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US Politics Mega-thread - Page 5546

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Now that we have a new thread, in order to ensure that this thread continues to meet TL standards and follows the proper guidelines, we will be enforcing the rules in the OP more strictly. Be sure to give them a complete and thorough read before posting!

NOTE: When providing a source, please provide a very brief summary on what it's about and what purpose it adds to the discussion. The supporting statement should clearly explain why the subject is relevant and needs to be discussed. Please follow this rule especially for tweets.

Your supporting statement should always come BEFORE you provide the source.


If you have any questions, comments, concern, or feedback regarding the USPMT, then please use this thread: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/website-feedback/510156-us-politics-thread
Jankisa
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Croatia1625 Posts
Last Edited: 2026-03-09 18:12:34
March 09 2026 18:11 GMT
#110901
On March 10 2026 02:57 Yurie wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 10 2026 02:55 Jankisa wrote:
Article tracking shipping:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/only-about-8-ships-a-day-are-passing-through-the-strait-of-hormuz-94-fewer-than-usual-806837f9

Shipping is down 94 % since the war started.

And another one (can't find a link without paywall), from Bloomberg, yesterday:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-08/hormuz-tracker-iran-linked-ships-are-the-only-ones-to-transit

Saying that only ships connected to Iran (obviously moving with their permission) have been passing since it started.

So, as usual, mr. oBlade is so dumb that he will buy every stupid thing Trump and his cronies say.


Show nested quote +
A few tankers are passing through despite the risks, and some are turning off their signals to pass through at night and may not be accounted for, said Matt Smith, an oil analyst with Kpler.


I agree with the premise though. Much fewer passed through the past few days.



Well, I think that "may not be accounted for" is doing a lot of work there.

Sure, a smaller ship might have slipped through at night with everything turned off, a tanker large enough to be relevant to this conversation absolutely did not because these things are being tracked and you can bet there would be plenty of coverage of this.
So, are you a pessimist? - On my better days. Are you a nihilist? - Not as much as I should be.
Simberto
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Germany11951 Posts
March 09 2026 18:13 GMT
#110902
On March 10 2026 03:11 Jankisa wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 10 2026 02:57 Yurie wrote:
On March 10 2026 02:55 Jankisa wrote:
Article tracking shipping:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/only-about-8-ships-a-day-are-passing-through-the-strait-of-hormuz-94-fewer-than-usual-806837f9

Shipping is down 94 % since the war started.

And another one (can't find a link without paywall), from Bloomberg, yesterday:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-08/hormuz-tracker-iran-linked-ships-are-the-only-ones-to-transit

Saying that only ships connected to Iran (obviously moving with their permission) have been passing since it started.

So, as usual, mr. oBlade is so dumb that he will buy every stupid thing Trump and his cronies say.


A few tankers are passing through despite the risks, and some are turning off their signals to pass through at night and may not be accounted for, said Matt Smith, an oil analyst with Kpler.


I agree with the premise though. Much fewer passed through the past few days.



Well, I think that "may not be accounted for" is doing a lot of work there.

Sure, a smaller ship might have slipped through at night with everything turned off, a tanker large enough to be relevant to this conversation absolutely did not because these things are being tracked and you can bet there would be plenty of coverage of this.


And even if they turned off their signals to pass through, they will probably turn them on once they are save again. So this should be pretty easily detectable by a ship first being on one side, then disappearing, then being on the other side a few hours later.
JimmyJRaynor
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada17750 Posts
Last Edited: 2026-03-09 18:17:59
March 09 2026 18:14 GMT
#110903
According to Bloomberg in January.

Analysts stated in January, Mojtaba Khamenei, was already the primary coordinator for intelligence and security appointments, effectively running the Office of the Supreme Leader while his father was increasingly sidelined due to age and health.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-01-28/how-iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-s-son-built-a-global-property-empire

Mojtaba Khamenei was already running Iran weeks/months before his father died. Why wouldn't the USA/Israel and Israel go after the guy who was actually running the country? oh right, headlines on Fox News for its massive viewer base of Iranian political experts.

