I have to admit, my corner of tumblr seems remarkably passive about this past week. No freaking out, no mad panic, no “it’s the end of the world”

Just “meh” and “so lets move on and do what we need to do”

  • PonyOfWar
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    5211 hours ago

    IDK. Compared to Trump, Bush seems downright reasonable in hindsight. He was at least willing to work within a democratic framework. This will be a new level of political extremism in America and downplaying it won’t help.

    • @[email protected]
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      11 hours ago

      Bush literally stole the election. Democratic framework my ass. He implemented all the draconian spy and warcrime immunity laws that still exist in the US to this day. He is so far away from the democratic framework its not even visible anymore.

      • @grue
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        7 hours ago

        Even as a guy who reminds people at every opportunity that the Brooks Brothers Riot was a coup (check my comment history), it is crystal clear not only that Trump has been way worse already, and his second term will be a huge escalation on top of that.

      • @A_Union_of_Kobolds
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        29 hours ago

        That’s what’s been driving me crazy, the only people who have stolen an election were Republicans!

    • Gabe BellOP
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      2011 hours ago

      In 2003/2004 would people have said the same thing compared to Reagan, or Nixon? That compared to Bush, Reagan seems downright reasonable, or compared to Bush, Nixon seams down right reasonable?

      I remember a lot of protests against The Patriot Act? And against Guantanamo Bay?

      I remember a lot of right-wing patriotism sweeping through the USA and people being condemned for not falling in line.

      Are you sure 2003/2004 was a more reasonable time?

      • PonyOfWar
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        11 hours ago

        Yes, I was also around for the Bush presidency, and I’m pretty sure. Bush had some pretty shit policies but was also very much an establishment republican who was not going to fundamentally change the system. He didn’t have a rabid cult of personality surrounding him. There was no Project 2025-type plan to turn America into a theocracy. Bush never “joked” about becoming a dictator, becoming president for life or putting his political opponents into jail. He didn’t threaten his NATO allies with letting Russia invade them.

        I could go on, but the point is: America didn’t just elect another conservative who will try to roll back LGBT rights, it elected a Mussolini-style Fascist. Thinking “Oh we’ll just vote him out in 4 years” is… optimistic.

        • @Spiralvortexisalie
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          -510 hours ago

          The Heritage Foundation has been around for decades, along with other think tanks that would publish playbooks just like “Project 2025.” That Project 2025 became such a big thing is because the Dems started to realize they were losing the Fuck Trump vote and wanted to rally the base without actually doing anything. Oh give the voters what they ask for? Nah give them more fear, that’ll rally them instead! Just look up their history, they have literally worked with both sides and are basically long winded op-eds The Heritage Foundation - Wikipedia

      • @makyo
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        78 hours ago

        I was 100% with you and thought W. Bush was a worse president than Trump, all the way up until January 6. All the ramifications of it are still playing out so it remains to be seen which is worse.

        Dubbya basically set in motion all the problems we face today in his failed response to 9/11 - instability and refugees from the middle east and ‘drill baby drill’ environmental catastrophe. We’re still suffering the consequences.

        Trump and anti-democracy and January 6 - the reprocussions are still playing out. His loss on Tuesday could have done a lot to right the wrongs and stop the bleeding. But now they’re going to be supercharged and the most important thing we can do is ensure that a fair vote can happen in 2026 and 2028. If that doesn’t happen we’re lost, and the deck will be heavily stacked against us.

      • .Donuts
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        2411 hours ago

        This presidency is a revenge tour for Trump, he even stated so himself. Millions are getting deported. Environmental regulations, human rights and workers’ rights are stated to be discarded.

        Yeah, 2003 seemed pretty reasonable.

      • @Viking_Hippie
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        1810 hours ago

        In 2003/2004 would people have said the same thing compared to Reagan, or Nixon? That compared to Bush, Reagan seems downright reasonable, or compared to Bush, Nixon seams down right reasonable

        They did and, other than Reagan, they were right.

        I remember a lot of protests against The Patriot Act? And against Guantanamo Bay?

        Which are still intolerable atrocities that would never be allowed in a well-functioning society.

        I remember a lot of right-wing patriotism sweeping through the USA and people being condemned for not falling in line

        Yes, there WAS a lot, but nowhere near as much as now.

        Are you sure 2003/2004 was a more reasonable time?

        Absolutely. 100%. 2004 conservatism is to today’s fascism what sticks of dynamite are to thermonuclear weapons.

      • @[email protected]
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        211 hours ago

        I wonder if it felt that way because we were attacked and it was an attack against all Americans , Not X segment of Americans.

        So it kinda felt like we had very different ideas of how to proceed, but it did feel like everyone was sincere about protecting the country together.

        Clearly the policy and tract the country took has been haunting us ever since, but I never got the impression that the politicians in charge were 100% self serving and had ulterior motives.