Monday, February 27, 2017

The Trump Resistance and the Uses of Outrage



I spent much of the weekend trying to recover from a big exam, and get away from the horror of Trump. I slept a lot. I kept to myself. I really needed a break.

As Andrew Sullivan recently wrote, one can only take so much insanity. 

"It’s just a matter of human endurance. You have to breathe at some point, to pace yourself, to find more spaces in your life and your soul where Trump cannot invade. There are only so many “truthful hyperboles” or tweet storms a person can withstand."

Or so much of this...



Before you start questioning your own sanity. 

So I wouldn't blame our poor traumatized American neighbours if many of them also felt like they needed a break, and dialled down their outrage for a while...



But as Paul Krugman writes, that would be a fatal mistake, because that outrage isn't only justified, it's essential.  

Inevitably, one hears some voices urging everyone to cool it — to wait and see, to try to be constructive, to reach out to Trump supporters, to seek ground for compromise. Just say no. Outrage at what’s happening to America isn’t just justified, it’s essential. In fact, it may be our last chance of saving democracy.

It is the only way to stop that dangerous demagogue and would be autocrat from turning the U.S. into an authoritarian state...



How does this happen? A crucial part of the story is that the emerging autocracy uses the power of the state to intimidate and co-opt civil society — institutions outside the government proper. The media are bullied and bribed into becoming de facto propaganda organs of the ruling clique. Businesses are pressured to reward the clique’s friends and punish its enemies. Independent public figures are pushed into collaboration or silence. Sound familiar? 

But an outraged populace can and must push back, using the power of disapproval to counter the influence of a corrupted government.


When neither the president nor his allies in Congress show any sign of respecting basic American values, an aroused public that’s willing to take names is all we have. 

And the only way to stop him from turning it into the United States of Crazy...

Our progressive neighbours have no choice, but to fight that evil madness...



Or that growing fascism. 

Press secretary Sean Spicer is cracking down on leaks coming out of the West Wing, with increased security measures that include random phone checks of White House staffers, overseen by White House attorneys.

And we can help them in many small ways.

Which happily include urging Sean Spicer to go back to his old job...



As the Easter bunny at the Bush White House.

While we help shrink his monstrous master.

Also known as Dinky Donnie...



Hey, who wouldn't rather live in a normal world?

But the day Donald Trump was elected president, that option went out of the window...



Reality may not be quite what it used to be.

Like this painting in my neighbourhood.

But life goes on, the resistance is raging. 

And the future still belongs to us...

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is so discouraging. I feel like moving to a cabin in the woods.

Anonymous said...

Sean Spicer as the Easter Bunny is hilarious Simon. Much better than his current role as the Tasmanian Devil.
JD

Anonymous said...

Dinky Donnie quote of the day "nobody knew that health care could be so complicated". What a genius!
Meanwhile the paranoia he promotes is running its course. Hunters shot each other in Texas thinking that Mexican aliens were attempting to steal their vehicle. Crazy man kills one and injures two in a Kansas bar thinking that a IT engineer from India was from the Middle East. Guess Dinkie forgot to tell his followers that the "Indians are his friends". Not all are under the Dinky Donnie influence as a good Samaritan was seriously injured while trying to stop the murder.
RT

Anonymous said...

I know that you share my dislike of tough on crime criminal justice, but I wanted to share this with you:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/pair-sentenced-terrorizing-birthday-confederate-flags-article-1.2983749

Anonymous said...

It's going to be a long 4 years Simon. You should try meditation.

-MC

Anonymous said...

You should check out Colin Flaherty's Youtube channel. He documents hundreds of cases of black on white crime.

David said...

Dinky Donnie quote of the day "nobody knew that health care could be so complicated". Yeah, that quote is priceless! 8-)

Can people suggest some good websites that archive Trump's most IGNORANT and BIZARRE quotes?

Decades ago there was the "Little Red Book":

Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotations_from_Chairman_Mao_Tse-tung

See:

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/16/i-inherited-a-mess-five-of-the-best-quotes-from-trumps-crazy-press-conference-commentary.html

One of my favourite Trump quotes thus far:

"This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine."

http://www.vox.com/2017/2/16/14640772/president-trump-quotes-presser

"If Russia and the United States actually got together and got along — and don't forget, we're a very powerful nuclear country, and so are they. There's no upside. We're a very powerful nuclear country, and so are they. I have been briefed. And I can tell you one thing about a briefing that we're allowed to say because anybody that ever read the most basic book can say it: Nuclear holocaust would be like no other."

http://fusion.net/story/305204/donald-trump-best-worst-quotes/

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/entertainment/people/donald-trump-quotes-57213





David said...

