29 Comments
User's avatar
тна Return to thread
James Ackerman's avatar

The whole "this must have been what Germany felt like in 1933" take is usually overdone and overstated, but f**k me this really is what it must have been like. Getting real sick of living in "interesting times"

Expand full comment
Travis's avatar

Now we all know why Hitler got away with what he got away with: German citizens were too busy worrying about the failing economy and culture war shit to ever give a damn about the Jews being pushed into segregation ghettos while German democracy crumbled into nationalistic authoritarianism.

Expand full comment
rlritt's avatar

They weren't just too busy to worry about it, they loved that they had a group of people to blame and hate and see punished. A Republican politician was quoted saying to his constituents, "the Democrats want to kill you."

Expand full comment
Douglas Peterson's avatar

I think it was "her" constituents: MTG, if I recall correctly.

Expand full comment
R Mercer's avatar

It's the inflation man, it's horrible--so what if I have to give up democracy in order to (not actually) solve that pressing problem. Plus, you know, those Other people flooding over the border.

Expand full comment
Chris Malek's avatar

One the one hand, democracy is in the balance. On the other hand, eggs are up 30%.

Decisions, decisions.

Expand full comment
Ben - MD, VA, NE Florida.'s avatar

You can vote to trash democracy and eggs will go up another 30%. Maybe some wealthy people will toss you a torn up Amazon box to eat.

Expand full comment
knowltok's avatar

All while they bitch about not being able to find workers for their cheap fast food.

Somehow in our hyper capitalist economy it is lazy kids to blame and not a failure to pay what the market is demanding.

Expand full comment
R Mercer's avatar

market capitalism and supply/demand is only good if you are the people on top--it doesn't apply to other people, they need to take whatever you offer.

Expand full comment
antonia dosik's avatar

I was thinking the same thing. How "clever" these right wing folks are -- carefully avoiding anything that would look like outright anti-semitism -- and yet, if (?when) push comes to shove they will shove us under the train, or is it put us on the train, without a second thought. I, too, am getting sick of our interesting times.

Expand full comment
Christine's avatar

Combine TrumpтАЩs comment with the one armed, pointed finger salute now seen at Trump rallies. They want to badly to go full Nazi.

Expand full comment
R Mercer's avatar

The problem is that it ISN'T overdone or overstated. People just want to believe that it is.

The writing has been on the wall for a few years now. Just because the stormtroopers haven't been highly visible yet doesn't mean that they aren't waiting eagerly in the wings.

Expand full comment
NLTownie's avatar

I thought they were very visible when they did a practice run on Jan. 6/21.

Expand full comment
R Mercer's avatar

They will be getting even more visible before too long. Especially if Trump gets indicted.

His threats of violence if that happens is not him blowing hot air. He means it.

Expand full comment
Ellen Thomas's avatar

Yes, and it will be worse if he is not indicted and ends up being reelected. He will ignore laws completely, surround himself with sycophants, and be fully supported by the current version of the GOP. It is hard to know just how bad things will get.

Expand full comment
rlritt's avatar

If he gets elected again. He will never leave office. There will be no more elections. He will appoint his successor and his supporters will agree.

Expand full comment
R Mercer's avatar

I disagree. He will die in office w/o appointing a successor because why would he appoint one? He will hang that over everyone's head as a potential reward and a spur to do the next horrible thing--and never actually grant it.

Then the knives will come out and THAT might actually spell the end of MAGA power in government because the rats will viciously turn on each other. His kids are so inept they won't stand a chance.

Expand full comment
rlritt's avatar

You're probably right. His rabid fans' adoration does, however, spill over onto his spawn.

Expand full comment
Ellen Thomas's avatar

I can't respond with a "like," but I fear you may be right.

Expand full comment
R Mercer's avatar

I agree--the best case (IMO) for the survival of the system in some reasonable/decent form is that:

1) trump gets indicted;

2) His cult goes nuts and gets violent;

3) They get put down and a LOT of people (who don't get shot in the process) go to jail--including some actual politicians/media personalities--but the politicians and media people will likely skate.

Expand full comment
Ellen Thomas's avatar

Yikes. Very bleak. Personally, I am hoping for an unexpected Democratic victory in November to help Republican office holders find a way to distance themselves from the cult before it comes to that, but things don't look good.

Expand full comment
R Mercer's avatar

They can't distance themselves and remain politically viable. It isn't the politicians driving this, it is the mob and the media that ":informs" them... plus Florida Man.

The GoP is now ruled by its mob, not the other way around.

Expand full comment
antonia dosik's avatar

I agree that it is not overdone. I remember a friend asking me "when will we know it is time to leave?" when Trump got elected. And things are worse now. And I still don't know the answer to that question -- much less, where would we go.

Expand full comment
James Ackerman's avatar

I say overdone/overstated mostly because it's usually some histrionic outburst, but when you read through these events now...it's a decidedly depressing apropos statement

Expand full comment
R Mercer's avatar

I am not prone to histrionic outbursts and I have been pointing this out for a few years now.... but I get where you are coming from.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Oct 17, 2022
Comment removed
Expand full comment
James Ackerman's avatar

I'm just on the other side of 30 now. I thought for a long time the defining moments of my life would be 9/11, the Great Recession, and the election of our first black president. I was clearly wrong in that, unfortunately.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Oct 17, 2022Edited
Comment removed
Expand full comment
Carl Spagnoli's avatar

Lord knows i am praying that others with a similar voting record are also going Blue all the way.

We both grew up when both parties would actually govern by dialogue and compromise but since Newt Gingrich, chaos and reactionary extremism more and more are the only 'solutions' on offer from the GOP. Only by studying history and culture broadly and deeply will we rise above this quagmire - and unfortunately, Rupert Murdoch makes so much more money with cynical propagandists like Tucker and Sean.

Democratic utopia seems a long way off...

Expand full comment