Quick Hits: No Help in Sight

It's been a steroidal summer for the Brownshirt crew. Are the White Hats up to the task?

An unweeded garden. Can this old house be saved? (source)

We’re entering a vacation period here at God’s Spies, so the offerings will be slim and brief for the following two weeks. But I don’t want to leave those who value this work with nothing to think about.

This summer has seen no vacation from awful events — masked police roam the nation; the president, above the law since Nixon got off, has finally been crowned; the flow of funds continues to the already-rich; national Democratic leaders issue strong statements; and the politician- and media-supported genocide, one of the greatest crimes this century so far, marches to its dark end.

It’s a garden of trouble out here; no help in sight.

American Brownshirts. For real.

So this is a Quick Hits piece. Two thoughts for your thought.

The Republicans Are There Already

First, it’s over for what was the U.S. of A. I could go on to explain, but instead I’ll point you to this from my friend Ian Welsh.

• Yeah, America's Gone Fascist

Short and to the point. Which leads to my second thought.

The Dems Aren’t Going to Help

Sure, the Democrats, some of them, will put on a show. And they’ll be sincere, some of them.

But national Democratic leaders — the Schumers, Pelosis, the Jeffries of the world; the folks with real power — will not roll back most of Trump’s changes, including ICE expansion, our new-minted Brownshirt crew. Watch how the charge of “soft on crime” brushes them back, like a blazing inside pitch brings fear to the plate.

It pains me to say this, truly. The nation needs desperate help, but money-bought Democrats are not the answer. They’ve proven this to us already.

1. At the end of 2010, December 31, the Bush tax cuts expired — legally expired — and Obama pretended they hadn’t in his negotiation. He had the cards, but instead refused to play them. Even Paul Krugman took offense earlier that month, expecting Obama to cave. He wasn’t proved wrong.

2. More recently, in the struggle over the “Big Beautiful Bill,” Republicans handed Dems a winning hand — a way to shut down the Senate until the recess — and they refused to play it. That’s right; Dems could have obstructed the Senate till recess time, but wouldn’t. The mechanics are at the link. Democrats knew the strategy, Dayen says. Didn’t care to use it.

3. But they’ll send strong letters, definitely, for sure, and make speeches that make the news and stop nothing at all.

And last, I have to say, for those holding hope that Occasio-Cortez will save them — would it were true — read this from Nathan Robinson and Barry Eisler, then make up your mind.

When I see a plan that works, I’ll gladly propose it. But we need people with power willing to act, to make a dog’s breakfast of Republican plans. Not seeing that now. Not seeing from where that will come.