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Mr. Scorpio

(73,759 posts)
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 09:23 PM Jan 15

Why do I get the dreaded feeling that we've just witnessed the farewell address of the Last American President?

I wonder what's in store for the fate of the nation.

81 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Why do I get the dreaded feeling that we've just witnessed the farewell address of the Last American President? (Original Post) Mr. Scorpio Jan 15 OP
Grief. Hekate Jan 15 #1
Recommeded. H2O Man Jan 15 #2
There are zero guardrails, and immune, immune, immune. Bluethroughu Jan 16 #26
Very good. H2O Man Jan 16 #27
Staying home is our only option, this is not Bluethroughu Jan 16 #28
I agree that H2O Man Jan 16 #31
Well, I know you are right on everything, and I appreciate Bluethroughu Jan 16 #32
And I do like H2O Man Jan 16 #33
I will be only spending at non trumpster establishments. Bluethroughu Jan 16 #61
On the contrary: we must be out supporting our freedoms whenever possible. Magoo48 Jan 16 #60
I know Magoo48. Bluethroughu Jan 16 #63
I agree. We are required to be more creative than ever. I will be difficult. Magoo48 Jan 16 #66
I know someone who keeps a piece of board from a protest... Ohioboy Jan 16 #55
I'll take Shindler's List for several hundred souls.... Backseat Driver Jan 16 #49
Sending you some healing and comforting energy 💚 Clouds Passing Jan 16 #79
Trump's Enablers Still Refuse Asarchus45 Jan 16 #73
I'm afraid you are correct. Bluethroughu Jan 16 #76
It Depends upon what We Do delisen Jan 15 #3
I completely agree, but ... Trueblue Texan Jan 15 #18
Read Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny bdamomma Jan 15 #23
Be like Michelle Obama BonnieJW Jan 16 #46
I wouldn't watch that day, if a billionaire paid me a million dollars. Bluethroughu Jan 16 #65
I would for a million. maxsolomon Jan 16 #69
I guess if I was offered cash, Bluethroughu Jan 16 #71
When this book came out I bought 20 copies defacto7 Jan 16 #62
Wow bdamomma Jan 16 #67
I agree bdamomma Jan 15 #22
We work in our communities and plan for an election season. Bluethroughu Jan 16 #29
I feel the same. Scrivener7 Jan 15 #4
Trump's return feels like a nation in crisis Skittles Jan 15 #5
I was crying JustAnotherGen Jan 15 #6
For the same reasons people said the same thing about Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden EdmondDantes_ Jan 15 #7
oh please Skittles Jan 15 #12
I think it's good that we consider the brighter side of things too...thx PortTack Jan 15 #13
Republicans are the enemy angrychair Jan 15 #21
And it's republicans BonnieJW Jan 16 #47
Concise and accurate! Clouds Passing Jan 16 #80
Totally Agree DeepWinter Jan 16 #39
I don't think JustAnotherGen Jan 16 #41
We have lost all three branches bronxiteforever Jan 15 #8
Hope. Frank D. Lincoln Jan 16 #53
But you and I cannot predict the future bronxiteforever Jan 16 #56
You're right. nt Frank D. Lincoln Jan 16 #59
That's their New World Order that poppy promised us Clouds Passing Jan 16 #81
RIP America 1776-2025 kimbutgar Jan 15 #9
We had a good run. Irish_Dem Jan 15 #14
I'm despondent too, but I do not believe this. Trueblue Texan Jan 15 #19
I sincerely hope you are correct! kimbutgar Jan 15 #24
I don't believe JustAnotherGen Jan 16 #42
VonSchitzInPants is going to try along w Phootie and the MuskRat NoMoreRepugs Jan 15 #10
Hearing the sound of tavernier Jan 15 #11
Trumps' economy will fail. Voters won't be happy. Trump doesn't have long to live anyway, he doesn't care as long as he Exp Jan 15 #15
VFAFO hay rick Jan 15 #16
No, we will survive this as we survived Nixon and Reagan. Martin68 Jan 15 #17
This is different. Trueblue Texan Jan 15 #20
Reagan and Nixon JustAnotherGen Jan 16 #43
Money lovers Blue Full Moon Jan 16 #57
Because... 2naSalit Jan 15 #25
"...we will survive this as we survived Nixon and Reagan." J_William_Ryan Jan 16 #30
Oh MAN, Reagan was the kiss of death. calimary Jan 16 #54
It was predicted: 1900; or, The last President by Lockwood, Ingersoll, 1841- Publication date 1896 usonian Jan 16 #34
I keep thinking of the Holy Roman Empire FullySupportDems Jan 16 #35
I am also worried LetMyPeopleVote Jan 16 #36
True democracy is dead and will never return in our lifetime imo yaesu Jan 16 #37
What's in store - grief, poverty, hate, hurt and the destruction of everything good about the country. lark Jan 16 #38
For some, it started early, the unemployment and destroyed the hope of recovery; after years of escalating costs we have Backseat Driver Jan 16 #52
He won't be the last, but the next ones will be President for life. surfered Jan 16 #40
Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg to receive a key perk on Inauguration Day LetMyPeopleVote Jan 16 #44
...because quite possibly you did. N/t NNadir Jan 16 #45
One of my good friends flew out of the country yesterday - TBF Jan 16 #48
"...what's in store for the state of the nation." LudwigPastorius Jan 16 #50
Politically we're finished. Regulation by the State, WWII style, is over. bucolic_frolic Jan 16 #51
It's not. We're in for a shit show, but I am not conceding EVEN IN THOUGHT, that this is the last election. F them. themaguffin Jan 16 #58
We are only finished if we allow it. Linda ladeewolf Jan 16 #64
Well, catastrophic climate change is very likely coming Kaleva Jan 16 #68
Welcome to Greedworld! moondust Jan 16 #70
It's the end of an era. Everybody should take a moment and recognize that. live love laugh Jan 16 #72
Elon Musk will have office space at the White House complex LetMyPeopleVote Jan 16 #74
I shudder to think, marcopolo63 Jan 16 #75
I have the same feeling proud patriot Jan 16 #77
I'm hoping for a Designated Survivor scenario on Monday and Pete Buttigieg Buttoneer Jan 16 #78

