Bit of light relief in this truly depressing era
Current Affairs Donald Trump POS: Judgement cometh and that right soon
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Bit of light relief in this truly depressing era
As an aside from the hot news item of the day (soon to be replaced by the hot news item of tomorrow), let me offer these thoughts.
In considering the question "who could have seen this coming?" my research and reading has drawn me to a book that was on the far distant edge of my radar screen at the time it was published, when I was too immersed in work to do any reading that wasn't work related. We may blame today's politics on social media or the changes that have been wrought with the new millennium, but what we see has been coming for some time now. Written in the early 90's, Christopher Lasch's posthumously published final work, The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy reads like it could have been written last week.
I recommend it. Here are some quotes:
Washington becomes a parody of Tinseltown; executives take to the airwaves, creating overnight the semblance of political movements; movie stars become political pundits, even presidents; reality and the simulation of reality become more and more difficult to distinguish.
A meritocracy has no more use for chivalry and valor than a hereditary aristocracy has for brains. Although hereditary advantages play an important part in the attainment of professional and managerial status, the new class has to maintain the fiction that its power rests on intelligence alone.
Social mobility does not undermine the influence of elites; if anything, it helps to solidify their influence by supporting the illusion that it rests solely on merit. It merely strengthens the likelihood that elites will exercise power irresponsibly, precisely because they recognize so few obligations to their predecessors or to the communities they profess to lead. Their lack of gratitude disqualifies meritocratic elites from the burden of leadership, and in any case, they are less interested in leadership than in escaping the common lot—the very definition of meritocratic success.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/586994.The_Revolt_of_the_Elites_and_the_Betrayal_of_Democracy
Trump sparks many feelings of fear and contempt from many of us who reside within this bubble of comfort we enjoy as a member of some putative "elite" due to success in academic pursuits and career, along with a well-developed appreciation of the varied cultures of the world. If Trump is to be brought down via some side pocket extravaganza of the FBI, CIA, and the special counsel's office routed though the Stormy Daniels opportunity, this will crash on the shoals of "non-elite" public opinion even more comprehensively than the ham-handed efforts of the GOP to do much the same to Bill Clinton in the late 90's. The spirit of revanche is loose in the beltway, and it will not end well for either set of combatants or for us as citizens of the world. I do not celebrate it.
In considering the question "who could have seen this coming?" my research and reading has drawn me to a book that was on the far distant edge of my radar screen at the time it was published, when I was too immersed in work to do any reading that wasn't work related. We may blame today's politics on social media or the changes that have been wrought with the new millennium, but what we see has been coming for some time now. Written in the early 90's, Christopher Lasch's posthumously published final work, The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy reads like it could have been written last week.
I recommend it. Here are some quotes:
Washington becomes a parody of Tinseltown; executives take to the airwaves, creating overnight the semblance of political movements; movie stars become political pundits, even presidents; reality and the simulation of reality become more and more difficult to distinguish.
A meritocracy has no more use for chivalry and valor than a hereditary aristocracy has for brains. Although hereditary advantages play an important part in the attainment of professional and managerial status, the new class has to maintain the fiction that its power rests on intelligence alone.
Social mobility does not undermine the influence of elites; if anything, it helps to solidify their influence by supporting the illusion that it rests solely on merit. It merely strengthens the likelihood that elites will exercise power irresponsibly, precisely because they recognize so few obligations to their predecessors or to the communities they profess to lead. Their lack of gratitude disqualifies meritocratic elites from the burden of leadership, and in any case, they are less interested in leadership than in escaping the common lot—the very definition of meritocratic success.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/586994.The_Revolt_of_the_Elites_and_the_Betrayal_of_Democracy
Trump sparks many feelings of fear and contempt from many of us who reside within this bubble of comfort we enjoy as a member of some putative "elite" due to success in academic pursuits and career, along with a well-developed appreciation of the varied cultures of the world. If Trump is to be brought down via some side pocket extravaganza of the FBI, CIA, and the special counsel's office routed though the Stormy Daniels opportunity, this will crash on the shoals of "non-elite" public opinion even more comprehensively than the ham-handed efforts of the GOP to do much the same to Bill Clinton in the late 90's. The spirit of revanche is loose in the beltway, and it will not end well for either set of combatants or for us as citizens of the world. I do not celebrate it.
I've lost track. Are there any original appointees left?
Ivanka.
Now added to my list - need to finish The Godfather first.....
Kinda depends what Cohen has done doesn’t it Paul - his position as an attorney, even Trump’s, doesn’t mean he is above the law.
This could be Mueller overreaching but precisely because of Cohen’s role you’d expect those involved knew their actions would be second guessed and so were more meticulous than usual to clear the multiple legal hurdles that are in place to reduce abuse. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t something dodgy done but how about waiting to see the full story and evidence before jumping to conclusions either way within 24 hours?
If say Cohn claimed he was getting a bank loan for a kitchen remodel and instead paid the money to Daniels that would be pretty clear bank fraud and possibly campaign violations and it wouldn’t have much to do with Trump if he didn’t know, as he claimed, about the payments.
Amazing how he can think that considering Cohen admitted to paying off Daniels while his client was running for office. Trump said he didn't know Cohen did this until Cohen admitted it to the press. That clearly breaks the privilege as Cohen did something on behalf of his client without his knowledge.
DanEFC92
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That’s something I was talking this morning to about somebody , being an attorney doesn’t give somebody a free pass for criminality . I can think of a few mafia lawyers who’ve found themselves in a court and didnt watch it the channel but my guess is Fox News wasn’t arguing against Lynne Stewart’s arrest and conviction .
Lolling a lot at all the Trump lads starting to speculate about remits and overreach now. Trump has insisted he has nothing to hide, so there's nothing to worry about imo
Thought this was a very good thread explaining what Cohen’s role in Trump world was and that investigating him is very much in Mueller’s purview as Cohen was the main foreign dealmaker
If in the course of that investigation Mueller found something criminal but that was not explicitly tied to the Russia investigation, say bank fraud or tax non-payment, is Paul suggesting they should just ignore it? That certainly seems to be line MAGAs are pushing on twitter.
On a related note, my FB feed is currently an exceptional example of denial, delusion and conspiracy theories.
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