Mastodawn

Lin Burylo Sep 26, 2023

🏳️‍🌈🖖🏽

We need to acknowledge the hard truth that we are officially in a new era where shots are being called by a small cabal of radicals or even a single obstructionist senator. And, to be frank, that is a dangerous and fundamentally undemocratic thing.

How is it that our democracy can be held hostage by such a small group of extremists? And what, if anything, can be done to limit the damage and prevent such hostage taking in the future? https://thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/mccarthy-tuberville-gaetz-gop-minority

Tuberville And Gaetz Take GOP Minority Rule To New Level

Never before have so few members of Congress wielded such enormous power.

The Big Picture

Joshua Tretakoff Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei: As much as I detest their methods, this was actually what the founders envisioned. They wanted to the minority to have some sort of power so that the government could not ride roughshod over them and force compromise. I hate the process, but respect the intention.

Kid Mania Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei
🤔
"...𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞..."
--𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬
@AnarchoNinaWrites

DavePerrino ✅Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei The fundamental issue is in Congress we currently have leaders in name only. Neither McCarthy nor McConnell are fit to lead their parties. One is weak and stupid, the other is medically unfit.
Remember however, congress is no longer answerable to their constituents. We have allowed them to only be beholden to the monied interests.

John Autry Sep 26, 2023

Mopperswompf Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei
It’s very scary what’s happening in your country. I’m watching from the other side of the big pond and it’s rather worrying.
I hope, for everyone’s sake, it’ll shift to a more positive and inclusive US.
It’ll be a more lovely place.
For now I rather stay on this side of the ocean, if you don’t mind.

🏳️‍🌈🖖🏽Sep 26, 2023

@mopperswompf That's totally fair! But thank you for the well wishes. I have the same hope. ♥️

Marc Batko Sep 26, 2023

The Afghan horror over 20 years cost $2.2 trillion ($300 million a day) and Ukraine war has cost $100 billion ($232 million a day for 500 days).

Ukrainians are sacrificed in a senseless economic or proxy war.
Russia is part of Europe and has security and sovereignty rights!

www.geopoliticaleconomy.com

Negotiations now!!

mbo77 Sep 26, 2023

@demandside @georgetakei

The problem is that Ruzzia is not offering any negotiations.

How do you think to solve this issue?

W6KME Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei The solution is simple...when one party has a clear majority, extremists lose their leverage.

The GOP decided to sleep with dogs, and have found that the stink doesn't wash off. They will do whatever it takes to keep the teabaggers happy.

Holger Fiallo Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei Because human sheeps allow it. Simple. They give them power over all of us. After something tragic happens and people get hurt, they pretend they did not know and someone else did it. Check Germany in the 30s, human sheeps gave power to a group of psychotic people and later deny anything or blame someone else.

Threadbane Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei
How is it we've fallen prey to people who are such pitiably ignorant, stupid, uneducated people like Tuberville and Gym Jordan? (No, a law degree is not any indication of a good education, it's a trade certificate.) Lauren Boebert didn't even earn her GED until after she was elected and EmptyGreene is a marginally literate psychopath. At least Hitler was literate! The one calling the most shots, Trump, is literally demented and cognitively impaired as well as profoundly ignorant.

Silver Fang Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei What can we do about it except vote them out?

GQPHypocrisy Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei Hi George! That's because those extremist run the ENTIRE Republican Party! Republicans can EASILY ignore them if they want. They just don't want because shutting down America AGAIN if preferable to Trans Kids NOT killing themselves!

CheDN Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei Because the fucking democrats will not change the senate rules, nor will they use them as do the right wingers.

Nimbus Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei
Change the rules
@stevesplace

Michael Coon Sep 26, 2023

@georgetakei
I share your frustration and basically agree, but… on a recent episode of the Make Me Smart podcast, host Kimberly Adams (@kimberlyadams) made the point that as a black woman, the changes that give her a place in this country came from radicals using minority levers of power. It was a new perspective for me

The discussion is about 12 minutes into this episode:
https://www.marketplace.org/shows/make-me-smart/whats-happening-in-congress-is-not-normal/

What's happening in Congress is not normal - Marketplace

And a fighter jet disappeared. How?

Marketplace

Its Not A Hoax 🤞Sep 27, 2023

@georgetakei Much of the blame has to do with gerrymandered districting. As Dr. Cox Richardson pointed out in yesterday's blog post, many of these Republicans at the U.S. and state level can do and say whatever they like because they know they're safe. Their reelection is assured, leaving them free to cater to all the worst elements in our society and to the wealthy donor class. They are simply not accountable to the majority of any given state's voters. The fight has really come down to the judicial system, which is why many believe the battle for democracy will be won or lost in the courts, not necessarily at the ballot box.

Mommabelle Sep 27, 2023

@PDFlynn @georgetakei Yes, her essay yesterday was highly instructive, but oh so depressing!