If the worst case happens, are we aware of what's ahead?

[bucolic_frolic]

Basically, and I've been on this track about 2 months, MAGA are abused psychologically. When you tell people reality is not what it is, and they come to believe you, you are erasing their sense of reality, logic, and self-esteem. They become rooted in emotion spouted by dear leader and will believe and follow anything he says. Q-Anon, pizza parlors, Jewish space lasers, election denials ... it's all the same script from an emotional perspective.

So if TSF regains office, aren't we in for more of the same? Would sadism be, for all intents and purposes, legal? People will be told to empty their assets and send them to Washington or MAL? Where could you see this going?

[elleng]

1. Stock market CRASH (the LEAST of our problems.)

[LenaBaby61]

2. Please get a grip .....

[Irish_Dem]

3. OP is asking a legit and good question.

How bad is the gaslighting going to get?

[usedtobedemgurl]

9. That was mean!!!!!

Are you on the right board, saying for someone to get a grip and waving at them? Wow!

[LenaBaby61]

24. Okay .....

Let's hope it happens ...

Is that better? I'm living in complete fear now

Good Lord, l can't

By the way, is this your site? Telling me l don't belong here

[Think. Again.]

10. If you don't think this is a reasonable line of questioning...

...considering the facts of recent hstory, you may be engaging in denialism.

[LenaBaby61]

42. ...considering the facts of recent hstory, you may be engaging in denialism.

Uh nope. My parents lived through way worse ... and saw way worse growing up and living and through a Jim Crow South, where my late father saw a black man hanging in a tree right off his reservation which traumatized him his whole life, and both my parents knew slaves. I could keep going on with the atrocities that both my parents--who'd be in their 100's--lived through and survived, and told their 5 children about, and told us to not back down, or live in fear. You know any Tulsa Race Riot survivors personally? I've met/knew and met several as an 18 year old in the late 1970's via my mother's Aunt--my great Aunt who lived through the Tulsa Race Riots, and who as a 20 year old, ran through the streets for her life, and watching as 2 of her friends got shot and killed by some rotten, racist white assholes. And me being bi-racial and growing up in a racist world in Los Angelles where being half Native American and half Black was no picnic, but l had it better than my older siblings did growing up in and living through racist cop pull-overs and worse while driving or riding in a car "just because." I could go on and on with the shit and racism, being bi-racial and belonging to two fucked over and still mostly being fucked over races to this day. ME, living in denialism? Knowing how hideous this country was and still is because of white people like Donald Trump, MTG and their ilk. I'm not self-hating Uncle Clarence Thomas nor Byron Donald's, or tap-dancing Tim Scott from SC who when they look in the mirror they see white Men, and who love belonging to a neo nazi party who hates them, and who see them as their boys, tokens. Now those 3 live in, bathe in and eat and drink denialism 27/7. "You live in denialism... " l'm not Uncle Clarence Thomas whose besties with his billionaire Massah racist Harlan Crow, who has a nazi garden in his yard, and who colleeccts nazi artifacts

I guess Coretta was living in denialiism, by choosing to not live in fear, even after all she''d been through in her life. I'll go the. Coretta Scott King route.

Coretta Scott King:
"When fear rushed in, I learned how to hear my heart racing but refused to allow my feelings to sway me. That resilience came from my family."

[sunnybrook]

54. Excellent response

Thanks for sharing.

If the unthinkable should happen it would be horrendous and I would have to deal with it then. I won't live in that now, subjecting myself to further abuse.

Coretta is a great example. As is her husband who said "I am fearing no man."

[RobinA]

59. No, It's Not

The two aren't comparable. Not saying one is better or worse, they are apples and oranges.

[LuckyCharms]

11. OP is valid. I expect the worst if he gets elected.

It's a cult that needs mass de-programming.

[Cosmocat]

48. It is going to be really bad win or lose

There are so many different ways it will spin out badly if they win, as most here recognize.

