“The senator from Kentucky is now working for Vladimir Putin,” fumed John McCain back in March 2017. His target: Rand Paul, who had committed the unforgivable offense of momentarily delaying the latest round of NATO expansion. Montenegro, a tiny country in southeastern Europe that most Americans have never heard of, was about to join the sprawling military alliance — and McCain was determined to see the final ratification ritual proceed with as little debate as possible. So he hurled the time-honored “working for Putin” accusation, and sure enough, Paul quickly withdrew his minor procedural objection. The glorious ascension of Montenegro to NATO membership status was thereby assured.
I hate all this war mongering. We spent 20 years fighting dirt farmers, pretending they were an existential threat. And now, a totally European problem is somehow our problem? Like Russia is going to take over the world? I hated McCain and I hate Lindsay Graham for their bullshitz. Those two clowns spent their careers screaming for “boots on the ground” whenever some idiot in some shit-hole burned an American flag.
I don’t want to believe this, but it’s probably correct. Which means some of us ex-Democrats don’t have a political home. Most of our current political class seems to believe we should project American power over the whole world.
Scott Ritter’s tweet – April 6, 2022 (he was immediately banned from Tweeter – soon reinstated without explanation). Scott courageously fought US bipartisan War party’s WMD fraud in Iraq.
“The Ukrainian National Police committed numerous crimes against humanity in Bucha. Biden, in seeking to shift blame for the Bucha murders to Russia, is guilty of aiding and abetting these crimes. Congratulations America…. We’ve created yet another Presidential war criminal !!”
I have no where to go. I need a new party. The uni-party in DC is ALWAYS pro war. The Republicans were cruising to victory in the midterms and suddenly committ mass suicide. Our leaders should be seeking peace. Pursue American interests, solve American problems. God help us.
I think the days are numbered for the neocons in years not decades. Hopefully the same for the neocon/ neoliberals that have all the bad characteristics of neocons combined with the personalities and policy proposals of very dumbest and angriest middle school girls.
While I think the neocon tendency is fading among the base, it is 1) not fading particularly fast, 2) not fading due to Trump's influence (as Michael correctly points out), and 3) most importantly and above all has never faded even to the slightest degree in DC, where dissent from war is very much a niche occupation. Arguably the most visible anti-war politician with a national platform is Tulsi Gabbard, who doesn't hold elected office and is hated by her own party. On the Republican side... Rand Paul is probably the most visible. Thomas Massie probably the most sincere, but unknown on a national basis. It's grim to be sure, and hence all the crowing about the new, peaceful Republican realignment is premature at best and delusional at worst.
So what do you do when there really is no difference between the parties on the real issues, like war?
The thing is D and R are just labels. When it comes right down to it, this is about class and a certain class of people profit from war, directly and through the distraction it brings. End of story. And Josh Hawley disappoints me, but I'm not particularly surprised.
It really is unnerving to finally realize that your country is run by lunatics. And we don't have a choice. There really is only one political party in this country. It pretends to be two by specializing in various rhetoric that, via market studies, appeals to various demographics in the US, and done so in such a fashion as to split the country in two as close as possible.
We're a kakistocracy, run by loons and incompetents who only achieved their status because of their ability to manipulate human emotions at the lizard brain level. I seriously half expect to see a Code Pink protest one day soon waving Ukrainian flags and calling for a No Fly Zone. Even our critical NGOs are run by nutters... or just the CIA.
I never, ever liked John McCain. He was a nasty man more at home with the Democrats than the Republicans. Treacherous to conservatives.
Lindsay Graham is an opportunist.
I don't know one person in Florida who likes Rick Scott. He won, by slim majorities, as governor and Senator, because he was the Republican in the race. Sometimes it is your opponent who gives you the win. Although I have to admit that he governed conservatively for 2 terms and handled a devastating hurricane season very well.
Josh Hawley is a good man. I can see your objection to Ted Cruz. He's weird at times. Didn't he call the Jan. 6th protesters terrorists not too long ago? Marco Rubio is a good man. I think the run for 2016 deflated him in many ways.
You lost me when you attacked Dave Rubin. What was that about? He's a comedian and he was there probably to open the event. He has a daily one hour podcast on locals and now on Rumble. He's a breath of fresh air. He has gone from liberal to conservative and as a new conservative and a new Floridian has a fresh take on local culture and politics. He doesn't put himself out there as a policy expert or a brainiac. So what? He's a regular guy who has worked hard for his success. Your snide comments were not appreciated by me.
Excellent write up. What will be interesting in 2022 and 2024 is that the rebranding is at the voter level. MAGA is out there, it's tired of intervention, and the movement is pretty large. They hate the Grahams and McConnells of the world, and they're never seen in Corporate Press, mostly because Bannon has been made a pariah.
Official Conservatism is exactly what you describe so well here. These are awful people. That picture said 1000 words. Barf being one of them.
Truth be told. McCain was "full of it". It's my understanding His OWN Presidential Run CAMPAIGN MANAGER, Rick Davis, worked for Russian money in a most DIRECT manner, with Paul Manafort, working to ensure Yulia Tymoshenko was...get this... PUT IN JAIL for exposing russian corruption! So yeah, McCain, if you're in a hot place, give it a rest!
Peace is never on the ballot.
