Trump Redux: The Death of Democracy, or Overblown Hyperbole?

[Buck_Mulligan]

@DJChameleon, @SGR
I've very much enjoyed following this debate. Because as a centrist D I lean towards SGR's analysis I didn't want to participate.
And yes, you could both use editors. I'm not volunteering either for free or money,

[DJChameleon]

@DJChameleon, @SGR
I've very much enjoyed following this debate. Because as a centrist D I lean towards SGR's analysis I didn't want to participate.
And yes, you could both use editors. I'm not volunteering either for free or money,

I think you meant to tag jwb right?

[Trollheart]

Meh, I don't know. Your avvy looks like he could assassinate the odd president.

[Buck_Mulligan]

I think you meant to tag jwb right?

Yes thanks! Senior moment, or something. Apols to jwb.

[Lexi Darling]

Meh, I don't know. Your avvy looks like he could assassinate the odd president.

Probably more likely to assassinate a king, no? 

[Trollheart]

I always have to wonder: you know those annoying mobile phone games they keep throwing an ad for into any app you buy? How do kings get themselves trapped in bubbles and with things falling down on them and so on? I mean, just exactly what kind of security do these rulers have, and where are their bodyguards? I think an investigation is warranted!

[Lexi Darling]

The party of free speech, ladies and gentlemen

[SGR]

Trump orders a plan to dismantle the Education Department while keeping some core functions

[Trollheart]

Core functions? Yeah, probably wants to keep the idea of an apple for teacher...

[Lexi Darling]

Trump Threatens to Deport the "Terrorists" Who Protest Tesla

Thread of Musk smearing trans people as the "violent terrorists" responsible

I posted about this in my lgbt thread but I'm gonna post it here too. Trump and Musk are saying anyone, regardless of citizenship, can be trafficked into prison camps without due process if you are a protester, or dissenter, or have the wrong social media opinions, or are trans apparently.

I know some people don't like it when I make nazi germany comparisons but if you can't see how these Tesla protests could be used in the same way as the Reichstag fire, I feel like that's dangerously naive. They are saying their intentions out loud.

Edit:

https://bsky.app/profile/drharmony.bsky.social/post/3lktelvhaf32h

Welp looks like we have the new transphobic smear campaign folks. I guess they weren't satisfied with calling us mentally ill, bathroom rapists and child groomers, now we're also being called terrorists.

[Lisnaholic]

I know some people don't like it when I make nazi germany comparisons but if you can't see how these Tesla protests could be used in the same way as the Reichstag fire, I feel like that's dangerously naive. They are saying their intentions out loud.

^ Yep, I think that comparison is becoming increasingly appropriate as the powers that the Trump/Musk admin carve out for themselves are growing more and more authoritarian in their scope.
The defense of democracy is getting increasingly tenuous (not to say desperate) imo. With the electorate, The Senate, the DOJ and I don't know who else having capitulated, media commentators are now talking about the judiciary as the last constraint on Trump. I  wonder how that will go?

Supreme Court Justice JRoberts is now struggling with Trump's attacks on judges:-

John Roberts's message was clear: Threatening a federal judge with impeachment is not acceptable.

"For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose," the statement read.

Roberts's remarks arrived within hours of Trump's own social media missive, wherein he blasted Judge James E Boasberg, who serves in the federal district court in Washington, DC.

"This Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator who was sadly appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, was not elected President," Trump wrote in a lengthy post that seemed to argue that presidential authority superseded judicial power. "He didn't WIN the popular VOTE."

Some media emphasise the extraordinary nature of a rebuke from the Supreme Court, but who are we kidding ? Roberts is way out of his depth, sparring with Trump's fiery texting. At least JR's published statement is better than an earlier draft that he actually sent to me to check over:-

"Dear Donald, I know I gave you access to more power than anyone in the US has ever held before, but please don't be nasty to my humble footsoldiers on the front line who I have betrayed by placing you above the law; it's going to make me look weak and stupid beyond belief. Your friend, Johnny Roberts."

[jimmy jazz]

Where does it say he's going to deport people for having the wrong social media opinions or for being trans?

[Weekender]

My cousin's uncle friend told me, under threat of being black bagged, that the protest of Tesla is the first effective protest we've had in a long time.

[Trollheart]

Yeah, that's how to stand up to a dictator and speak truth to power! Teach the kids.  You're a fucking disgrace, Columbia U!


News Alert: Columbia University makes policy changes in dispute over federal funding


Columbia University has announced a series of new policies following President Trump's revocation of $400 million in federal funding over campus protests.

Among the changes are a review of admissions policies, making it easier to report harassment, tightening rules about the location of protests, prohibiting masks at protests, giving campus police new arrest powers and giving the office of the provost more authority to deal with disciplinary action against students involved in protests.

Does anyone see a China-like situation developing where the govt bans certain concerts/artists who criticise or speak out against them? Is it such a radical question? At this moment, given what's happening, I don't think so.

[DJChameleon]

Where does it say he's going to deport people for having the wrong social media opinions or for being trans?

He doesn't have to say anything it's already happening.