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/statements/byruling/false/

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/statements/byruling/pants-fire/

David said...

To remain sane, everyone should take 5 minutes each day (M-F) to watch the opening of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

eg.

Donald Trump Tries To Say Something Bad About Russia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X3UzOiIGog

AND

Stephen Colbert's opening monologue:

Video: Trump's Nuclear Plan: It's Like The Cold War All Over Again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XptEI5zsEnI

Archive:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtFAi84ehTSYSE9XoHefig/playlists

Playlist: The Resistance with Keith Olbermann
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0hKMB1-xkc-XWNf9VL-LxVYysdHpjyMF

Simon said...

hi anon...it is a depressing situation, but don't be discouraged. Give Trump and his Trumpanzees enough rope and they will hang themselves. However, if you do get a cabin in the woods be sure to leave me your address just in case I'm wrong... ;)

Simon said...

hi JD...yes, I must say I'm impressed. He should definitely wear that bunny suit to every official occasion. It humanizes him, and when he's too dumb or too scared to answer an honest question everybody will understand.... ;)

Simon said...

hi MC... I don't need meditation for two reasons.
(1) I'd rather smoke marijuana.
(2) Trump's time in office could end suddenly before I had assumed a full yoga position.
So may I suggest that you should be the one chanting OM OM OM.
Because when the leathery tangerine goes down it's going to be really ugly... ;)

David said...

Is it really going to be "a long 4 years" with Trump? I don't think Trump will last even a year as President. Already it appears some sort of non-partisan committee will be forming to investigate the Trump campaign officials - Russia connection, and yesterday George W. Bush said questions need to be answered:

George W. Bush opens up on Trump's war with the media, travel ban, Russia and veterans

http://www.today.com/news/george-w-bush-opens-trump-s-war-media-russia-travel-t108627

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/27/517547987/bush-weighs-in-on-trump-presidency-calling-press-indispensable-to-democracy

[snip]

Trump has also spent that month hurling insults at and engaging in repeated attacks on news organizations. Further, on Twitter and in speeches, he has labeled the media "the enemy of the American people."

Lauer noted that President Bush — who took the country to war in Iraq and who presided over an economic crisis — faced plenty of criticism from the media while in office. Lauer asked Bush, "Did you ever consider the media to be the enemy of the American people?"

Bush chuckled and then answered: "I consider the media to be indispensable to democracy. We need an independent media to hold people like me to account. Power can be very addictive. And it can be corrosive. And it's important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power, whether it be here or elsewhere."

Bush noted that he spent a lot of time trying to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the notion of an independent press.

Anonymous said...

Haha Simon, I'll make sure to drop my address to all my allies. We shall build a democratic colony based decency and evidence based policy. Hey, sounds like what Trudeau is doing...

Marmalade said...

Spending more on Military is not going to make America Great Again!

Anonymous said...

"Defence" what a ruse. And the NATO North American terrorist organizations 2% contribution. Is that subtracted from a countries GDP related to WMD and para military forces such as Blackwater? Socialism at its finest.

David said...

How many people in the U.S. could be given FREE healthcare and FREE education (high-school/trades/college/university) in fiscal 2018 for $54 billion?

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/28/trumps-fiscal-2018-defense-budget-ask-could-add-to-budget-gridlock.html

As reported Monday, the White House wants an additional $54 billion more in military spending for fiscal 2018, which would represent a nearly 10 percent jump overall for defense spending to $603 billion.

Where to Invade Next
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KeAZho8TKo

David said...

It’s Time for a Grand Jury on Trump and Russia | The Resistance with Keith Olbermann | GQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6zYwKIhwsA

Playlist: The Resistance with Keith Olbermann
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0hKMB1-xkc-XWNf9VL-LxVYysdHpjyMF

*
Fact-checking President Trump's address to Congress
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/feb/28/fact-checking-donald-trumps-address-congress/

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/trumpometer/

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/02/28/don-t-be-fooled-by-optimistic-trump.html

Trump's normal holy trinity: fear, ego and spite

David said...

Trump: "I sold my mind to the Kremlin on the Fourth of July."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHBA-M1GYVs

http://tmbw.net/wiki/Lyrics:Sold_My_Mind_to_The_Kremlin