Good piece that I wish public figures would read. But I have to say I have vastly more sympathy for civil servants than for business leaders or congress members here.
Truly ~ Outstanding passionate points of The TRUTH! Ready to march! Our generation must NOT be the generation that failed America 🇺🇸. As the Founders warned > “AMERICA, IF •• We can keep it!”
Since I'm sure you'll be writing about Lori Chavez-DeRemer a lot going forward, just wanted to mention that I've met her personally for journalism reasons and she's very openly very racist! Hate to see her described as a "decent" pick even if that's not quite what you meant. Love ur work, just letting u know!
Brilliant, perfect analysis! This is precisely the only approach that makes any sense at all (and allows for INTEGRITY to continue). The necessary ingredient is COURAGE. Will it be found, and exercised? Time will tell......
I will be using your words as inspiration for my local activist group's next angry tirade at our city council meeting. I live in the capitol city of the Florida of the North (formerly known as Iowa) and I've seen firsthand the groveling of our city leaders before the dictatorship of our state government and the Chamber of Commerce. I see the creeping fascism that you refer to. As Timothy Snyder said in one of his chapters in On Tyranny, our municipal leaders and most of our residents that vote are in a "collective coma."
This is a thoughtful analysis, and I generally agree with Nolan’s view of what he describes as a “strongman.” That said, this article appears charitably deferential to the legions of professional Democrats whose supposed opposition to Trump obscured the party’s active complicity—in over half a dozen ways—in his return to the White House. https://open.substack.com/pub/shahidbuttar/p/7-ways-democrats-made-donald-trump?r=97w99&utm_medium=ios
Nothing in this piece argues "Democrats are good." Quite the opposite! If Democrats were legitimate opposition we wouldn't have to worry about this. The willingness of Democrats and their allies to cut deals is what makes this an issue.
"Our job is to rip his weak heart out of his chest and send him to the political graveyard. The heroes of history are not the ones who kissed the ring." Stalwart advice -- please convey it with all speed to the Quislings, Chamberlains, and Milquetoasts of The Media who will sell their integrity for access.
I’m sure you know Timothy Snyder’s work; one shorter piece that’s available on here is The Strongman Fantasy. In short: Because we have a democratic tradition in this country, we’ve internalized without even realizing it the notion that if you support a candidate they will do what they said and what you want, or else risk losing your vote and/or your approval. When you elect a strongman that is not the case, and a lot of people are going to find that out good and hard (unfortunately so will a lot of people who knew better).
And yes, I throw up a little in my mouth every time I use the word “strongman” to refer to Donald Trump, one of the most pampered, coddled manchildren in our history. It’s an indictment of this country that we even produced him, let alone (sort of) elected him president twice.
Been laying low since election, kind of dazed feeling like welp the people have spoken. Nah! This guy and his crew are punks. Thanks for the wake-up call. I’m ready to hit the street once again. Just needed a little shove, appreciate it.
The people who would bend and kiss the ring are not people that I wish to have representing me, be they members of the US congress, union "leaders" or any boss whose company would hire me, whether to sweep the floor and empty the trash cans or to direct their human resources division in who and how to hire good, competent women and men to fill the roles needed by every decent company.
The people who would kiss the ring are likely related to Luigi Mangione, apparently the idiot that killed Brian Thompson, an asshat of his own devising. One jagoff killing another.
I'm going to say that I was one who thought Brian Thompson's death was due to economic distress- the loss of a parent or spouse due to the callous indifference of a remote company.
Nah, it was some shit-weasel who played online games pretending to be an assassin, and went ahead and did some wish fulfillment.
He did have a good head shot and looked cute in his mugshot, so he's got that going for him, which is good, I suppose, for those that like potential capital murder guys.
People like Trump will always be surrounded by a coterie of moral sellouts competing against each other trying to win his favor - such phenomenon isn't unique to Trump it's predictable so expect it.
Trump is the symptom of a nation that's run and controlled by the morally bankrupt - It's been that way for as long as it's been waging lie based wars of aggression in the pursuit of corporate profits.
What the US needs is a dramatic reduction in size, Like a Bull in a China shop, It's become far too large and destroys everything in it's path.
Good piece that I wish public figures would read. But I have to say I have vastly more sympathy for civil servants than for business leaders or congress members here.
Truly ~ Outstanding passionate points of The TRUTH! Ready to march! Our generation must NOT be the generation that failed America 🇺🇸. As the Founders warned > “AMERICA, IF •• We can keep it!”
𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺,
It should be embarrassing how little extra context is needed beyond these words to know EXACTLY who this is about.
Actually, I was thinking more locally, about Amer Ghalib, the Muslim mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, who disgusted many residents by endorsing Trump.
I wasn't totally sure before. Now I am.
Actually, I don't know who the reference is to.
My guess its NYC's Eric Adams
Click the link in the article. You will be the complete opposite of surprised.
