The Democratic Party had one last chance to implement the kind of New Deal Reforms that could save us from another Trump presidency and Christian fascism. It failed.
It's true that Biden's presidency has failed to rise to the historical moment. The only place I'd differ with you, Chris, is over whether fascism is inevitable (as you suggest) or whether it has instead already been firmly established. Bipartisan support for genocide indicates that fears of a fascist future charitably overlook the present, as well as the past. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/fears-of-a-fascist-future-overlook
What the democrats refuse to understand is what made and makes Trump so dangerous isn't the lies he constantly spews but that he often told the truth, about both parties often enough, the stuff the MSM won't touch.
Stealing George Galloways comparison the Dems and Republicans are "two cheeks on the same rear end". The only way to spank them in America is with a SERIOUS Third Party. AS Orwell said the picture of the future is "a boot on a human face forever"! Genocide Joes Boot or Trumps Boot, makes little difference. Thanks Chris!
What a Farce our Never Very Good Governments are. 'We're not them" won't cut it anymore. We have been betrayed by lies and money. Our governing bodies ARE the Mafia.
"Under democracy, each party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule, and both easily succeed. H. L. Mencken"
"The Democrats had four years to institute New Deal reforms. They failed. Now we will pay."
Really 12 years. I know when I voted for Obama twice, from all that lofty rhetoric I was expecting some New-Deal style dramatic action, at least against the banks post 2008, and reigning in Bush's militarism. What a fool I was!
Democrats, are you listening? I'm progressive but planning to vote for Robert Kennedy Jr or Jill Stein in the upcoming elections, even if third-party votes throw the decision to Trump.
Did you write this sentence Deborah? “Your narrative is always hateful without looking towards solutions and you like to blame people! What a sad person you have become.” What passage please - using quotes so there is clarity in our exchange - did I write that implied I was disinterested instead of being curious about your opinion enough to respond to your comment with my own knowledge base?Then, please again copy the passages I wrote which you experienced as “nasty.” I aim to be direct in my response. And to do so without venom. So I may be overlooking something that I definitely want to see. Because if venom is there, I will double check myself before writing.I have zero interest in being nasty. I have 100% interest in decency and truth. I am open to learning.
You remind me of Trump! I used to respect you and your work! Your narrative is always hateful without looking towards solutions and you like to blame people! What a sad person you have become.
I really wish that those amerikans who sorta see through the mess of their political structure and yet appear unable to cope with a simple reality, that both of amerika's only two permitted political parties (that's some democracy you have there!) have been corrupted beyond redemption so that an alternative must be found by ordinary normal amerikans operating outside the accepted norms or fascism will become much more firmly rooted in their nation and getting rid of it will be a long and very bloody process.
These people who criticise former Dims voters and continually whine "what you think Trump will be better?" as if they are explaining some great and previously unknown truth aren’t just missing the point, they have incredibly short memories.
After 2016 when the DNC nomination for president totally failed to gain what should have been a simple win over Trump thanks to a combination of terrible strategy, a known to be disliked candidate and hubris of the most arrogant type, instead of doing the obvious, that is accepting Dims policies had become toxic to traditional dims voters, they did what they have done every time this happened previously. With exactly the same long term negative result. That is instead of acknowledging the large effect of the so-called 'Bernie Bros' by adopting some policies that advantaged ordinary working people, Tom Perez was installed as chair of the DNC and the party adopted policies damn close to those of the Rethugs. The chief difference twixt the two being that unlike trump, biden & co made no attempt to actually communicate with working class voters.
They were labouring under the delusion that these now former Dims voters "had nowhere else to go".
It was enough for genocide joe to get a marginal victory over the Rethugs thanks to extremely shallow deceits promoted in corporate media outlets that not only was trump under Russian influence, he was bent on destroying 'democracy'.
Inevitably the truth surfaced about Russiagate and genocide joe revealed himself to be the one who had the most deleterious effect on amerikan 'democracy' with his administration's determined attacks on freedom of speech.
