Octopus Overlords

He's bitching about unelected officials having power. As an unelected official grabbing power.

Wearing a baseball hat with a blazer (or is that an overcoat?). In the oval office. With his kid on his shoulders. Who is named X Æ A-12.


How the fuck is this happening?

LordMortis wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:46 am

hepcat wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:35 am I give it a few more weeks before a combination of the Time magazine cover, the numerous articles stating Trump looked like a sycophant in the conference mentioned above, and Melania and Usha suddenly spending a LOT of time hanging out with Musk results in a meltdown by Trump. Then he'll join Bannon on the Island of Lost Toys.

That would be... interesting? funny? not sure of the word... but I sincerely believe this GOP administration as well its whole network of influncers have been bought and paid for by Shadow governing Thiel and President Leon and it's not beyond the realm of possibility that Putin has his hand in there with them as well. TFG has been been broken in like an often beaten puppy. His energy and complacency for sitting behind a desk doing nothing but nodding and signing shows it. He'll still act up and lash out if he gets a notion but not at his masters.

Yeah, he's clinging to the "useful" part of useful idiot. When they no longer need the MAGA dipshits en mass, he'll get false flagged to usher in martial law or AI patrol bots or whatever the plan is. Clearly they're setting up for the abolishment of the judiciary and any self reliant departments and agencies.

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:51 am How the fuck is this happening?

It really is like we're in a bad movie.

It's happening because no one cares. Well, there's a small group of people that care and a smaller group that is super excited about it. But the majority of people? They've gone back to tuning out. And I'm sure the GOP was counting on that. By the time those folks realize things are bad, it'll be too late for them to do anything.

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:04 am

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:51 am How the fuck is this happening?

It really is like we're in a bad movie.

It's happening because no one cares. Well, there's a small group of people that care and a smaller group that is super excited about it. But the majority of people? They've gone back to tuning out. And I'm sure the GOP was counting on that. By the time those folks realize things are bad, it'll be too late for them to do anything.

That and the peole who were elected to care, and who swore an oath to care, are just rolling over.

It's bad when we're hoping a picture changes our trajectory - a quote from Lawrence O'Donnell at MSNBC:

He stood over Trump while the president sat behind the Resolute Desk, “delivering a picture of presidential subservience the likes of which we have never seen—the most powerless image of a president of the United States ever created by a camera,” O’Donnell said.

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:12 am It's bad when we're hoping a picture changes our trajectory - a quote from Lawrence O'Donnell at MSNBC:

He stood over Trump while the president sat behind the Resolute Desk, “delivering a picture of presidential subservience the likes of which we have never seen—the most powerless image of a president of the United States ever created by a camera,” O’Donnell said.

Hasn't he seen the first-term picture of Putin and My-Name-Is-Reek?

Haven't you guys figured out we are living in a simulation? Someone is playing around with crazy settings to see what they do.

Are we not entertained?

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:11 am

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:04 am

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:51 am How the fuck is this happening?

It really is like we're in a bad movie.

It's happening because no one cares. Well, there's a small group of people that care and a smaller group that is super excited about it. But the majority of people? They've gone back to tuning out. And I'm sure the GOP was counting on that. By the time those folks realize things are bad, it'll be too late for them to do anything.

That and the peole who were elected to care, and who swore an oath to care, are just rolling over.

I wonder how they sleep at night. Or rather, I wonder why it is that they were so cheaply bought? I'd expect higher asking prices for turning over the federal government.

raydude wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:21 pm I wonder how they sleep at night. Or rather, I wonder why it is that they were so cheaply bought? I'd expect higher asking prices for turning over the federal government.

They sleep great, I'm sure. Because again, no one cares. If we had to vote for them weekly? Maybe people would be more engaged. Even then, I'm not sure. They have figured out exactly what to do and say that keeps them in office and pop up their heads or send out an email when necessary to remind people it's time to vote for them, or else.

