Tag: Autocrats Never Lose

A Modest Proposal

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

You know what we need? We need something, a blog or a podcast, that would help give people some central repository for information about our careening towards whatever is going to happen in 2024 – 2025.

As it stands, I kind of obsess about how dire things are in the United States, but all I get for my trouble is being blocked by the Mueller, She Wrote Twitter account for being “terribly negative.”

In fact, if I could magically figure out a way to have friends and stuff *I* would start a podcast or blog that did as I suggest. But, alas, I just don’t have the right personality nor the resources to pull it off.

But I know I would listen to — or read — a media outlet that was laser focused on the “troubles” that the United States currently faces. The closest I can think up at the moment is Deep State Radio and maybe Pod Save America. But neither podcast really is as hyper focused on the rot that the United States political system current suffers from.

Just from looking at Twitter, I can tell there is a huge audience for what I’m suggesting. It would be kind of like Spy Magazine, only for covering the rise of sedition (or autocracy) in the United States.

I guess I have to comfort myself with writing a novel instead, though. I just can’t get anyone to listen to me. I could do a really great job as the editor of such a media outlet but absolutely no one listens to me and I have no money to force them to by paying them.

All I can do is get back to reading about the rise of the Nazis and beginning of the Civil War like I have been trying to do for some time now. It’s sad, however, that no one will help people understand how to prepare for the choice of autocracy or civil war that we face between now and Certification Day 2025.

We’re In A Constitutional Crisis (Again)

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Holy shit.

Of all the things to come out of the January 6th Committee’s investigations, the fact that Ginni Thomas was talking to the legal “mastermind” behind Trump’s attempt to end American democracy about the inner workings SCOTUS is bat shit insane.

It is, by definition, a constitutional crisis.

There’s a lot to unpack here. But two different concepts are smacking up against each other and, as such, we’re in a crisis. The natural inclination of the Elites to defer to SCOTUS (and their wives) about everything is smacking up against the HOLY SHIT element of what Ginni Thomas was up to.

I mean, oh my fucking God.

This means there is a direct link between SCOTUS and Eastman’s efforts to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. That is some Watergate-level bullshit.

And, yet, if past is preface, we will all run around in shock for a few days and then this will fade into oblivion like every other Trump scandal. We just don’t have the political will to do anything about Trump or Trumplandia.

In all honesty, we are kind of getting what we deserve. If we don’t have the political will to do some chemo on the MAGA cancer…well…maybe that’s our own fault?

Just be prepared for Twitter liberals to decamp to the south of France in late 2024, early 2025.

We had a good run.

Mike Pence Is Too Delusional To Realize That His Position In The Republican Party Grows Untenable

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Mike Pence finds himself in a unique historical position. He can remain a Trump toady and fade into political oblivion and become a political footnote in the context of the rise of A Very American Autocracy — or he can become MAGA’s John Dean and change history.

It’s up to you, Mike.

This is an example of how the fate of a nation can hinge on the quirks and personal foibles of one — one! — person. The Great River of History is rushing the United States towards either great change (autocracy) or destruction (civil war) and Mike Pence on a personal basis has the means, motive and opportunity to change that flow.

Mike Pence is playing the part of Dr. Manhattan by simply doing nothing even though he could potentially buy American democracy time if he just became a MAGA Republican apostate. Maybe, with extra time we could figure out some way to solve the existential problems that face the nation so we don’t start murdering each other in cold blood for political reasons.

It’s all very, very frustrating. Pence has the means, motive and opportunity to be a Great Man….and he is too much of a toady. Even after his boss said he was cool with him being hanged! If that isn’t an indication that this is The Before Times of American politics, then I don’t know what is.

When people are more devoted to a demonstrably deranged idiot because he’s an avatar for the rage of white American rather than do what is right for American democracy, then, lulz, what the fuck?

The Only Way Mike Pence Becomes President Is As A Democrat (Or As Part Of A Unity Ticket)

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

One of the mysteries of the political universe is why Mike Pence won’t bite the bullet and become the John Dean of the MAGA movement. If he wants to be POTUS, it ain’t gunna happen for him as a MAGA Republican.