Equally unfortunately exactly the same thing will happen again when genocide joe is thrashed in the 2024 prez beauty contest. That is instead of loudly advocating far more working class empathetic policies from both their minority pulpits in Congress, then following up on those policies after a success with the half term election in 2026, the Dims will continue to kiss corporate butt. It may even get worse than that. That will be if those fraudsters in the squad are given sufficient oxygen to promote the policies they never follow through on pre 2026 half terms, then revert back to bizness as usual once the Dims actually gain a majority.
This is exactly what has destroyed amerikans’ faith in their system of government yet have no doubt about another rinse and repeat. How else can a careerist pol get ahead? The greed & mendacity required to be granted the 'privilege' of a nomination by a DNC which sticks its nose into branch business with impunity virtually guarantees that all who hold a seat are corrupt.
I think this hits it all right on the head. The politicians all want to play the blame game while they fleece everyone. They want us all to be looking in the wrong direction as they gut the economy until there is nothing left. What will happen to the people in the once United States when there is nothing left but despair and hunger? Will there be food riots and others like it? As Trump has promised to federalize the state national guards to quell riots, how many people are willing to die in order to take back the government? Or will they? Maybe there will be some sporadic protests that the authorities will break up violently as a show of force, similar to the ill-fated Black Lives Movement and Americans will quickly learn to accept the new status quo. Will any of the working class be any better off? No. They will quickly learn that the GOP with Trump at the head will just make their lives worse. What Democrats that are left, will be in name only as they scurry to their holes in fear of their lives. This is the future of the United States within the next ten years.
I also see that we have been a corporate fascist country, increasingly serving the corporate military industrial/oil/wall street elite, for some time and in that light I have a question about both 2024 Presidential candidates, both old Senex men - one with an Icarus/Zeusian delusion of world power flying closer and closer to the Sun who clearly runs the risk of his brain being well fried, certainly by age 85; and the other already incoherent, certainly a felon, and now kept on a leash by his GOP handlers (Project 2025). It seems like they are both straw men or corporate lapdogs. My question is: what, if any, is the role/function of such a figurehead president in a fascist oligarchy/plutocracy and how long can that facade last? When we talk about "Trump" or "Biden", we talk as if they hold real power, as if they themselves were running this show. Even they think, or are encouraged to think, they are running this show. I don't know the antidote - third party? enough people waking up to how destructive capitalism has become? a creative solution waiting to be born? but I do fervently hope that this rogue ship and its allies, so destructive to our world and all of life, can still change course.
But does Chris actually talk to Trump voters? I know many and none of them are "Christian fascists, whatever that is." News flash: Trump is not a Christian, not an evangelical either. Most Trump voters are under no illusions about Trump. They know that he is vulgar, short attention span and getting old. But he speaks to the issues people care about, even if they know he probably wont solve them. At least he will make an effort to stop millions of migrants coming into the USA ( sorry Chris, ordinary Americans do not think this is a good idea, and they know who foots the bill for it, us). Trump voters are against the endless wars, because their kids or relatives are in the military. They see the hypocrisy of the democrats about Gaza, even if they are not pro Palestine, at least Trump voters are not pro genocide.
There is no democrats or republicans. There is only them vs us. Because we don’t believe in killing, stepping over others, ignoring humanity, fight even when we are being terrorized, speak out no matter what, believe in a better future and honor those that see the truth like Arnold Bushnell. Genocide joe and lunatic trump can only push us to vote third party. We must go out and shout third party and stop the killing.
Disappointing to see Mr. Hedges throw the poorly-defined, fear-mongering, label of fascist at Trump. I would expect to read this kind of panicked pearl-clutching in the NY Times, or Washington Post, and am sorry to see it in my inbox.
You put "Deep State" in scare quotes as if it doesn't exist, as if there isn't a well-entrenched bureaucracy which carries out its own agenda independent of popular will. You also seem ignorant of the fact that media and every government institution from FBI to CIA to the Justice Dept. have been weaponized against Trump in his bid for reelection. Have you not been paying any attention to domestic politics, or has the mainstream media bias just wormed its way into your thinking?
I see your quotes reference Axios and the NY Times as sources, so it appears to clearly be the latter. Might I recommend paying more attention to independent liberal media voices such as Glenn Greenwald and less to the pro-war, pro-Israel mainstream media? It has clearly clouded your thinking.
