Awhile back I saw a MAGA-adjacent type acknowledge that when he criticized "elites," he didn't mean the superwealthy, whom he saw as mostly beneficial to society, but rather the upper-middle class of lawyers and middle managers and nonprofit administrators who send their kids to the best schools and who mostly share the same worldview - which is what really bothered him.
"Counter-elites" has nothing to do with understanding or empowering ordinary Americans. It just means "elites who share my worldview."
The appointments were a stiff arm in the faces of all who were not grovelling at his feet. He also will assay the loyalty of any elected Republicans who remotely question these appointments. This action by Trump should not be just smirked at as many will do. Far too late for this kind of a poor excuse for dealing with this now- established fascist. He is already wielding power, and if there is any laughter to be had, it will be at those who think that waiting for the country to finally realize the absurdity of it all will right the ship. Too many Democrats across the country were guilty of this smug, elitist dismissal, instead of engaging in real fightback.
EVERYONE knows what MAGA is don't they? No, they don't. Even the folks over there wearing the red hat cannot enumerate what it means. Looking out the aircraft window from 30,000', the world looks the same. Ground level is where it is tricky. Details matter as the devil is always in the details.
I feel like the hits on Tulsi need to be backed up with some evidence. She was darling of D party until something happened and HRC turned on her like a bad rash and the pile on began. Feels equality worthy topic to discuss in assessing her credentials. the govt feels more and more like a collection of secret societies. Gaez's exploits totally fair game but let them stand along with the Epstein and Diddy evidence and then we can at least rank moral and ethical standing on a relative scale. Why is everyone so scared of RFK for HHS? There is a state AG and life long politician with zero healthcare experience in there now so is the goal to find the least disruptive to status quo? why preserving the status quo again?
That isn't his argument. The people he discusses don't even have the requisite experience for the jobs for which they've been tapped. That doesn't matter to Trump, because he seeks personal fealty first, and he's also swayed by how people look on Fox.
But it's worse than a lack of experience. Some of them, perhaps all, couldn't pass a basic background check. Putting someone as clearly unethical as Gaetz in charge of DOJ is a sick joke. He was chosen because he would zealously turn DOJ into Trump's personal instrument of revenge.
Gabbard as DNI might be even worse. There's no way she would pass a security clearance. The Russians describe her as their "friend" because she consistently takes their side - against America.
Hegseth lacks any experience that would prepare him to manage the world's largest bureaucracy - but he would be a loyal flamethrower, willing to carry out a highly destructive purge of military officers who don't put fealty to Trump ahead of allegiance to the Constitution.
RFK overseeing public health is absurd. Look forward to a lot more childhood illness.
"CNN is very unhappy, dear reader, that the new proposed cabinet includes people who are not "experts" in the relevant fields.
"We can argue about that, and in fact we can discuss what being an "expert" even means when a field itself is corrupt, but as plenty of people have been pointing out on Twitter these days, what we can't argue about is that somehow these very same people were not bothered at all by Joe Biden's appointments of:
"Pete Buttigieg to the Department of Transportation despite no experience in that area;
Xavier Becerra, a lawyer, to the Department of Health and Human Services;
Jennifer Granholm, Michigan governor with no energy experience, to the Department of Energy;
Alejandro Mayorkas, a lawyer with no security experience, to the Department of Homeland Security
Deb Haaland, hailed as the first Native American cabinet member when named to the Department of the Interior, had been a Member of Congress without relevant experience."
Folks don't have to be qualified to take a job; somebody just has to hire them.
"...The people he discusses don't even have the requisite experience for the jobs for which they've been tapped...."
I see the problem thusly: Those that state the nominees don't have the requisite experience for the position stop there. They don't go one to give the list of what the "requisite experience" looks like. Further they don't continue with "Look at John Doe. He'd be the perfect choice".
I’m sure John Galt will show up any day to meet your long list of requirements. You’ve fallen so far you are criticizing Trump for not choosing experienced swamp things to keep expanding the swamp. Keep up the good work, the ARI commies must be so proud you’re coming around.
John Galt arrived earlier but assumed the form of Elon Musk in order to not upset the primitive and uneducated MAGA tribe. Like all sources of impressed labor, even primitive tribe denizens like MAGAs can become unruly when it dawns on them that they were always seen as mule-like cheap labor sources for the jobs Corporate America is returning from offshore locations. Corporate America doesn’t view itself as an eleemosynary institution, because of, you know, monopolistic profits. Plus, if the cheap mule-like labor gets sick, no problem. Corporate America plans to take the next MAGA in line or pull a couple of their children out of their new voucher supported “how to become a mule schools” and discard the sick one without a care. And, to think, all of this is happening because the uneducated primitive MAGA tribe voted Trump to become their dictatorial master while believing that he and John Galt, nee Elon Musk, were on their side and would reduce the price of eggs and gas, not their wages, healthcare and all hope of ever retiring after they are too old to work anymore. Oh well, that’s how the democracy cookie crumbles.