Trump and Hegseth have been droning on and on about what a great coup d'etat they pulled off February 28.
Ray Kassar To David Crane : "you're no more important to Atari than the factory workers assembling the cartridges"
Simberto
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Germany11951 Posts
March 09 2026 18:15 GMT
#110904
On March 10 2026 03:14 JimmyJRaynor wrote:
According to Bloomberg in January.

Analysts stated in January, Mojtaba Khamenei, was already the primary coordinator for intelligence and security appointments, effectively running the Office of the Supreme Leader while his father was increasingly sidelined due to age and health.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-01-28/how-iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-s-son-built-a-global-property-empire

Mojtaba Khamenei was already running Iran weeks/months before his father died. Why wouldn't the USA and Israel go after the guy who was actually running the country?


I am pretty sure current US leadership just assumes that it is normal that senile old men are in charge.
oBlade
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
United States6394 Posts
March 09 2026 18:17 GMT
#110905
On March 10 2026 02:55 Jankisa wrote:
Article tracking shipping:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/only-about-8-ships-a-day-are-passing-through-the-strait-of-hormuz-94-fewer-than-usual-806837f9

Shipping is down 94 % since the war started.

And another one (can't find a link without paywall), from Bloomberg, yesterday:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-08/hormuz-tracker-iran-linked-ships-are-the-only-ones-to-transit

Saying that only ships connected to Iran (obviously moving with their permission) have been passing since it started.

So, as usual, mr. oBlade is so dumb that he will buy every stupid thing Trump and his cronies say.

At no point did I say "Every single tanker is just turning their transponder off and transiting normally." Good job disproving that. And has nothing to do with Trump or a crony. It comes from you look at the map and you see certain ships disappear and others appear. This is either explained by spontaneous ship assembly and disassembly or someone sneaking through with their transponder off.

Linking paywalled articles you haven't read is a good one too. Keep doing that.
"I read it. You know how to read, you ignorant fuck?" - Andy Dufresne
Jankisa
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Croatia1625 Posts
Last Edited: 2026-03-09 18:41:01
March 09 2026 18:39 GMT
#110906
So amazing that oBlade is also an expert on shipping!

Ships are, due to GPS jamming measures in place in the gulf currently literally appearing stacked one on another, but our boy oBlade here is such an expert looking at the maps and spotting all these ships going through!

https://nitter.net/TankerTrackers

Saudis are stopping production from major fields, only ships that are counting on "Chinese" and "Turkish" owned are going through, besides, of course, Iranian ones.

Absolutely no one who knows anything about this is saying that ships are going through by turning off their shit, it's just people who's tongues are firmly attached to Trumps asshole who are parroting this idiotic idea.

The strait is not closed, its just closed for US allies and no amount of Trump's bullshit will allow it going through.
So, are you a pessimist? - On my better days. Are you a nihilist? - Not as much as I should be.
GreenHorizons
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States24253 Posts
March 09 2026 18:44 GMT
#110907
On March 10 2026 03:15 Simberto wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 10 2026 03:14 JimmyJRaynor wrote:
According to Bloomberg in January.

Analysts stated in January, Mojtaba Khamenei, was already the primary coordinator for intelligence and security appointments, effectively running the Office of the Supreme Leader while his father was increasingly sidelined due to age and health.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-01-28/how-iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-s-son-built-a-global-property-empire

Mojtaba Khamenei was already running Iran weeks/months before his father died. Why wouldn't the USA and Israel go after the guy who was actually running the country?


I am pretty sure current US leadership just assumes that it is normal that senile old men are in charge.


Not much to look forward to with future US leadership either.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of registered voters say they have a positive view of Vance, compared to 49% who have a negative view of him

Half of voters (51%) have negative views of Harris, while 34% have positive ones, and 27% view Newsom positively, while 45% have negative views of him.


https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/poll-primary-voters-prize-ideology-electability-parties-get-low-marks-rcna262046
"People like to look at history and think 'If that was me back then, I would have...' We're living through history, and the truth is, whatever you are doing now is probably what you would have done then" "Scratch a Liberal..."
Vivax
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
22408 Posts
Last Edited: 2026-03-09 19:13:33
March 09 2026 18:54 GMT
#110908
Screw fluoride they‘re going to have to start putting xanax into the tap water supply.