The. Only. Fucking. Way. Mike. Pence. Becomes. POTUS. Is. A. Hail. Mary. Pass.

Even if Trump somehow, magically, gets knocked out of political consideration, Mike Pence just isn’t up to having a pitched political battle with DeSantis or Hawley, or whomever. But the center-Left is so devoid of leadership, and is so politically easy, that I swear to God if Mike Pence turned on MAGA he would be on Stephen Colbert within a month.

And, what’s more, Pence would not have to change one policy opinion other than showing some principle and turning on MAGA. He would instantly be the Democratic front runner (at least among Twitter liberals) and there would be a huge amount of chatter on Twitter of the need for a “Unity Ticket,” maybe with AOC as veep.

But I think we have our answer — Pence’s poor mind can’t take the cognitive leap necessary to realize his path is being a Democrat (or somewhat) rather than continuing to be a toady for Trump / MAGA.

None Dare Call It Sedition

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

You know, in a functioning democracy, the proof that the January 6th Committee has that a sitting member of the House helped insurrectionists to case the House grounds would….cause someone to get expelled?

But, here we are.

I’m still blocked by Mueller, She Wrote for being “terribly negative” and I can’t get VOX to write a how-to guide to surviving the coming choice of autocracy or civil war. The bolts are quickly popping off our nation and the bad guys are winning. (Sorry Chris Hayes.)

I don’t have any ready answers for you. The main problem is seditious House Republicans know they can lie and lie and lie and their districts are so fucking gerrymandered that the truth is totally in a different silo than the people who vote for them. How do you fix THAT problem.

The answer is, you don’t. You accept that there will be absolutely no accountability or consequences for sedition and we’re careening towards autocracy or civil war around the 2024 – 2025 timeframe.

We’re fucked.

Democracy Dies With Our Eyes Wide Shut

By Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

It’s reports like the above that make me hate the fact that my “terribly negative” (according to Twitter liberal darling Mueller, She Wrote) aren’t all that fantastical, after all.

It definitely seems as though we’re now going through the montage that is the death spiral of our democracy before we have the existential choice of autocracy or civil war around 2024 – 2025. In other words, not only is Mueller, She Wrote a misguided fool for blocking me for being “terribly negative,” we really are fucked as a nation one way or another a lot sooner than we might think.

All the conditions are set now for something very dramatic to happen between Election Day 2024 and Certification Day 2025. The only question at this point is if it’s going to be civil war or autocracy. And, what’s more, it could happen sooner if Trump becomes Speaker in 2023 and starts to rant on Truth Social that Red States should leave the Union to put pressure on the Senate to convict both Biden and Harris.

All of my dire predictions about the future are slowly coming true. The 2020 election may, in fact, be the last free and fair election in America’s history, barring a civil war or some sort of other “national divorce.”

Instead of blocking me, Mueller, She Wrote should be telling me what the fuck I’m going to do when the autocracy comes and I get arrested for saying President DeSantis can suck my dick. But, no, I’m getting punished for pointing out the obvious — no amount of earnest Twitter threads will save us.

We’re going to have to save ourselves.

We can’t even rely upon Twitter liberals to help us out. We common folk — who can’t afford a Blue Apron subscription — are just shit out of luck.

Holy Shit, Did Ted Cruz Fuck Bobo?

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Well, that’s curious. I have no idea about what it means, but it is very curious Ted Cruz’s connection to professional crazy person Lauren Boebert.

There’s smoke here, but I doubt we’ll ever know if there’s any fire. But it’s curious. Very curious.

I’ve gotten burned way too many times in the past making assumptions from way too little information. It’s just as possible that this is just the usual corruption, graft and grift of MAGA.

Holy Shit Are Things Going To Get Lit Soon

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

The first ping as to which way things will go will be when Roe is overturned at some point very soon. If people are just too tuned out when the Dobbs decision is handed down to care, then it’s very possible we’re going to just going to turn into a MAGA themed autocracy.

But if people freak out and there is violence because of Dobbs then, holy shit is there a good chance that Dobbs will be a modern day Dred Scott and, as such, a precursor to an extremely violent “national divorce.”

