I still feel that Trump is trying to create a disaster scenario
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220295160

in which he can gain dictatorial power before the Epstein matter explodes and takes down his Trump/Epstein blackmail empire and all its victims, enablers and lackeys.

All the confusion you feel is deliberate, and relentless, to obscure the Epstein matter.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20751348
He's not "in the list", he's the master blackmailer!

I've often likened our situation to time traveling to the 1930's or so, with a chance to stop fascism.

Hitler did not have a worldwide criminal blackmail empire. He used the traditional "fascist playbook" as did Franco and Mussolini et. al.

10 Small Steps: Executing the Fascist Playbook
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-small-steps-executing-the-fascist-playbook_b_585dfec2e4b04d7df167cfab

The Fascists’ Playbook
https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/05/08/the-fascists-playbook/

Where Putin is involved, I can't completely figure. He may have separate video on Trump and his beauty contests and "modeling agency"

So, I see two large forces at play.

1. The blackmailing of a huge swath of wealthy and powerful people, which must be done in secrecy, else it's not blackmail,

2. The bursting of said secrecy, because truth (and more specifically, despicable dirt) cannot be held secret. It's just human nature.

Given that the extent of cover up has now shut down the government and resulted in diversions as large as blowing up foreign boats, destruction of the White House, and every insane, brutal and destructive act this year, this is enormous beyond imagination.

Andrew has already gone down, and he's the first domino to fall.

One pin down, and so go the rest.

I truly appreciate the thoughtful reply and links.

Like you, I absolutely believe that if/when the Epstein info breaks open, it'll be a domino effect. And I'm encouraged by the fact that so many on the MAGA side are pissed about Trump & Co. obscuring it and calling it a Democratic hoax. I'm glad you feel Andrew was the first domino. Logically I know he's significant but I suppose because we don't hear much about him here in the states, it didn't feel as impactful as I would have hoped. Virginia's book does feel like a powerful catalyst though, so any day could be full of breaking news in this regard.

I guess I posed my question because, personally, my mood changes wildly these days. Very hopeful one day (last Saturday's protests, for example), then the next day it's shattered. I know my personal challenge is to keep my own shit steady in spite of what's happening out there, but I do feel I'm losing it of late and the mood doesn't always correlate with the day's events. I also realize, as you said, that's exactly what they want.

I'm rambling and not making any sense. lol Anyway, thanks again.

I block/trash a lot of posts and as I posted recently, just put Trump on trash.

It's too much. He's destroying the United States to protect his "secret", and is ramping up the insanity to cover it.

But Mike has put a giant exclamation point on the scheme. ONE reason only for his recesses and shutdowns.

The unfortunate thing is that by posting links to articles here, which is standard operating procedure, we are amplifying his noise machine which monopolizes the media.

If nothing else, I want to point out the forest behind all those trees.

Distraction is one of the big D's in their plan, Let me see if I can remember them.

Distract
Divert
Discredit

(searches the web) There are so many
https://christianbaghai.medium.com/donald-trumps-four-ds-deny-deflect-delay-and-don-t-write-a-playbook-for-erosion-of-f98deb248d9b
Deny, Deflect, Delay, and Don’t put anything into writing.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/deny-divert-discredit-trump-turns-his-scandal-playbook-once-again-n1057181
It goes like this:
Step one: Deny the reports while arguing that even if true, there is nothing wrong with what was done.
Step two: Divert attention to a subplot that implicates political rivals.
Step three: Discredit investigators by accusing those involved of a deep state or partisan witch hunt.

https://statuskuo.substack.com/p/deny-delay-deceive-distract
Deny, Delay, Deceive, Distract

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/11/21/letter-trump-leans-on-10-ds-of-opposition-tactics/
WOW!
Letter: Trump leans on 10 D’s of opposition tactics
Without fail, he uses: deflect, delay, deny, discount, deceive, divide, dulcify, discredit, destroy and deal.

Letter to the editor of Mercury News. Copied here:

Once again, President Trump spewed forth that the Mueller investigation team is a “disgrace to our Nation.” In basic Psychology 101, this practice is known as projection — blame-shifting by people to defend themselves against their own guilt or unpleasantness.

In Donald’s world, this behavior appears in many of the “Donaldisms.” Without fail, he uses the 10 D’s of opposition tactics against accusers (read “enemies”): deflect, delay, deny, discount, deceive, divide, dulcify, discredit, destroy and deal.

When responding to even the slightest criticism, Donald goes on autopilot into his defense mechanisms. He also uses the tactic of repeating catchphrases multiple times during a statement. Thus, he attempts to control the conversation while thinking about his next utterance.

Note the 10 D’s the next time you’re stuck listening to Donald. You also might reference “The Art of War” (Sun Tzu, 5th century B.C.) to better understand the cognitions of a megalomaniac.

like a deck of shoveled cards. The only control I have is how I play the hand I am dealt.

I have an inner locus of control.

I perfected that during my decade-long cancer journey. I need to live in that space again, purely present.

Playing with the dog too

Except for maybe some intuition, but I keep feeling like it can't just go on like it is. There is a breaking point out there somewhere. These pieces of shit have been in a full sprint of evil, but the landmines are out there waiting. They could go ahead and start killing their "enemies" (us) but they have loved guns so long that there are plenty out there to turn back on them.

the trajectory. I also suspect the dump regime has psychics working to shroud truth on the psychic realm.

Are becoming aware of the dynamics and damage done by abuse. The abusive narcissistic trump regime is drawing parallels too close to home. People are rediscovering boundaries social and personal. There is for 2/3rds of the population an awakening of sorts that abuse occurs in the micro and macro.
Kids who are abandoning abusive boomer parents , while parents kick out parasitic abusive kids.boundaries

It’s like society is discovering boundaries and the need for them.

The rich and depraved see it coming the imposition of limits on what they can have, take do ect. Forming into jail time ,chains of legislation with sharp teeth around thier necks to control them and thier corporations and churches and the taking of thier hoard to help the exploited.

They are working hard to traumatize society traumatize us more , create chaos and hardship fear and dread and create worldwide fascism before the critical mass of people growing aware of abuse dynamics boundary awareness conduct, consent ect. (Aka mental health) makes thier criminal depraved dreams of unchecked male power structure in every family to the governments impossible.

These fascist fuckers focus on the family because that is where kids can be abused and brainwashed and made mentally ill by bad parents until they obey authority
Without thinking or daring to ask why.
And when those kids grow up they’ll impose the same trauma on thier kids so the authoritarian structure of fascism and the men behind it remain untouched.

It’s a race between mass awareness of abuse and trauma dynamics and fascism the abusive family writ worldwide.
Nobody can sit on the sidelines regarding this.

Their "Shock and Awe" program seems to be never-ending and it keeps getting worse; we can't catch our breath and are off-balance.

Your last line is truth: Nobody can sit on the sidelines regarding this.