Monarch of the Fen

Who will lead Republicans deeper into the swamp? We know there's worse. There's always worse. Until we're all there with them, I suppose. And dead. Everybody in a shithole. Or buried in a grave. We won't ask, what then?, then. We'll know. It will be over.

Over and done. They won't be satisfied until everything is destroyed.

Don't ask why. There is no why. Only a drive to reduce everything to shit. And the lowest of human traits, survival. Where there's nowhere further to fall. Maybe because everyone's dead. Then they'll be happy, if that's what you call it. It's too sick to understand. 

They need a leader, a monarch of the fen. A lord of the bog. Candidates are waiting in line.

The Law of Disorder

What does if mean when a 'conservative' party becomes the party of disorder? Has it abandoned its principles? Or, revealed the lie at its essence? There isn't any thinking if it's only a quest for power. 

I say conservatism is flawed in its essence because it divides people. Worse, it divides them arbitrarily, not basing it on behaviors. I say conservatism is innnately and irreducibly racist. Take that, assholes. 

Fucking People Over for Fifty Years

I'm concerned that a major milestone has been missed. Republicans have been working hard to fuck up and fuck over the American people for fifty years. And they've succeeded. 

No anniversary celebration was held. I think because no specific date, even by year, is tied to the birth of the program. There's no 9/11, 1/6 or 1776. But there was this . . .

The Emerging Republican Majority

Kevin Phillips, a culture warrior of a type we would see more of, spotted an opportunity. That a minority of well-connected white men could rule by deceit and manipulation. 

By going low.

They could exploit the Wallace vote. Play the race card in the South. In the code language already in use and deployed by Goldwater and others. Use cultural issues as a wedge.

Pat Buchanan, another Nixon aide of big arrogance and drive but small character, also pioneered dividing the country to win. Since they couldn't win fair and square.

They would cheat. 

And they did a hell of a job of it. They destroyed the country's soul. I only want to see this recognized and acknowledged. Surely they are proud. It has been a huge accomplishment.

This American Lie

Where to begin. Lying isn't something Americans do -- an activity -- but a state of being. America was founded on lies. I say that and yet I'm sympathetic. In no other way could America have come into existence. The founding documents were undoubtedly aspirational. This is good and bad.

The aspirations were good but it meant we were hypocrites. And instead of living up to the aspirations we got stuck in the hypocrisy. Some of the country did, anyway. And how. That would be the south, which went Orwellian. Slavery became freedom. Constraint opportunity. As in, 'right to work.'

Right became wrong. Desegregation set off a reckoning. Look at where we are now. Try to step back. We are the Confederacy. A nation of lies. Of bullshit. Of denial and compensatory attitudes of superiority, but with classism and racist recriminations. 'No, we're not the bad guys.' Well, hell yes you are. 

The denial applies to the southerners and their allies within the country. And the country as a whole in its place. 'One nation under God.' What god would that be? The one that is raping the world for its resources? That blew up the Middle East for oil, profiteering and lies? The one that elected Trump? 

Orwell Is in the House

Orwell has arrived. Doublespeak rules in McCarthy's governmental domain. We've achieved liftoff from the reality land. Republicans hover above it in the ether. They're past rationality and reason. They have inspiration, revelation and insight. From the unholy spirit. Fuck everything else.

And us, while we're at it. 

A Path for Putin

Putin can be forgiven for thinking he could get away with murder. He has a model. George Bush lied his country into a war. He then botched the administration of it so badly there's no telling how it might have turned out differently. Call it shitzkrieg.

A mess of a war begun because a single tyrannical idiot with personality issues and his head up his ass wanted it. Now Bush paints portraits of soldiers he got maimed and enjoys elder statesman status. Why not Putin? But he must give up his position. 

Bail, man. Get out.

Allow an honest election. And, if you somehow win, since people are inestimably stupid, declare defeat and move on. To retirement and a dacha and an occasional appearance as an analyst on Fox News or interviewee, rubbing elbows with nitwits. 

