From Australia where the political right are adopting some of the lessons and messaging from Trumps mouth.
Americans, at least those on Substack and Youtube need to get past the angst and recognise the depth of trouble America and by definition the world, is in. This post is a great call for that.
I recognise that legal action to countermand this attack is difficult. The messaging proposal is a good one.
Now where are the leaders? Anyone? Eg Jefferies disappointed so badly on Couric's interview. Buttigieg will be good based on the lat night show and past performance, but he is not leading at the moment.
I still can't comprehend how/why Jeffries is still minority leader. It's incredible to me.
I have essentially given up on Dem leadership and come to the conclusion that they are a "followship" They follow polls. They will NOT do anything unless they KNOW with near certainty that it will work. This is the biggest problem, because it means they 100% ineffective when it comes moving the Overton Window against the right.
WE have to find a way to unify behind a strong offensive message (the reason I created the American Manifesto) and get it to go mainstream. If we can get it to grow enough, then eventually the leadership will pick it up and run with it.
A question you might have view on that I would be interested in. Have the Dems in congress drunk the same Kool-aid as the Republicans now Maga? That is I am aware of the infection of business into American politics and I am sure the Dems participated in that as well as the Republicans. But in today's Congress have the Dems sold out to Maga business backers? Have they been threatened in their seats for their next election?
Great question. The short answer? Not exactly—but it’s complicated.
Corporate money has infected both parties for decades, and while Democrats aren’t immune to the influence of big business, they haven’t taken the full MAGA plunge. What we are seeing, though, is a mix of fear, political calculus, and donor pressure that’s making some Democrats hesitant to go all-in against the rising authoritarianism. They know that big-money interests—especially fossil fuels, tech, and private equity—are playing both sides, and they’re wary of losing funding or facing a well-financed challenger.
That said, most Democrats in Congress aren’t outright MAGA sympathizers, but some are playing it too safe, afraid of voter backlash or losing their seats. Instead of countering the chaos with equal force, too many are sticking to polite resistance while democracy gets bulldozed. The real question is: Will they wake up before it’s too late?
My one hope is that Dems learn from the last election that we're moving towards a post "donor-money wins the game" after losing to Trump despite severely outspending Trump.
If Dems can make the anti-corpo move, and do it legitimately, in contrast to MAGA's pretend anti-elite hypocrisy, it would be the end of the R party.
This is the key about MAGA: They're not logic based, they're running on emotional/brainwashing fumes. This has been true for 40+ years.
If we can break through the echo chamber and show them how badly they've been scammed/ripped off by the R party, we could see a revolution within the R party that will have the French Revolution become a trending topic again. And here's the key: we don't even need them to become Dems (which is a mistake that Dems keep making), we just need them to turn against the R party.
Thanks for responding. I agree with your last statement. I think however there are two questions:
Will they wake up before it’s too late?
and
Who is behind this? To understand this will help direct the fightback. Is it a "pick an adjective" 78 year old man driven by madness. Is it the Oligarchs weakening the economy to go full privatisation? Is it Putin with anti western hatred. Knowing this can direct the fact based messaging that needs to happen.
While having read (predictions) about the fall of American Hegemony in the late 1990's and other bits and pieces of geo politics, and having grown up in Apartheid South Africa with its unique (at the time) style of democracy for the white population, I of course have no experience with dictatorships and how to repel them.
Yes there needs to be unification behind a strong message.
It would seem to me that what is needed (beside money and resources etc) is a few of the Dems/dems leaders to work together with with support to define the strategies and attacks (eg counter messages, protest etc) and implement them directy and with support of a a networked organisation (eg down to small businesses, town councils,, PTAs etc).
An example strategy (in alignment with many suggestions from substack) for example: Hold a counter message press conference every day at some significant location (eg Lincoln memorial). Define the message. The Dem/dem leader (eg Pete B, Josh Shapiro, even Tim Waltz for goodness sake etc) spends 5 minutes on message. Details on a website. Distribution on facebook etc.
Can this come from otheres bedise the Congress Dems?