At least at the WH.
WombaT
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Northern Ireland27267 Posts
March 09 2026 18:58 GMT
#110909
On March 10 2026 02:48 JimmyJRaynor wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 10 2026 02:37 Billyboy wrote:
a grand conspiracy when a mix of hubris plus underestimating how batshit crazy Trump is will work.

The grand leader of Iran can almost never be charged with a crime. No criminal action means no conspiracy.

We'll see how good the super genius amazing US counter intelligence spies are at finding his son.

Em no? That’s not how words work

Can you stop spouting bollocks for like 5 seconds, or alternatively at least stick around and discuss what you’re dropping?

Also how did the Republic die with Kennedy? What does that even mean?

Your posting is akin to the mailboy channeling his best Shoei Otani and risking his rotator cuffs to fuck a rolled up newspaper at my door. I’ll hear the thump, run to the door, I’ll get my newspaper, I can read it, but there’s zero interaction whatsoever.

You just like, say stuff and barely interact with anyone until it’s time for the next mic drop, it’s bizarre
'You'll always be the cuddly marsupial of my heart, despite the inherent flaws of your ancestry' - Squat
WombaT
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Northern Ireland27267 Posts
March 09 2026 19:06 GMT
#110910
On March 09 2026 16:32 GreenHorizons wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 09 2026 03:30 WombaT wrote:
On March 09 2026 02:33 GreenHorizons wrote:
On March 09 2026 00:24 WombaT wrote:
On March 08 2026 20:18 baal wrote:
On March 07 2026 23:02 WombaT wrote:
On March 07 2026 19:19 baal wrote:
It's wild how powerless a country is against a dictator who controls the army and is willing to mass kill his own citizens to remain in power.

I used to be anti-gun ownership but now I'm very pro because I've realized that there only two mechanism to get rid of this kind of dictators, well armed citizens or foreign intervention, and the 2nd usually gets very ugly quick.

Folks aren’t powerless, they just have to be willing to potentially die.

I don’t know how much having guns changes this calculus really. Perhaps a little.

If folks aren’t willing to potentially die, it’s largely moot whether they’re armed or not. If the relevant institutions aren’t willing to crush such a movement, same thing.


like the 20k who died in Iran and accomplished nothing?

+ Show Spoiler +
They came up against a regime willing to crush them

My point was without the will to potentially die en masse, whether you have guns or not is immaterial as you won’t do anything without that will.

And if the will of a regime to crush a movement isn’t there, whether it’s armed or not won’t really be a factor there either.

+ Show Spoiler +
I mean scenarios exist where having guns is rather handy. A failed state and complete collapse, foreign occupation, where people are willing to fight for prolonged periods, or indeed have to in order to merely survive.


People have pointed this out about fascists/Trump supporters before, but they are actually mostly cowards. Whether the population they are attempting to subjugate is armed or not makes a pretty huge difference.

Every major war/conflict since Vietnam has demonstrated that the way to beat the US military hasn't been to outgun them though. The "they have tanks?!.." type rhetoric are just thoughtless clichés.

If it comes down to it, I'd bet on Balkanization before the federal government can successfully beat a west coast resistance (especially if it has logistical support from China).

+ Show Spoiler +
As I’ve said prior when the battleground was electoral and cultural, but also stands when it’s literal. Those folks also have guns.

Your analyses seem to frequently skip over that a big chunk of the population is either outright enthusiastic about the Fascism, or willing to hold their nose while other things they like are being done. Then various graduations of those opposed, some of whom wouldn’t countenance direct action, some who would.

I don’t consider it a matter of cowardice, but one of morale, as you alluded to earlier.

Is the threat bad enough for me to risk life and limb, personal bravery is part of it. But the bigger impediment is that of realistically making a difference. Who’s manning the battlements with me?

It’s a small cohort of people indeed who go from relative comfort to bat on behalf of others, with few folks beside them and little chance of success.

In a crude sense you need a pretty egregious big bad, and you need a society that is 60, 70 or whatever+ who are all on the same page vaguely, at least united in wanting the regime gone.

This is just generally how populations operate, in reality most people in the US have pretty tolerable lives, certainly not passing the threshold into armed insurrection.