But, I am fairly certain unless Joe wins by an overwhelming amount, which I don't think will happen, they have many avenues working at the same time to break the system and install Trump.

Which will lead to the same results.

[Kaleva]

4. Climate change will take care of a lot of this

[gab13by13]

5. It will be way worse

Than what is predicted here.

What did Pinochet do in Chile?

[Irish_Dem]

6. Trump getting back into the WH, will be like giving a heroin addict unlimited drugs.

He will be on an unsurpassed narc high and his sociopath personality will
be on an unparalleled crime spree. He will be like a kid in a candy shop.

Yes his crimes, grifting, gaslighting will all be legal and he will be untouchable.
It will all be much much worse.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. That makes sense, a sort of friendly fascist blitzkrieg

It would feel like the Battle of Britain, or the French Resistance. Time to learn some secret handshakes and establish alt identities.

[Irish_Dem]

17. The only mitigating factor will be the dementia.

He won't be as focused or cunning.

The bad side is that his minders will be just as evil and sharp as tacks.

[Cosmocat]

49. Right

It was the people under W who were the biggest problem with his presidency.

But, they were mostly just craven PNAC and Prosperity for Growth types trying to achieve the old school "conservative policy" aims.

The people amassing behind Trump are soulless ghouls like Bannon and Stone intent on blowing up american democracy and inflicting pain and suffering.

[Irish_Dem]

53. Exactly.

I am sure Cheney made sure W had his daily supply of hard liquor.
To make sure Cheney could run the show and become vastly rich with military invasions.

And yes with Trump cronies we are looking at brutal and viscous sociopaths, wired
like serial killers. Who will destroy it all. They get off on it.

[Wednesdays]

18. The French Resistance.

During the Battle of Britain, the British at least didn't have to go clandestine against the Nazis.

However, if Operation Sea Lion had been successful...

[Hermit-The-Prog]

29. Piss on the handshakes; I have ammunition.

[0rganism]

15. and that heroin addict is your nuclear-weapons-ready nation's dictator

There's literally no earthly limit to the damage TSF could cause

[Irish_Dem]

20. I am thinking the military may have some agreement about taking

direct military orders from Trump.

They only have to take LAWFUL orders from the CIC.

But yes Trump could do a lot of damage.

He already has severely damaged the US, our national security and domestic stability.

[0rganism]

22. When the dictator orders his military to nuke a hurricane, they're gonna nuke the hurricane

Naturally there will be other targets depending on how active Putin wants to get with his puppet; I assume there might be some internal pushback until the dictator gets his DC gallows running around the clock.

[Irish_Dem]

23. I think there had been discussion among the Joint Chiefs.

And perhaps selected members of congress.
On how to handle such requests.

There is a reason Trump hates Miley.

No, military generals do not have to take any unlawful order.
Or one that would endanger American citizens on American soil.

The US military knows they do not work for Trump.
They work for the American people and take an oath to
defend the US constitution.

Their loyalty is not to Trump.

Unless Trump replaces US general slots with his lackeys.

[magicarpet]

31. I would like to introduce you to the Honorable,...

.... ten star General Michael Thomas Flynn. If djt made him Secretary of Defense some weird stuff would happen in the US Military real fast.

The concept of lawful CiC orders would be tossed into the winds. It would be whatever trDUMP wants,... goes. Or the firing squad for you.

You talk about Generalissimo Pinochet - a Steven Miller's wet dream of a Fascist banana republic would quickly come to life.

The AmeriKKKan Nazi Party would come into full bloom in all its splendor and glory.

[Irish_Dem]

33. Yes but it would have to be more than the Secty of Def.

It would also have to be Joint Chiefs.
All of them.

And other general officers who might not want to break the law.

So it is going to have to be a purging of quite a few high ranking officers.

Once Trump starts talking about endangering US civilians on American soil.
Or nuking hurricanes, it is going to be a hard sell to officers who don't want to
get courtmartialed and lose pensions down the road.