Because America has led on a lack of accountability in the modern era. An age of nukes and mechanized, indiscriminate and sometimes remote slaughter. And mercenaries. Putin was following an example. Excuse him for thinking those standards applied. 

Democrats can tell you. There are different sets of rules for different sets of people. Haul your ass out of their, Vlad, and hope for the best. Extradition is a motherfucker but there's little chance of that so enjoy what's left of mother Russia. 

While you can. 

Play-Doh's Republic

Think of Plato's ideal state. I'm not convinced it was his ideal but no matter. It involved specialization and a division of duties. In that way, hypothetically, the system would run more smoothly and efficiently. 

But, in the same way the same insights could be used to promote evil. Why not? And bigots seem to be more motivated than decent people. They have the drive. Voilà, we have modern Republicanism. 

A philosopher class of cunning bigots, allied with priests who ritualize insanity, make the abnormal seem normal and inculcate hate. A class of enforcers, and then a pliable class of workers or producers.

It all runs so beautifully. And it's completely corrupt. Because philosopher kings have to be chosen by someone. So they choose themselves, reverse engineering the justification. In other words, fatalism. 

They deem it inevitable and justice that they should have come out on top. And only right that the producers support them. They call themselves producers, as a ploy, though they don't produce anything.

They are not producers, by definition. In this version they are the opposite of philosophers. They are a privileged class. In reality, if they facilitate anything other than the common good they should be deposed. 

And possibly shot. We ended up with fatass, worthless, white pieces of shit like Karl Rove, Newt Gingrich, Jack Abramoff and Phil Gramm determining everything. The worst possible people. 

The pasty people are our philosopher kings. And our 'civilization' is a garbage dump of waste, excess and injustice. I predict it will fall. And, as always happens, innocent people will suffer the most. 

Love Hate Relationship

Republicans love to hate. They're addicted to it. And they're counting on Democrats to block their insane policies so they can have it both ways. They can cultivate their crazy without blowing up the country and causing everyone to see what liars and charlatans they are.

Pachydermatitis

Elephants are wonderful animals. And Republicans are pieces of shit. It's a sad association. 

Devolution Fun Fest

George Bush was the love child of the rednecks and the bluebloods. Rich as shit, dumb as a board and completely without a conscience. Notice the lack of a conscience was the original common ground. 

They get a pass because they're rich or stupid, not that it makes any sense. But that's the thing. How a lack of consequences makes no sense, as though it violates a law of thermodynamics or ethics or something. 

So they argue for nonsense. Lunacy. They want a lock-in on impunity and they get that through lunacy. They're attacking intelligibility, asserting the world is just nuts so they can run riot and plunder.

That's where we are now, rich people and religious fanatics in a reciprocal mating frenzy, interbreeding like crazy all fucking one another, idea-wise, producing new generations of suicidal insanity at a clip. 

Going South

Conservatives are so confusing. They seem to want to suppress everything Mexican but then they want their tax system, which is regressive as hell. Very high sales taxes and almost nothing on everything else. 

Hecho in America

We're heading for a different country. More colorful and inclusive. More Mediterranean, I would say. But it might be a blown-up country. Somewhat disabled. Because some idiot bigoted white people would rather blow it up than see it change. But they can't stop it. So fuck them. 

Nervana

Here's a dilemma. Republicans make me worry my ass off. Because I have a moral sense and center. But they are in the business of fucking things up. 

I don't want to quell or incapacitate my moral center. But I'm worn out on being worried and upset all the time. In fact, it's what they want, to get our goat.

They want to outrage and irritate us most of all. Their immoral imperative, fucking things up, brings everything into harmony with their interior state.

Their interior state of hate and disharmony, Tell me that isn't fucked up. It's a circle thing. Fuckedupness breeding fuckedupness breeding fuckedupness. 

And we're caught in the middle of it. 

