Before I start I will be heading to the hospital today for more tests and consultations it all starts at 0800 and I have no idea when it will finish….so this may be all you get from me today…..sorry.
Triumvirate?
If you remember from your history class(which I doubt) you will recall that the late Roman republic was lead by three members…..Caesar, Pompey and Crassus….an alliance among three prominent politicians ….if I recall it did not end well.
But to help out a bit more in the definition…. a political institution ruled or dominated by three individuals.
Just as Rome had there three the foreign policy machine of today has its three….Trump, Hegseth and Rubio….nothing about these three ooze competency.
Incompetency?
Definitely.
Trump concerns are golf and his business deals, Hegseth is concerned with unsecured phones and prayer sessions and Rubio….well he is like a small child lost in a big box store…..walking around scratching his head looking for clueless leader to show him the way.
In almost 6 months this ‘team’ has accomplished very little…..Donny got a new plane, Hegseth has babbled but nothing coherent and Rubio has……(I will need to find something he has actually done besides get rid of qualified analyst)…..(thinking)…..
…
We now have two incompetent individuals in charge of the national security community. The first is Marco Rubio, who is secretary of state, acting national security adviser, acting administrator of the Agency for International Development, which now only exists on paper, and acting National Archivist. The Archivist should never be held by a non-professional, particularly a bureaucrat such as Rubio, who will certainly politicize the essential records of the United States regarding diplomacy and international relations.
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Little needs to be said about the other key member of the national security team—Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth—because it is universally accepted that Hegseth never should have been appointed, let alone confirmed, as secretary. It’s ironic that it was national security adviser Mike Waltz who was fired from his important post and downgraded to UN Ambassador, because it was Hegseth who compromised the security and safety of our fighting forces with his persistent use of insecure lines of communication to discuss sensitive military plans. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D/CT) correctly noted that Waltz became the “fall guy” for the administration’s mistakes on national security, and it was Hegseth who irresponsibly discussed sensitive military plans with communications technology that was easily intercepted.
The US has quickly gone from global dominance to global irrelevancy….
The last few weeks have convinced much of the world that the United States has abandoned its role as world leader, no longer cares about education, science, or modern medicine, and would just as soon let the global poor drown in their own desperation.
After witnessing all the manic executive decrees issued by Donald Trump over the last 100 days, it’s easy to see why the rest of the world might have come to the conclusion that the United States has gone off the rails, but the fact is that the increasingly traumatic changes in American policy are a function of the whims of one man, Donald Trump. They do not necessarily reflect the thinking of the American public, a growing majority of which now disapproves of just about everything that Trump is doing.
Just as the term “Biden moment” refers to former President Joe Biden’s loss of focus during a critical debate, we are now experiencing a rush of “Trump moments” — manic savagings of just about every aspect of the American tradition, often followed by urgent backtracking to avoid immediate disaster. All of this is taking place with no coherent policy objectives in view.
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Instead of a reasoned approach, Donald Trump has moved America mindlessly toward isolation, while offering no understandable explanation of where he hopes to end up (the absence of which has helped fuel speculation on the part of some that Trump is actively serving a foreign master). His attitude is that if the world doesn’t want to play ball his way, he’ll take his ball and go home.
What Trump doesn’t realize is that the world doesn’t need or want his ball. For the majority of Americans who no longer support Trump, the existential question is what can be done over the next three-and-a-half years with an increasingly unhinged 78-year-old man who refuses to listen.
Trump’s Chaos Moving America From Global Dominance Toward Global Irrelevance
I guess I was ahead of the curve for once when Donny announced Rubio and Hegseth I did not see any way forward with these yahoos…..the bottom was all we can look forward to becoming.
Side note: The US has delivered a substantial amount of weapons to keep Israel’s genocide going….
The US has delivered 90,000 tons of bombs, guns, and other military equipment to Israel since October 7, 2023, to support the genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to numbers from the Israeli Defense Ministry.
A recent report by The Associated Press that exposed the Israeli military’s “systematic” use of Palestinians as human shields has shone a light on an illegal practice that has become commonplace over the 19-month war in Gaza and parallel offensives in the West Bank.
Why do you people support his shit?
Nothing about any of these choices are in the best interests of this nation and its standing on the world stage.
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
Good luck at the hospital.
Trump is definitely making America a laughing stock, and it is obvious that Putin no longer fears the US and is mocking Trump openly. I don’t have the answers to any the madness, but I do feel that it may be time for the non-MAGA people in your country to actually stand up and be counted, before the US becomes an isolationist shadow of its former self.