Remember that BoJo and Truss did the same. There is a honeymoon period when everything appears to be going right and then reality kicks in and nothing appears to be going right. American government is hugh and it requires a lot of experience to manage it. Trump had a lot of experienced people last time. None of them are prepared to serve with him this time. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
You criticize Trump for nominating loyalists. Of course he nominates people who will implement his policies. He doesn't want people in his administration to sabotage his efforts. He was elected by an overwhelming vote, had 49 of 50 states move more Republican and secured the most votes that any Republican has ever received. Of course you don't acknowledge this because of your TDS.
Coming in at Numero Uno in the Big Ten Commandments: Thou shall not have any other gods before me. Oh, wait, Exodus 20 has been deleted, I mean redacted, from the Trump Political World Holy Bible…I defecate you negatory (hat tip Jonah Goldberg). Never in my wildest fever dreams would I have ever imagined a 911 un truther, election denier, anti war monger Air America Host coming back to life in the Oval Office…but this is what we the people get for a D.E.I. hire in 2020….affirmative action requires the best woman for the job, quality over quantity be damned
I’ve long been a fan of your work and this is an interesting take. Thanks for linking to the counterpoint that Thiel articulates. I’m a little stuck here. I think you’re right about Trump’s desires and instincts but I also have a little more faith in the system to restrain him.
Democracy has a cleansing power when it can be tempered by republican restraint. It affords the people the power to change without necessarily handing over the keys to the kingdom. And I think the left were just as ready to abuse power (as they have done for four years) as the right is.
What if Catiline had succeeded bloodlessly? Perhaps we will soon have an answer.
Awhile back I saw a MAGA-adjacent type acknowledge that when he criticized "elites," he didn't mean the superwealthy, whom he saw as mostly beneficial to society, but rather the upper-middle class of lawyers and middle managers and nonprofit administrators who send their kids to the best schools and who mostly share the same worldview - which is what really bothered him.
"Counter-elites" has nothing to do with understanding or empowering ordinary Americans. It just means "elites who share my worldview."
Proof as if any were needed that TDS is incurable
Do you have a single counterargument to any of the author's characterizations?
^^^ When you have no good counter argument based on facts, attack the messenger
The appointments were a stiff arm in the faces of all who were not grovelling at his feet. He also will assay the loyalty of any elected Republicans who remotely question these appointments. This action by Trump should not be just smirked at as many will do. Far too late for this kind of a poor excuse for dealing with this now- established fascist. He is already wielding power, and if there is any laughter to be had, it will be at those who think that waiting for the country to finally realize the absurdity of it all will right the ship. Too many Democrats across the country were guilty of this smug, elitist dismissal, instead of engaging in real fightback.
EVERYONE knows what MAGA is don't they? No, they don't. Even the folks over there wearing the red hat cannot enumerate what it means. Looking out the aircraft window from 30,000', the world looks the same. Ground level is where it is tricky. Details matter as the devil is always in the details.
I feel like the hits on Tulsi need to be backed up with some evidence. She was darling of D party until something happened and HRC turned on her like a bad rash and the pile on began. Feels equality worthy topic to discuss in assessing her credentials. the govt feels more and more like a collection of secret societies. Gaez's exploits totally fair game but let them stand along with the Epstein and Diddy evidence and then we can at least rank moral and ethical standing on a relative scale. Why is everyone so scared of RFK for HHS? There is a state AG and life long politician with zero healthcare experience in there now so is the goal to find the least disruptive to status quo? why preserving the status quo again?
Russia has won the cold war. They have succeeded in destroying the US
@Carol S
"Start with his selection for Secretary of Defense, the Fox News talking head Pete Hegseth,"
"More than just an “antiwar” gadfly, Gabbard "
" crackpot conspiracy theorist and anti-vaccine activist, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,"
If the best argument you can muster against any of the dump’s candidates for government job is calling them names, you have already lost.
Qualified folks lied about a so-called pandemic and the effectiveness of countermeasures.
Qualified folks wage war against folks who are/were not a threat to residents of the US.
Qualified folks scam folks into eating food that turns out to be harmful to those who eat those foods.
Government is a framework through which folks rob folks to finance up-to-lethal acts against folks by folks. That is all it is.
@Robert Tracinski
If the best argument you can muster against any of the dump’s candidates for government job. is calling them names, you have already lost.
That isn't his argument. The people he discusses don't even have the requisite experience for the jobs for which they've been tapped. That doesn't matter to Trump, because he seeks personal fealty first, and he's also swayed by how people look on Fox.
But it's worse than a lack of experience. Some of them, perhaps all, couldn't pass a basic background check. Putting someone as clearly unethical as Gaetz in charge of DOJ is a sick joke. He was chosen because he would zealously turn DOJ into Trump's personal instrument of revenge.
