but if all we're capable of is embodied in tRump and his merry band of deplorables, maybe we should be over. I was walking through Trafalgar Square in London with my very wise cousin several years ago. It was night, and the crowds of people were smiling, laughing, and seeming to have a grand old time. I wondered out loud why they were so carefree and happy, and my cousin said, "They've laid down the burden of empire. They're free to pursue their own happiness now, without having to worry about holding on to far away places." (Not an exact quote, of course.) I understood at once what she meant. Isn't it possible that Americans, too, could be happier and more content apart than together? Just a thought.

And to answer your question, no, I haven't tried to convince anyone of this possibility. I don't share your "gut feeling" capabilities. My predictions are hardly ever 100% correct.

I think this is big. Much bigger than we all know. So many sectors of govt, business & financial...BIG OIL. And if they blew the top off of everything, it could have major effects on our economy. If you recall HSBC's money laundering, they got a slap on the hand because they were worried it would rock the economy during a delicate time in the housing recovery. Throw in a bunch of financial institutions and it is a delicate balance.

There are so many people that are not paying attention. You essentially have to dig deep to notice the authoritarian theme & the monetizing of our govt. Mainstream hasn't used the word coup or authoritarian, or right wing conspiracy - basically because they don't want to look like Alex Jones or Fox news for the left. Which is unfortunate but absolutely understandable. They have to remain credible with proof. But I am glad that finally some pundits on the left are using those words on msm. It needs to be said. The sanctions thing was the huge red flag that confirmed that Putin has his hands in this administration.

I'm not a really religious person, but I do say a prayer every day to get the country through this hell semi-intact. And that Mueller succeeds in putting everyone involved behind bars. But it will take a lot of work to put the pieces back together. Certain bells can't be unrung. Like environmental dmg from this admin. It will take a lot of money to fix that. Which is why the longer this goes on, the worse that will be.

I think our checks and balances now are We the People. Marches and economic boycotts. And checks and balances of other countries. You can only get away with being a fascist dictator for oh so long before other countries start sanctioning US. We are a global economy after all, and as much as this administration wants our country to be cloistered, it doesn't work for their monetizing scheme. Nope.

We were sleep walking through the last few decades while right wing media skull fucked the brains of 2/3 of the country senseless, we reached the tipping point when one of our two major parties nominated a cut rate dictator as it's nominee for POTUS

who rush to surrender whenever they get anxious, we'd still be pulling our forelocks and stepping into the gutters when our betters approached.

OBVIOUSLY, it did not. Which invites the question, does it now? Will they still, and always, mostly just be swept along willy-nilly by civilization's advances?

It's where we are now ...

Been a shift in the last month. Our checks and balances are failing. I am trying to stay positive.
You are correct most people don't know and some don't care, because they can't see the big picture until it affects them personally and unfortunately it eventually will.

Like most people in this country are just whistling past the graveyard. Too many Americans believe that we are invincible. I don't believe that is true. I don't see a positive outcome no matter what happens.

wait for the SS and the Gestapo.

Falling for this sort dystopian thought becomes self-fulfilling prophecy and it makes me sick to read it. What is your goals in posting this vision, anyways? I'm voting and all your post seems intent on doing is to suppress voting. Believing this negativity and spreading it makes more Trumps possible.

debate, and they are not open to your rude interpretation.

Civility is not all that difficult.

However you feel, I find "we're all doomed" rants to be tiring.

So while I appreciate your suggestion, it is not needed.

We know our country has lost power. I grieve for loss of democracy and loss of chance for equality ( we were never equal). Right wingers grieve for loss of power and their own status. We all grieve for loss of economic strength per person and per family.

After our fall from world power we will, nonetheless, persevere as a co-equal country among equal countries. Our true potential will be unlocked once we stop pouring our wealth into the war machine which serves us only to preserve and expand our empire.

Imagine what we could do if we channeled our wealth into the betterment of the planet as a country among equal countries and not a military superpower.

There might still be hope for us.

Entirely.

There has been a shift this last week. We were headed this direction, but now the trajectory is almost locked into place.