There is an Afghan proverb that says: Donkey is the same donkey but with a different packsaddle.
I hate all this war mongering. We spent 20 years fighting dirt farmers, pretending they were an existential threat. And now, a totally European problem is somehow our problem? Like Russia is going to take over the world? I hated McCain and I hate Lindsay Graham for their bullshitz. Those two clowns spent their careers screaming for “boots on the ground” whenever some idiot in some shit-hole burned an American flag.
I wish you were wrong, Mr. Tracey. But you are so right. The USA has only a uniparty, and it wants war.
I don’t want to believe this, but it’s probably correct. Which means some of us ex-Democrats don’t have a political home. Most of our current political class seems to believe we should project American power over the whole world.
Thank you !!
Interview w/Scott Ritter, April 6, 2022, By Don DeBar -- Bucha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfHohl6gCJY
------------------------------------------------
Scott Ritter’s tweet – April 6, 2022 (he was immediately banned from Tweeter – soon reinstated without explanation). Scott courageously fought US bipartisan War party’s WMD fraud in Iraq.
“The Ukrainian National Police committed numerous crimes against humanity in Bucha. Biden, in seeking to shift blame for the Bucha murders to Russia, is guilty of aiding and abetting these crimes. Congratulations America…. We’ve created yet another Presidential war criminal !!”
I have no where to go. I need a new party. The uni-party in DC is ALWAYS pro war. The Republicans were cruising to victory in the midterms and suddenly committ mass suicide. Our leaders should be seeking peace. Pursue American interests, solve American problems. God help us.
I think the days are numbered for the neocons in years not decades. Hopefully the same for the neocon/ neoliberals that have all the bad characteristics of neocons combined with the personalities and policy proposals of very dumbest and angriest middle school girls.
While I think the neocon tendency is fading among the base, it is 1) not fading particularly fast, 2) not fading due to Trump's influence (as Michael correctly points out), and 3) most importantly and above all has never faded even to the slightest degree in DC, where dissent from war is very much a niche occupation. Arguably the most visible anti-war politician with a national platform is Tulsi Gabbard, who doesn't hold elected office and is hated by her own party. On the Republican side... Rand Paul is probably the most visible. Thomas Massie probably the most sincere, but unknown on a national basis. It's grim to be sure, and hence all the crowing about the new, peaceful Republican realignment is premature at best and delusional at worst.
So what do you do when there really is no difference between the parties on the real issues, like war?
The thing is D and R are just labels. When it comes right down to it, this is about class and a certain class of people profit from war, directly and through the distraction it brings. End of story. And Josh Hawley disappoints me, but I'm not particularly surprised.
It really is unnerving to finally realize that your country is run by lunatics. And we don't have a choice. There really is only one political party in this country. It pretends to be two by specializing in various rhetoric that, via market studies, appeals to various demographics in the US, and done so in such a fashion as to split the country in two as close as possible.
We're a kakistocracy, run by loons and incompetents who only achieved their status because of their ability to manipulate human emotions at the lizard brain level. I seriously half expect to see a Code Pink protest one day soon waving Ukrainian flags and calling for a No Fly Zone. Even our critical NGOs are run by nutters... or just the CIA.
I never, ever liked John McCain. He was a nasty man more at home with the Democrats than the Republicans. Treacherous to conservatives.
Lindsay Graham is an opportunist.
I don't know one person in Florida who likes Rick Scott. He won, by slim majorities, as governor and Senator, because he was the Republican in the race. Sometimes it is your opponent who gives you the win. Although I have to admit that he governed conservatively for 2 terms and handled a devastating hurricane season very well.
Josh Hawley is a good man. I can see your objection to Ted Cruz. He's weird at times. Didn't he call the Jan. 6th protesters terrorists not too long ago? Marco Rubio is a good man. I think the run for 2016 deflated him in many ways.
You lost me when you attacked Dave Rubin. What was that about? He's a comedian and he was there probably to open the event. He has a daily one hour podcast on locals and now on Rumble. He's a breath of fresh air. He has gone from liberal to conservative and as a new conservative and a new Floridian has a fresh take on local culture and politics. He doesn't put himself out there as a policy expert or a brainiac. So what? He's a regular guy who has worked hard for his success. Your snide comments were not appreciated by me.
Excellent write up. What will be interesting in 2022 and 2024 is that the rebranding is at the voter level. MAGA is out there, it's tired of intervention, and the movement is pretty large. They hate the Grahams and McConnells of the world, and they're never seen in Corporate Press, mostly because Bannon has been made a pariah.
Official Conservatism is exactly what you describe so well here. These are awful people. That picture said 1000 words. Barf being one of them.
Truth be told. McCain was "full of it". It's my understanding His OWN Presidential Run CAMPAIGN MANAGER, Rick Davis, worked for Russian money in a most DIRECT manner, with Paul Manafort, working to ensure Yulia Tymoshenko was...get this... PUT IN JAIL for exposing russian corruption! So yeah, McCain, if you're in a hot place, give it a rest!
Kramatorsk Train Station attack was supposedly not the Russians: https://twitter.com/abunin/status/1512371891025195010
Anyone have more info?
Yup, the US is f*cked. Not a single intelligent, ethical leader in power. Last days of the Roman Empire.