H2O Man

(76,493 posts)
2. Recommeded.
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 09:33 PM
Jan 15

I think about that frequently. We are at a crossroads, for sure. It may well be that Joe Biden is the last president of what my generation sees as the "modern presidency," while younger folks will live to see him in the context of the distant past. The threat the felon and his ilk pose is much greater now than it was in 2016 when he took office.

Bluethroughu

(7,086 posts)
26. There are zero guardrails, and immune, immune, immune.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 12:12 AM
Jan 16

He understands this very well.

I don't know if the citizens have the intestinal fortitude to make change.

A non violent protest
1. Everyone stays home.
2. Do not buy, what you do not need.
3. Call your member of Congress once a week to complain.
4. If need be General Strike, do not pay bills.

We are at risk for serious injury or death from this administration, and trump fought with his last administration about shooting peaceful protestors.

This solves the problem.

H2O Man

(76,493 posts)
27. Very good.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 12:22 AM
Jan 16

I am a student of Gandhi and King. I believe in public, non-violent protests. Years ago, I had a board broken over my head during such a protest. I keep the broken piece still.

I also think that in doing so, in the context of the next four years, in something that Malcolm X said. If you are serious, you must accept the possibility of going to the ER, to jail, or to the cemetery. If you don't, staying home is the best option.

Bluethroughu

(7,086 posts)
28. Staying home is our only option, this is not
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 12:31 AM
Jan 16

The 1960's Civil Rights actions in the south, this is a President who said he could shoot a person dead and get away with it...

He's killed our Democracy in less than a decade.

His administration will be made up of the lowest of the low. They have nothing to lose, so they will do whatever keeps them in his sphere.

Protests in the streets give bad actors the ability to co-op our message into looting and burning.

At home producing nothing costs billionaires a lot of money. I'm not talking about a covid lockdown, I'm talking about not allowing the oligarchs our labor, but our communities our time.

