this post was submitted on 08 Jan 2026
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Like, yeah, they can 'get away with' ending soft power. They can 'get away with' extrajudicial killings. They're operating off of pure machismo right now. They're getting drunk on their vices. They're stripping masks where masks wouldn't be advised to be stripped. I feel like I understand now that Fascism is, in part, an expression of weakness. They wouldn't be doing this unless they were scared. It's too volatile. It feels both too late on a power-level and too early on a popular-level. Never mind the ticking time bomb that is AI data centers. It feels like, and I'm sure this is cope, there is a timer on their ability to run the circus much longer.

My first instinct here is to doubt myself, intellectual pessimism and all. In that vein, maybe this is just revolutionary optimism, but we're at the point where it feels like there is a palpable anger brewing in the basement. I don't know. Maybe Palantir works as an anti-communist panopticon and we just death spiral forever. I don't want to lose hope.

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[–] john_brown@hexbear.net 21 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Then the Dems will control investigative committees with full subpoena and arrest powers.

How in the world could you believe this? How have the scales not fallen from your eyes? What consequences were there for the targeted assassination of Michael Reinoehl by the DHS? Biden had four years to even do a rote investigation to make it look like the Dems care and they didn't even bother to do that. The Democrats are not on your side and they never ever will be. They are on the side of the wealthy. ICE isn't a problem for the wealthy.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today -3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The Dems learned a hard lesson from the fecklessness of the Biden Administration, and they know how furious the voters are at them. Right now we still have Jeffries and that cowardly, simpering little bitch Schmuck Schumer as leaders, but if Dems take over, they are unlikely to last.

IF the Midterms Elections happen, it is very likely to be a bloodbath, and a lot of new Dems are going to come into Congress, perhaps even replacing some of the weak Dems from the past. They will enter Congress with real political capital and power behind them, as well as the righteous indignation of the voters, and the Dems leadership will have to listen, or be replaced, which should happen anyway. These people have already proven they're cowardly losers. Go sit down, and STFU.

The next time Democrats get power, they'd better use it against MAGA, and use it ruthlessly, or else. Right now, Revolution isn't happening because we still think we have a chance under the Democrats, but if they fail again, and especially if they fail deliberately, then the Democratic Party will be in as much trouble with the American people as MAGA, and without any party to defend them, the American people will have no choice but to defend ourselves.

[–] john_brown@hexbear.net 18 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

The Dems learned a hard lesson

I would love to hear the actions or statements by the Democrats that led you to believe this. From where I sit, there has been no change, nothing even coming close to acknowledging their past grievous errors, and certainly not a single whisper of any plans to do anything about this shit. They support ICE, they support kidnapping Maduro and are just a little bit peeved they didn't get to put their signatures on it, they support economic warfare against China and Russia, they like bombing Iran. They're all just Republicans with a civility fetish.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today -2 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Hard to respond when you are just making shit up:

They support ICE, they support kidnapping Maduro and are just a little bit peeved they didn't get to put their signatures on it...they like bombing Iran.

That's really dumb, and has no basis in reality. This part:

they support economic warfare against China and Russia

Is true, and we should keep economic pressure on them. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Moving on, this request:

I would love to hear the actions or statements by the Democrats that led you to believe this.

A few months into MAGA 2.0, I saw an interview with Adam Schiff, who I generally respect. He's an old school Democratic weakling, but he's shown a bit of willingness to fight back (along with Raskin), so I want to encourage that inclination. Anyway, he was asked about the MAGA blitzkrieg of EOs and illegal actions, and he was very contrite in saying that they underestimated America 's willingness to handle "bold action," and MAGA clearly demonstrated that it was possible. It was clear that HE, at least, had a change of heart, and I suspect he's not alone. He knows they made mistakes, and the American voters are going to take it out on them at the polls. I doubt they will proceed with the same strategies, or they will get their asses kicked even worse the next time around.

And as I have said in other posts, it isn't about what they've done in the past, which is worse than shameful, it's been political malpractice, nearly to a criminal degree. It's about the future, with new blood, like those we've seen come on over the last few years, like Frost, Slotkin, AOC, Smallwell, etc. Then there are the new rising stars like Kelly and Walz, who nobody thinks is going to back down.

The point is that there is every reason to believe that the incoming Democratic freshman Congressional Reps, and hopefully some Senators, too, will be Democratic Warriors. They wouldn't make it out the primaries if they weren't. This time around, people aren't going to be trying to elect a "Good Democrat," or vote against a bad candidate, they will be voting for Democratic Warriors who will aggressively take the fight to MAGAs and stand toe-to-toe with them. Those Old School Democrat Weenies who have fed us to the wolves, and manage to squeak out another term, better get with the program, or get stomped.

[–] Inui@hexbear.net 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

The fierce Democratic Warriors like:

*Slotkin - A former CIA operative heavily funded by AIPAC who believes Israel 'has a right to defend itself'

*Smallwell - sponsored legislation that made it illegal to boycott Israeli goods and businesses

*AOC - has voted twice, once in July after the genocide had been ongoing and in the spotlight, to keep funding the Iron Dome that allows Israel to conduct their heinous actions without fear of retaliation

I'll give you Frost since he's changed his views, but it sounds like you don't really care if the US war machine keeps destroying the rest of the world, as long as they turn the dial down on their own citizens a little bit. In a just society, they would be in the same jail block as the current administration.

same-as-it-ever-was

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm concerned about the very real existential threat facing THIS country. Sorry about everywhere else, but our own house is on fire.

