This is so spot on - and one thing I learned is “everyone wants to think they’re smart and a good guy” and probably because of that, there also seems to be an absurd amount of needs on MAGA to “demonstrate their intelligence” in the most performative and absurd way possible as the amount of people who are cynical AND competent enough is limited.
Again Pete Hegseth prob represents this but MAGA’s obsession with “white people as intelligent one” I think is very telling
I've heard Trump White House staffers in person trying to convince each other that the obvious time share scam they both bought into is not a scam. These are not serious people.
Only one item that I might question / challenge is that the incompents like Pound are per se more dangerous than competent.
From my own semi-direct experience (via financing interactions with USG relations) the degree of internal mistrust and incompetence paralyses and/or massively undercuts ability to take action effectively (as hearing from professional staff off-record "we don't even know what they want, and not sure between them they do" - which really corresponds well with this as well as what we see demonstrably with Hormuz and with Canada).
While I tihnk there's risk of short term lashouts that are damaging (and of course idiotic trade wars with Canada... [good god... just typing that...]) but achievement of real action seems much more cosntrained.
I do wonder as well if a proper bloodbath (stars seem aligned but not to count chickens before eggs) can not cause further weakening.
This is so spot on - and one thing I learned is “everyone wants to think they’re smart and a good guy” and probably because of that, there also seems to be an absurd amount of needs on MAGA to “demonstrate their intelligence” in the most performative and absurd way possible as the amount of people who are cynical AND competent enough is limited.
Again Pete Hegseth prob represents this but MAGA’s obsession with “white people as intelligent one” I think is very telling
I've heard Trump White House staffers in person trying to convince each other that the obvious time share scam they both bought into is not a scam. These are not serious people.
Only one item that I might question / challenge is that the incompents like Pound are per se more dangerous than competent.
From my own semi-direct experience (via financing interactions with USG relations) the degree of internal mistrust and incompetence paralyses and/or massively undercuts ability to take action effectively (as hearing from professional staff off-record "we don't even know what they want, and not sure between them they do" - which really corresponds well with this as well as what we see demonstrably with Hormuz and with Canada).
While I tihnk there's risk of short term lashouts that are damaging (and of course idiotic trade wars with Canada... [good god... just typing that...]) but achievement of real action seems much more cosntrained.
I do wonder as well if a proper bloodbath (stars seem aligned but not to count chickens before eggs) can not cause further weakening.
Trying to ban social media for kids under sixteen is clearly not enough
You need to take away the smartphones.
We told our kids they won't have smartphones or social media till eighteen
We also took away their tablets.
There is a family laptop in the family room. That is password protected.
We also banned all free to play games.
Any t v or game time is in the living room. And is time limited
You’re either a “please represent me” or “please let me represent you” with those guys