- the Dem governors. I guess they are colluding somewhat but what are they doing besides legal proceededngs.
- Ex presidents. I understand there may be traditions. But this period has cast out traditions. And if you are silent you are with them!
- Can the protest organisations spread their scope?
- Non political Public figures like actors, sportsmen, businessmen. de Niro and other's comments on what is happening are all good and well but they just fall into the sea of noise.
I am not seeking a response necessarily. Just throwing in my 2 cents worth as many Aus concerns are raises as the disease crosses the oceans.
I think the biggest problem is that going back to the 80s when Reagan shellacked the Democratic party, is that they ONLY know how to follow polls since then. They NEVER even ATTEMPT to move the Overton Window, they just play it safe, which is why for the most part since the 80s they're pretty much Republican-Lite.
I think a strong unified message is going to have to rise from the Dem base with such fervor that Dem Leadership can no longer ignore it. Imagine Bernie++
This is my goal in creating the American Manifesto, to activate people to drop politeness, to stop calling Rs "the colleagues across the aisle" and start calling them America-hating fascists who have been ripping off the working/middle class while brainwashing half the country with divisive propaganda (See the difference between my message and Bernie's?)
You would think that calling Trump a Fascists Propoganda liar would be easy! Because that’s what he is! I agree that the Democrats have not found a leader who can and is willing to lead the fight to oppose what Trump is doing. The delay is seriously affecting our ability to retain a Constitutional Republic! We can lose it and we might not ever get it back! I have heard a few Representatives and Senators who have been saying the right things but they all seem to think that we can win with hearings and discussions. Personally I would have liked to have seen both Senators and Representatives chain themselves to the doors of Federal Buildings and force MAGA to use physical force and illegal tactics in order to remove them. This fight will likely be lost in the Supreme Court and end up being fought in the streets of America. Personally I’d hate to see that happen but if that’s what it requires to save democracy then I will be there.
From Australia where the political right are adopting some of the lessons and messaging from Trumps mouth.
Americans, at least those on Substack and Youtube need to get past the angst and recognise the depth of trouble America and by definition the world, is in. This post is a great call for that.
I recognise that legal action to countermand this attack is difficult. The messaging proposal is a good one.
Now where are the leaders? Anyone? Eg Jefferies disappointed so badly on Couric's interview. Buttigieg will be good based on the lat night show and past performance, but he is not leading at the moment.
I still can't comprehend how/why Jeffries is still minority leader. It's incredible to me.
I have essentially given up on Dem leadership and come to the conclusion that they are a "followship" They follow polls. They will NOT do anything unless they KNOW with near certainty that it will work. This is the biggest problem, because it means they 100% ineffective when it comes moving the Overton Window against the right.
WE have to find a way to unify behind a strong offensive message (the reason I created the American Manifesto) and get it to go mainstream. If we can get it to grow enough, then eventually the leadership will pick it up and run with it.
A question you might have view on that I would be interested in. Have the Dems in congress drunk the same Kool-aid as the Republicans now Maga? That is I am aware of the infection of business into American politics and I am sure the Dems participated in that as well as the Republicans. But in today's Congress have the Dems sold out to Maga business backers? Have they been threatened in their seats for their next election?
Great question. The short answer? Not exactly—but it’s complicated.
Corporate money has infected both parties for decades, and while Democrats aren’t immune to the influence of big business, they haven’t taken the full MAGA plunge. What we are seeing, though, is a mix of fear, political calculus, and donor pressure that’s making some Democrats hesitant to go all-in against the rising authoritarianism. They know that big-money interests—especially fossil fuels, tech, and private equity—are playing both sides, and they’re wary of losing funding or facing a well-financed challenger.
That said, most Democrats in Congress aren’t outright MAGA sympathizers, but some are playing it too safe, afraid of voter backlash or losing their seats. Instead of countering the chaos with equal force, too many are sticking to polite resistance while democracy gets bulldozed. The real question is: Will they wake up before it’s too late?
My one hope is that Dems learn from the last election that we're moving towards a post "donor-money wins the game" after losing to Trump despite severely outspending Trump.
If Dems can make the anti-corpo move, and do it legitimately, in contrast to MAGA's pretend anti-elite hypocrisy, it would be the end of the R party.
This is the key about MAGA: They're not logic based, they're running on emotional/brainwashing fumes. This has been true for 40+ years.
If we can break through the echo chamber and show them how badly they've been scammed/ripped off by the R party, we could see a revolution within the R party that will have the French Revolution become a trending topic again. And here's the key: we don't even need them to become Dems (which is a mistake that Dems keep making), we just need them to turn against the R party.
Thanks for responding. I agree with your last statement. I think however there are two questions:
Will they wake up before it’s too late?
and
Who is behind this? To understand this will help direct the fightback. Is it a "pick an adjective" 78 year old man driven by madness. Is it the Oligarchs weakening the economy to go full privatisation? Is it Putin with anti western hatred. Knowing this can direct the fact based messaging that needs to happen.
While having read (predictions) about the fall of American Hegemony in the late 1990's and other bits and pieces of geo politics, and having grown up in Apartheid South Africa with its unique (at the time) style of democracy for the white population, I of course have no experience with dictatorships and how to repel them.
Yes there needs to be unification behind a strong message.
It would seem to me that what is needed (beside money and resources etc) is a few of the Dems/dems leaders to work together with with support to define the strategies and attacks (eg counter messages, protest etc) and implement them directy and with support of a a networked organisation (eg down to small businesses, town councils,, PTAs etc).
An example strategy (in alignment with many suggestions from substack) for example: Hold a counter message press conference every day at some significant location (eg Lincoln memorial). Define the message. The Dem/dem leader (eg Pete B, Josh Shapiro, even Tim Waltz for goodness sake etc) spends 5 minutes on message. Details on a website. Distribution on facebook etc.
Can this come from otheres bedise the Congress Dems?
- the Dem governors. I guess they are colluding somewhat but what are they doing besides legal proceededngs.
- Ex presidents. I understand there may be traditions. But this period has cast out traditions. And if you are silent you are with them!
- Can the protest organisations spread their scope?
- Non political Public figures like actors, sportsmen, businessmen. de Niro and other's comments on what is happening are all good and well but they just fall into the sea of noise.
I am not seeking a response necessarily. Just throwing in my 2 cents worth as many Aus concerns are raises as the disease crosses the oceans.
I think the biggest problem is that going back to the 80s when Reagan shellacked the Democratic party, is that they ONLY know how to follow polls since then. They NEVER even ATTEMPT to move the Overton Window, they just play it safe, which is why for the most part since the 80s they're pretty much Republican-Lite.
I think a strong unified message is going to have to rise from the Dem base with such fervor that Dem Leadership can no longer ignore it. Imagine Bernie++
This is my goal in creating the American Manifesto, to activate people to drop politeness, to stop calling Rs "the colleagues across the aisle" and start calling them America-hating fascists who have been ripping off the working/middle class while brainwashing half the country with divisive propaganda (See the difference between my message and Bernie's?)
https://brentgiannotta.substack.com/p/how-other-nations-oust-their-autocrats
Thanks for the link!
I appreciate your focus. I am going with it cause it flows. Hello friends.
Exactly right! You can't fight it like a debate, it will flatten you if you do!
Well stated! We need a unified message! 💙💙
You would think that calling Trump a Fascists Propoganda liar would be easy! Because that’s what he is! I agree that the Democrats have not found a leader who can and is willing to lead the fight to oppose what Trump is doing. The delay is seriously affecting our ability to retain a Constitutional Republic! We can lose it and we might not ever get it back! I have heard a few Representatives and Senators who have been saying the right things but they all seem to think that we can win with hearings and discussions. Personally I would have liked to have seen both Senators and Representatives chain themselves to the doors of Federal Buildings and force MAGA to use physical force and illegal tactics in order to remove them. This fight will likely be lost in the Supreme Court and end up being fought in the streets of America. Personally I’d hate to see that happen but if that’s what it requires to save democracy then I will be there.