It's no different on a local level. No one goes to local board meetings - even now that many are still offering a remote option. Some of it is not caring at all, but I do think a lot of it is also by design. Specifically our current way of life (i.e. late stage capitalism) has everyone working insane hours and/or multiple jobs. On top of that, people are doing everything they can to try and give their kids some type of advantage and have them enrolled in any number of extracurricular activities because that's how they socialize and improve their chances of getting into college...so they can work 60+ hour weeks and repeat the cycle. No one has any time left to give. You can see it with a decline in volunteerism across the boards - non profits, recreational sports leagues, children's sports leagues (adults volunteering) - whatever it is. And again, I think that's a byproduct of where we are as a nation and the harder we're pushed, the less "energy" we have to fight back or even keep tabs on what's happening.

msduncan wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 12:06 pm Haven't you guys figured out we are living in a simulation? Someone is playing around with crazy settings to see what they do.

Not someone. We know who.

raydude wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:21 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:11 am

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:04 am

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:51 am How the fuck is this happening?

It really is like we're in a bad movie.

It's happening because no one cares. Well, there's a small group of people that care and a smaller group that is super excited about it. But the majority of people? They've gone back to tuning out. And I'm sure the GOP was counting on that. By the time those folks realize things are bad, it'll be too late for them to do anything.

That and the peole who were elected to care, and who swore an oath to care, are just rolling over.

I wonder how they sleep at night. Or rather, I wonder why it is that they were so cheaply bought? I'd expect higher asking prices for turning over the federal government.

I am a generally optimistic person, and I struggle with this idea. Reminds me of that old idea of "The villain thinks they're the hero in their story." Do they genuinely think they are affecting a positive change on the country, or are they truly evil and just in it for themselves. Knowing good people both in my family and close friends circle that honestly believe the lies being sold, I legitimately wonder if they think they are doing good things right now.

hepcat wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:35 am I give it a few more weeks before a combination of the Time magazine cover, the numerous articles stating Trump looked like a sycophant in the conference mentioned above, and Melania and Usha suddenly spending a LOT of time hanging out with Musk results in a meltdown by Trump. Then he'll join Bannon on the Island of Lost Toys.

The thing that worries me is that it hasn't happened already. Taking it for this long isn't Trumpish.

Why?

Hyena wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:45 pm

raydude wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:21 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:11 am

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:04 am

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:51 am How the fuck is this happening?

It really is like we're in a bad movie.

It's happening because no one cares. Well, there's a small group of people that care and a smaller group that is super excited about it. But the majority of people? They've gone back to tuning out. And I'm sure the GOP was counting on that. By the time those folks realize things are bad, it'll be too late for them to do anything.

That and the peole who were elected to care, and who swore an oath to care, are just rolling over.

I wonder how they sleep at night. Or rather, I wonder why it is that they were so cheaply bought? I'd expect higher asking prices for turning over the federal government.

I am a generally optimistic person, and I struggle with this idea. Reminds me of that old idea of "The villain thinks they're the hero in their story." Do they genuinely think they are affecting a positive change on the country, or are they truly evil and just in it for themselves. Knowing good people both in my family and close friends circle that honestly believe the lies being sold, I legitimately wonder if they think they are doing good things right now.

There has always been an objective measure for this: the US Constitution. Yes there are issues with interpretation and yes it's not a perfect document. But is the agreed-to policy and procedure document in the event of a dispute.

So who is the hero and who is the villain? Check the Constitution. Does the president have the power of the purse? Does a friend of the president get execute powers?

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:49 pm

hepcat wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:35 am I give it a few more weeks before a combination of the Time magazine cover, the numerous articles stating Trump looked like a sycophant in the conference mentioned above, and Melania and Usha suddenly spending a LOT of time hanging out with Musk results in a meltdown by Trump. Then he'll join Bannon on the Island of Lost Toys.

The thing that worries me is that it hasn't happened already. Taking it for this long isn't Trumpish.

Why?

He's busy throwing Vance under the bus since it's easier. He'll get around to Musk eventually.

gilraen wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 2:05 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:49 pm

hepcat wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:35 am I give it a few more weeks before a combination of the Time magazine cover, the numerous articles stating Trump looked like a sycophant in the conference mentioned above, and Melania and Usha suddenly spending a LOT of time hanging out with Musk results in a meltdown by Trump. Then he'll join Bannon on the Island of Lost Toys.

The thing that worries me is that it hasn't happened already. Taking it for this long isn't Trumpish.

Why?

He's busy throwing Vance under the bus since it's easier. He'll get around to Musk eventually.

I'd wager it's rhe other way around. Tech bros have increasingly less use for Tump and are exerting their authority. Vance is the guy they want in there in a year or two. They'll give Trump a nice exit when it's time. Either as a martyr in a false flag or quietly, with some ricin in his Big Mac.

There are only 4 things in this world that are certainties:

1) Death
2) Taxes
3) Mark Wahlberg playing Hamlet would be hilarious
4) Trump will turn on everyone at some point

gilraen wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 2:05 pm He's busy throwing Vance under the bus since it's easier. He'll get around to Musk eventually.

I dunno. There's very clearly pattern with all the awful stuff that's been enacted since 1/21 - a clear division of severity. I don't believe for a second he's actively interested or even involved with the immigration, LGBTQ+ or DEI stuff. I also don't think he's really into the budget cuts either. I do think the low flow toilets, renaming the Gulf of Mexico and bringing back plastic straws are all him. My point here is that I think he's being fed those nonsense things to focus on so that the evil chaos goblins he's surrounded himself with can focus on the truly evil things.

So as long as Trump feels like he's getting what he wants, he's happy to have a minimal part in all the other stuff. Like, I'm sure he agrees with "budget cuts" and "no more DEI" but he isn't in the nuts and bolts - he just agrees with a single sentence description of what's being done because he's a simpleton.

But being able to brag he's bringing back plastic straws or that he's renamed a map feature? Somebody knows that is what his ego really likes and he'll do the invisible dick dance from the back of a garbage truck in front a MAGA crowd like the circus monkey he is while people like Stephen Miller orchestrate evil shit from the sidelines.

hepcat wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 2:11 pm There are only 4 things in this world that are certainties:

1) Death
2) Taxes
3) Mark Wahlberg playing Hamlet would be hilarious
4) Trump will turn on everyone at some point

"Oh hey, I found Yorik's head! I hung out wit him a few times. We used to go out to the pahk and beat up fahriners. It was wicked."

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 2:13 pm I do think the low flow toilets, renaming the Gulf of Mexico and bringing back plastic straws are all him.

If it sounds like something a 7 year old would do, it's almost certainly Trump. If it involves even basic math, he's getting it from the Project 2025 folks.

The bigger problem is that a 7 year often doesn't know when to shut the fuck up and think before shouting out something. Hence the "let's move all the Palestinians out!" that took most of his staff by surprise.

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 2:13 pm So as long as Trump feels like he's getting what he wants, he's happy to have a minimal part in all the other stuff. Like, I'm sure he agrees with "budget cuts" and "no more DEI" but he isn't in the nuts and bolts - he just agrees with a single sentence description of what's being done because he's a simpleton.

During the signing photos (for which he used to smile and hold things out in a bragging, remember that) he demurely asks a third grade understanding of question of what is being put in front of him and then nods and signs. It's straight out of an 80s comedy of the selfish family or black handlebar mustached corporate suit taking advantage of the the old guy "in charge."

And the signs were there well before the election. Like about the time he was cluelessly dancing on stage like a great grandpa at a wedding. And they none of his voters gave a rats ass because socialism democrat from black woman.

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 12:54 am https://www.reddit.com/r/law/s/Uv0Z2xQgpK

What in the everliving fuck?


Edit:

Youtube version. No need to timestamp, the entire thing is off the rails.

So I didn't catch this when I watched this trainwreck but some are saying that around 1:50, little Damien X says, "You're not the president you need to go away." I can't say it's clear to me but it does sound like he says "you need to go away". Then he starts taking in tongues before Musk shushes him.

I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if Musk tells him this every day and even tells him his plan to do it.

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 2:04 pm

Hyena wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:45 pm

raydude wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:21 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:11 am

Smoove_B wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:04 am

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:51 am How the fuck is this happening?

It really is like we're in a bad movie.