H2O Man

(76,493 posts)
31. I agree that
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 12:55 AM
Jan 16

it is the best option for you. And I agree that bad actors seek to create trouble.

Non-violent protests have a long history, and are not limited to the Civil Rights era. For example, not that many years ago, when a state senator refused to meet with environmentalists on the issue of fracking, I engaged in a hunger strike that got a lot of media attention. I spoke to an audience of over 1,200 at the state capital, which resulted in the guy meeting with me.

The felon has said numerous stupid things that rank with the "I could shoot...." nonsense. He has also said more serious things, such as hoping police would shoot protesters in the legs. History shows that there are times when peaceful protesters get shot, including above the waist. One could think of "Bloody Sunday" in Ireland, or the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in India. There are brutal examples without shootings, such as "Bloody Sunday" at the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma.

I disagree with your saying the felon has "killed Democracy." He has not. But he would like to, as would many of his supporters. At most, at this time, he has damaged it. To prevent him from doing more serious damage, we have to deal with reality, and this includes recognizing that we are helpless victims -- no matter how hard our opposition attempts to convince us of that lie.

Again, to protect and promote democracy, some will go to the ER, some to jail, and some to the cemetery. There are those who are not intimidated by that, and others who are. It is those who are not who can save this country.

Bluethroughu

(7,086 posts)
32. Well, I know you are right on everything, and I appreciate
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 01:11 AM
Jan 16

your work, sincerely.

I might see you at a protest.



Bluethroughu

(7,086 posts)
61. I will be only spending at non trumpster establishments.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 02:19 PM
Jan 16

But I've been doing this for decades. Just no big purchases if I don't have to.

Magoo48

(6,141 posts)
60. On the contrary: we must be out supporting our freedoms whenever possible.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 02:09 PM
Jan 16

Nobody can or will do it for us. We must create ways to always be in the way for the next four years.

Bluethroughu

(7,086 posts)
63. I know Magoo48.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 02:22 PM
Jan 16

We will be there too. I'M JUST TIRED OF THE WAY PEACEFUL PROTESTS are portrayed, and used to attack us even more. BLM were rightwing actors starting fires. They were caught and charged in different areas.

Yet, like the insurrectionists, it's just brushed aside.

Ohioboy

(3,612 posts)
55. I know someone who keeps a piece of board from a protest...
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 01:08 PM
Jan 16

You aren't from Ohio are you?

Backseat Driver

(4,671 posts)
49. I'll take Shindler's List for several hundred souls....
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 11:25 AM
Jan 16

My recent WUS (wake-up stroke) around Nov 9 has left me more or less without a care and unable to make coffee but I keep on with SMH syndrome. I have to re-learn a lot and hope to not get wiped out ahead of time by my bad balance because I want to continue to see my grandson grow and thrive.

Clouds Passing

(4,239 posts)
79. Sending you some healing and comforting energy 💚
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 08:53 PM
Jan 16

I had one of those. I keep trying to do things. It’s a struggle but keep going on.

Asarchus45

(8 posts)
73. Trump's Enablers Still Refuse
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 06:26 PM
Jan 16

We are witnessing the true end of the American experiment. A new dark age is again descending, this time based not just on perverted science, but also on the price of eggs and an Infinitesimal number of biological males competing against biological females in sports. That, plus the timeless blights of racism, sexism, and white male supremacy. Can we descend further into the darkness? Watch us!!

delisen

(6,873 posts)
3. It Depends upon what We Do
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 09:34 PM
Jan 15

If we want Democracy we have to make it happen
If we wait around for someone to save us we will lose it

Trueblue Texan

(3,250 posts)
18. I completely agree, but ...
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 10:41 PM
Jan 15

The big question is what strategy shall we pursue because traditional measures have been an abject failure.

bdamomma

(67,847 posts)
23. Read Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 11:09 PM
Jan 15

Lesson 16: Learn from other peers in other countries.

Lesson 20: Be as courageous as you can.