Graham is Crackers

Life is lived at the margins. Solvency is having income higher than outgo. Insolvency the reverse, by however little. So it is with moral insolvency. 

Lindsey plays catch-up with the crazy. His history is of characterless ambition and vacillation, as much as jello can vacillate. But he isn't as nuts as the new crop. On average. 

What's a boy to do? He has to overshooot to stay in the game. But how do you overshoot insanity? At some point it's only insanity and unquantifiable.

You're on the wrong side of the line, son. Graham has a dilemma. He can't compete with cradle crazy. So he aims for elder status. To be respected as an elder anti-statesman.

A pioneer. Destroyer emeritus, honorarily degreed. A festering turd in good standing. A member of the lodge and grand dragon. Kind of jowly for a dragon, though.

The Varieties of Litigious Experience

Black people can be stalked and shot without consequence. To their killers. The consequences are huge for black people. The crooks of banking and finance are unstoppable. 

Equality before the law isn't even in the cards anymore. Maybe it never was. The less guaranteed it is by the system the more inequality is upheld by improvisations and fixes. 

And it's creeping back into the system. Not as formal apartheid, as before, but by class. Yes, America is becoming a class society. Different rules for different social strata. 

The fix is in. 

Patience, Grasshopper

Rome wasn't wrecked in a day. Republicans are so impatient to destroy their country. And they are so close. But the system is resilient and generations of citizens led relatively responsible and productive lives, making America, if an island of astonishing vanity, still strong in its institutions and infrastructure. 

Take heart. Look at all you've already destroyed. My God, goons sacked the Capitol. Wall Street tried to destroy the world economy, yet again, and is still not properly regulated. The plunder continues apace. Apocalypse-craving religious fanatics are forcing their standards down the throats of everyone. 

There's so much to applaud. If you're a Hun and marauder. Maraud away, sons of Satan. And look back on your accomplishments with sadistic glee. Your time has come. An age of unreason, persecution, ill-will, astounding wealth inequality and greedy nutcases running everything. Together with religious fanatics.

Arbeit Macht Frei but Not for Me

Republicans are in control of something again. Screw the little guy is back. But it never really left. Punitive policies will again be proposed. And they haven't had a presidential candidate since Dole who wasn't a product of privilege. 

Love Child

So, so many possible turning points on the road to insurrection, now that we look back. I would say the ascension of Bush, the love child of the bluebloods and the rednecks, and his re-election sealed our fate. America chose denial, which had happened before. 

But this time it was fatal. Ignorance and impunity are a bad combination. Add belligerence and you're fucked. Corruption has caught up with America.

Speaker Thanks Criminal

Speaker Kevin McCarthy, freshly mined from QAnon ore like the least stable bitcoin ever, effusively thanked the treasonous former president who's spewing hate while holed up at Lair-a-Lago fearing an arrest warrant. Meanwhile, national disgrace Matt Gaetz gloated over the influence he won by blackmail. And by being a monumental dick even by awful Republican standards. 

He enjoyed every minute. As always Republicans will not let a negative mandate stand in the way of cramming their failed ideology of wealth worship, screwing the little guy and democratic devolution down the throats of the electorate. Minority rule! They're beginning to argue for it openly. Is that good? A sign of a reckoning? If you're asking the question you're already screwed. 

We had our Camelot, for all its faults. But it's over know. The sooner we accept it the better to salvage something from the ashes. Run, boy, run!

Shades of Ryan

I'll never forget Paul Ryan's look when he put through a tax cut for the rich, his heart's desire. I wish I could. A sadist's satanic happy happy face. All Ryan ever wanted was to fuck over his fellow citizens. He knew they all intended to suck off the government like losers. 

And that had to be prevented. 

So Ryan spent his life on the government payroll and married a rich woman, a common conservative trajectory, and did his best to screw the common man. McCarthy's awkward ascension and klutzy gavel victory clap reminded me of Ryan. Another screwing awaits.

