The Dictator observations thread.
- Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/0 ... -dead.html
A good point made that the paranoid fantasies that drove the "family values" movement—that sinister government forces would swoop in and separate and destroy families—has actually come to pass. But because it's not happening to them—chiefly white evangelicals—they're cool with it. Suggesting, again and as always, non-whites aren't considered actually human in their eyes.
A good point made that the paranoid fantasies that drove the "family values" movement—that sinister government forces would swoop in and separate and destroy families—has actually come to pass. But because it's not happening to them—chiefly white evangelicals—they're cool with it. Suggesting, again and as always, non-whites aren't considered actually human in their eyes.
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- WestwayKid
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
I think we're so desperate for anyone who even seemingly 1) stands up to Trump and/or 2) makes him look like the fool he is...
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Silent Majority
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
His position and interests will always make him Trump's ally.WestwayKid wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:07amI think we're so desperate for anyone who even seemingly 1) stands up to Trump and/or 2) makes him look like the fool he is...
- Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
Assuming there's only two sides in play and one is the working class. But on many issues, Trump is no ally of the neoliberals. His protectionism and overt group-based politics runs contrary to the neoliberal worldview. Its America's influence that other leaders have to play footsy with.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:22amHis position and interests will always make him Trump's ally.WestwayKid wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:07amI think we're so desperate for anyone who even seemingly 1) stands up to Trump and/or 2) makes him look like the fool he is...
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Silent Majority
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
It's more the allyship of a playground bully with a hypocrite who wants them onside.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:42amAssuming there's only two sides in play and one is the working class. But on many issues, Trump is no ally of the neoliberals. His protectionism and overt group-based politics runs contrary to the neoliberal worldview. Its America's influence that other leaders have to play footsy with.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:22amHis position and interests will always make him Trump's ally.WestwayKid wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:07amI think we're so desperate for anyone who even seemingly 1) stands up to Trump and/or 2) makes him look like the fool he is...
- Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
I don't disagree with your assessment, but I wouldn't call that being an ally. Alliance with America—the state and economy—but not Trump and what he represents.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 10:04amIt's more the allyship of a playground bully with a hypocrite who wants them onside.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:42amAssuming there's only two sides in play and one is the working class. But on many issues, Trump is no ally of the neoliberals. His protectionism and overt group-based politics runs contrary to the neoliberal worldview. Its America's influence that other leaders have to play footsy with.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:22amHis position and interests will always make him Trump's ally.WestwayKid wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:07amI think we're so desperate for anyone who even seemingly 1) stands up to Trump and/or 2) makes him look like the fool he is...
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Silent Majority
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
I'm not trying to score points or be clever when I ask what the difference is at this point?Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 11:16amI don't disagree with your assessment, but I wouldn't call that being an ally. Alliance with America—the state and economy—but not Trump and what he represents.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 10:04amIt's more the allyship of a playground bully with a hypocrite who wants them onside.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:42amAssuming there's only two sides in play and one is the working class. But on many issues, Trump is no ally of the neoliberals. His protectionism and overt group-based politics runs contrary to the neoliberal worldview. Its America's influence that other leaders have to play footsy with.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:22amHis position and interests will always make him Trump's ally.WestwayKid wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:07am
I think we're so desperate for anyone who even seemingly 1) stands up to Trump and/or 2) makes him look like the fool he is...
- Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
That until Trump and for the past, say, seventy years, America has played the international game as one of having shared interests with, chiefly western Europe. Whether that was the welfare state/anti-Communist consensus or neoliberalism, there was basic agreement, even if Europe often grumbled about America's prerogative. Trump is distinctly different in his unilateralism and rejection of core neoliberal/globalization principles (free trade, erosion of national borders). France et al want neoliberal America back. They see the "real" America—the civil service, big business, greater American character—as true to that neoliberalism and Trump a perversion or deviance. It's hard to see that as a desire to ally with Trump, but they do desire to reforge the alliance with America under the old settled terms because America is still significant enough to fuck up the greater free trade structures.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 11:59amI'm not trying to score points or be clever when I ask what the difference is at this point?Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 11:16amI don't disagree with your assessment, but I wouldn't call that being an ally. Alliance with America—the state and economy—but not Trump and what he represents.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 10:04amIt's more the allyship of a playground bully with a hypocrite who wants them onside.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:42amAssuming there's only two sides in play and one is the working class. But on many issues, Trump is no ally of the neoliberals. His protectionism and overt group-based politics runs contrary to the neoliberal worldview. Its America's influence that other leaders have to play footsy with.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:22am
His position and interests will always make him Trump's ally.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Silent Majority
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
Short of some magnificent change, I think we're more likely to see the Macrons and Merkels replaced with a xenophobic authoritarian* than get someone in the White House who will make for any meaningful rollback of Trump's policies. The international brotherhood of neoliberals may not like what the President is doing at home and abroad, but they'll go along with it with McCain-esque unhappy noises because they'll always wet their pants in awe of power. Ally is maybe too strong a word but they're much closer to that than foe.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 12:11pmThat until Trump and for the past, say, seventy years, America has played the international game as one of having shared interests with, chiefly western Europe. Whether that was the welfare state/anti-Communist consensus or neoliberalism, there was basic agreement, even if Europe often grumbled about America's prerogative. Trump is distinctly different in his unilateralism and rejection of core neoliberal/globalization principles (free trade, erosion of national borders). France et al want neoliberal America back. They see the "real" America—the civil service, big business, greater American character—as true to that neoliberalism and Trump a perversion or deviance. It's hard to see that as a desire to ally with Trump, but they do desire to reforge the alliance with America under the old settled terms because America is still significant enough to fuck up the greater free trade structures.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 11:59amI'm not trying to score points or be clever when I ask what the difference is at this point?Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 11:16amI don't disagree with your assessment, but I wouldn't call that being an ally. Alliance with America—the state and economy—but not Trump and what he represents.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 10:04amIt's more the allyship of a playground bully with a hypocrite who wants them onside.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 7:42am
Assuming there's only two sides in play and one is the working class. But on many issues, Trump is no ally of the neoliberals. His protectionism and overt group-based politics runs contrary to the neoliberal worldview. Its America's influence that other leaders have to play footsy with.
*May has the xenophobes zipped up in the UK since UKIP simultaneously had its greated success and farted itself into irrelevancy with Brexit. She'll be replaced with either an elitist landowning Tory or Corbyn's pasteurized socialism.
Last edited by Silent Majority on 21 Jun 2018, 12:46pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: The Dictator observations thread.
I just think Macron is a pompous, egotistical prick who only cares about business people. Also racist.
I feel that there is a fascistic element, for example, in the Rolling Stones . . .
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I've studied the phenomenon of neo-provincialism in self-isolating online communities but this place takes the fucking cake.
— Clashy
— Morton Feldman
I've studied the phenomenon of neo-provincialism in self-isolating online communities but this place takes the fucking cake.
— Clashy
Re: The Dictator observations thread.
Not a Merkel fan either, but her personality at least isn't as abrasive as Macron's.
I feel that there is a fascistic element, for example, in the Rolling Stones . . .
— Morton Feldman
I've studied the phenomenon of neo-provincialism in self-isolating online communities but this place takes the fucking cake.
— Clashy
— Morton Feldman
I've studied the phenomenon of neo-provincialism in self-isolating online communities but this place takes the fucking cake.
— Clashy
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Silent Majority
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
She 's got an air of measured competency that she's maintained (at least ausland) for fifteen years, so she isn't as actively irritating as Manu.
- Flex
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
Merkel usually strikes me as probably the best the neoliberal consensus can do. Like, if you're invested in the economic and political ordering of the last 20-30 years, you point to her as the cream of the crop. Which I largely take as an indictment of said consensus, but there are some obviously worse alternatives.
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- Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
Oh, certainly. Brexit and Trump signaled a rejection of neoliberalism, which was already crumbling. What comes next is something more fascist or more social democratic. I ain't optimistic which way things will turn, even if the younger generations are more open to the latter. But the days of asserting the free market can and will solve all our problems—Thatcher's "there is no alternative"—is in eclipse.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Jun 2018, 12:43pmShort of some magnificent change, I think we're more likely to see the Macrons and Merkels replaced with a xenophobic authoritarian* than get someone in the White House who will make for any meaningful rollback of Trump's policies. The international brotherhood of neoliberals may not like what the President is doing at home and abroad, but they'll go along with it with McCain-esque unhappy noises because they'll always wet their pants in awe of power. Ally is maybe too strong a word but they're much closer to that than foe.
*May has the xenophobes zipped up in the UK since UKIP simultaneously had its greated success and farted itself into irrelevancy with Brexit. She'll be replaced with either an elitist landowning Tory or Corbyn's pasteurized socialism.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
- Dr. Medulla
- Atheistic Epileptic
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.
"Power is the ultimate diuretic." - Kissinger's less widely known observation about influence
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft