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114
Why July 4 Turned Into a Trump Rally. The president has never accepted that the head of state and the leader of the Republican Party are separate roles. (www.theatlantic.com)
submitted 1 day ago by FoxtrotDeltaTango@sh.itjust.works to c/politics@lemmy.world
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[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 5 points 14 hours ago

I've been to a rural spot in Idaho twice in my life on the fourth of July.

The first time, Obama was president. The town was alight with standard red white and blue decorations and had a wonderful fireworks show.

The second time was in Trump's first term... The entire event was a Trump rally. Trump flags everywhere. A full hour long speech about Trump and how awful Obama was. On your way into town, there's a massive Trump billboard.

I've never been back there since. These people are mentally fucking ill.

[–] Rothe@piefed.social 29 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's sanewashing. He is a pathological narcissistic moronic sociopath who thinks everything is about him, and somehow, on account of the completely rotten US political system, he has actually managed to make it so reality fits that delusional fantasy.

[–] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago

and somehow

Bigotry.

And it's not like he's smart enough to have realized there's enough bigots in America that playing the bigot card can get you all the way to the top. He's just naturally a bigot so he's constantly playing that card by default and it worked out really well for him in this forsaken country.

[–] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 2 points 17 hours ago

We should only focus on the things Donald Trump understands. It'll save us a whole bunch of time.

[–] billwashere@lemmy.world 30 points 1 day ago (2 children)

With Trump it’s ALWAYS about him. And fuck if it doesn’t get old. At some point he won’t be important and we’ll all be better off.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I so miss the Biden years.

Sure, there was still news about PEDOnald because he was trying to keep himself in the spotlight, but as long as he was the "former" President, I could ignore his idiocy for the most part.

Now that this asshole is back in the WH, I don't have quite the same luxury. He's constantly inserting himself into everything.

[–] billwashere@lemmy.world 3 points 17 hours ago

I do miss the idea of a boring, predictable, rational president.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm so sick of hearing his name and knowing that the mental anguish he's caused me personally is an infinitesimally tiny drop in the bucket. His dying day will be the biggest relief.

[–] billwashere@lemmy.world 3 points 17 hours ago

I could not agree more.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago (2 children)

The question I've had and can't seem to fucking figure out, is where the fuck are the Democrats in all this?

Like why the fuck haven't they been organizing counter events to ALL of this shit since the beginning, but especially now? Why wasn't there a counter rally to that dumb shit this weekend? Why isn't there a counter event for July 4th?

And I don't mean the progressive caucus or squad++, I mean like capitol D democrats.

[–] zbyte64@awful.systems 1 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Democrats are allergic to populis movements. So if they did do a counter rally, it would largely remind people why they are not that popular. Instead they opt to give the Republicans rope to hang themselves, only problem is we have given so much rope it is touching the ground.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

The metaphor pushing rope comes to mind

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

As unsatisfying as this may sound it may very well be a case of don't interrupt your enemy while they make a mistake. For all intents and purposes this stupid shit last week was a wet fart, it accomplished nothing and has had minimal if any cultural impact. Had the Dems organized something it could've metastasized into a culture war issue resulting in it becoming something more notable. Trump thrives on attention good or bad, so unless necessary it's better to ignore him.

Either that or the party is out of touch and internally gridlocked, regardless the effect is the same.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 0 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

This is the strategy Democrats took and the result was a complete and total inability to resist Trump at any turn and the total destruction of the Administrative state.

Honestly this seems more like uninformed capitulative hand wringing, the exact kind which has resulted in Democrats being somehow less popular than Trump.

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 2 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

While I agree with you that in many ways it's the way Dems have fucked up against Trump this isn't one of them. Pretty sure fucking cholera is more liked than the dumbass fest that happened at the Whitehouse. Also let's be honest here theres a good chance if they did do something beyond a couple statements against this shit they'd probably find some way to piss everyone off, probably by rolling out Chuck Schumer to say some stupid insane shit.

When it comes to Trump youve gotta know when to take Proaction, inaction, and reaction and which one is best appropriate. Frankly the best time to have dealt with Trump was the immediate aftermath of Jan 6th where he should've been drawn and quartered, now we are in a situation where we are waiting for the Reaper to do his good work.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 0 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Also let’s be honest here theres a good chance if they did do something beyond a couple statements against this shit they’d probably find some way to piss everyone off, probably by rolling out Chuck Schumer to say some stupid insane shit.

I mean, what you are describing to me is an insane level of capitulation, to the point I read it as consent. If this is going to be what the Democratic party represents, they don't deserve voters and no one should vote for them. The strategy you are outlining is a blind alley strategy, in that there is no way back from it other then to reverse course entirely. Its deeply cynical, ineffective, and acts against Democrats ability to build back power long term. We can't ignore the fact that both a) you are right in the sense that rolling over and showing their bellies is the strategy that Democrats have taken, and that b) this has been an utter and complete disaster and has only served to entrench and empower fascism.

And we see that this strategy has also been deeeply unpopular with voters. We only need to look as far as Mamdani and the DNC primaries to see everything about how mainstream Democrats have conducted themselves is very unpopular with their base. Democrats like Schumer are the least popular they've ever been, and if this:

now we are in a situation where we are waiting for the Reaper to do his good work.

Is the degree of political strategy you can come up in this moment, you probably shouldnt be in the work of politics.

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Frankly what I'm describing is mostly focused on the federal level and specifically the old guard who I think are fundamentally incapable of dealing with Trump. On the state and local level that's an entirely different question which varies wildly depending on regional factors, but for example Mamdani is extremely effective against Republicans in general since he is actually trying, it's the same reason why the progressive caucus is able to somewhat bite back. Best that can be done as of now on the federal level is gridlock Congress, states and local should be actively fucking with the feds and any international shit IMO for example California should pull out of anything to do with the Olympics and schedule all the roadwork in LA while working to sabotage it further.

Also I was mostly sticking to the whole ralley thing, my bias against rallies, parades, and ceremonies cannot be overstated. It's a blind spot that I am very aware of but I can't really correct for since I see it as a form of braggartry, it's to the point my friends joke that I would've skipped my own birth if it was possible hence why I was a C-section so it could be over with the fastest instead. Point is my default response to the concept of an oppositional ralley isn't protest, counter rallies, or even statements it's to call it profligate and to consider it a target rich environment.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 0 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I’m describing is mostly focused on the federal level and specifically the old guard

Totally agree and understand.

Mamdani is extremely effective against Republicans in general since he is actually trying

Agree but I think "rationalizing" this is missing why its effective.

whole ralley thing, my bias against rallies, parades, and ceremonies cannot be overstated. It’s a blind spot that I am very aware of

Same. I've worked as an organizer for decades and can't stand these things. I'm very much so from the anarchist/ direct action tradition and have always and will always just prefer taking actions to address the issues we identify. If people are hungry, feed them; if people are unhoused, house them: you do not need to ask for permission.

However, I guess I don't see the connection between visibility politics and your broader thesis. I mean its not like Schumer is avoiding visibility politics (which I think is you're suggesting to be the reason why Mamdani has been effective?). Schumer is doing a form of visibility politics, but one which entirely misses the issue. What is winning or moving the ball down the field is resistance politics, which you seem to be advocating against at a national level, because your argument is that the Schumer's of the world aren't competent at it, so they shouldnt try.

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 1 points 15 hours ago

My point is largely focused on not doing large counter events specifically, Schumer doing a stupid little media circuit at worst will annoy people but if they did a counter rally and brought out Schumer then that'll piss people off. Fact of the matter is the establishment Dems are either unwilling or incapable of holding against Trump and the Republicans, words must be backed by actions and all people see is capitulation. Mind you I am of the opinion that the Dems generally don't have enough votes to do much, but to me that seems like an issue that should have the response of say expelling Fetterman from the party maybe having one of the younger members punch McConnell IDK.

Like I said earlier this last stupid shit at the Whitehouse was massively unpopular teens for the Republicans single digits for the Democrats. Frankly letting it sit and be visible while calling it stupid, expensive, and corrupt while not giving a damn about the actual events is far more impactful than if they did a counter thing elsewhere. Same will probably be even more true on July 4th especially as shit continues to worsen since Trump is doing the circus without the bread which generally just pisses people off.

Point is the Dem establishment have created an issue via their own stupidity and weak willed actions that has directly fucked their ability to respond. Had they come out the gates swinging people would be a lot more forgiving but between the ratchet effect and bipartisan bullshit on their side they've made themselves impotent, individual members can get away with proper responses but the party as a whole can't. Well they could but ego, corruption, and stupidity wont allow them to say do a media event with just the progressive caucus and their internal allys.