I think we will see some resignations before that happens.

[Cosmocat]

51. I know people are trying to grasp at straws

But, they have already rat fucked our courts and have a plan in place to ratfuck our federal government in full with project 2025. '

Make no mistake, there already are people high in the military chain of command who are on board with team fascism, and it is only a matter of time until they get enough like minded people in place and take control of it.

You might have some people who retire out of honor, but once it hits critical mass, most of the rest will be like any other country in history when these things occur and make business decisions for themselves and their family, see where things are headed and go along to get along.

[Irish_Dem]

55. I cannot disagree with this possibility at all.

I just know that there will be some initial pushback from the US military.

They are not going to start dropping nuclear bombs or killing Americans on US soil
without some strong resistance.

I am not grasping at straws at all.
I am one of the biggest cynics on this forum.
So you misunderstand me completely.

The US military is hard wired in very specific ways.
So I know how it will go down.
At the very least, some generals will not want to be courtmartialed or lose their pensions.

[Cosmocat]

58. I was just commenting

More conversationally.

I want to think they will safeguard him from the nukes either way.

But, if I had to put money on it, it would be that either way they will back his play come November.

[RobinA]

60. I Used To Think

there were adults in the room. Time has told me I'm wrong.

[bluestarone]

7. My opinion is, if he gets back in office

Be ready for complete collapse. I'm really not sure if Democracy will live another minute.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. As per the first reply above, I too think Market Crash

So much uncertainty. No one knows what fascist plans lay ahead other than tariffs and theft. But I could see spending on non-essentials collapsing completely. Communities bifurcating into Left and Right. The Left is sorely unprepared for a Rabble of Occupation. And there would be an imposed media blackout. People would be disappeared. Journalists afraid to write anything.

[bluestarone]

19. Lots of people's lives will be getting getting destroyed.

I'll tell you this, We WON'T need a Supreme Court (they are to STUPID to realize this) anymore. THEY will be worthless, because not ONE of TFG, and his cultists will listen to any of their laws anymore.

[gab13by13]

8. If TSF wins

The unwashed Magats will be the worker ants guided by the billionaire fascists.

[Bettie]

27. And they will be really surprised when the first thing their new overlords do

is take away their guns.

[Butterflylady]

39. Bingo,

Take away their guns, absolutely, can't say they weren't warned. That will be the first thing, of many to follow.

[Think. Again.]

12. If trump retakes the Whitehouse...

...that will be the opening of the floodgates currently holding back the worst of magat violence.

And I thnk that wil be the least of the challenges we'll face.

[Dave says]

16. Learn Russian

Ha!

[bucolic_frolic]

26. Da! /nt

[Wednesdays]

21. Instead of a 6-3 Supreme Court, it will be 9-0.

After the three Democratic-appointed justices are either forced to resign, impeached out, or assassinated by Trump's law enforcement or minions.

On edit: ...And just imagine what kind of opinions THAT court will hand down!

[usonian]

25. They'll do it anyway WHEN Joe Biden wins.

Denial is one of the most powerful cult traits.

Quite simply, as I tell people who go off the rails,

THAT’S YOUR PROBLEM, NOT MINE, because their reality is a fantasy.

[gab13by13]

28. Not thinking evil enough

I listened to someone who knows TSF. Cohen said that #1 TSF will want to be the richest man in the world, and he was inspired by Putin. TSF will just take the money of the billionaires who put him in power. He will take Musk’s money, will take Bezos’ money.

The richest man in the world will be the leader of the most powerful military in the world.

Saying that TSF will abolish the Constitution is moot.

TSF is mentally ill, trying to logically predict what an insane person will do is impossible.

[wnylib]

46. If he tried to take the money of US billionaires

isn't it likely that they would pull off an assassination of him? I don't see them passively sitting back and doing nothing about it.

