BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?

Subject: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: SamStone
Date: 18 Jan 19 - 05:17 PM

as a disabled vietnam veteran i am in fear for the future of this country (USA)...seemingly We The People have no say (for the present)in the running of the government...can we stop this before it is too late?

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Jan 19 - 06:31 PM

I share your fears. Trump is riding a populist wave and appears to be made of Teflon. But we can try to trip him up on something. He can't get away with the shit thrown at him for ever. Try to ensure that you get good Democrats to stand against him next time round. Your women are impressive. Last time he got by (not by actually winning, but hey) by making it personal. Theresa May tried to make it personal against Corbyn (who, unlike Hillary, rode above it) and it cost her her majority. Keep your candidate on the high ground at all times and refuse to get down and dirty with him. Wanna piece of microcosm? Read the nasty threads here below the line. We've defeated Iains, our microcosmic Trumpite, by ignoring him or talking past him, refusing to engage. That's the way to do it. Tell the people honestly what you want to do for them and ignore the shite. You can do it!

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Jan 19 - 08:49 PM

Sam. as an 80% disabled 'Nam Era vet (Korean DMZ, 1969) I think we can avoid it. I have high hopes for the "Millennials" who were elected to Congress in November (they don't seem to be cowed by Congressional hangers-on and Party hacks and are willing to speak their minds). More than our generation, but those who were most qualified were despised and went to ground. Yes, I have hope.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Jan 19 - 08:49 PM

Oh, Sam? PMOS=11B40.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Jan 19 - 09:17 PM

51% of the Donald's Political Teflon comes from Mitch McConnel. The former Speaker Ryan and toady Nunes were critical co conspirators who will probably never face prosecution.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 12:30 AM

Trump appears to wish to be a dictator - if he can't be King. He wants to accomplish things by fiat.

As the parent of two well-educated millennials, I know if the world ends up in their hands we'll be okay. But wresting it from the hands of the old corrupt millionaires who see no end to the amount of feathering their nests need - well, it will be a fight. Just as well a few of we Vietnam-era hippies are still around and know how to conduct this battle. And are perfectly computer literate to hang in there.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 01:36 AM

I think in a way - you live in a more hopeful society in America than we do in England.

At least Watergate showed that there exists the mechanism for tackling corruption.

The Spycatcher incidents in England showed that we are in the hands of a very nasty right wing gang. possibly with a grip on power that goes back to Tudor times.

Our true unacknowledged legislators.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 02:30 AM

Is there a way for us to have fun while all this is going on? I mean, people are so damn serious and angry and all, and I think we need to have some joy in life to give us balance and teach us tolerance.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 03:30 AM

I am hopeful. The last couple of years have been awful, in political terms, on both sides of the Atlantic. We are now seeing people waking up to the fact that the inmates are taking over the asylum and fighting against it. There can be such a thing as a moderate backlash and it will happen. In my opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: peteglasgow
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 03:42 AM

Re having fun. aggressive leaders will just shout back louder
dogmatic 'debaters' will just repeat soundbites and avoid the question.
idealistic legislators will just bully and push through their nasty policies.
what they can't cope with is being mocked - witty satire or (not at all clever) just pointing and laughing or even just to be seen to conspiciously enjoy life while ignoring our leaders...is all good. it may only unsettle them but we can have a laugh.
i miss the punk days and the anti-thatcher culture

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 04:05 AM

It works on some of the more aggressive and dogmatic debaters on here too, Pete. They cannot cope with having their nonsense ignored and the piss taken out of them :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 04:17 AM

Trump is a boring old fart

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 09:28 AM

There's nothing in your constitution about secession, one way or another. It doesn’t lay down any way in which it can happen, but it doesn't say it can't happen. The Civil War was decided by force of arms rather than legal argument and legal decisions.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: SamStone
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 10:51 AM

thanks all...mos 68w, 100%, 1963 in country 02/15-05/19. Our elected leaders appear to fear the "king" or are boot lickers and maybe for $$$. we must as a nation somehow reach common ground and resist chaos or we will get what scraps are tossed to us...OMG! it is happening as we speak.!

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Felipa
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 10:56 AM

re having fun, Roy Zimmerman's songs are funny though lacking in subtlety - here the video r is funnier than the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foX4aPrlGSw Sweeney Trump (with lyrics on screen)

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 12:40 PM

Come back Bob Dylan - all is forgiven.

Oh he's making iron gates now, 'praps he can put on in Twitler's wall.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Mossback
Date: 20 Jan 19 - 09:29 PM

The Civil War was decided by force of arms rather than legal argument and legal decisions.

From a legal standpoint, the Civil War was brought on by the State of South Carolina et. al. attacking the U.S. Government. This is also known as treason, and the Civil War is more properly known as The War Of The Rebellion. The use of arms to protect and maintain the United States by force of arms was a perfectly legal response, and appropriate to the circumstances.

As for a strict vs. loose interpretation of the US Constitution, that's a whole other discussion.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: SamStone
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 04:39 PM

Before this self centered egoistical "nationalist" is ejected by any means me thinks there will be bloodshed or should we say more bloodshed...we are in for a rude awakening here in the USA because of misguided loyalty of a minority group of whatever-you-want-to-call-them-your-choice. God help the USA! Wake up people!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: gillymor
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 05:36 PM

We've certainly got the Dic(k) part of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: SamStone
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 08:12 PM

on yeah...and a cowardly liar, just sayin'...