Americans aren’t even engaging in many of the direct action steps before that threshold, so it’s just not realistically on the table.

Frankly, while I’m sympathetic to the politics,
I think average Americans would be far more likely to take up arms against a socialist revolution than encroaching Fascism.

I've frequently made this point about ostensible "allies" that dominate/lead Democrat supporters' party.

What I'm talking about there isn't a socialist revolution (though that'd obviously be my preference generally). What I'm talking about there is just plain anti-authoritarianism of various stripes, geography, logistics, etc. making it much more likely for the West coast to resist indefinitely. Cannabis (particularly in the early legalization years) is a bit of a microcosm of how that works.

Probably won't start with secession. More informal ignoring of the federal government and no practical way for them to enforce it (without pushing the populace toward secession by making it increasingly rational).

I mean this splintered off from discussing the merits of an armed populace, so I was addressing that specifically.

Part of my point was that it’s basically irrelevant if Dave or Janette are armed, if there’s not a wider anti-authoritarian movement.

If there is, you can accomplish a lot without picking up a pea shooter, but you’ll do nout without

And I mean wasn’t cannabis legislation largely accomplished through gradual pressure and electoral shifts as well?

In a wider sense I mean sure, I’d imagine secessionism into smaller states is probably liable to deliver more realistic results than a US-scale civil war, although I wouldn’t consider either especially likely
'You'll always be the cuddly marsupial of my heart, despite the inherent flaws of your ancestry' - Squat
JimmyJRaynor
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada17750 Posts
Last Edited: 2026-03-09 19:21:11
March 09 2026 19:14 GMT
#110911
On March 10 2026 03:58 WombaT wrote:
Also how did the Republic die with Kennedy? What does that even mean?

Your posting is akin to the mailboy channeling his best Shoei Otani and risking his rotator cuffs to fuck a rolled up newspaper at my door. I’ll hear the thump, run to the door, I’ll get my newspaper, I can read it, but there’s zero interaction whatsoever.

You just like, say stuff and barely interact with anyone until it’s time for the next mic drop, it’s bizarre

The Republic did not "die with Kennedy". Did you read what I wrote?
I will restate it again. Hopefully, it sinks in. The series of events occurring in the early 60s are an indicator the US is no longer a republic. The way military action is initiated in the USA since 1945 is another sign of a weakening of the US as a Republic. Trump 50,000 "emergencies" are another sign of a non-existent republic. In the Republic designed by Madison et al. The Prez does not make laws. The Prez is supposed to veto laws that are attempting to pass. Tariffs are the purview of Congress. Tariffs are not set via unilateral declaration of the President. Trump is running things closer to the way an Emporor rules an Empire than how a President is supposed to work within the Republic of the USA.

On top of all of that, the Presidents' decision making is compromised by Israeli influence since about 1965. Trump is just one in a long line of Presidents in that area.
Ray Kassar To David Crane : "you're no more important to Atari than the factory workers assembling the cartridges"
dyhb
Profile Joined August 2021
United States616 Posts
March 09 2026 19:17 GMT
#110912
On March 10 2026 02:57 Yurie wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 10 2026 02:55 Jankisa wrote:
Article tracking shipping:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/only-about-8-ships-a-day-are-passing-through-the-strait-of-hormuz-94-fewer-than-usual-806837f9

Shipping is down 94 % since the war started.

And another one (can't find a link without paywall), from Bloomberg, yesterday:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-08/hormuz-tracker-iran-linked-ships-are-the-only-ones-to-transit

Saying that only ships connected to Iran (obviously moving with their permission) have been passing since it started.

So, as usual, mr. oBlade is so dumb that he will buy every stupid thing Trump and his cronies say.


Show nested quote +
A few tankers are passing through despite the risks, and some are turning off their signals to pass through at night and may not be accounted for, said Matt Smith, an oil analyst with Kpler.


