So true. I especially liked an ATLANTIC essay that compared Trump's name on the Kennedy Center to an act of vandalism. In fact, I'd go one better and extend the metaphor by saying his presidency itself is an act of vandalism against the American people.
Wow. Brilliant analogy. I haven’t thought about Geek Love in quite some time but this tracks. Now I wish my book club had selected Geek Love to read (a re-read for me) instead of 1984. Thanks for the other links too!
I appreciate your thoughtful take, as always, John. While I'm too cynical about Americans to be hopeful, I think we're seeing that it will take a unique combination of focus, intelligence, and circumstances to topple systems that have mostly worked for decades. Trump was gifted the "circumstances" part by inflation, world events, and Biden's poor term, but it seems likely that he and his team have neither the focus nor the intelligence to pull off too much more major damage.
Every minute they spend on distractions like presidential plaques and Patriot Games is a minute they don't spend on figuring out how to establish a true autocracy. Hopefully, the Dems will get their act together for the midterms.
Best wishes to you and your family for happy holidays and a peaceful new year!
All respect for your important and insightful work at Biblioracle, but a paid sub should not require paying again (to the Trib) to access your year-end list of fiction favorites.
Unfortunately, despite repeated requests over a number of years, the Tribune will not give me a free link to my column for the newsletter. I think they're being short sighted as they're going to get at least some people who might subscribe to the rest of the paper if I read the column, but that argument has not won out and I have no sway over the paper's policies.
Thanks for your prompt and informative response. And it must be the case that the Trib owns your work product. Ironies abound in the modern media landscape.
Don't get ahead of yourself. You can't just wish for a better future and passively wait for it to happen. Deranged as he is, he is still in power, and it's pathetic we couldn't beat him in the last election. Dems - we folded a winning hand for the last 10 years because we wouldn't talk to the other side.
Democracy is one big debate, and when you cut off your MAGA relatives, you literally forfeited the debate. They're not going to magically come to their senses or leave the cult on their own.
Don't cancel your friends or family, and never stop fighting!
So true. I especially liked an ATLANTIC essay that compared Trump's name on the Kennedy Center to an act of vandalism. In fact, I'd go one better and extend the metaphor by saying his presidency itself is an act of vandalism against the American people.
I’m willing to up the charge to crime against humanity
Wow. Brilliant analogy. I haven’t thought about Geek Love in quite some time but this tracks. Now I wish my book club had selected Geek Love to read (a re-read for me) instead of 1984. Thanks for the other links too!
Lexicon is the one of my favorites! As is Jennifer Government by the same author.
I appreciate your thoughtful take, as always, John. While I'm too cynical about Americans to be hopeful, I think we're seeing that it will take a unique combination of focus, intelligence, and circumstances to topple systems that have mostly worked for decades. Trump was gifted the "circumstances" part by inflation, world events, and Biden's poor term, but it seems likely that he and his team have neither the focus nor the intelligence to pull off too much more major damage.
Every minute they spend on distractions like presidential plaques and Patriot Games is a minute they don't spend on figuring out how to establish a true autocracy. Hopefully, the Dems will get their act together for the midterms.
Best wishes to you and your family for happy holidays and a peaceful new year!
All respect for your important and insightful work at Biblioracle, but a paid sub should not require paying again (to the Trib) to access your year-end list of fiction favorites.
Unfortunately, despite repeated requests over a number of years, the Tribune will not give me a free link to my column for the newsletter. I think they're being short sighted as they're going to get at least some people who might subscribe to the rest of the paper if I read the column, but that argument has not won out and I have no sway over the paper's policies.
Great article, John. And happy holidays and restful times to you and yours. 🎄💝📚
Thanks for your prompt and informative response. And it must be the case that the Trib owns your work product. Ironies abound in the modern media landscape.
The Geek Love reference caught my eye. I have not read you before. One of my favorite books and the comparison is spot on.
You capture the essence of this unraveling nicely.
Don't get ahead of yourself. You can't just wish for a better future and passively wait for it to happen. Deranged as he is, he is still in power, and it's pathetic we couldn't beat him in the last election. Dems - we folded a winning hand for the last 10 years because we wouldn't talk to the other side.
Democracy is one big debate, and when you cut off your MAGA relatives, you literally forfeited the debate. They're not going to magically come to their senses or leave the cult on their own.
Don't cancel your friends or family, and never stop fighting!