In the New Yorker...

[Front-Ranger]

I'm sure it will be a keeper!

[serious crayons]

I wish somebody more politically astute than me would write about the ironic trajectory of Trump's political career. He didn't care much about politics per se -- his main goal was to be famous, great, admired, etc. Like he was always making up for that Emmy he's still mad he didn't win! And if he'd ended things on a high note, like where he was in October -- still revered or at least meekly obeyed by his party and his scary base, there'd be plenty of people who'd still consider him the worst president ever but plenty of people who would still worship him. He'd have accomplished his goals and been well regarded, at least by his own definition.

Now, instead, he's going out in disgrace, indignity, infamy. Which is why his knowing the nuclear codes is so scary. It's one way he can still get attention.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Now, instead, he's going out in disgrace, indignity, infamy. Which is why his knowing the nuclear codes is so scary. It's one way he can still get attention.

His base (and that word is an adjective as well as a noun) will see him as a martyr to the Dark State, or whatever. They will continue to worship him. Anybody arrested for Wednesday's insurrection will be deemed a hero. Any fall-out--arrests, convictions, and so forth--will be taken as a provocation. And these people have weapons. I find this much scarier than his having the nuclear codes.

[serious crayons]

His base (and that word is an adjective as well as a noun) will see him as a martyr to the Dark State, or whatever. They will continue to worship him. Anybody arrested for Wednesday's insurrection will be deemed a hero. Any fall-out--arrests, convictions, and so forth--will be taken as a provocation. And these people have weapons. I find this much scarier than his having the nuclear codes.

Good point. I figured after he lost that we'd probably see violence by Trump supporters of some kind. But nothing like Wednesday's mob. They seemed to take the idea of civil war quite seriously.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Good point. I figured after he lost that we'd probably see violence by Trump supporters of some kind. But nothing like Wednesday's mob. They seemed to take the idea of civil war quite seriously.

So do I. 

It was reported on NBC network news this evening that video demonstrates that at least some of these people had all sorts of tactical military equipment, not just guns (which is no surprise) but also armor and things like that.

[Front-Ranger]

I've gone back and read some of the articles and essays that were published after the 2016 election, and it's astonishing how prescient they were. 

[serious crayons]

I've gone back and read some of the articles and essays that were published after the 2016 election, and it's astonishing how prescient they were. 

Like what?

[Front-Ranger]

Like, for instance, this article in The Nation, on "What Would de Tocqueville Think of the 2016 Election?"

https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/what-would-have-alexis-de-tocqueville-have-made-of-the-2016-us-presidential-election/

[Front-Ranger]

This week's issue, with the flag at half mast, is kind of disturbing. The reporters did a good job of interviewing the insurrectionists. Never have I seen the F-word used so many times in an issue. I'm thinking about going back and reading more of the previous issue with all the comics.

[serious crayons]

Never have I seen the F-word used so many times in an issue.

   What would Mr. Shaw say?!