I'm glad you're back. ;) Take a break when you can. Radical self-care. The hardest part to accept once you 'see" what's happening (been happening for decades) is that it will never be "over." I hope you had time to regroup, catch your breath. Pacing ourselves will be everything. I'm very grateful for your insights.
I've been thinking about NASDAP-era slang that best describes many of these new-fash bandwagoneers. Two terms in particular, "Märzveilchen" (March Violets) used to describe recent party members who joined AFTER the NASDAP gained power through the Enabling Act in 1933. The joke is that these new members sprung up like violets in spring. And "Rindersteak Nazi" (Beefsteak Nazi) to describe those of either leftist leanings or politically amoral socialists [EDIT: Apparatchiks would be a better term than socialists...which I was thinking of 'socialist' as used at that time...Democratic Socialists were the equivalent of center-right status quo folks.) who joined the NASDAP party to expedite access to jobs and privileges. The joke of the term, red on the inside/brown on the outside.
Ultimately, the internal battles between the "alte Kämpfer" (Old Fighters) and the newcomers caused many problems trying to run a government from 1933 to 1945. The Old were ideological purists with their rabble 'army' vs. the savvy, opportunistic New Guard interested in attaining personal wealth and power. Before any of them are able to implement policies, there will be lots of infighting, as the entire enterprise is, to use another vintage slang phrase, a handbag full of cobras.
History can be useful in predicting what plays this modern NASDAP will use.
Pete Hegseth is a graduate of Princeton and Harvard’s Kennedy School. Steve Bannon went to Georgetown and Harvard University. The irony from the so-called anti elitist faction is palpable.
I trust you and have learned a lot from you, but I don't know how often I'll be able to read this without wanting to throw myself off a cliff. I'm not burying my head in the sand...I'm terrified. The media is a huge huge problem and are even now sane-washing the certifiable and the deeply dangerous.
Now, more than ever, we need your laser brain. After the vapid ‘coverage’ of this appointment yesterday, your post clears away the obfuscation deflecting us from seeing the awful truth. White hot, and empowering. Pace yourself, you’ve been at it for a long time already.
“In a world armed to the teeth, I don’t like strong antagonistic stances.”
David James Duncan, “Sun House”
Last night I dreamt that our next Secretary of Defense wanted to arrive at all meetings with foreign counterparts on a Viking ship and be hailed as Hegseth the Raven Fucker. When asked about this, Dream Trump admitted that he doesn’t know what a raven is but said that Hegseth is part of the “third third” of his economic plan: “Tariffs, lower taxes for billionaires and exporting total bafflement.”
Yanno, I can’t help but wonder if this sets the U.S. up for a military coup. If the Senate actually approves this man as Secretary of Defense, I can see it happening. Congress thinks they have their fingers on the pulse of America, but they don’t. I agree with the concept of “civilian” control over the military but if Orange Panda gets his pick approved it will cause great dissension in ranks. Sure there are lots of the U.S. military that support MAGA but there are lots that don’t. It could get really ugly.
It's hard to know to what extent this man will be taken seriously by the military? Like all not-very-bright extremists, his fantasies colliding with reality will be his unravelling. What will happen, though, is a period of instability and confusion while the unravelling plays out.
As a German, I am… out of words. This is "Dolchstoßlegende" 101. I am disgusted, but even more, scared.
yeah. And the next installment of this will get even more into "stabbed in the back" mythos.
So which H is Trump? Hindenburg or Hitler himself?
Prolly Hindenburg? Right? I would expect Vance to be Hitler…
I'm glad you're back. ;) Take a break when you can. Radical self-care. The hardest part to accept once you 'see" what's happening (been happening for decades) is that it will never be "over." I hope you had time to regroup, catch your breath. Pacing ourselves will be everything. I'm very grateful for your insights.
I've been thinking about NASDAP-era slang that best describes many of these new-fash bandwagoneers. Two terms in particular, "Märzveilchen" (March Violets) used to describe recent party members who joined AFTER the NASDAP gained power through the Enabling Act in 1933. The joke is that these new members sprung up like violets in spring. And "Rindersteak Nazi" (Beefsteak Nazi) to describe those of either leftist leanings or politically amoral socialists [EDIT: Apparatchiks would be a better term than socialists...which I was thinking of 'socialist' as used at that time...Democratic Socialists were the equivalent of center-right status quo folks.) who joined the NASDAP party to expedite access to jobs and privileges. The joke of the term, red on the inside/brown on the outside.
Ultimately, the internal battles between the "alte Kämpfer" (Old Fighters) and the newcomers caused many problems trying to run a government from 1933 to 1945. The Old were ideological purists with their rabble 'army' vs. the savvy, opportunistic New Guard interested in attaining personal wealth and power. Before any of them are able to implement policies, there will be lots of infighting, as the entire enterprise is, to use another vintage slang phrase, a handbag full of cobras.
History can be useful in predicting what plays this modern NASDAP will use.
Pete Hegseth is a graduate of Princeton and Harvard’s Kennedy School. Steve Bannon went to Georgetown and Harvard University. The irony from the so-called anti elitist faction is palpable.
Jeff,
I trust you and have learned a lot from you, but I don't know how often I'll be able to read this without wanting to throw myself off a cliff. I'm not burying my head in the sand...I'm terrified. The media is a huge huge problem and are even now sane-washing the certifiable and the deeply dangerous.
Thank you, Jeff. We need your voice.
Hegseth is a crypto bro who chose to put his money in one of the biggest and most obvious crypto frauds that collapsed in 2022.
https://substack.com/profile/96801203-michel-de-cryptadamus/note/c-77060678
He's completely unfit for the job.
Contact your senators. He's not confirmed yet.
I knew nothing about this guy but as soon as I saw him I thought "this has something to do with Eddie Gallagher." Of course.
Now, more than ever, we need your laser brain. After the vapid ‘coverage’ of this appointment yesterday, your post clears away the obfuscation deflecting us from seeing the awful truth. White hot, and empowering. Pace yourself, you’ve been at it for a long time already.
Jeff. I just subscribed. Vermonters unite.
“In a world armed to the teeth, I don’t like strong antagonistic stances.”
David James Duncan, “Sun House”
Last night I dreamt that our next Secretary of Defense wanted to arrive at all meetings with foreign counterparts on a Viking ship and be hailed as Hegseth the Raven Fucker. When asked about this, Dream Trump admitted that he doesn’t know what a raven is but said that Hegseth is part of the “third third” of his economic plan: “Tariffs, lower taxes for billionaires and exporting total bafflement.”
Yanno, I can’t help but wonder if this sets the U.S. up for a military coup. If the Senate actually approves this man as Secretary of Defense, I can see it happening. Congress thinks they have their fingers on the pulse of America, but they don’t. I agree with the concept of “civilian” control over the military but if Orange Panda gets his pick approved it will cause great dissension in ranks. Sure there are lots of the U.S. military that support MAGA but there are lots that don’t. It could get really ugly.
For what, exactly, did Hegseth earn 2 bronze stars??
Very disappointed and disturbing!
It's hard to know to what extent this man will be taken seriously by the military? Like all not-very-bright extremists, his fantasies colliding with reality will be his unravelling. What will happen, though, is a period of instability and confusion while the unravelling plays out.