BonnieJW

(2,838 posts)
46. Be like Michelle Obama
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 11:12 AM
Jan 16

I've always admired her and now that has skyrocketed. No, she will not attend the inauguration of a nazi.

maxsolomon

(36,182 posts)
69. I would for a million.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 02:54 PM
Jan 16

Probably 10K, TBH.

I need the money, and I would mostly be scoffing.

defacto7

(14,015 posts)
62. When this book came out I bought 20 copies
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 02:19 PM
Jan 16

and gave them to family and friends. That was years ago. Great patriot, Timothy Snyder.

bdamomma

(67,847 posts)
67. Wow
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 02:43 PM
Jan 16

that's a great thing to do.


Well, it seems like a lot of the political leaders did not read it, 1st lesson Do not obey in advance.

bdamomma

(67,847 posts)
22. I agree
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 11:06 PM
Jan 15

this is going to be our biggest test. I do not want to be the most "hated country"

This regime will have many enemies.

Bluethroughu

(7,086 posts)
29. We work in our communities and plan for an election season.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 12:36 AM
Jan 16

If we are not allowed our elections, it might be time to escalate.

There about 1000 billionaires, not all bad, but there are about 320,000,000 together we have more money and more power than them.

Skittles

(163,062 posts)
5. Trump's return feels like a nation in crisis
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 09:36 PM
Jan 15

he's such a piece of shit and he's surrounding himself with complete bootlickers

we never have to wonder again how decent folk in German felt, watching people cheer for Hitler

EdmondDantes_

(369 posts)
7. For the same reasons people said the same thing about Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 09:47 PM
Jan 15

The parties have found that proclaiming doom and gloom helps raise money, and that has an impact on the people most tied to the party. But also as the public has become more "correctly" politically aligned (there are no longer Republicans more liberal than Democrats and vice versa), there's increased incentive to view anyone from the other party as the enemy and when we see people as enemies, we often start to take everything as a moral offense.


If slavery couldn't end the country, Trump isn't going to do it. We will have elections as usual, Trump will either leave office on January 20th, 2029 or sooner if all that unhealthy living catches up to him.

angrychair

(10,447 posts)
21. Republicans are the enemy
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 10:56 PM
Jan 15

Last edited Thu Jan 16, 2025, 10:20 PM - Edit history (1)

It's Republicans that are using "woke" or "DEI" as racial or gender slur.
It's Republicans that want to force a raped little girl to have her rapist's baby.

It's Republicans that want to force women to die in a hospital parking lot for a treatable health condition.

It's Republicans that want to leave millions without access to healthcare.

It's Republicans that want to invade Greenland or one of our other allies

It's Republicans that want to end gay marriage and treat LGBTQ people like they are criminals

It's Republicans that elected a convicted felon and rapist to be president

It's Republicans that want to treat oligarchs like they are royalty and want the rest of us to starve

So fuck Republicans. All of them. No exceptions.

BonnieJW

(2,838 posts)
47. And it's republicans
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 11:15 AM
Jan 16

Who f the government and the economy and then a dem has to clean it up.

 

DeepWinter

(931 posts)
39. Totally Agree
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 10:35 AM
Jan 16

Amazed at the number of people here caught up in some kind of Y2k hyperbole End of Democracy Doom-Porn. It's going to be a much more boring life goes on scenerio.

JustAnotherGen

(34,629 posts)
41. I don't think
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 10:38 AM
Jan 16

There is a core understanding in this post - that this has a been in play since the Southern Strategy was first implemented.

Add in the outrage from the dominant culture at a Black American Man being the President - and their extreme backlash . . .

A Compromised Traitor
Compromised Senators
Backroom money deals


The dystopia is now.

bronxiteforever

(10,241 posts)
8. We have lost all three branches
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 09:52 PM
Jan 15

of power and the government will be run by selfish, hateful filled men and women.
The nation of Jimmy Carter is now the nation of TFG but as the great Steven King wrote in the Shawshank Redemption:
“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."

