FFOTUS, it's all about pettiness. With the Project-iles, it's about calculated destruction.
I like your new moniker for him better, so as I do with so many of the clever and smart things you say, I'm just flat-out stealing it! FFOTUS. It works.
DeleteI Iike "it." My brain went to: "it" and "half it."
Delete"I think the phone lines to DC must have been on fire all day in response to that stunt."
DeleteHave you ever called the WH switchboard? It's one of the coolest experiences in life. I have and spent 23 minutes talking about anything during the BP spill. The "while I got you here" trick will stop them because they have to please everyone. So get your monies worth and have a conversation. They say the POTUS gets them directly. Obama read 10 a night. Cheetolini is greater than all of them. He'll read 100's a night. From his golf cart.
It's when they hang up or you can't reach the operator that we need to worry about.
I've decided to do "door knocking" as a thing. Get some exercise and see different people and perspectives. Knowing we are in it together fills me up. Knowing not everyone is a good fighter. Or can't really fight beyond voting. You walk w/a pro and that's it. No real engagement from you needed. But it's always accepted. People are super supportive. The atmosphere is always fun and positive.
If I was a better reader I'd read to kids at the library. I was a full time aid at school. When you got 5 kids? Get your ass in school and pitch in. So I did and it was a blast. Kids doing fun stuff is a lot of fun as you know. Try to get closer to that for a fill up.
They chose Santos.
DeleteOpposable thumbs said Grover Norquist. Drown it like a baby in a bath tub. That's 2025 in a nutshell.
Minority? Yup. The vast minority. They have to accept criminals. Like the mob. Everyone's dirty, nobody talks.
Why can't we RICO? It's "official business". If FFOTUS signs it? It's "official". Like pixie dust. Just sprinkle on everyone. If they lose a member of anything? They can replace it immediately before the vote that evening. Just a cog.
Nobody is breaking laws. They are above the law. They know it. Soon? Everyone will and the vast minority will not approve. The "get your life together welfare queens who don't want to work" are solidly in the most ravaged parts of America. Like Appalachia. The coal comeback is finally here!
Fun fact: Coal museum is solar powered.
The more you know...
Unfortunately that and more means nothing when the white man is told revenge is there's for the taking. The good 'ol boys run those parts of the country.
It won't be long before red states feel it. That asshole told them "only blue states" and "there's no law if it's in my name"(much like their former deity, Jesus.). "You will get retribution".
They fall for it every time. Go to any town and look around in a full 360 on any corner (if there's an actual corner). That's all the evidence for a guilty conviction. They are all white too. "where's my black?" "There he is right there" "I love the blacks" is a preemptive shield to his followers. They are not racist *wink wink*. They hate "criminals". Ignore they say over and over the "criminals" are all unwhite. "They are not sending their best". "An exception for Indian citizens to exploit" and the "none criminal Mexicans" for pickers. I remember fruit rotting on the ground last time they tried this shit. Now it's on steroids. American law does not exist on Guantanamo. It's modern day Alcatraz.
They day the idiots either change their minds 180. Or they die and fall off the voter rolls.
The 25th is our only remedy.
Of course he floods the zone with as much terror as he can get his hands on.
ReplyDelete"In managing huge bureaucracies, we’re identical. What put me out of the running, I think, is that I’m not a problem drinker or a sexual miscreant, both of which are touchstones in the upper echelons of today’s Republican Party."
Hitler had a run in with a beer hall too.
Yes, and much like me and Ron White. I was tossed out on my ear.
Deletehttps://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-the-telltale-signs-of-a-coup-musk-s-power-grab-draws-outraged-backlash-231030853850?cid=eml_mda_20250204&user_email=fc66f1f7269b229e2460170946fa6f41e6153bc57ef9c5d002f9aa613fcb2eea
ReplyDeleteTHIS! I love the clean up batter. "I told you so" is happening.
Game on bitches! Is what we got. We all know. A pissed of progressive wing with lose their collective minds. We have thousands of lawyers and judges un every state. They can try to flood the SCOTUS. But that slows it all to a crawl by then. Also? They never have to take a case. It'll be interesting to see what's what on that.
They, like Alfredo, thought they'd Blitzkrieg to victory. Like Puddin' in Ukraine with blunt force. The thing is built on a house of cards. There's only so many wannabe mafia. That's the soft underbelly.
Their numbers are so thin they can not lose anyone. They didn't see this resistance coming. They'd have a different plan. They'd have a counter. They'd have smarter people.
I honestly don't think red states have a chance. It will not be prosperity for them and austerity for us.
They'll convince them all that it was not an assault on social security. They always do.
Some people just keep hoping Lucy won't pull the football. The great pumpkin will rise.
We need to stop being outraged by his bizarre behavior: Trump is obviously insane; we need to invoke the 25th amendment!
ReplyDeleteEugeneInSanDiego
It's like turtles all the way down: JD Vance, Mike Johnson... no one would be an upgrade.
DeleteBut they will receive a message!
ReplyDeleteTrue. Maybe we'll find out.
Delete