It's happening because no one cares. Well, there's a small group of people that care and a smaller group that is super excited about it. But the majority of people? They've gone back to tuning out. And I'm sure the GOP was counting on that. By the time those folks realize things are bad, it'll be too late for them to do anything.

That and the peole who were elected to care, and who swore an oath to care, are just rolling over.

I wonder how they sleep at night. Or rather, I wonder why it is that they were so cheaply bought? I'd expect higher asking prices for turning over the federal government.

I am a generally optimistic person, and I struggle with this idea. Reminds me of that old idea of "The villain thinks they're the hero in their story." Do they genuinely think they are affecting a positive change on the country, or are they truly evil and just in it for themselves. Knowing good people both in my family and close friends circle that honestly believe the lies being sold, I legitimately wonder if they think they are doing good things right now.

There has always been an objective measure for this: the US Constitution. Yes there are issues with interpretation and yes it's not a perfect document. But is the agreed-to policy and procedure document in the event of a dispute.

So who is the hero and who is the villain? Check the Constitution. Does the president have the power of the purse? Does a friend of the president get execute powers?

Except that ultimately the Constitution has always just been a piece of paper
If the people in charge of protecting and enforcing it aren't actually interested in doing so, it's just an interesting document from the before times

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 4:11 pm So I didn't catch this when I watched this trainwreck but some are saying that around 1:50, little Damien X says, "You're not the president you need to go away." I can't say it's clear to me but it does sound like he says "you need to go away". Then he starts taking in tongues before Musk shushes him.

Whatever it is, he seems to say it twice, first at 1:47 and then at 1:50.

It certainly sounds to my ear like he's telling Trump to go away.

Holman wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 5:15 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 4:11 pm So I didn't catch this when I watched this trainwreck but some are saying that around 1:50, little Damien X says, "You're not the president you need to go away." I can't say it's clear to me but it does sound like he says "you need to go away". Then he starts taking in tongues before Musk shushes him.

Whatever it is, he seems to say it twice, first at 1:47 and then at 1:50.

It certainly sounds to my ear like he's telling Trump to go away.

I think Elon is obviously using his kiddo to garner public support since he has zero charisma, but could he also be using little X as a human shield against assassination attempts?

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 2:04 pmDoes a friend of the president get execute powers?

That's coming up next.

Got notified today by my handlers that Black History Month was dividing us and so has been cancelled. Oddly, there’s only one group of people in America that think that.

DOGE can debit accounts with no accountability? After thy cyberattacks they were allowed to execute on everyone. This is where it goes...

https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/st ... a-funding/

Quoted in full

Statement from NYC Comptroller Lander on the Trump Administration’s Illegal Reversal of FEMA Funding
February 12, 2025

“This morning, my financial team shockingly uncovered that President Trump and his crony Elon Musk illegally executed a revocation of $80 million in congressionally-appropriated FEMA funding from New York City’s bank accounts late yesterday afternoon. This is money that the federal government previously disbursed for shelter and services and is now missing. This highway robbery of our funds directly out of our bank account is a betrayal of everyone who calls New York City home.”

“New York City cannot take this lying down. I call on the Mayor to immediately pursue legal action to ensure the tens of millions of dollars stolen by Trump and DOGE are rightfully returned. If instead Mayor Adams continues to be President Trump’s pawn, my Office will request to work in partnership with the New York City Law Department to pursue aggressive legal action.”

Also just for Zax

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2acP06791I

Who could have expected a felon with a history of not paying the bills would continue his tricks once promoted back to the job after being fired?

My US fedgov friend was crying at their desk while sending out termination letters to probationary folk.

Likely they’ll be next.

#### those who voted for this. And #### those who didn’t vote. This is on you.

Those people fired who were fired today actively saved lives, American lives, in recent disasters at the risk of their own. When they are gone, they cannot be replaced. When those teams and capabilities are erased they can’t come back.

waitingtoconnect wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 9:19 pm My US fedgov friend was crying at their desk while sending out termination letters to probationary folk.

Likely they’ll be next.

#### those who voted for this. And #### those who didn’t vote. This is on you.

Those people fired who were fired today actively saved lives, American lives, in recent disasters at the risk of their own. When they are gone, they cannot be replaced. When those teams and capabilities are erased they can’t come back.