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 08:16 PM

Regarding Secession, see Texas v. White (1868) and Williams v. Bruffy (1877).

Sam, I can still tear down an M-1 and I don't see the military following any "start a war" orders from the C-in-C. Most of those guys take their oath seriously.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: SamStone
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 09:54 PM

Rapparee...good point. however combatants do not have to be military. a
Garand? much better than an m16. case in point is Charlottesville or any trump rally ... do you think he can raise a private force by saying "TO ARMS"!? and protect your president...just thinkin' and sayin' ... may be ragtag but damage can be done.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: vectis
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 10:32 PM

Forgive me for my ignorance as I don't live in the USA but why in heck are people going to work when they are not being paid? That is tacit agreement with Trump. Why don't they all just stay at home, in effect, a general strike?

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: SamStone
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 11:31 PM

vectis...trump thinks that even those folks working for no pay do so out of loyalty to him and because they AGREE with the shutdown...even one of trump's henchmen said something to the effect that these folks "are on vacation" and will get paid after the mess is over which, if saner minds do not prevail, could be a while...trump has nada to lose.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Jan 19 - 07:12 AM

Some militias are larger than others like the one named 3%.
But I do not feel civilian people are willing to die for Trump.
As for the military,
I know the brass isn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: gillymor
Date: 22 Jan 19 - 07:28 AM

People not getting paid has never bothered Trump, he has a long history of stiffing contractors, not paying bills, filing for bankruptcy to leave others holding the bag and using his now defunct "charity" as a slush fund, this shutdown is just business as usual for him. His complete lack of scruples should have been apparent to anyone who was even half paying attention these past 30 years or more. Heaven help the working class nitwits that voted for him.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Jan 19 - 09:41 AM

The "Three Percenters" are too blatant, as are the rest of them. "Two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead" -- don't you think the FBI and others have already joined either directly or through informants?

Possible rioting, yes. Some hotheads, yes. But the longer the shutdown goes on the longer folks wait in TSA lines, the longer Congressfolk don't have their bathrooms cleaned, the more drugs come into the US because the CG isn't paid, and so on. Why don't they just walk out? -- TSA is sicking out and others assume they'll eventually be paid (and if you refuse to come in when told to you could well lose your job).

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: SamStone
Date: 23 Jan 19 - 05:49 PM

Nancy Pelosi for President...the authoritarian/dictator wannabe has more than met his match...she just might shut him down.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Jan 19 - 07:03 PM

The FBI is bleeding badly and in just another month they will be decapitated.
If Trump expects an uprising it may be him and his family that his voluntary Pretorian guard are unwilling to protect.

Pelosi may have helped the nation dodge a bullet by delaying the State of the Onion address.

Dems will stall the wall and Trumpers will build a wall so crime will fall. BUT Its Humpty Trumpty that will fall. sorry that was pithy.

the time is ripe for some kind of insurrection by the people or even by Republican Senasnores.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Jan 19 - 07:40 PM

Rap you have had the remarkable profound experience of being in a band of brothers. It is something many people will never fully appreciate. Do you think militias will inspire a similar allegiance among members to the degree of the USA infantry?

Hitler would use militias strategically for years but Trump seems too much a coward to be a commander and dictator, or am I fooled.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: John P
Date: 24 Jan 19 - 10:53 AM

My nightmare scenario is Trump giving the armed forces a potentially illegal order. Half the military refuses to follow it and the other half doesn't. Suddenly we have two armies, one not under any civilian control, and the other under the control of a crazy person and willing to act illegally.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: SamStone
Date: 24 Jan 19 - 02:12 PM

john p...on point for worst case situations. i am satisfied that a faction of the military and bunches of civilian crazies would follow the trumpster if the order was given. i am upping my ammo stash asap. just heard that some of the henchmen are refusing invites from congress to have a little sitdown. contempt? or orders from above?...we may be close to amendment 25, just sayin'

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: robomatic
Date: 24 Jan 19 - 02:54 PM

Quick:

Let's all retire to our various spider holes and watch "Seven Days in May"

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Felipa
Date: 24 Jan 19 - 06:45 PM

more re having fun (see previous comments from Joe Offer and from me), Tom Lehrer “Things I once thought were funny are scary now. I often feel like a resident of Pompeii who has been asked for some humorous comments on lava.” https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-03922-x (Tom Lehrer at 90)

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Jan 19 - 07:00 PM

7 days in May is gripping and could have an alternate ending.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we headed for a Dictatorship?
From: Mossback
Date: 24 Jan 19 - 08:10 PM

From the Nature article referenced above:

"About the political earthquakes triggered by US President Donald Trump, Lehrer has been silent."

Looks as if Lehrer and I agree that there isn't one goddamn thing about Trump, his nest of vipers, and his brain-dead supporters in the least bit funny or amusing.

Referencing the OP, laughing sure as shit won't prevent a dictatorship - its channeling Nero.