Octopus Overlords

Heh, nicely done!

In case you're wondering how the authoritarianism is going, Trump posted this today:

Trump wrote:He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.

Holman wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:55 pm In case you're wondering how the authoritarianism is going, Trump posted this today:

Trump wrote:He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.

Führerprinzip.

By presenting [] as the incarnation of authority—a saviour-politician who personally dictates the law—the Führerprinzip functioned as a color of law legalism that conferred executive, judicial, and legislative powers of government on the person [], the combined leader and chancellor of []. For example, following the [], [] justified his violent political purge of [] and the [] faction of the [] as a matter of [] national security, and stated: “In this hour, I was responsible for the fate of the [] nation and was therefore the supreme judge of the [] people!”

Once again, I don't see how this ends any way other than in violence. It's just a matter of time now.

Smoove_B wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:59 pm Once again, I don't see how this ends any way other than in violence. It's just a matter of time now.

It will be one-sided violence, if it comes. Any opposition is bringing knives to a gunfight.

For better or worse, I think what we are going through will answer the eternal question between Democrats and Republicans - exactly how much government do Americans really want?

Republicans have claimed they wanted small government for years, but they have mostly tinkered with it on the edges. People hate government in the abstract but when you start listing specific programs, no one wants those cuts. No one has had the guts to really try and reduce the federal government - until Trump. So now, all those small government Republicans will finally get what they have been claiming they wanted but never really dared to implement.

So in the end it's going to be up to the American people to choose now and we'll see what they want. Somehow I doubt that Americans really want the reductions that Trump has planned, Even Republicans are scrambling to try and save federal jobs in their states (no waste in my state, it's in the other states!) So maybe, just maybe, in the end, we can put this issue behind us, one way or another, though the short term they may be a lot of suffering in the process.

Holman wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:55 pm In case you're wondering how the authoritarianism is going, Trump posted this today:

Trump wrote:He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.

I can tell you Trump didn't post that, he probably barely knows who Napoleon was, much less being able to quote him. Whoever controls his twitter account found that quote and probably thought it was cool and decided to post it.

Grifman wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2025 2:18 pm So in the end it's going to be up to the American people to choose now and we'll see what they want.

Given that Trump has already started peeling back election security, it may well end up being too late for the American people to 'choose' anything.

Grifman wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2025 2:20 pm

Holman wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:55 pm In case you're wondering how the authoritarianism is going, Trump posted this today:

Trump wrote:He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.

I can tell you Trump didn't post that, he probably barely knows who Napoleon was, much less being able to quote him. Whoever controls his twitter account found that quote and probably thought it was cool and decided to post it.

It was on Truth Social so probably his own hand. Someone probably whispered the quote in his ear for whatever reason.

The American People can’t choose to go back. It’s already too late. Decades of hard earned expertise is being flushed down the toilet, never to return. We are now decades away from getting back to where we were on Jan 19. The ship has sailed.

LawBeefaroni wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:34 pm It was on Truth Social so probably his own hand. Someone probably whispered the quote in his ear for whatever reason.

I've seen it reported that a staffer writes his tweets/truths, but that he has to approve each one and also makes changes.

I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason for this:

President Donald Trump's administration has been urging the Romanian government to ease travel restrictions on Andrew and Tristan Tate, two brothers who have been indicted on sex trafficking and other charges in that country.

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 1:11 pm I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason for this:

President Donald Trump's administration has been urging the Romanian government to ease travel restrictions on Andrew and Tristan Tate, two brothers who have been indicted on sex trafficking and other charges in that country.

Yeah, they're white supremacist misogynistic sex traffickers with legions of MAGA fans in their "manosphere." They are likely generals in the new regime.

Of all the things that burn me up about this timeline, probably the #1 is that horrible people like this are not only immune to prosecution, they are rewarded for their misdeeds. Rape, kidnapping, hate mongering...all great on an Nazi influencer's resume.

Can you imagine telling yourself 25+ years ago we'd be living in a world where an American President isn't worried at all about the optics on this? Just absolutely zero concern and not even a remotely plausible reason to do it.

It boggles my mind every day that people voted for this chaos. At *worst* MAGA would have been mildly inconvenienced by a Harris administration (and only inconvenienced because Fox News was telling them they were). Under Trump, people are going to die. And that's just one small aspect of the tragedy he's inflicting.

When this is all over and he's gone 6 feet under, I hope that the history books really make a point to list the misdeeds and damage he's done.

YellowKing wrote:It boggles my mind every day that people voted for this chaos. At *worst* MAGA would have been mildly inconvenienced by a Harris administration (and only inconvenienced because Fox News was telling them they were). Under Trump, people are going to die. And that's just one small aspect of the tragedy he's inflicting.

I had long held that he was the second worst President in our nation’s history, 2nd only to Buchanan. Apparently he took that personally.