I agree with the premise though. Much fewer passed through the past few days.
I'm also a bit wary of citing exact numbers based on analysis happening a world away. It's reduced, and how much it's reduced is partially reflected in current oil prices.
GreenHorizons
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States24253 Posts
March 09 2026 19:44 GMT
#110913
On March 10 2026 04:06 WombaT wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 09 2026 16:32 GreenHorizons wrote:
On March 09 2026 03:30 WombaT wrote:
On March 09 2026 02:33 GreenHorizons wrote:
On March 09 2026 00:24 WombaT wrote:
On March 08 2026 20:18 baal wrote:
On March 07 2026 23:02 WombaT wrote:
On March 07 2026 19:19 baal wrote:
It's wild how powerless a country is against a dictator who controls the army and is willing to mass kill his own citizens to remain in power.

I used to be anti-gun ownership but now I'm very pro because I've realized that there only two mechanism to get rid of this kind of dictators, well armed citizens or foreign intervention, and the 2nd usually gets very ugly quick.

Folks aren’t powerless, they just have to be willing to potentially die.

I don’t know how much having guns changes this calculus really. Perhaps a little.

If folks aren’t willing to potentially die, it’s largely moot whether they’re armed or not. If the relevant institutions aren’t willing to crush such a movement, same thing.


like the 20k who died in Iran and accomplished nothing?

+ Show Spoiler +
They came up against a regime willing to crush them

My point was without the will to potentially die en masse, whether you have guns or not is immaterial as you won’t do anything without that will.

And if the will of a regime to crush a movement isn’t there, whether it’s armed or not won’t really be a factor there either.

+ Show Spoiler +
I mean scenarios exist where having guns is rather handy. A failed state and complete collapse, foreign occupation, where people are willing to fight for prolonged periods, or indeed have to in order to merely survive.


People have pointed this out about fascists/Trump supporters before, but they are actually mostly cowards. Whether the population they are attempting to subjugate is armed or not makes a pretty huge difference.

Every major war/conflict since Vietnam has demonstrated that the way to beat the US military hasn't been to outgun them though. The "they have tanks?!.." type rhetoric are just thoughtless clichés.

If it comes down to it, I'd bet on Balkanization before the federal government can successfully beat a west coast resistance (especially if it has logistical support from China).

+ Show Spoiler +
As I’ve said prior when the battleground was electoral and cultural, but also stands when it’s literal. Those folks also have guns.

Your analyses seem to frequently skip over that a big chunk of the population is either outright enthusiastic about the Fascism, or willing to hold their nose while other things they like are being done. Then various graduations of those opposed, some of whom wouldn’t countenance direct action, some who would.

I don’t consider it a matter of cowardice, but one of morale, as you alluded to earlier.

Is the threat bad enough for me to risk life and limb, personal bravery is part of it. But the bigger impediment is that of realistically making a difference. Who’s manning the battlements with me?

It’s a small cohort of people indeed who go from relative comfort to bat on behalf of others, with few folks beside them and little chance of success.

In a crude sense you need a pretty egregious big bad, and you need a society that is 60, 70 or whatever+ who are all on the same page vaguely, at least united in wanting the regime gone.

This is just generally how populations operate, in reality most people in the US have pretty tolerable lives, certainly not passing the threshold into armed insurrection.

Americans aren’t even engaging in many of the direct action steps before that threshold, so it’s just not realistically on the table.

Frankly, while I’m sympathetic to the politics,
I think average Americans would be far more likely to take up arms against a socialist revolution than encroaching Fascism.

I've frequently made this point about ostensible "allies" that dominate/lead Democrat supporters' party.

What I'm talking about there isn't a socialist revolution (though that'd obviously be my preference generally). What I'm talking about there is just plain anti-authoritarianism of various stripes, geography, logistics, etc. making it much more likely for the West coast to resist indefinitely. Cannabis (particularly in the early legalization years) is a bit of a microcosm of how that works.

Probably won't start with secession. More informal ignoring of the federal government and no practical way for them to enforce it (without pushing the populace toward secession by making it increasingly rational).

I mean this splintered off from discussing the merits of an armed populace, so I was addressing that specifically.

