The photos of the "crowds" at the tank parade remind me of when Bill Hicks would come on stage in an almost-empty club, scan the room slowly, and announce "I've had more people in bed than this" ...
When the president sends a cabinet member on TV to announce "We are using the military to liberate an American city from its elected leaders," where do you go from there. What is left to say. The idea of that being anything short of a near-universal "Wait, what the fuck is going on" moment proves how far we've backslid.
This is from 2022 but it was absolutely right. The practiced buffoonery of Trump 1, all the "just kiddings" and "seriously but not literallys" absolutely succeeded in desensitizing people who are hardly paying any attention to the harder stuff they always intended to do next. ...
The basic fallacy in chasing votes by being "tough on immigration" is that the modal American's position on the issue is "Deport the Bad ones and keep the Good ones," and they alone know who is which, and that simply does not translate into workable policy. So this kind of gestapo stuff horrifies some of the same people who cheered when Trump promised to do it. There are true sociopaths who love this, but "No, I meant only the BAD immigrants! Not my coworker/friend/neighbor!" is as likely a reaction as enthusiasm. You cannot do immigration policy that satisfies these people because what they want is nonsensical.
So by the time center-left parties fully commit to chasing the far right by "getting tough" on immigration, the backlash has already begun to build and they walk right into it. "I thought you people wanted this!" No, they want something impossible and convinced themselves they'd could have it - the "eat whatever you want AND lose weight!" of immigration policies.
It is hard to grasp but large masses of Americans are both racist/xenophobic AND not racist/xenophobic enough to applaud what Trump is doing. It's goldilocks shit, they want a level of racism/xenophobia calibrated exactly to their personal preferences, and you just can't make that policy. Don't try. ...
AP: Trump extends olive branch, invites Musk to White House cellar to taste some brand new amontillado ...
Erin says:
im prety shr evr1 will b hear wen u get bak lol ZOMG!!!!!1111!!!
/shoots self
//gets another booze-type drink
Desargues says:
Don't forget to drink a pint of water before you go to bed. I think it eases the pain when you wake up.
JohnR says:
"As much as it pains me to blow off a day of writing,.."
probably not as much as it would pain you to try to generate something coherent. Well, the pleasure of the moment outweighs the agony of the future. Who was it that said the best cure for hangovers was simply never to sober up?
ladiesbane says:
Louis Jordan said: "What's the use of gettin' sober / When you're going to get drunk again?"
Amigo, take a week if you need it. We'll all still be here when you get back, like it or not.
j says:
Merry Christmas, Ed!
Danny says:
Merry Christmas, Ed
Have fun
jazzbumpa says:
I was out past midnight myself, listening to some GREAT big band music (and even playing a little.) (Not to mention imbibing some damned fine Michigan IPA.)
So, I will grant you a full dispensation.
Yeah, like that matters.
Cheers!
JzB the stayed-out-late trombonist
OldDrew says:
One question: were gin and/or tacos consumed at said reunion?
Ike says:
I've said it before and I'll say it again; I miss the Gin reviews!!
j says:
Oh, is Erik there too?