Best wishes, Pete.
THanx Pete it is just scans today….Donny is doing a fine job of destruction of a good solid system. chuq
It’s PAST time, but those who have the “authority” to stand up and be counted are NOT doing just that. Or if they are, they are far too few in number., Regrettably, to many have become complacent.
The phenomenon of a nation like the United States becoming complacent or seemingly careless about serious issues—such as encroaching autocracy, disregard for tragedies, or government actions impacting daily life—can be understood through a combination of historical, psychological, social, and political factors. Here’s a concise exploration of how this can happen:
Gradual Erosion and Normalization: Threats like autocracy or systemic issues often develop slowly, making them harder to notice. Incremental changes—such as expanded executive power, weakened checks and balances, or eroded civil liberties—can be normalized over time. People may not react strongly because each step seems minor in isolation, a phenomenon known as the “boiling frog” metaphor.
Psychological Desensitization: Constant exposure to crises, tragedies, or political dysfunction through media can desensitize people. When bad news is relentless, individuals may experience “compassion fatigue” or disengage to protect their mental health, leading to apathy toward issues that once sparked outrage.
Polarization and Division: Deep political and cultural divides can fragment collective action. In the U.S., partisan loyalty often trumps shared concern for democratic principles or societal well-being. People may overlook autocratic tendencies or government overreach if it aligns with their ideological team, prioritizing “winning” over systemic integrity.
Distraction and Information Overload: Modern life bombards people with information, entertainment, and economic pressures. Social media, consumerism, and work demands can distract from civic engagement. When survival or personal comfort takes precedence, issues like encroaching autocracy may feel abstract or secondary.
Erosion of Civic Education and Trust: Weak civic education leaves many unaware of how democratic institutions function or why they matter. Coupled with declining trust in government, media, and experts (fueled by scandals, misinformation, or perceived elitism), people may feel powerless or skeptical, reducing their motivation to act.
Economic and Social Precarity: When people are struggling financially or socially, they may prioritize immediate needs over long-term threats. For example, rising costs, job insecurity, or healthcare concerns can make abstract issues like “democratic backsliding” feel less urgent, even if they have profound consequences.
Propaganda and Misinformation: Autocratic tendencies often thrive in environments where propaganda or misinformation distorts reality. If people are fed narratives that downplay threats, vilify opposition, or glorify strongman leadership, they may become complicit or indifferent to dangerous shifts.
Historical Complacency: The U.S. has enjoyed relative stability and democratic resilience for centuries, fostering a belief that “it can’t happen here.” This optimism can blind people to warning signs, as they assume the system will self-correct without active intervention.
Bystander Effect and Diffusion of Responsibility: In large societies, individuals may assume someone else—activists, politicians, or institutions—will address problems. This collective inaction allows issues to fester, as no one feels personally responsible.
Elite and Institutional Failure: Complacency often stems from leaders or institutions failing to sound alarms or act decisively. If media, courts, or political figures downplay or enable autocratic behavior (e.g., through partisan bias or corruption), the public may not recognize the severity of the threat.
Historical Context
The U.S. has faced similar periods of complacency before, such as during the Gilded Age (when corporate power and corruption dominated) or the McCarthy era (when fearmongering curtailed freedoms). These episodes suggest that democracies can slide into dysfunction when vigilance wanes. Globally, examples like Weimar Germany or modern cases of democratic backsliding (e.g., Hungary, Turkey) show how complacency, paired with economic stress and charismatic leadership, can pave the way for autocracy.
Why It Persists
Once complacency sets in, it’s hard to break. Fear of change, social conformity, or distrust in alternatives can keep people passive. Additionally, autocratic systems often manipulate elections, media, or public perception to maintain the illusion of legitimacy, discouraging resistance.
Breaking the Cycle
Reversing complacency requires:
Civic Education: Teaching people how democracy works and why it’s fragile.
Grassroots Mobilization: Local activism to rebuild community engagement.
Transparent Leadership: Institutions and leaders who prioritize accountability.
Media Literacy: Equipping people to navigate misinformation.
Economic Stability: Reducing precarity so people can focus on civic issues.
In short, complacency arises from a mix of gradual threats, psychological numbing, societal fragmentation, and institutional failures. It’s less about carelessness and more about systemic pressures that dull collective awareness and action. Recognizing these dynamics is the first step to countering them.