Part of my point was that it’s basically irrelevant if Dave or Janette are armed, if there’s not a wider anti-authoritarian movement. + Show Spoiler +


If there is, you can accomplish a lot without picking up a pea shooter, but you’ll do nout without

And I mean wasn’t cannabis legislation largely accomplished through gradual pressure and electoral shifts as well?
In a wider sense I mean sure, I’d imagine secessionism into smaller states is probably liable to deliver more realistic results than a US-scale civil war, although I wouldn’t consider either especially likely

We agree that you need to have people that are actually willing to do what it takes to oppose fascism (armed or not) and Democrats (the only ostensible opposition party Democrats will allow) aren't that. The status quo provides "pretty tolerable lives" for them à la Niemöller.

That is bad news for humanity (including their own).
"People like to look at history and think 'If that was me back then, I would have...' We're living through history, and the truth is, whatever you are doing now is probably what you would have done then" "Scratch a Liberal..."
Dan HH
Profile Joined July 2012
Romania9243 Posts
March 09 2026 21:06 GMT
#110914
On March 10 2026 04:44 GreenHorizons wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 10 2026 04:06 WombaT wrote:
On March 09 2026 16:32 GreenHorizons wrote:
On March 09 2026 03:30 WombaT wrote:
On March 09 2026 02:33 GreenHorizons wrote:
On March 09 2026 00:24 WombaT wrote:
On March 08 2026 20:18 baal wrote:
On March 07 2026 23:02 WombaT wrote:
On March 07 2026 19:19 baal wrote:
It's wild how powerless a country is against a dictator who controls the army and is willing to mass kill his own citizens to remain in power.

I used to be anti-gun ownership but now I'm very pro because I've realized that there only two mechanism to get rid of this kind of dictators, well armed citizens or foreign intervention, and the 2nd usually gets very ugly quick.

Folks aren’t powerless, they just have to be willing to potentially die.

I don’t know how much having guns changes this calculus really. Perhaps a little.

If folks aren’t willing to potentially die, it’s largely moot whether they’re armed or not. If the relevant institutions aren’t willing to crush such a movement, same thing.


like the 20k who died in Iran and accomplished nothing?

+ Show Spoiler +
They came up against a regime willing to crush them

My point was without the will to potentially die en masse, whether you have guns or not is immaterial as you won’t do anything without that will.

And if the will of a regime to crush a movement isn’t there, whether it’s armed or not won’t really be a factor there either.

+ Show Spoiler +
I mean scenarios exist where having guns is rather handy. A failed state and complete collapse, foreign occupation, where people are willing to fight for prolonged periods, or indeed have to in order to merely survive.


People have pointed this out about fascists/Trump supporters before, but they are actually mostly cowards. Whether the population they are attempting to subjugate is armed or not makes a pretty huge difference.

Every major war/conflict since Vietnam has demonstrated that the way to beat the US military hasn't been to outgun them though. The "they have tanks?!.." type rhetoric are just thoughtless clichés.

If it comes down to it, I'd bet on Balkanization before the federal government can successfully beat a west coast resistance (especially if it has logistical support from China).

+ Show Spoiler +
As I’ve said prior when the battleground was electoral and cultural, but also stands when it’s literal. Those folks also have guns.

Your analyses seem to frequently skip over that a big chunk of the population is either outright enthusiastic about the Fascism, or willing to hold their nose while other things they like are being done. Then various graduations of those opposed, some of whom wouldn’t countenance direct action, some who would.

I don’t consider it a matter of cowardice, but one of morale, as you alluded to earlier.

Is the threat bad enough for me to risk life and limb, personal bravery is part of it. But the bigger impediment is that of realistically making a difference. Who’s manning the battlements with me?

It’s a small cohort of people indeed who go from relative comfort to bat on behalf of others, with few folks beside them and little chance of success.

In a crude sense you need a pretty egregious big bad, and you need a society that is 60, 70 or whatever+ who are all on the same page vaguely, at least united in wanting the regime gone.

This is just generally how populations operate, in reality most people in the US have pretty tolerable lives, certainly not passing the threshold into armed insurrection.

Americans aren’t even engaging in many of the direct action steps before that threshold, so it’s just not realistically on the table.

Frankly, while I’m sympathetic to the politics,
I think average Americans would be far more likely to take up arms against a socialist revolution than encroaching Fascism.

I've frequently made this point about ostensible "allies" that dominate/lead Democrat supporters' party.

