Billionaires versus the Rest of Us

So, I'm an armchair geopolitical strategist and all. Maybe World War 3 is actually already on? And it doesn't look like the other world wars, and it's not really between nations, but between nationalized authoritarian groups versus the rest of the people in each nation. Democracy vs. Fascism worldwide; but it's not a "hot war" in that many places (Ukraine is one). This version of WW3 is mostly huge business and bought governments, against their own people, in information spaces. Yes the ballot is part of it too. Basically billionaires versus the rest of us, worldwide.

Frail White Dotard Stuggles to Disrobe

Wow. Just wow. In case you need a reminder that "there is no bottom" with these MAGAt-types, you can check out the coverage of the unbelievably racist "comedian" at El Drumpfo's rally last night at NYC's Madison Square Garden. Previously I had never heard of this so-called "comedian," who is obviously a complete chode, and whose name does not merit mention. Now I wish I never had. These people are . . . I mean you know it's bad when even GOP Senators are Tweeting out "this does not reflect GOP values." Except yes it does. Yes it does a lot.

El Drumpfo very likely "October surprised himself," with this Nazi-palooza, so I guess theoretically there could be an upside-?! Still, no doubt, to all of these knuckle-dragging magat neanderthals, "Liberals are mad, so it was a great rally."

I found some levity in well-past his sell-by-date Hulk Hogan trying so very hard to do the "rip the shirt off" shtick he has been doing since the '80's, which is about the last decade in which he was relevant. If there's a better metaphor for El Drumpfo's 2024 campaign than an older white guy trying and failing to do something he used to be able to accomplish, please send it my way.

These are stressful times. But I suspect there will be some laughs along the way, as the election concludes. Remember Giuliani's glory-soaked appearance at "the Four Seasons" in the aftermath of Election 2020? Golden.

I guess no one told El Drumpfo there are about half-a-million Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania. These jagbags always clap the loudest, when their team scores an own-goal. I'm serious. The thing that got me the most about Giuliani's appearance at the "Four Seasons . . . . . . Landscaping Company" in Philadelphia back in 2020, was that when I went to a conservative website - there was a huge front page article about how SUCCESSFUL it was, how forceful and full of piss-and-vinegar Giuliani was that day, even as the media (finally) called the election for Biden, and he was live on camera reacting. Yes, their heads really are that far up their own asses.

Consequences for Giuliani

Oh hey!

The judge overseeing Ruby Freeman's and Shaye Moss' defamation damages and Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy has moved them through the final phase, to the "a bunch of Rudy Giuliani's most expensive assets are now theirs" part. This is including a Manhattan penthouse, a 1980 Mercedes Benz SL500, and a treasure trove of expensive sports memorabilia. #Consequences Rudy. If you don't know the story, Giuliani used his role as El Drumpfo's mouthpiece after Election 2020, to push a ridiculous, now thoroughly-debunked idea that Moss and Freeman somehow messed with the vote count in Georgia that year. When he did that, Ell Drumpfo's orc-people followers harassed them, sent them into hiding, and ruined their lives entirely. Now Rudy Colludy owes them $150,000,000.00, and he ain't got the cash. HAND IT OVER A-HOLE! And fix that stuff dripping down your face!

I Struggle With So-Called AI But it DID Allow Me to Create This

This Great Article About the Hidden Privileges of Trumpism Nails It

Trump's 'respectable' voters lie about his plans (and crimes) to dodge accountability for supporting those things

How fascism rises: Trump voters who claim he won't act on his violent promises aren't gullible. They're just lying to deflect from their support for those things.

Hunter Lazzaro at my new favorite website, UnchartedBlue.com

October 15, 2024 . 9:37 AM 10 min read

. . . What is more likely? That Trump's better-heeled supporters think he is just blowing smoke when he calls, over and over, for retributions and violence against his political opponents, against protesters, and against migrants? Or is it that they know full well he means all those things, and they like those things, and they want him to do those things—but also know that there would be serious social repercussions for saying that out loud?

The fabulously wealthy people who support Trump know what they're getting; they're not confused over it. From Silicon Valley cryptolords to the stalwart far-right backers of the Heritage Foundation and other think tanks, they want deregulation and they don't want to pay taxes—and they don't give a flying damn what happens to the rest of the country, so long as they get it.

And the not necessarily wealthy but still well-heeled Trump supporters that brush off Trump's promised and actual inflicted violence are not all innocent gullibles either; these were the sort of people who participated in Trump's Jan. 6, 2021 coup attempt, standing just behind the militia members who attacked police officers in order to allow the rest of the crowd to walk through the barricades and into the closed Capitol.

The whole article reminds me of the bizarre, surreal, unforgettable video I saw within a day or two of the insurrection on 1/6/21. The video was taken during the evening of 1.6, as things had quieted down, BEFORE Pelosi, Schumer and Pence decided to get on with the proceeding and finalize the election that night - the most consequential and critical decision of the whole debacle in my opinion, and one which I will forever credit Pelosi, Schumer, and even Pence for landing on. In the video, were hundreds of magats thronging the atrium, bar and lounge of a posh DC hotel, sharing drinks, having meals, and all a-hubbub about their big day in the Capitol. It was a sea of red hats and El Drumpfo merch, with a great many of them glued to their cell phones. SEVERAL times since then, I have tried to find the video, but it's gone down the e-hole. I really wish I could show it to you here.

At any rate, the main thing is that these people thought they were going to start a revolution, then go out for appetizers and a few drinks at the hotel afterward. As bizarre as that footage is, in a way it was reassuring. These aren't desperate rebels with nothing to lose. THEY'RE COS-PLAYING, and because they're predominantly white and privileged, many of them will get away with it. The moment anti-fascist forces, whether government-aligned or more homegrown, start really shooting back, let's just say uhhh . . . engagement in the MAGA movement is going to drop.

You Probably Didn't Hear . . . .

. . . that:

Holy Shit! Just This Week, El Drumpfo Called A 2020 Attack On U.S. Soldiers "A Very Nice Thing."

El Drumpfo was responding to a reporter's question in Milwaukee just a couple of days ago, and the exchange went like this:

Reporter: “do you believe that you should have been tougher on Iran after they had launched ballistic missiles in 2020 on US forces in Iraq, leaving more than a hundred US soldiers injured?” . . .

El Drumpfo: . . . they had to do that, and I thought it was a very nice thing.”

Ahem, excuse me,

Let me be clear. The Former President of the United States . . . who is running for re-election RIGHT NOW. . . stated that an Iranian missile attack on American soldiers was: "a very nice thing." In the same rambling, incoherent presser, he ALSO suggested that injuries 100+ U.S. soldiers experienced were mere "headaches."

WTAF??????????

This happened in the last 72 hours. So, here's my question . . . why are you hearing this just now, from me?

The traditional legacy media is so, so, dead - deceased, buried, with its ashes scattered to the far ends of the Earth. Guy wants to be President, but he calls an attack on his own soldiers "a very nice thing." Like, I get it . . . I know we live in crazy times. But how is this NOT news?

Dishwashers, Materialism, and the State of Things

I'm not sure what this says about me.

At 47, I just bought my first dishwashing machine.

First one I've owned.

First one I've had, in my home,

. . . as an adult.

Not sure what this says about me,

other'n that I've never had a dishwashing machine, as an adult.

Now, I try real hard not to put too much stock

into material things.

But I guess I can admit

that I am happy to have a dishwasher in my home,

which is NOT named "Rightie," or "Lefty."

I am not sure what that says about me.