Thanks, I didn't see the link reading through but found it when I went back. I should have known who Nolan was referring to.
its impossible to keep up with all the bad actors anymore...Don't feel bad
(:
Sad, but painfully true!
I am starting to work through the following reading list for the dark days ahead. Mr. Nolan's post echoes the concerns of the first book listed.
On Tyranny, Timothy Snyder
How Fascism Works, Paul Stanley
Domination and the Arts of Resistance, James C. Scott
Powers of the Weak, Elizabeth Janeway
In the Garden of Beasts, Erik Larsen
How to Stand Up to a Dictator, Maria Ressa
The name of the second to last author should be corrected to "Erik Larson." Mea culpa.
thanks for the list...I'll keep an eye out for them at B&N next time I go
Good writing here. Loved that last paragraph especially.
Omg yes. SO GOOD. Thank you, Hamilton.
Since I'm sure you'll be writing about Lori Chavez-DeRemer a lot going forward, just wanted to mention that I've met her personally for journalism reasons and she's very openly very racist! Hate to see her described as a "decent" pick even if that's not quite what you meant. Love ur work, just letting u know!
Racist how?
Brilliant, perfect analysis! This is precisely the only approach that makes any sense at all (and allows for INTEGRITY to continue). The necessary ingredient is COURAGE. Will it be found, and exercised? Time will tell......
I will be using your words as inspiration for my local activist group's next angry tirade at our city council meeting. I live in the capitol city of the Florida of the North (formerly known as Iowa) and I've seen firsthand the groveling of our city leaders before the dictatorship of our state government and the Chamber of Commerce. I see the creeping fascism that you refer to. As Timothy Snyder said in one of his chapters in On Tyranny, our municipal leaders and most of our residents that vote are in a "collective coma."
I was genuinely disappointed when I realised this wasn’t a deep dive on World’s Strongest Man 😞
That one has a simple answer:
https://www.ironmind-store.com/SUPER-SQUATS/productinfo/1200/
This is a thoughtful analysis, and I generally agree with Nolan’s view of what he describes as a “strongman.” That said, this article appears charitably deferential to the legions of professional Democrats whose supposed opposition to Trump obscured the party’s active complicity—in over half a dozen ways—in his return to the White House. https://open.substack.com/pub/shahidbuttar/p/7-ways-democrats-made-donald-trump?r=97w99&utm_medium=ios
Nothing in this piece argues "Democrats are good." Quite the opposite! If Democrats were legitimate opposition we wouldn't have to worry about this. The willingness of Democrats and their allies to cut deals is what makes this an issue.
neglect is a form of complicity
"Our job is to rip his weak heart out of his chest and send him to the political graveyard. The heroes of history are not the ones who kissed the ring." Stalwart advice -- please convey it with all speed to the Quislings, Chamberlains, and Milquetoasts of The Media who will sell their integrity for access.
I’m sure you know Timothy Snyder’s work; one shorter piece that’s available on here is The Strongman Fantasy. In short: Because we have a democratic tradition in this country, we’ve internalized without even realizing it the notion that if you support a candidate they will do what they said and what you want, or else risk losing your vote and/or your approval. When you elect a strongman that is not the case, and a lot of people are going to find that out good and hard (unfortunately so will a lot of people who knew better).
And yes, I throw up a little in my mouth every time I use the word “strongman” to refer to Donald Trump, one of the most pampered, coddled manchildren in our history. It’s an indictment of this country that we even produced him, let alone (sort of) elected him president twice.
Fuck yeah
Been laying low since election, kind of dazed feeling like welp the people have spoken. Nah! This guy and his crew are punks. Thanks for the wake-up call. I’m ready to hit the street once again. Just needed a little shove, appreciate it.
Too bad jim clyburn and adam schiff have already ceded ground to this motherfucker.
The people who would bend and kiss the ring are not people that I wish to have representing me, be they members of the US congress, union "leaders" or any boss whose company would hire me, whether to sweep the floor and empty the trash cans or to direct their human resources division in who and how to hire good, competent women and men to fill the roles needed by every decent company.
The people who would kiss the ring are likely related to Luigi Mangione, apparently the idiot that killed Brian Thompson, an asshat of his own devising. One jagoff killing another.
I'm going to say that I was one who thought Brian Thompson's death was due to economic distress- the loss of a parent or spouse due to the callous indifference of a remote company.
Nah, it was some shit-weasel who played online games pretending to be an assassin, and went ahead and did some wish fulfillment.
He did have a good head shot and looked cute in his mugshot, so he's got that going for him, which is good, I suppose, for those that like potential capital murder guys.
People like Trump will always be surrounded by a coterie of moral sellouts competing against each other trying to win his favor - such phenomenon isn't unique to Trump it's predictable so expect it.
Trump is the symptom of a nation that's run and controlled by the morally bankrupt - It's been that way for as long as it's been waging lie based wars of aggression in the pursuit of corporate profits.
What the US needs is a dramatic reduction in size, Like a Bull in a China shop, It's become far too large and destroys everything in it's path.