Can you guarantee that none of them were diversity hires? Do you deny that there were liberals among them? That's what I thought.

waitingtoconnect wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 9:19 pm My US fedgov friend was crying at their desk while sending out termination letters to probationary folk.

Likely they’ll be next.

#### those who voted for this. And #### those who didn’t vote. This is on you.

Those people fired who were fired today actively saved lives, American lives, in recent disasters at the risk of their own. When they are gone, they cannot be replaced. When those teams and capabilities are erased they can’t come back.

Do we know the scope of this? I'm working on an investigation with another attorney who is a probationary employee. I e-mailed her this afternoon about the case and didn't get a reply. Now I'm wondering whether she still has a job. I know they left attorneys off of the list of probationary employees sent to DOGE, so she's *probably* ok (at least for now) but... who knows. Madness.

I’m not sure on the specifics of how they were hired and if Dei or not. But can’t really say much so as to protect that person and their agency. Disclaimer I am not a federal employee myself.

Confirmed list of agencies with mass layoffs to probationary employees:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Department of Education
Department of Energy
General Services Administration
Office of Personnel Management
Small Business Administration
US Forest Service
Veterans Affairs
National Nuclear Security Administration

main thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/s/59bw3fcKKK

Sources:

CFPB: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mass-f ... 025-02-13/
Dept of Ed: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mass-f ... 025-02-13/
Dept of Energy: https://www.eenews.net/articles/doe-to- ... aff-today/
GSA: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mass-f ... 025-02-13/
OPM: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-p ... 025-02-13/
SBA: https://www.businessinsider.com/federal ... sba-2025-2
VA: https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-dismi ... employees/
NNSA https://www.npr.org/2025/02/13/nx-s1-52 ... ion-energy

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/1 ... m-00203714

Treasury Department officials said Tuesday that the agency last week “mistakenly” and “briefly” gave a member of Elon Musk’s team the power to alter a sensitive federal payments database, prompting an internal forensic investigation that remains ongoing.

The disclosure, made in a series of court filings, undercuts the Trump administration’s repeated public claims that the DOGE team’s access to the federal payments system was limited to a “read-only” basis.

Senior Treasury officials wrote in sworn declarations that Marko Elez, a 25-year-old former SpaceX and X engineer, was erroneously granted “read/write” privileges to a secure payments system on Feb. 5.

Elez resigned from the Treasury Department a day later, after The Wall Street Journal surfaced racist social media posts, and Treasury officials said he has not been reinstated to his previous role.

Wonder how they're taking money out of accounts?

So that fork is coming up, right? One of two things should be next. Skynet or Thrall Master Thiel left President Leon in charge of disposing of Bond and Leon left him for dead in a trap for which he has just disappeared.

Courtesy of Robert Reich

DOGE Website Hacked and Defaced

In a stunning security breach, two hackers have publicly embarrassed Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after gaining access to its website and leaving behind a trail of mocking messages. The hackers told 404 Media that exploiting the site’s vulnerabilities was a simple task, adding that anyone with basic coding skills could have done the same.

According to the hackers, the DOGE site’s security flaws stemmed from its use of a database known as Cloudflare Pages—an unsecured platform that anyone with access could edit. This oversight allowed the intruders to deface the website with messages like, “this is a joke of a .gov site” and, “THESE ‘EXPERTS’ LEFT THEIR DATABASE OPEN -roro.”

And now to see if it was a honeypot trap.

I done gone and read a bunch of different meanings for -roro and I still got nothing.

Also is this what happens when President Leon tries to create something rather than buy someone else's work?

https://xkcd.com/932/

It was their main recruiting poster, hung nearly ten feet up a wall! This means the hackers have LADDER technology! Are we headed for a future where everyone has to pay $50 for one of those locked plexiglass poster covers? More after the break ...

Some GOP politicians are concerned:

“We need to have a conversation with DOGE and the administration about exactly what they’ve done here,” said Simpson, a seasoned lawmaker who sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee. “It’s a concern to all of us.”

Glad that they're concerned. Here's looking forward to when they have a discussion and possibly elevate this to holding some meetings.