We were doing well enough until the Republicans pretty much ALL caved and totally capitulated to Trump. Our 3 branches of government were more or less putting along. I was as euphoric when the Russian sanctions bill passed over Trump's objections as when any court said NO to Trump. But, as we all know, the Republicons are no longer honoring and upholding their oaths of office.

The enormous corruption on the part of the Republicans on this Nunes memo -- making up so many lies about our premier law enforcement agency -- is quite bad enough, but as you point out, too many people don't have a clue what's going on. And that makes things all the worse. But this (see below) from Twitter absolutely sent me into a tailspin last night when I read it because it isn't just corrosive, it isn't just false, it's the worst kind of all-out propaganda: It threatens someone's life and liberty. My God, what are we going to do?

I'm at the point of blaming the MSM now too. They have done a dismal job of keeping the public informed, so if and when Mueller comes out with what we hope he will -- too many people will be completely disbelieving.

The other piece that is TOTALLY against us, the upcoming elections. The higher the stakes -- and I can hardly imagine them being any higher -- the more likely Russia will just pre-empt them. I worry that high turnout won't be enough. And Trump & Pence have already started laying the foundation for a win for them to appear normal. After all, "the polls were wrong in 2016" too.

I don't like to be pessimistic, but I don't see any way out of this if we don't win in November, and I am very worried about whether we can pull it off without paper ballots (I'll make a separate post about that). Thank God there's no electoral college to worry about.


Fox's Greg Jarrett launches new smear against Rosenstein to try to help Trump https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210183331
Jarrett hadn't tweeted for a month. His last tweets were slamming the Wolff book's report that Bannon had said Trump Jr meeting with Russians at Trump Tower was treasonous.
And now these tweets, this morning:

- Gregg Jarrett @GreggJarrett

Link to tweet

Abuse of power continues still at the Department of Justice. As I reported last night on Hannity, a highly reliable congressional source tells me that 3 weeks ago, on January 10, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein used the power of his office to threaten Members of Congress.

Link to tweet

- In a meeting with Chairman Devin Nunes, FBI Director Christopher Wray and others, the source says that Rosenstein threatened to subpoena the texts and emails of Congress because he was”tired of dealing with the Intelligence Committee.” If true, Rosenstein must resign or be fired
7:11 AM - Feb 3, 2018

Link to tweet

- It is a crime for a government official to use his office to threaten anyone, including a member of Congress, for exercising a constitutionally protected right. See 18 USC 242 and other similar abuse of power statutes.
7:18 AM - Feb 3, 2018

Link to tweet

- Nunes was exercising his constitutional oversight authority by investigating alleged wrongdoing in the FBI and DOJ. Rosenstein, according to the source, threatened to use his power to retaliate against Nunes and others in an effort to intimidate them and stop their legal efforts
7:25 AM - Feb 3, 2018

Link to tweet

- Again, if true, Rosenstein’s action was an illegal abuse of power and he should no longer serve as Deputy Attorney General. He allegedly used threats to try to stop the Intelligence Committee from exposing wrongful behavior in an attempt to cover it up.
7:33 AM - Feb 3, 2018

Link to tweet

What's left of it has been annexed by Canada, Mexico, and the Devil.

The Canadian and Mexican states are not bad places to live.

The Devil's states are hell on Earth. They've built a wall around their nation, not to keep people out, but to keep people in.

but not unexpected. Hi Skittles

And I can't recall what happens to the protagonist at the end of the novel.

the same.

are of them. Get out the vote and let that be you meme


And I wish you would stop posting that shit here. It is telling that you think you need to convince other people to be as down as you are.

The fact that you call my post "shit" because you disagree with me.

You are working against our democracy and what you post has no place here. Trying to undermine turnout is going against Democratic Underground principals.

I like to first slay people with a quick "wtf", and then finish them off with a surprise "lol".

I'm having some nice hot tea.

around the earth. Okay. There is no convincing. Anything you say will only be cathartic and only for your benefit. Use your energy as you will.

Personally, I'm just waiting.

I am always amazed at how resilient people have been throughout history.