[gab13by13]

52. Just repeating what I heard Michael Cohen say.

[Groundhawg]

30. We survived him once, we can again if it comes to that.

[magicarpet]

35. This next time if djt gets his foot back in the White House it will be,...

Pinochet, Mussolini, and Stalin violence X 10 melded out. Until the Orange Menace feels his wrath and vengence has been sadistically satisfied and fully satiated.

This time will be no holes barred, no restraints, full blast sociopathic narcissistic trDUMP. Let the chaos, mayhem, plundering, and pillaging - of the US Treasury and assets or resources of the country begin as expeditiously as possible.

[Yavin4]

32. A Trump victory means, at best, things will be chaotic. At worst, things will be catastrophic.

By chaotic, i mean that Trump will do and say crazy things. Congress and the courts will be used to thwart him. But, some bullshit will slip through. That's the best case scenario.

The worst case is that we run into another major crisis. He won't be up for handling it. We will probably never recover from it.

[liberal N proud]

34. If tfg gets back in office, we are in for some very dark days

The Great Depression will be nothing in comparison.

[hay rick]

36. My concern with the worst case is not with what happens but with what I can or will do.

I hope to not find out.

[Arthur_Frain]

37. Read Sinclair Lewis "It Can't Happen Here".

I think it will go very closely along the outline of how Windrip moved to consolidate power. tfg sees that he failed to be as proactive the first time around, they won’t make that mistake again if we let them have another chance at it. It’s going to move a lot faster than you think is possible if and when it happens.


Another salient point from the novel: in an authoritarian takeover, the population self divides into 3 identifiable coping types. First are the true believers, the acolytes, they delight in what the new regime is bringing. Next is the go-along-to-get-along group, just wanting to not be noticed by the regime. Last are the rebels, who actively or otherwise work against the new regime. The kicker is that depending on how effective and/or brutal the new regime becomes, people will be forced to shift between these groups as time goes by, meaning you never know who might betray you next.


It’s a work of literature from 1935, it’s not going to get everything right, but nearly 90 years later, there’s much to learn from that book, plus it’s a ripping good read.

[Codifer]

44. I am hoping for "Seven Days in May"

Kirk Douglas and the rule of law triumph over Burt Lancaster.

[Arthur_Frain]

45. Heh. Getting ready to watch "Elmer Gantry"

Not sure Lancaster was the best choice to cast in the lead, but I’m looking forward to it. Give me classic cinema with a list directors over todays green screen stuff any day.

[Codifer]

57. You will love it.

Lancaster was a brilliant Gantry.

"The Thing " is on TCM East now. Howard Hawks directed. 1951.

Better for my head than the "news".

Cheers

[Takket]

38. this is exactly where it is going..........

[bucolic_frolic]

47. Project 2025 should all be locked up for centuries. /nt

[Takket]

56. I'd like to see the Senate introducing some bills to block and ban this

Granted the rethugs will just filibuster it. And who knows if a few rethugs will help it in the house. But we’ve seen the playbook so we should be making a move to stop it.

[Efilroft Sul]

40. All the guardrails of democracy will come off.

Trump won't need the courts. He won't need Congress, although his MAGA allies will be there to rubber-stamp his decrees. Our country will be led by cruel and malignantly stupid orcs, and many of our neighbors and family members will do their bidding and be happy to watch us die.

[GenThePerservering]

41. They're such a bunch of incompetent loons

that all they'll create is chaos. Sure, the Federalists may be smart, but look at the tools they have.

[DemocraticPatriot]

43. If Donald Trump is elected, I have a pre-written letter for David Hinkley

about the many ways which Trump has abused Jodie Foster....
and every other woman in our country...

[JanMichael]

50. Yellow Coded Curfew is now in effect?

[RobinA]

61. Yes, Many Are Aware

of what's ahead. I, for one, swing between anger and depression.

[Tree Lady]

62. In a way covid saved us

I think if it wasn't for covid he would have started wars and did more evil in congress. If he gets in this time his staff will be full of people crazy like him completely no one stopping him like last time. Scares me!