These three jerkoffs are destroying the US foreign policy process and it will bite us in the ass….land soon. chuq
The phenomenon of a nation like the United States becoming complacent or seemingly careless about serious issues—such as encroaching autocracy, disregard for tragedies, or government actions impacting daily life—can be understood through a combination of historical, psychological, social, and political factors. Here’s a concise exploration of how this can happen:
Gradual Erosion and Normalization: Threats like autocracy or systemic issues often develop slowly, making them harder to notice. Incremental changes—such as expanded executive power, weakened checks and balances, or eroded civil liberties—can be normalized over time. People may not react strongly because each step seems minor in isolation, a phenomenon known as the “boiling frog” metaphor.
Psychological Desensitization: Constant exposure to crises, tragedies, or political dysfunction through media can desensitize people. When bad news is relentless, individuals may experience “compassion fatigue” or disengage to protect their mental health, leading to apathy toward issues that once sparked outrage.
Polarization and Division: Deep political and cultural divides can fragment collective action. In the U.S., partisan loyalty often trumps shared concern for democratic principles or societal well-being. People may overlook autocratic tendencies or government overreach if it aligns with their ideological team, prioritizing “winning” over systemic integrity.
Distraction and Information Overload: Modern life bombards people with information, entertainment, and economic pressures. Social media, consumerism, and work demands can distract from civic engagement. When survival or personal comfort takes precedence, issues like encroaching autocracy may feel abstract or secondary.
Erosion of Civic Education and Trust: Weak civic education leaves many unaware of how democratic institutions function or why they matter. Coupled with declining trust in government, media, and experts (fueled by scandals, misinformation, or perceived elitism), people may feel powerless or skeptical, reducing their motivation to act.
Economic and Social Precarity: When people are struggling financially or socially, they may prioritize immediate needs over long-term threats. For example, rising costs, job insecurity, or healthcare concerns can make abstract issues like “democratic backsliding” feel less urgent, even if they have profound consequences.
Propaganda and Misinformation: Autocratic tendencies often thrive in environments where propaganda or misinformation distorts reality. If people are fed narratives that downplay threats, vilify opposition, or glorify strongman leadership, they may become complicit or indifferent to dangerous shifts.
Historical Complacency: The U.S. has enjoyed relative stability and democratic resilience for centuries, fostering a belief that “it can’t happen here.” This optimism can blind people to warning signs, as they assume the system will self-correct without active intervention.
Bystander Effect and Diffusion of Responsibility: In large societies, individuals may assume someone else—activists, politicians, or institutions—will address problems. This collective inaction allows issues to fester, as no one feels personally responsible.
Elite and Institutional Failure: Complacency often stems from leaders or institutions failing to sound alarms or act decisively. If media, courts, or political figures downplay or enable autocratic behavior (e.g., through partisan bias or corruption), the public may not recognize the severity of the threat.
Historical Context
The U.S. has faced similar periods of complacency before, such as during the Gilded Age (when corporate power and corruption dominated) or the McCarthy era (when fearmongering curtailed freedoms). These episodes suggest that democracies can slide into dysfunction when vigilance wanes. Globally, examples like Weimar Germany or modern cases of democratic backsliding (e.g., Hungary, Turkey) show how complacency, paired with economic stress and charismatic leadership, can pave the way for autocracy.
Why It Persists
Once complacency sets in, it’s hard to break. Fear of change, social conformity, or distrust in alternatives can keep people passive. Additionally, autocratic systems often manipulate elections, media, or public perception to maintain the illusion of legitimacy, discouraging resistance.
Breaking the Cycle
Reversing complacency requires:
Civic Education: Teaching people how democracy works and why it’s fragile.
Grassroots Mobilization: Local activism to rebuild community engagement.
Transparent Leadership: Institutions and leaders who prioritize accountability.
Media Literacy: Equipping people to navigate misinformation.
Economic Stability: Reducing precarity so people can focus on civic issues.
In short, complacency arises from a mix of gradual threats, psychological numbing, societal fragmentation, and institutional failures. It’s less about carelessness and more about systemic pressures that dull collective awareness and action. Recognizing these dynamics is the first step to countering them.
Why twice John? chuq
Good luck with everything today!
Thank you John….it is mostly scans today but the dye they use makes me sick….I appreciate the concern. chuq
take care, lobotero…
Thanx Judy and you as well chuq