It's true that Biden's presidency has failed to rise to the historical moment. The only place I'd differ with you, Chris, is over whether fascism is inevitable (as you suggest) or whether it has instead already been firmly established. Bipartisan support for genocide indicates that fears of a fascist future charitably overlook the present, as well as the past. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/fears-of-a-fascist-future-overlook
What the democrats refuse to understand is what made and makes Trump so dangerous isn't the lies he constantly spews but that he often told the truth, about both parties often enough, the stuff the MSM won't touch.
Stealing George Galloways comparison the Dems and Republicans are "two cheeks on the same rear end". The only way to spank them in America is with a SERIOUS Third Party. AS Orwell said the picture of the future is "a boot on a human face forever"! Genocide Joes Boot or Trumps Boot, makes little difference. Thanks Chris!
What a Farce our Never Very Good Governments are. 'We're not them" won't cut it anymore. We have been betrayed by lies and money. Our governing bodies ARE the Mafia.
"Under democracy, each party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule, and both easily succeed. H. L. Mencken"
"The Democrats had four years to institute New Deal reforms. They failed. Now we will pay."
Really 12 years. I know when I voted for Obama twice, from all that lofty rhetoric I was expecting some New-Deal style dramatic action, at least against the banks post 2008, and reigning in Bush's militarism. What a fool I was!
Democrats, are you listening? I'm progressive but planning to vote for Robert Kennedy Jr or Jill Stein in the upcoming elections, even if third-party votes throw the decision to Trump.
Did you write this sentence Deborah? “Your narrative is always hateful without looking towards solutions and you like to blame people! What a sad person you have become.” What passage please - using quotes so there is clarity in our exchange - did I write that implied I was disinterested instead of being curious about your opinion enough to respond to your comment with my own knowledge base?Then, please again copy the passages I wrote which you experienced as “nasty.” I aim to be direct in my response. And to do so without venom. So I may be overlooking something that I definitely want to see. Because if venom is there, I will double check myself before writing.I have zero interest in being nasty. I have 100% interest in decency and truth. I am open to learning.
You remind me of Trump! I used to respect you and your work! Your narrative is always hateful without looking towards solutions and you like to blame people! What a sad person you have become.
I really wish that those amerikans who sorta see through the mess of their political structure and yet appear unable to cope with a simple reality, that both of amerika's only two permitted political parties (that's some democracy you have there!) have been corrupted beyond redemption so that an alternative must be found by ordinary normal amerikans operating outside the accepted norms or fascism will become much more firmly rooted in their nation and getting rid of it will be a long and very bloody process.
These people who criticise former Dims voters and continually whine "what you think Trump will be better?" as if they are explaining some great and previously unknown truth aren’t just missing the point, they have incredibly short memories.
After 2016 when the DNC nomination for president totally failed to gain what should have been a simple win over Trump thanks to a combination of terrible strategy, a known to be disliked candidate and hubris of the most arrogant type, instead of doing the obvious, that is accepting Dims policies had become toxic to traditional dims voters, they did what they have done every time this happened previously. With exactly the same long term negative result. That is instead of acknowledging the large effect of the so-called 'Bernie Bros' by adopting some policies that advantaged ordinary working people, Tom Perez was installed as chair of the DNC and the party adopted policies damn close to those of the Rethugs. The chief difference twixt the two being that unlike trump, biden & co made no attempt to actually communicate with working class voters.
They were labouring under the delusion that these now former Dims voters "had nowhere else to go".
It was enough for genocide joe to get a marginal victory over the Rethugs thanks to extremely shallow deceits promoted in corporate media outlets that not only was trump under Russian influence, he was bent on destroying 'democracy'.
Inevitably the truth surfaced about Russiagate and genocide joe revealed himself to be the one who had the most deleterious effect on amerikan 'democracy' with his administration's determined attacks on freedom of speech.
Equally unfortunately exactly the same thing will happen again when genocide joe is thrashed in the 2024 prez beauty contest. That is instead of loudly advocating far more working class empathetic policies from both their minority pulpits in Congress, then following up on those policies after a success with the half term election in 2026, the Dims will continue to kiss corporate butt. It may even get worse than that. That will be if those fraudsters in the squad are given sufficient oxygen to promote the policies they never follow through on pre 2026 half terms, then revert back to bizness as usual once the Dims actually gain a majority.
