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In reply to the discussion: How did we get here? [View all]

maxrandb

(17,502 posts)
2. Whenever asked how we ended up in this shitshow, I say something like this
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 09:22 AM
Jan 2026

Well, you see...

President Obama didn't fix all of America's problems within a week of taking office, and even had the gall to not deliver ponies as demanded.

We decided that the way to make America "more progressive" was to sit out the 2010 Mid-term election (A CENSUS YEAR), and allow unhinged racists with tri-corner hats and Medicare provided "My Scooters"...screaming like banshees for 14 months about getting "gubmint out of my Medicare", to take over 65% of all State Legislatures and Governorships, as well as a majority of the Federal Government House and Senate.

Then, we sat back as a racist fucking orange circus clown spent the next 14 months demanding to see the first African American President's Birth Certificate. We never showed up to protest at the studios of ...NOT ONE SINGLE one of the 1,500 Hate Radio stations, (MANY BASED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE CONFINE OF 80-20 BLUE TO RED CITIES), who spewed racist birther shit 24/7.

Then, it became perfectly normal for CBS, NBC, ABC, the NY Times, the WA Post, and of course Faux News to present the entire racist birther shit as nothing more than a "he said-she said" issue.

Then we gleefully watched "Game of Thrones" and wondered how people could allow such a fucked up...but totally entertaining...leadership structure take hold in Westoros.

Then we got busy with our kids and our lives as our newly empowered T-baggers drew state and federal congressional districts that looked like a sheep fucking a housecat...we expressed a little bit of concern when all of these "snake swallowing a shriveled penis" districts ensured our new overlords could win 45% of a states voters, while getting 86% of its representation...coincidental, of course.

Then we nominated a fantastic candidate, and one that was probably the most qualified ever to serve as President, but all anyone wanted to talk about was some "scandal" about some "email" bullshit...except for some of "us"...who preferred talking about how "our wonderful, started from nothing and worked her ass off to get where she was, truly historic candidate, was just EXACTLY THE SAME as an orange colored, racist freak-show, carnival barking, used-car-powered-by-snake-oil selling, serial unwanted pussy-grabbing moron".

Then, just to ensure we went completely through the Looking Glass and were using the broken shards to slit out wrists, we enabled the party of the "orange colored, racist freak-show, carnival barking, used car, snake oil selling, serial unwanted pussy-grabbing moron", to be the only check on his power.

There's something in there about some Russians doing some shit, but truly...THIS SHIT SHOW IS ALL OURS.

and that's the story of "How we ended up in this shitshow?"

How did we get here? [View all] surfered Jan 2026 OP
The bigger question: True Dough Jan 2026 #1
I think I would rather proceed forward rather than 'return' to anything. OldBaldy1701E Jan 2026 #6
Here's how... MarcoZandrini Jan 2026 #19
Whenever asked how we ended up in this shitshow, I say something like this maxrandb Jan 2026 #2
Great post malaise Jan 2026 #3
Just one thing. OldBaldy1701E Jan 2026 #5
I think that was the point.......nt Hope22 Jan 2026 #7
I suppose, but there are only mentions of times since 2000. OldBaldy1701E Jan 2026 #11
Yes, folks like Rumsfeld and Cheney to name a few... Hope22 Jan 2026 #28
More than a century Clouds Passing Jan 2026 #21
True. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Jan 2026 #32
With so many Americans not voting when they could or voting Republican, this is The Will of the People. betsuni Jan 2026 #12
Was the 2024 election the will of the people? Bluewonder Jan 2026 #40
Welcome to DU. Chemical Bill Jan 2026 #48
Don't forget Newt Gingrich, delegitimizing the Clinton presidency. SharonAnn Jan 2026 #13
As I recall, Newt led the genuinely hostile/cheating, Ayn Rand mentality in congress. JudyM Jan 2026 #34
That was amazing, but please do a follow-up Polybius Jan 2026 #15
You nailed it once again. llmart Jan 2026 #18
So true. And IMO, the 2010 midterms was the most disastrous point on this timeline we now follow.... Ol Janx Spirit Jan 2026 #23
Yes, I read a comment recently about the divisiveness of the far left. LisaM Jan 2026 #36
Republicans have been forcing Democrats out... Chemical Bill Jan 2026 #49
I'm saving this. It says it all. mcar Jan 2026 #55
There are a few crucial missing pieces in there, IMHO debsy Jan 2026 #4
The 'Patriot Act' Hope22 Jan 2026 #8
Very true debsy Jan 2026 #9
Very important. llmart Jan 2026 #17
Yes to all of this. Hope22 Jan 2026 #26
I remember when I heard they named it Department of Homeland Security, MIButterfly Jan 2026 #31
das Vaterland. nt Wednesdays Jan 2026 #35
Man! jaymac Jan 2026 #10
Good point- Leonard Leo, the wizard of the federalist society! debsy Jan 2026 #14
Most Americans don't even know about him. A ton of them right wingers, too. -nt CrispyQ Jan 2026 #27
The ONLY satisfaction I feel about this whole shit show Submariner Jan 2026 #16
Been Sayin' For Years Mr.Bee Jan 2026 #20
Insanity and ignorance did indeed trickle down. LiberalArkie Jan 2026 #22
"It all began with Reagan...." Grins Jan 2026 #24
I entirely agree. I watched my parents change from middle-of-the-road Democrats to full tilt right wing madness because Martin68 Jan 2026 #25
Two years: 1971 and 1973. valleyrogue Jan 2026 #29
50+ years, and no one has tried to undo it n/t leftstreet Jan 2026 #30
Ah..."good ole" Paul Weyrich. I think Thom Hartman talked about him, when... electric_blue68 Jan 2026 #37
The Powell Memorandum.... electric_blue68 Jan 2026 #38
Those were key years and figures. The funding of the think tanks included Richard Mellon Scaife too. summer_in_TX Jan 2026 #41
And let us not forget Barry Goldwater debsy Jan 2026 #33
Missing Newt Gingrich in the scenario. Buttoneer Jan 2026 #39
The two party system got us here. thought crime Jan 2026 #42
Let Robert Reich explain Bluewonder Jan 2026 #43
Limbaugh, Quanon, Mike Flynn, Russia, indifference. mahina Jan 2026 #44
Trump is right-wing fear/authoritarian/racist celebrity conspiracy theory media empire come to life. betsuni Jan 2026 #45
Raygun was the worst POTUS ever!!!!! BigmanPigman Jan 2026 #46
American idiots. flvegan Jan 2026 #47
It was THEM. Morbius Jan 2026 #50
Elections of Republican presidents... BH liberal Jan 2026 #51
Its amazing how anti Trump DrudgeReport is now BlueWaveNeverEnd Jan 2026 #52
It is shocking to see... BH liberal Jan 2026 #53
The fallout from the Citizens United decision... BH liberal Jan 2026 #54
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