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 ...
schalliol says:
I work in this building (on the North side). When I drove by as I was leaving work just after 5 PM, I'd say there were a hundred folks there or so, perhaps a bit more. My count could clearly be off as I drove by. I know there were some folks there just to see what was going on.
RT says:
Please tell me you noticed the patriot costume guys use of "Alot" on what i can only imagine was his twentieth attempt to make a sign without any spelling/grammatical errors
Andy says:
OMG…you are like so right. There could not possibly be more than 100 people there. I mean they were walking around the courthouse 3 to 5 wide and made a continuous circle with no break. Seriously, I know how to count and there had to be 100 people. And OMG…did you see how they spelled?…like there was one dude that called Obama "BO"…like everyone knows that is his dog's name and not his name…and some people had an N in front of Obama…sheesh…I mean, I am important cause I go to a rally and make fun of all the spelling mistakes I can find…I mean take notice of me, I am important…Really, have you seen my picture?…I am not a very good looking fella, but boy do I know how to go to a rally and find signs that are spelled wrong…LOOK OUT WORLD…I HAVE ARRIVED!!
cicely says:
"Perhaps" is such a lovely, ambiguous word….
Schultzenhaben says:
Contrary to what Andy says, you are a good looking fella, Ed.
Jeremy says:
Don't feed the trolls….
gizmo says:
I'd guess that 99% of the Teabaggers make less than $250,000 a year, which means that they will be getting a nice tax break from Obama and the Democrats.
Go figure….
comrade x says:
Well, the signs were amusing, but I'm having more fun with the tax protester version of where's Waldo… Find the guy who isn't white, under 30, and has less than 3 chins.
Raul says:
You guys don't get it do you. YOu ignorant fucks. I hope there is enough piano wire left for you too!
jkg…of course another right wing rant
Craig says:
Let's simulate the Boton tea party because like them we have to pay taxes. Granted they didn't have any government representation and we do but that's not a big difference is it?
Next year lets rusty trombone the Whitehouse.
T says:
Hilarious!