This is exactly what has destroyed amerikans’ faith in their system of government yet have no doubt about another rinse and repeat. How else can a careerist pol get ahead? The greed & mendacity required to be granted the 'privilege' of a nomination by a DNC which sticks its nose into branch business with impunity virtually guarantees that all who hold a seat are corrupt.
I think this hits it all right on the head. The politicians all want to play the blame game while they fleece everyone. They want us all to be looking in the wrong direction as they gut the economy until there is nothing left. What will happen to the people in the once United States when there is nothing left but despair and hunger? Will there be food riots and others like it? As Trump has promised to federalize the state national guards to quell riots, how many people are willing to die in order to take back the government? Or will they? Maybe there will be some sporadic protests that the authorities will break up violently as a show of force, similar to the ill-fated Black Lives Movement and Americans will quickly learn to accept the new status quo. Will any of the working class be any better off? No. They will quickly learn that the GOP with Trump at the head will just make their lives worse. What Democrats that are left, will be in name only as they scurry to their holes in fear of their lives. This is the future of the United States within the next ten years.
I also see that we have been a corporate fascist country, increasingly serving the corporate military industrial/oil/wall street elite, for some time and in that light I have a question about both 2024 Presidential candidates, both old Senex men - one with an Icarus/Zeusian delusion of world power flying closer and closer to the Sun who clearly runs the risk of his brain being well fried, certainly by age 85; and the other already incoherent, certainly a felon, and now kept on a leash by his GOP handlers (Project 2025). It seems like they are both straw men or corporate lapdogs. My question is: what, if any, is the role/function of such a figurehead president in a fascist oligarchy/plutocracy and how long can that facade last? When we talk about "Trump" or "Biden", we talk as if they hold real power, as if they themselves were running this show. Even they think, or are encouraged to think, they are running this show. I don't know the antidote - third party? enough people waking up to how destructive capitalism has become? a creative solution waiting to be born? but I do fervently hope that this rogue ship and its allies, so destructive to our world and all of life, can still change course.
But does Chris actually talk to Trump voters? I know many and none of them are "Christian fascists, whatever that is." News flash: Trump is not a Christian, not an evangelical either. Most Trump voters are under no illusions about Trump. They know that he is vulgar, short attention span and getting old. But he speaks to the issues people care about, even if they know he probably wont solve them. At least he will make an effort to stop millions of migrants coming into the USA ( sorry Chris, ordinary Americans do not think this is a good idea, and they know who foots the bill for it, us). Trump voters are against the endless wars, because their kids or relatives are in the military. They see the hypocrisy of the democrats about Gaza, even if they are not pro Palestine, at least Trump voters are not pro genocide.
What we have now is pure FASCISM. Don’t understand your article….
There is no democrats or republicans. There is only them vs us. Because we don’t believe in killing, stepping over others, ignoring humanity, fight even when we are being terrorized, speak out no matter what, believe in a better future and honor those that see the truth like Arnold Bushnell. Genocide joe and lunatic trump can only push us to vote third party. We must go out and shout third party and stop the killing.
Disappointing to see Mr. Hedges throw the poorly-defined, fear-mongering, label of fascist at Trump. I would expect to read this kind of panicked pearl-clutching in the NY Times, or Washington Post, and am sorry to see it in my inbox.
You put "Deep State" in scare quotes as if it doesn't exist, as if there isn't a well-entrenched bureaucracy which carries out its own agenda independent of popular will. You also seem ignorant of the fact that media and every government institution from FBI to CIA to the Justice Dept. have been weaponized against Trump in his bid for reelection. Have you not been paying any attention to domestic politics, or has the mainstream media bias just wormed its way into your thinking?
I see your quotes reference Axios and the NY Times as sources, so it appears to clearly be the latter. Might I recommend paying more attention to independent liberal media voices such as Glenn Greenwald and less to the pro-war, pro-Israel mainstream media? It has clearly clouded your thinking.