As of this writing — before Dobbs comes out — I just don’t think there’s going to be any violence. (I hope.) While American definitely feels likes like its in the scary montage before a civil war, Americans are in general pretty copacetic. I just don’t see Americans getting riled up enough to finally start murdering each other for political reasons.

The fucking fascist MAGA cocksuckers are just too passionate, too organized and have too much name brand leadership for Blues to attempt any sort of secession. (Make not doubt about it, if there’s a civil war, it will be because Blues, on a state level, try to leave the Union — Reds are ascendant and have no reason to rock the boat. But they are very stupid, so anything is possible.)

But even if there is not political violence because of Dobbs, from the moment it comes out the clock will be ticking. Republicans are now old school fascists who hate democracy — don’t even believe in it — and, as such, once they have power again that’s it.

Unless there is a civil war, we’re never going to have another free and fair election. We’ll be just like Russian once Putin became president. I’m not saying it’s going to happen overnight and, in the end, it’s probably going to be a “very American autocracy” but long term the drift will be towards a Russian-style autocracy. What’s worst, it’s not like MAGA thought leaders are hiding that this is their goal.

That’s why, like, there should be some low-key panic going on within the elites that at the moment I’m not seeing. We know what’s coming and…lulz? Nothing is being done to save our democratic republic? No drive to have some sort of unity ticket that might at least punt our problems down the road a little bit longer?

It’s all very curious.

Enjoy your autocracy, I guess.

Panic! On The Democracy

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I totally agree with this by Jamelle Bouie of The New York Times.



The state of our democracy is very dire at the moment and the lack of willingness to acknowledge that by the American Establishment is concerning.

Maybe if there was some panic now, we would be willing to seriously consider a unity ticket in 2024 of, say, Cheney / AOC. But, as it stands, we’re slouching towards autocracy.

When the crisis strikes in 2024 – 2025, we’re all going to be sucker punched and that will be that. But the entire system is designed to keep people complacent and to avoid panic.

As such, I think it’s a foregone conclusion that the fascists are going to win and that will be that. We’re going to slip into autocracy and 20 years from now President-for-Life DeSantis will be thinking about invading Canada for this or that reason.

Things really are that dire in the United States right now, especially given how a huge swath of MAGA doesn’t even believe in democracy in the USA anymore to begin with.

Ugh.

‘Lenin’s Sealed Train’

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I learned a lot about myself in Seoul. I know what I’m good — and bad — at. I’m a good organizer and good at articulating ideals. I have a very broadcast type personality. But I have a huge weakness — I need help persuading anyone. In short, I have no friends and no one likes me.

Annie Shapiro and me way back when in Seoul.

But I know that under the right circumstances, I have the skillset to do Something Great. At the moment, that Something Great is writing developing and writing six novels between now and whenever I shuffle off this mortal coil. Yet there is also the possibility that should the US go tits up as part of a Second American Civil War that the finger of God will point at me.

I’m being extremely speculative — and egotistical — but given the chance, I think there’s a fairly decent chance that I might rise to the occasion and do something Historic with my life. I usually excel in chaos, as my time in Seoul as expat attests.

I think way too much about this, in fact.

I wonder if it’s still possible for me, being the big old loser that I am, to be a Child of the Revolution. Or, put another way, if I’m ever going to live up to my expectations for myself, something pretty astonishing would have to happen one way or another. And a Second American Civil War would definitely fit the bill on that front.

I always though of myself as more of a Trotsky.

As I’ve said, if there is some sort of “national divorce” I’m heading north. It could be a lot of fun living in revolutionary New York City that might spring up as part of a Second American Civil War.

Then I think about how no one likes me and I have no friends. The only reason why I got to have such an interesting experience in Seoul way back when was I had a partner, Annie Shapiro, who was able to get people to listen to me.

Anyway, I guess we’ll know soon enough, huh. It could be as soon as January 2023 if we’re going to have a civil war or not. It could happen that soon, of course, if Trump becomes speaker and personally demands that Red States leave the Union in an effort to put pressure on the Senate to convict both Biden and Harris.