Where there is life there is hope and the nation of Donald Trump is also the nation of Chef Andres, dedicated teachers tackling challenging situations, community organizers tackling social issues, environmental activists, first responders, military service members serving in combat zones, scientists making crucial medical breakthroughs, and individuals performing significant acts of selfless service or humanitarian efforts. All is not lost and we must live for that hope.

Frank D. Lincoln

(894 posts)
53. Hope.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 12:33 PM
Jan 16

What I see happening today is that democracies around the world have gradually become autocratic. It seems to be a global trend. Sometimes the citizens of a given country have chosen to give up their democracy. I never thought that would happen to the United States.

The wave of the future seems to be the end of democracy on a global basis.

Autocratic leaders are coordinating with one another to cause more and more democracies to fall.

Once democracies are lost, the rulers then consolidate their power.

In the final analysis, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with hope.

It seems like it has to do with inevitability.

bronxiteforever

(10,241 posts)
56. But you and I cannot predict the future
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 01:14 PM
Jan 16

In 1940, it certainly looked like fascism would rule the west and the east. Inevitable? In world of billions of people, acting in the world of human affairs very little seems to me to be inevitable.

Trueblue Texan

(3,250 posts)
19. I'm despondent too, but I do not believe this.
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 10:45 PM
Jan 15

We are not done. We may be dazed and confused, but we are not done. Not by a lonnnnnnng shot.

kimbutgar

(24,673 posts)
24. I sincerely hope you are correct!
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 11:19 PM
Jan 15

It just seems listening to the confirmation hearings, the reactions of repukes over the Los Angeles fires and blaming the Governor for something out of his control a natural disaster is scary. Texas had massive fires and no one blamed Abbott. It seeks the IOKIYAR will be the new norm.

JustAnotherGen

(34,629 posts)
42. I don't believe
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 10:42 AM
Jan 16

That enough good people have the courage to do what needs to be done.

The base of the party - Black Women - including myself. . . we are in self/family - preservation mode. We have the inherited trauma of our grandmas, greats, and great greats to guide us to safety.

I'm really hoping other groups will stand up, step out of the line, and go balls to the walls. It's too dangerous for us and our families.

We have Congresswoman Crockett - but she needs for example - Democratic Party men who are white, asian, latino, to have her back. Behave exactly as the Magat Party men do. I don't care what is done - I'll have their backs. But folks need to at minimum get loud.

tavernier

(13,583 posts)
11. Hearing the sound of
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 10:13 PM
Jan 15

TAPS


Our brave soldiers didn’t deserve their country to die like this.

💔

Exp

(227 posts)
15. Trumps' economy will fail. Voters won't be happy. Trump doesn't have long to live anyway, he doesn't care as long as he
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 10:19 PM
Jan 15

avoids prison and attains more wealth.

He was only running to avoid prison.

He likes to pretend that he's a dictator as a sort of cosplay. But he'll be gone.

I expect our democracy to suffer some, but not to end.

hay rick

(8,596 posts)
16. VFAFO
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 10:24 PM
Jan 15

Voters fucked around and we all will find out. Americans failed on merit and will now reap the consequences.

Before the election I had the nauseating feeling that the choice on offer was between decline and disaster. Americans had to recognize the reality and make the responsible ADULT decision. They were not up to the task.

We already had a de facto oligarchy that had veto power over law by exercising the senate's 60-vote filibuster roadblock. Laws that weren't liked were subject to reinterpretation or outright dismissal by the captive supreme court. State legislative majorities and redistricting maps were locked in by gerrymandered districts. "Moderate" Republicans were rendered obsolete by the Citizens United-enabled ability of billionaires to primary the uncooperative. Fat purses enabled oligarchs to dominate media ownership and use their control to alternately censor or frame the terms of public discussion.

Electing Kamala would have ameliorated the worst abuses, not ended them. Electing Musk/Trump tears off the bandage. How much more decline is in store? We are about to find out.

Trueblue Texan

(3,250 posts)
20. This is different.
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 10:48 PM
Jan 15

This is bigger. But we are not done. Freedom is never done. The planet will become uninhabitable before humans stop pursuing freedom.