What I'm talking about there isn't a socialist revolution (though that'd obviously be my preference generally). What I'm talking about there is just plain anti-authoritarianism of various stripes, geography, logistics, etc. making it much more likely for the West coast to resist indefinitely. Cannabis (particularly in the early legalization years) is a bit of a microcosm of how that works.

Probably won't start with secession. More informal ignoring of the federal government and no practical way for them to enforce it (without pushing the populace toward secession by making it increasingly rational).

I mean this splintered off from discussing the merits of an armed populace, so I was addressing that specifically.

Part of my point was that it’s basically irrelevant if Dave or Janette are armed, if there’s not a wider anti-authoritarian movement. + Show Spoiler +


If there is, you can accomplish a lot without picking up a pea shooter, but you’ll do nout without

And I mean wasn’t cannabis legislation largely accomplished through gradual pressure and electoral shifts as well?
In a wider sense I mean sure, I’d imagine secessionism into smaller states is probably liable to deliver more realistic results than a US-scale civil war, although I wouldn’t consider either especially likely

We agree that you need to have people that are actually willing to do what it takes to oppose fascism (armed or not) and Democrats (the only ostensible opposition party Democrats will allow) aren't that. The status quo provides "pretty tolerable lives" for them à la Niemöller.

That is bad news for humanity (including their own).

The lack of mass resignations after Musk's emphatic double Nazi salute sealed my impression that American liberals aren't even willing to take a pay cut for their principles.

Your president double-tapping an elementary school in Iran to knock down his pedo scandal from the news cycle is the grotesque conclusion of this failed hyper-individualist culture.
blomsterjohn
Profile Joined June 2008
Norway474 Posts
March 09 2026 21:14 GMT
#110915
Donald Trump has just told House Republicans that the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran is a “short-term excursion”.

Our country is doing really well. I mean, at a level that nobody thought. We took a little excursion because we felt like we had to do that to get rid of some evil. I think you’ll see it’s going to be a short-term excursion.

www.theguardian.com

Reads like the narrative that's being played out is being more or less confirmed?
Its just another "lets bomb them a bit, stop, and proclaim it to be a great success"

What a funny little "short-term excursion"..
Fleetfeet
Profile Blog Joined May 2014
Canada2807 Posts
March 09 2026 21:21 GMT
#110916
On March 10 2026 03:58 WombaT wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 10 2026 02:48 JimmyJRaynor wrote:
On March 10 2026 02:37 Billyboy wrote:
a grand conspiracy when a mix of hubris plus underestimating how batshit crazy Trump is will work.

The grand leader of Iran can almost never be charged with a crime. No criminal action means no conspiracy.

We'll see how good the super genius amazing US counter intelligence spies are at finding his son.

Em no? That’s not how words work

Can you stop spouting bollocks for like 5 seconds, or alternatively at least stick around and discuss what you’re dropping?

Also how did the Republic die with Kennedy? What does that even mean?

Your posting is akin to the mailboy channeling his best Shoei Otani and risking his rotator cuffs to fuck a rolled up newspaper at my door. I’ll hear the thump, run to the door, I’ll get my newspaper, I can read it, but there’s zero interaction whatsoever.

You just like, say stuff and barely interact with anyone until it’s time for the next mic drop, it’s bizarre


I was somewhat amused recently by poking thru the No Man's Sky thread and being reminded that it's been this way for 10+ years.
KwarK
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States44242 Posts
March 09 2026 21:35 GMT
#110917
With the stock market going down Trump is, of course, TACOing and declaring that the war is basically complete. The Ayatollah Khomeini has been removed from power. Objectives all achieved, time to go home.

Unfortunately Iran's leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini, who is younger, angrier, and has the support of his people, may not agree with Trump and may keep the war going a little longer. Trump may have to execute yet another tactical surrender.
ModeratorThe angels have the phone box
Acrofales
Profile Joined August 2010
Spain18412 Posts
March 09 2026 21:42 GMT
#110918
On March 10 2026 02:40 KwarK wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 10 2026 02:33 oBlade wrote:
On March 10 2026 02:16 KwarK wrote:
On March 10 2026 02:13 oBlade wrote:
On March 10 2026 02:04 Simberto wrote:
On March 10 2026 00:03 Doublemint wrote:
getting close to 2€/L for Diesel/Super over here. an increase of ~25% so far...

yeah putting a 86 year old up as an amazing trophy and incredible kill is quintessential Trump.

as is telling those tankers to just yolo through the Strait. "it's totally safe guys, they only got a couple drones and rockets left. what's the worst that can happen to a vessel filled to the brim with a highly combustible liquid?"

he is the Mr. Magoo of politics.