[–] john_brown@hexbear.net 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 0 points 2 days ago (2 children)

No, I'm not, you Putz. I've got Nazi Zombies on my doorstep trying to get in, I'm concentrating on my own country right now. Whoever commits to fully crushing and purging MAGA gets my vote. I don't care what they think about anything else. When MAGA is handled, we can then afford to address the issues of other nations.

Sick of trolls trying to get us to take our eye off the ball.

[–] m532@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Even worse, you are a neoliberal. An enemy of humanity.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

You obviously don't know what a neo liberal is.

[–] john_brown@hexbear.net 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] john_brown@hexbear.net 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I bet being wrong all the time gets old

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

WTF? You expect me to defend these fucking losers? I hate Jeffries and Schmuck Schumer as much as Trump. They're just Shadow MAGAs. They are 50% responsible for MAGA being in power. When the Dems take back power, these two cowardly bitches need to be investigated as much as the MAGA criminals.

You are really bad at this.

[–] john_brown@hexbear.net 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Defending future democrats while hating the current democrats is the dumbest thing I've read today

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's called Hope & Change. Obama won an election with it, I'd like to see someone lead with it.

Right now, while there is still a glimmer of a chance to get out of this, we need to remain optimistic about every path to success we can imagine. At least one of them might work.

[–] PowerLurker@hexbear.net 8 points 3 days ago

Is true, and we should keep economic pressure on them. Nothing wrong with that at all.

PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS PIGPOOPBALLS

[–] john_brown@hexbear.net 11 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Is true, and we should keep economic pressure on them. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Oh, you're an imperialist. No big surprise then that your analysis and beliefs are all complete fantasies.

Moving on, holy shit, you're hilarious

MAGA clearly demonstrated that it was possible

So one single guy said doing more is possible, not that he will pursue it, and you bought that?

I'm not going to keep this up because you're a simple rube. The Dems will do nothing and you will keep voting for them as they shed more and more of the mask until one day you'll wake up and just be an outright fascist. Maybe you'll be doing the roman salute at a DNC convention in ecstatic joy with all the other vote blue no matter who fascists. Either way, it's clear you're not willing to grapple with reality. I hope you have a terrible day, you sucker.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today -1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

Imperialist? Because I recognize the perfectly normal competitive economic relationship between nations? You think competing economically with a country means we are Imperialists? Does that mean we shouldn't pursue economic arrangements with Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan, India, etc, because it would make us Imperialist? That sounds like a MAGA America First strategy. Seriously DUMB take.

And the "one single guy" was just the example I used, but it is by no means the only one (AOC, Crockett, Smallwell, Frost, Stefanik, Slotkin, etc.), but since I only offered one example that PROVES MY POINT, you think it allows you to move the goalposts, and once again disingenuously misconstrue my argument. Weak. Very weak.

Schiff isn't just "one single guy," he is an important member of Democratic Leadership, and a potential replacement for Jeffries. He is also respected by his colleagues AND voters. When he goes on Meet The Press, or some other Sunday morning political show, he isn't just offering his own personal opinion, he is there on behalf of the Democratic leadership, and is speaking for the entire Democratic party. THAT is the reason that the show puts him on in the first place. They know he is speaking for the party.

You're calling me a Rube, but you don't understand the slightest thing about how politics is played, completely leaning on whatever political science nonsense you learned from some Community College professor, probably some local MAGA, while passing the bong with your equally genius pals.

And BTW, I will NEVER be defending the Democratic Party, at least the past party. I have been an Unafilliated Independent since I first registered to vote in 1977. I have never been a fan of the Democratic Party, and didn't even vote for a Democrat until Gore in 2000 (I didn't vote Republican, either).

My speculations are based on historical precedent, based on my own education and degrees in history, as well as closely observing politics since the 60s, watching the Vietnam War, and hoping it ended before I got drafted. Politics has been personal to me since before I was 10 years old, and I know what I'm talking about, not from some philosophy class and discussions with my stoned buddies, who know just enough to be dangerous, but from actually LIVING it.

And another BTW, I like how you attack on the "Imperialism" thing, but completely ignored the fact that I called you out for lying about Democrats approving of kidnapping Maduro, supporting ICE, and approving of the bombing of Iran, and you just let it go by, to go on the offense about Imperialism. Show me where Democrats have supported ICE, or wanted to "sign off" on the Maduro kidnapping (WTF?). Those are two of the dumbest takes I've ever heard. Really ridiculous assertions with absolutely no basis in fact. Hard cringe, Junior. You should be seriously embarrassed, and a person with the slightest self-awareness would delete their posts. But I doubt that's you.

So get back to class, live a little life, and come back when you actually KNOW something real.

[–] m532@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Is this what they call "copypasta material"?

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago

Ooh, edgy Internet lingo. Groovy.

[–] john_brown@hexbear.net 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Not surprising. You should learn, and add Critical Thinking Skills as well.

[–] john_brown@hexbear.net 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago

Won't load, learn to use the Internet too.