J_William_Ryan

(2,589 posts)
30. "...we will survive this as we survived Nixon and Reagan."
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 12:49 AM
Jan 16

Did we survive Nixon and Reagan?

Reagan in particular, he destroyed the middle class, enriched the wealthy at the expense of working Americans, and empowered the Christo-fascist right.

With every Republican administration we lose more of America; Trump is no different.

calimary

(85,674 posts)
54. Oh MAN, Reagan was the kiss of death.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 01:02 PM
Jan 16

He was tremendously gifted as a salesman. But have been the actor in him. Good Grief could he read a script! SOOOOOO convincing! Made you want it - whatever it happened to be that he was pitching. He made it sound SOOOOOOO good. He made you yearn for it and give over your every waking moment to wanting it. Whatever it was that he was selling at any given moment. And you couldn’t wait to vote for it - whatever it was, even if it was gonna be bad for you and it wouldn’t make you rich like he said it would.

Good GRIEF but he was gifted in that. He could sell ANYTHING that he could wrap up in beautiful red-white-&-blue and make you want it. People fell for it - some of ‘em with a rapture over the sparkly “shining city on a hill” and “it’s morning in America” stuff that he was selling. I have to concede that it all sure sounded good. But it was all in the “too good to be true” department. In the cheap-copy bargain-bin aisle where the magic only existed in the store and very seldom ever actually went home with you to improve your life or circumstances.

Reagan was a snake. Like the proverbial one that talked Eve into taking a bite out of that gorgeous shiny tasty-looking apple. The apple that was pure fakery that led you straight out of Eden and locked the door behind you so that the reality you then faced was NOTHING like what the snake was selling. He was the Republican wet dream that was going to turn the world upside down the way they wanted to make you think it was - that sounded soooooooooooo good and sucked you right down into Hell.

usonian

(16,849 posts)
34. It was predicted: 1900; or, The last President by Lockwood, Ingersoll, 1841- Publication date 1896
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 01:19 AM
Jan 16

Last edited Thu Jan 16, 2025, 11:56 AM - Edit history (1)

https://archive.org/details/1900orlastpresid00lock/page/n7/mode/1up



But the future's not written, even if it's wrotten for a while.

The Chinese will destroy our infrastructure and his Clown Car of morans will be helpless.

Appointing dumbshits will lead to destruction of our infrastructure.

Keystone cops gotta deal with the Chinese, who have hacked the entire US infrastructure.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19902800

But until they do, I argue for focused actions, not random boycotts like I, one person, avoid Home Depot. And keeping a low profile, because he and magats thrive on confrontation, so I won't go to sports arenas and kneel or stand.

Just makes the billionaire owners richer.

yaesu

(8,622 posts)
37. True democracy is dead and will never return in our lifetime imo
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 04:07 AM
Jan 16

Lifetime being 20 to 30 years. So yes, Biden is the last true American president.

lark

(24,776 posts)
38. What's in store - grief, poverty, hate, hurt and the destruction of everything good about the country.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 10:29 AM
Jan 16

Democracy is gone, it just now needs to be made official and he will turn us into Russia, taking everything from us and giving it all to himself and his fucking right wing oligarch friends.

Backseat Driver

(4,671 posts)
52. For some, it started early, the unemployment and destroyed the hope of recovery; after years of escalating costs we have
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 12:18 PM
Jan 16

lost our way.

LetMyPeopleVote

(160,882 posts)
44. Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg to receive a key perk on Inauguration Day
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 10:55 AM
Jan 16

Incoming presidents do not generally want to be seen as rewarding the hyper-wealthy with special political perks. Team Trump apparently doesn’t much care.
https://bsky.app/profile/joehick58.bsky.social/post/3lfsoyd6bzc2c



https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/musk-bezos-zuckerberg-receive-key-perk-inauguration-day-rcna187793

What do Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg have in common? They’re all tech industry billionaires with nine-figure net worths that rival the GDPs of many countries. They also hold the top three slots on the Forbes 400 list. And as a political matter, they’ve also spent quite a bit of time — to varying degrees of genuflecting — cozying up to Donald Trump.