Gabbard as DNI might be even worse. There's no way she would pass a security clearance. The Russians describe her as their "friend" because she consistently takes their side - against America.
Hegseth lacks any experience that would prepare him to manage the world's largest bureaucracy - but he would be a loyal flamethrower, willing to carry out a highly destructive purge of military officers who don't put fealty to Trump ahead of allegiance to the Constitution.
RFK overseeing public health is absurd. Look forward to a lot more childhood illness.
@Carol S
Regarding your "unqualified" argument:
Tom Woods listed on https://mailchi.mp/tomwoods/newcabinet?e=1f4d494d96 bidet regime appointments that were unqualified
"CNN is very unhappy, dear reader, that the new proposed cabinet includes people who are not "experts" in the relevant fields.
"We can argue about that, and in fact we can discuss what being an "expert" even means when a field itself is corrupt, but as plenty of people have been pointing out on Twitter these days, what we can't argue about is that somehow these very same people were not bothered at all by Joe Biden's appointments of:
"Pete Buttigieg to the Department of Transportation despite no experience in that area;
Xavier Becerra, a lawyer, to the Department of Health and Human Services;
Jennifer Granholm, Michigan governor with no energy experience, to the Department of Energy;
Alejandro Mayorkas, a lawyer with no security experience, to the Department of Homeland Security
Deb Haaland, hailed as the first Native American cabinet member when named to the Department of the Interior, had been a Member of Congress without relevant experience."
Folks don't have to be qualified to take a job; somebody just has to hire them.
"...The people he discusses don't even have the requisite experience for the jobs for which they've been tapped...."
I see the problem thusly: Those that state the nominees don't have the requisite experience for the position stop there. They don't go one to give the list of what the "requisite experience" looks like. Further they don't continue with "Look at John Doe. He'd be the perfect choice".
I’m sure John Galt will show up any day to meet your long list of requirements. You’ve fallen so far you are criticizing Trump for not choosing experienced swamp things to keep expanding the swamp. Keep up the good work, the ARI commies must be so proud you’re coming around.
"Matt Gaetz and RFK Jr. are just like John Galt" is a very funny take.
You can say that again.
John Galt arrived earlier but assumed the form of Elon Musk in order to not upset the primitive and uneducated MAGA tribe. Like all sources of impressed labor, even primitive tribe denizens like MAGAs can become unruly when it dawns on them that they were always seen as mule-like cheap labor sources for the jobs Corporate America is returning from offshore locations. Corporate America doesn’t view itself as an eleemosynary institution, because of, you know, monopolistic profits. Plus, if the cheap mule-like labor gets sick, no problem. Corporate America plans to take the next MAGA in line or pull a couple of their children out of their new voucher supported “how to become a mule schools” and discard the sick one without a care. And, to think, all of this is happening because the uneducated primitive MAGA tribe voted Trump to become their dictatorial master while believing that he and John Galt, nee Elon Musk, were on their side and would reduce the price of eggs and gas, not their wages, healthcare and all hope of ever retiring after they are too old to work anymore. Oh well, that’s how the democracy cookie crumbles.
"...primitive and uneducated MAGA tribe...." What does this mean?
Remember that BoJo and Truss did the same. There is a honeymoon period when everything appears to be going right and then reality kicks in and nothing appears to be going right. American government is hugh and it requires a lot of experience to manage it. Trump had a lot of experienced people last time. None of them are prepared to serve with him this time. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
You criticize Trump for nominating loyalists. Of course he nominates people who will implement his policies. He doesn't want people in his administration to sabotage his efforts. He was elected by an overwhelming vote, had 49 of 50 states move more Republican and secured the most votes that any Republican has ever received. Of course you don't acknowledge this because of your TDS.
Coming in at Numero Uno in the Big Ten Commandments: Thou shall not have any other gods before me. Oh, wait, Exodus 20 has been deleted, I mean redacted, from the Trump Political World Holy Bible…I defecate you negatory (hat tip Jonah Goldberg). Never in my wildest fever dreams would I have ever imagined a 911 un truther, election denier, anti war monger Air America Host coming back to life in the Oval Office…but this is what we the people get for a D.E.I. hire in 2020….affirmative action requires the best woman for the job, quality over quantity be damned
Ffs
Fuck every one of those nazis
Please read this!
I’ve long been a fan of your work and this is an interesting take. Thanks for linking to the counterpoint that Thiel articulates. I’m a little stuck here. I think you’re right about Trump’s desires and instincts but I also have a little more faith in the system to restrain him.
Democracy has a cleansing power when it can be tempered by republican restraint. It affords the people the power to change without necessarily handing over the keys to the kingdom. And I think the left were just as ready to abuse power (as they have done for four years) as the right is.
What if Catiline had succeeded bloodlessly? Perhaps we will soon have an answer.