Trump Sends Message to Tankers as Oil Prices Spike: ‘Show Some Guts!’@Mediaite


Kilmeade revealed on Fox & Friends Monday that the president had urged oil transportation companies that use the route to “get to it” as he argued Iranian regime’s capability to attack the ships had been weakened.

He explained that during the call, he’d asked the president how he planned to “get the prices down,” then relayed Trump’s words:

He says, ‘Tell these tankers to get themselves, get to it, we have wiped out most of their launchers.’ Here is exactly what he said: ‘These ships should go through the Strait of Hormuz and show some guts, there’s nothing to be afraid of. [The Iranians] have no navy, we sunk all their ships.’

He went on to say: ‘Look, there is risk in the region, the region is volatile, their launchers, there’s just about 150 left, that’s just about 20% of totals, they can’t regenerate, they can’t make any more. We are in the region and need to act quickly on all these type of attacks.’


I wonder if Trump is willing to basically insure those tankers when crossing through there? Guarantee to pay for any damages by those Iranian missiles?

Because if he wants them to get going again, that is what it would take.

I seriously wonder, because on one hand, he tends to just bullshit all day, but rarely actually commits to doing stuff if it would be costly.

But on the other hand, it would just be US taxpayer money and not his own, so it would be basically free since he doesn't value that in the slightest.

The administration already put the DFC in as insurer of last resort when Lloyd's of London and everyone else left.

Tankers are going through by just turning their transponders off, because Iran has no radars or naval assets left so as long as you don't scream "I AM AN OIL TANKER RIGHT HERE" there's no way for the "regime" to make good on threats that "If you can afford oil at $200 a barrel watch and see what happens." Because they have no targeting capabilities left for any missiles that they would happen to have operational still.

Radar? You can literally stand on one side and see all the way to the other side. It's a strait.

You cannot launch and give a firing solution to a ballistic or cruise missile with your eyes, regardless of whether you personally can see a certain ship from a beach or not.

It’s a giant metal box at sea level surrounded by water on all sides moving very slowly within sight range. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say they’re probably pretty easy to hit, even without radar tracking. But I guess we’ll see over the next few weeks.


Amazingly people have been sinking big floating boxes with ballistics for roughly 2500 years now. Radar has existed for about 90. And if we're talking missiles specifically, V1 rockets hit London just fine without radar.
LightSpectra
Profile Blog Joined October 2011
United States3039 Posts
March 09 2026 21:54 GMT
#110919
We killed the Supreme Leader that was publicly hesitant about developing nuclear weapons for theological reasons and let him get replaced by the most hardline "bathe in the blood of the infidels" guy that's been clamoring for nukes for over thirty years.

Mission accomplished 😎
"don't try to pull a LightSpectra-Trumper"
Hat Trick of Today
Profile Joined February 2025
201 Posts
Last Edited: 2026-03-09 22:27:09
March 09 2026 22:19 GMT
#110920
In typical Trump fashion, this shit is only for the dedicated base looking for their marching orders. His whole administration has been embarrassingly insular.

No matter what he says or does, fuel prices and supply chain disruptions are going to cook inflation that was already starting to trending upwards. It doesn’t matter how many boats are making it through the strait, places dependent on Middle Eastern oil are seeing fuel prices spike by 30-50%. No one gives a shit about “well ackchyually” in this instance, the US (and Israel) did something and fuel prices immediately went up.

Which makes all of this incredibly stupid because you’re shooting the world economy in the face, pissing off literally everyone, for a whole load of really weak reasons. I don’t buy for a second that the US actually cares about the plight of the Iranians. The Chinese argument is fairly weak too as Japan and South Korea are far more dependent on Middle Eastern oil than China is and it just furthers their attempt to diversify their access to primary resources and investment into renewables and alternative energy sources.
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