Their sycophantic efforts have apparently not gone unnoticed. NBC News reported:

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg will attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday, according to an official involved with planning the event. They will have a prominent spot at the ceremony, seated together on the platform with other notable guests, including Trump’s Cabinet nominees and elected officials.


Around the same time as the NBC News report was published, Musk confirmed online that he will, in fact, have a prominent spot at Monday’s inauguration......

As for the larger context, the latest column from The New York Times’ Ezra Klein about the president-elect and his “alliance of oligarchs” continues to ring true.

Trump is now flanked by an alliance of oligarchs led by Elon Musk. The billionaire owners of The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times killed presidential endorsements of Kamala Harris, ABC News (owned by Disney) gave Trump’s “future presidential foundation and museum” $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit Trump brought, Mark Zuckerberg is refocusing Meta platforms around “free expression” and his company against D.E.I., and Amazon reportedly paid $40 million for Melania Trump’s documentary about herself. Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai and a slew of other chief executives have recently traveled to Mar-a-Lago to dine with Trump. This differs from 2017, when Trump was treated as an aberration to be endured or a malignancy to reject. The billionaires see that the rules have changed. They are signaling their willingness to abide by them.


By playing by these new rules, Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg will receive a special reward on Monday. What additional rewards should they expect in the coming weeks, months and years? Watch this space.

President Biden is correct about the fact that there is now an oligarchy in control of the United States government

TBF

(35,069 posts)
48. One of my good friends flew out of the country yesterday -
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 11:23 AM
Jan 16

settling in Spain. I don't know exactly how they did it, but they do have means to live elsewhere, and I'm totally jealous. I'm not sure how bad it will get here, but I am sure to get along safely we are all going to be Christian and I suspect freedom of speech will be curtailed (not certain how fast, but I see that coming as it does in most dictatorships).

I suspect this election was not totally on the up and up, and fair elections may be completely gone in this country for all intents and purposes.

bucolic_frolic

(49,513 posts)
51. Politically we're finished. Regulation by the State, WWII style, is over.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 11:59 AM
Jan 16

Big business will act to protect itself and it's cash flows. Try to align yourself with those interests and find your niche. Not sure what that means at this point. Equity - value, money, assets ... great uncertainty. The currency is all but finished. Expect devaluation or new currency within a few years. Congratulations, your 401K is now converted to 2.78 crypto.

themaguffin

(4,439 posts)
58. It's not. We're in for a shit show, but I am not conceding EVEN IN THOUGHT, that this is the last election. F them.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 01:16 PM
Jan 16

Linda ladeewolf

(814 posts)
64. We are only finished if we allow it.
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 02:24 PM
Jan 16

The civil war will have to be fought again. This time, when and if we win, we should not allow the cons to re-enter the union. Drive them into the south and leave them to themselves. Allow those that wish to move north do so and leave the rest to fend for themselves. They’ll manage or not. No aid. That’s what they want, independence from democracy. Let them have it. Don’t allow them to negotiate with foreign nations though. This could be set up as a confederation, it would not be easy, it would be hard, but it might solve a few big problems. This type of world would be better than being wholly fascist.

Kaleva

(39,102 posts)
68. Well, catastrophic climate change is very likely coming
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 02:51 PM
Jan 16

We know that's in store for this nation and the rest of the world

moondust

(20,833 posts)
70. Welcome to Greedworld!
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 03:03 PM
Jan 16

As long as you're a billionaire.

Otherwise, to quote Alan Grayson, "die quickly."

LetMyPeopleVote

(160,882 posts)
74. Elon Musk will have office space at the White House complex
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 06:36 PM
Jan 16


The richest man on Earth, whose wealth has been heavily subsidized by billions of dollars in government contracts, spent a fortune putting Trump in the White House.

But it's not enough to just have the president's ear — now he'll have an office next to him too?

Oligarchy.

marcopolo63

(72 posts)
75. I shudder to think,
Thu Jan 16, 2025, 06:43 PM
Jan 16

…but am fully aware we may have some fighting to do in the near future. Is this the last throws of past hegemony, or is it a new authoritarian future?

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