Bang the Gavel Slowly

Can we hold out? The worst gang of criminals is in control of the House. Certified insurrectionists, anti-government activists and devolutionaries. According to them with a mandate to destroy. Not from the electorate, of course, the rabble they've fooled into voting for them, though that's true too. A mandate from God. So stay out of their way. And hope there's something left when they're done. 

Worse than Worst Case

Kevin McCarthy was bad enough. A person who probably shouldn't be allowed to own a dog. Even if he treats dogs well, unlike people, he doesn't deserve one. Unless it bites the shit out of him. 

We're looking at another Republican, worse-than-worst-case, bad-beyond-understanding scenario. A guy worse than you can imagine beholden to people even worse than him. An asshole free-for-all.

Assholes in positions of extraordinary power. That's where we appear to be heading with McCarthy. And the galactically evil people fucking with him. Because they want to fuck with us. Once and for all. 

Hold the Champagne

McCarthy's mess is nothing to celebrate. This is us. This shitshow is us. 

They always wanted to destroy everything, and vandalism is the easiest thing ever. Because you don't give a fuck about anything. How many people you get killed or whatever. Let's not forget how they used to call Karl Rove and such cynics smart and even geniuses. 

They were never smart. They were always assholes, creeps, low-character lumps and losers. Playing the system, exploiting their status as insiders. Born inside the walls, as citizens, so destroying everything was easy. No need to build a wooden horse and drag it around. 

Though they kind of did. A wooden horse of lies. But they were already in Troy. They're conquerors now. Raping, pillaging and running around like barbarians. Because they won. Maybe it's hard not to enjoy the sight of a Republican bar fight but they can afford it. 

They're the victors. And drunk on power.

McCarthy Learning Curve

Is Kevin McCarthy learning, you sleep with assholes you get shit on? 

Breakfast at Tiffany's

I'm sure it was chance Tiffany Trump married an insanely rich guy. 

Not tied in with dynastic aspirations or an informal or unconscious eugenics thing based on a lifetime of parental influence playing out as Trump and his father. 

Where Trump is a puppet of his father, I mean, even long after tycoon daddy is dead. As daddy clearly intended. But I wonder what the Queen is doing tonight?

Or princess, perhaps. Tiffany. No, that's too obvious. Because evenings are a more public time. People are usually dressed and sometimes go out to dinner.

I'm not thinking straight. Armand, the personal chef, and his assistants, must cook up a feast. It's so hard to remember they really are in another world.

Unimaginable to us. But what about breakfast? Surely they sleep like the rest of us. And get up a little groggy and with bad breath and maybe a little cranky. 

I love mornings. I'm actually pleasant and engaging and I like to cook breakfast for people. But I'm not a billionaire. I didn't grow up with great expectations.

Expectations? That implies waiting. Delayed gratification. They're not waiting for anything. They're there. This is surprisingly tough. Eye on the ball, James. 

I wonder what it's like. And what it's like at Tiffany's breakfast table. Or if she has it in bed, brought in by servants. I'm not suggesting anything. 

I really don't know. Which goes to show, again, they live in another world. Paid for by us. Tax breaks for the rich! I wish they seemed a little more grateful.

But I wonder what it's like in the mornings when they're maybe not at their best. A little vulnerable. More themselves? But the rich self is surely different.

I bet everything is different. As I say, it's another world.

This Sucks

The attention seekers. There are a few like Musk. But most billionaires have other fish to fry. Let's call those fish fryers. Which, it happens, is a Yiddish word for sucker. 

Most billionaires are quietly content with having us work for them for free. It seems to be good gig, to judge from the few attention seekers. Some of them make money on attention.

Maybe Musk is trying to transition. From being Musk, as we've known him, a man with a job. Sorry, jobs. He could be a brand like some billionaires. Maybe we should be branded. 

Like the cattle we are, allowed to graze but only at the whim of the rich, because we serve their interests somehow. Cattle can't be suckers. They're cattle. They have no idea.

But we can be suckers. And we are.