So much not about waste and the important legal structure of our nation rather than worrying about loyalty tests to our would-be autocrat.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-con ... -bill/1395

H.R.1395 - To amend title 5, United States Code, to designate Trump's Birthday and Flag Day as a legal public holiday.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump ... y-holiday/

No modern president has been more pivotal for our country than Donald J. Trump. As both our 45th and 47th President, he is the most consequential President in modern American history, leading our country at a time of great international and domestic turmoil. From brokering the historic Abraham Accords to championing the largest tax relief package in American history, his impact on the nation is undeniable. Just as George Washington's Birthday is codified as a federal holiday, this bill will add Trump's Birthday to this list, recognizing him as the founder of America's Golden Age. Additionally, as our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we should create a new federal holiday honoring the American Flag and all that it represents. By designating Trump's Birthday and Flag Day as a federal holiday, we can ensure President Trump's contributions to American greatness and the importance of the American Flag are forever enshrined in law.

I wonder if Leon will let him have this.

Grifman wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2025 2:20 pm

Holman wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:55 pm In case you're wondering how the authoritarianism is going, Trump posted this today:

Trump wrote:He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.

I can tell you Trump didn't post that, he probably barely knows who Napoleon was, much less being able to quote him. Whoever controls his twitter account found that quote and probably thought it was cool and decided to post it.

There’s very obviously a lot wrong with Napoleon. But he was an actual accomplished general and military man unlike General Bonespurs.

FWIW, I don't think anyone has been able to trace that quote to Napoleon or to any historical report of his behavior. The closest it comes to him is an analogous line of dialogue in the 1970 Waterloo movie.

I think it really just comes from the "things authoritarians like to believe" playbook.

So premature to declare a Golden Age. Eisenhower won WW2 and didn’t get his birthday as a holiday.

Holman wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 6:24 pm FWIW, I don't think anyone has been able to trace that quote to Napoleon or to any historical report of his behavior. The closest it comes to him is an analogous line of dialogue in the 1970 Waterloo movie.

I think it really just comes from the "things authoritarians like to believe" playbook.

According to Snopes, Balzac attributed it to Napoleon.

Many people recognized the passage as a quote from Napoleon Bonaparte, the first emperor of France. It first appeared in "Maximes et pensées de Napoléon" by French author Honoré de Balzac. The book, published in 1838, 23 years after Napoleon's death in exile, is a compilation of aphorisms Balzac attributed to France's former emperor. The author wrote in a letter to Ewelina Hańska — the woman who would become his wife — that he spent around seven years writing down in a "kitchen book" each "new and striking thought said by [Napoleon]." Indeed, in the book, Maxim 97 reads in French, "Celui qui sauve sa patrie ne viole aucune loi" — "He who saves his fatherland violates no law."

While it is not clear whether Napoleon actually said the quote, or in what context, Balzac did spend years researching the former emperor's life through books, letters and exchanges with those who knew him. His sources included Napoleon's niece Letizia Bonaparte, with whom he corresponded extensively. But Balzac was an admirer of the emperor and contributed to developing the myth around the man.

Max Peck wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 6:37 pm According to Snopes, Balzac attributed it to Napoleon.

I have seen this point, but generally in the context that Balzac was a great mythologizer of L'Empereur. But of course his claim is obviously much closer to Napoleon than 1970, so Balzac is clearly the movie's source. My mistake.

Rumpy wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 2:46 pm When this is all over and he's gone 6 feet under, I hope that the history books really make a point to list the misdeeds and damage he's done.

It's very optimistic to think that this all ends when he dies.

Punisher wrote: Tue Feb 18, 2025 1:09 am

Rumpy wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 2:46 pm When this is all over and he's gone 6 feet under, I hope that the history books really make a point to list the misdeeds and damage he's done.

It's very optimistic to think that this all ends when he dies.

Well, I am a generally optimistic person. Either way, it has to end at some point.

Rumpy wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 2:46 pm When this is all over and he's gone 6 feet under, I hope that the history books really make a point to list the misdeeds and damage he's done.

I hope there are still history books.

I'd like to think there will be, if not the from the US, then some other country like Canada. We Canadians like history and learning in general.

Unless we're in the Hanson's Great Filter Does Its Job Now time line, in which case there are no future history books, then the history books will be written by the victors. So there is a pretty good chance they'll be justifying why all 5 faces on Mt Rushmore are of God-King Trump and his scions.

Holman wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 6:43 pm

Max Peck wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 6:37 pm According to Snopes, Balzac attributed it to Napoleon.

I have seen this point, but generally in the context that Balzac was a great mythologizer of L'Empereur. But of course his claim is obviously much closer to Napoleon than 1970, so Balzac is clearly the movie's source. My mistake.

I'm seeing it reported that you are giving both the GOP administration and their Tweeters too much historical credit, that this a much more recent call to terrorism as suggested by the manifesto (who himself was attributing the quote Napoleon) from the Norwegian terrorist of 2011 on government offices of the social democrats and... children...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Norway_attacks

I feel like...people aren't quite getting it yet:

President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order declaring that only the attorney general or the president, instead of federal regulators or bureaucrats, can speak for the U.S. when interpreting the meaning of laws carried out by the executive branch.

...

Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary and one of the president’s attorneys, said the order that limits only the president and attorney general to interpret laws “reestablishes a long-standing norm” in the U.S. It comes as Mr. Trump’s critics fight his agenda in court and raise accusations that he’ll ignore judicial orders.

Other agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Communications Commission have the power to impose fines and regulations.

“The President and the Attorney General’s opinions on questions of law are controlling on all employees in the conduct of their official duties,” the order states.

And then just to sneak some other high-octane nonsense in:

He also signed an executive order expanding access to in vitro fertilization and a memorandum requiring federal agencies to report waste, fraud and abuse that’s uncovered and to detail programs that are eliminated.

Mr. Trump also said Tuesday that he will move forward April 2 with tariffs of roughly 25% on foreign cars and pharmaceuticals but did not specify which nations could be targeted.

Not really sure what the IVF thing is here, but committing to tariffs so far in advance? I don't get it. Maybe the IVF thing is connected to the new DOT funding directives to funnel more money to states with high birth and marriage rates. IVF (in theory) would increase birth rates and they do seem to be trying to turn women back into chattel.

Great, so I get to ignore decades of Tax Regulations, guidance and counsel procedures? And the IRS can twist its interpretation on Trump’s whim for —or against—my clients? These clowns really haven’t thought anything through.

LordMortis wrote: Tue Feb 18, 2025 3:21 pm

Holman wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 6:43 pm

Max Peck wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 6:37 pm According to Snopes, Balzac attributed it to Napoleon.

I have seen this point, but generally in the context that Balzac was a great mythologizer of L'Empereur. But of course his claim is obviously much closer to Napoleon than 1970, so Balzac is clearly the movie's source. My mistake.

I'm seeing it reported that you are giving both the GOP administration and their Tweeters too much historical credit, that this a much more recent call to terrorism as suggested by the manifesto (who himself was attributing the quote Napoleon) from the Norwegian terrorist of 2011 on government offices of the social democrats and... children...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Norway_attacks

That's probably it.

Can't argue with this piece:

A month into the second Trump administration, I think it is fair to conclude that the American empire in its current form is collapsing. The post-1945 global order, with the United States at its apex, is no more.

...

Now, the history of empires is the story of their rise and inevitable fall. As Herodotus wrote about Greek city-states, “most of those which were great once are small today; and those which used to be small were great in my own time.” But nobody has matched this current downfall for sheer egregious stupidity.

...

Again, the lesson is clear: America cannot be trusted, and all its former allies should start preparing for the worst, including developing their own nuclear deterrents in case of war with the U.S. itself. Some reserve currency replacement must be found, and new supply chains not reliant on the U.S. set up. Crash military buildups must be carried out to replace American security guarantees. You’d be a fool to rely on any American promises whatsoever, including ones made by Trump or Musk. These men lie as easily as they breathe.

In closing:

America suffered no military defeat. We were not outstripped economically by a bigger or better-organized competitor. Rather, we elected an insane tyrant who is blowing up the foundation of our international power for no reason, all while he lets a South African immigrant ultra-billionaire and his crew of teenybopper fascists tear the wiring out of the federal government—again, for no reason.

Never underestimate the destructive power of stupidity.

Trump can’t understand the economic advantages established by American leadership. We were always first, but carried other nations along with us to avoid breaking the world and the consequences of war.

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Feb 19, 2025 11:08 am Can't argue with this piece:

That it all went to hell in less than a month is breathtaking. Even if the US and the world survive the next four years -- by no means certain -- and even if we somehow manage to restore good government, nobody will ever trust us again. There's always another Trusk waiting in the wings.

The fact that it is so stupid and unnecessary is what shoulders the rest of us with blame. It could easily be stopped,at least to now. But no one is doing anything. Including me. I've called my reps (some directly) but I'm sure I could do more. This is riots in the streets type shit. But who wants to be the sacrificial first?

We’re all Drazzil now.

I don't want it all blown up. I desperately don't but I'm at Drazzil level of hopelessness. My desperation and goal toward getting through is different than his but it's not so far outside of sight. OtOH, this is sort of what he was begging for. Destroy the whole damned thing. Only there will be no eat the rich. That was never an option and surely isn't when they have nearly half the populace lining up to give the rich more power to destroy.

Rumpy wrote: Tue Feb 18, 2025 1:49 am

Punisher wrote: Tue Feb 18, 2025 1:09 am

Rumpy wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 2:46 pm When this is all over and he's gone 6 feet under, I hope that the history books really make a point to list the misdeeds and damage he's done.

It's very optimistic to think that this all ends when he dies.

Well, I am a generally optimistic person. Either way, it has to end at some point.

I’m beating a dead horse on this point, I know, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think that as Trump goes, so goes MAGA. I just don’t see the movement coalescing around anyone other than Trump. It’s a cult of personality. If they aren’t able to completely undermine the Constitution and turn this country into a totalitarian state before Trump dies (hopefully ASAP and of natural causes), I think there’s a chance we make it out of this. I realize that’s a very big IF, but I’m saying there’s a chance.

It's not a question of whether his cult survives. It's a question of whether the GOP can get the system to the point that they no longer need a Trump to retain power.