Introducing the American Kakistocracy

This much is clear. MAGA 2.0 is going to be a shitshow. But at least wine still exists.

In positive news, I've been working on a longer post about what is giving me hope in the darkness right now. So, look for that one to be published soon.

I see this blog as a chronicle of the week's news. Since I was out last week, I missed writing about the formation of the MAGA 2.0 clown car, so I'll cover that topic today. Much of this will be old news to you, so skip to the end of this post for a couple of big pieces of good news.

FYI, scrolling past the shitshow and to the good news in this weblog will always be a good option!

TUESDAY'S WEBLOG

And yes, they might have fancy degrees from fancy schools, but Trump is filling up his new clown car with some of the worst human beings that live in our country.

This process includes the replacement of all first-rate talents, regardless of their political loyalties, with crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is the best guarantee of their loyalty.

Hannah Arendt - The Origins of Totalitarianism

And history repeats itself once again.

For fucks sake.

Let's look at some of these "very fine people" on the MAGA 2.0 team.

It is looking like we will get a puppy murderer and professional liar to protect our nation as head of the Department of Homeland Security (For those who missed that awful story). So that's awesome.

And this person might be one of the best members of this shitshow of a team. How is this possible? Let's get to the puppy murderer's competition for the title of worst human being in MAGA 2.0.

How about a lady who is also a professional liar and a carbon copy of a Kremlin spokesperson on Russia Today and the looming ... wait, what! ... head of National Intelligence? I guess we are going to MAKE AMERICA RUSSIA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

So that's awesome.

How about the full-time online troll — when he is not doing pedophile stuff (allegedly) — to be in charge of determining who is doing the "real" crimes in this country?

From that column ...

It’s clear what emerges as the most dangerous move of Trump’s early transition: the Gaetz pick.

It is hard to imagine someone more cravenly loyal to Trump than Gaetz. It is hard to imagine anyone who has a more serious vendetta against nonpartisan administration of laws, since Gaetz was once the target of a federal investigation. And it is hard to imagine a more important position than attorney general — one that gives immense power both to eviscerate guardrails and to punish private sector dissenters with spurious criminal investigations (among other tools).

This is Zach's pick for the second most dangerous Trump 2.0 goon from that same piece.

The Department of Defense plans aren’t too far behind. Purging the Joint Chiefs based on political loyalty — excuse me, alleged “wokeness” — removes one of the chief barriers to Trump’s alleged desire to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy soldiers against protesters at home. Hegseth isn’t quite as egregious a Cabinet choice as Gaetz, but it’s hard to imagine someone who has proposed such purges and regularly praises Trump on TV standing in the way of his boss’s plans.

So that's awesome. For fucks sake.

And we can't talk about this clown car without talking about the anti-vax profiteer/murderer, traitor to his family's name, and roadkill superfan that is going to make our country "healthy" again.

Whoops, I meant, "MAKE MEASELS AND POLIO GREAT AGAIN!"

Oh, and I'm so glad the Dr. Oz snake oil show is returning for another season.

For fucks sake.

The great Will Bunch brings some clarity to this shitshow.

Those assholes are all down a floor or two in the MAGA 2.0 pyramid scheme. So, what has been going on on that top floor?

Let's start with the Shadow-King-Elect. This is step one in killing his competition.

Elon Musk Is Getting What He Wants

It’s official: Trump is out to kill the EV tax credit.

Robinson Meyer and Heatmap News

Not only is this an attempt to get Elon a monopolized EV market, but it is also a boom for the Charles Koch wing of the MAGA broligarchy—you know, the oil and gas wing of the MAGA party.

FYI, our Shadow-King-Elect has another company that wants to monopolize the world's news and create an alternative reality show that tries to make rapacious monsters like Putin, Trump, and Elon look like benevolent geniuses.

No, I'm not talking about the 24/7/365 Nazi forum that is X. I'm talking about that little thing known as the internet.

So, that story is worth tracking. Kind of a big deal, IMHO.

But good news for everybody who wants to keep driving an EV in an EV world ruled by Tesla!

Trump constantly talks about the illegal immigrants who keep murdering thousands of Americans. But we never seem to find the guys who are doing all of that murdering.

But guess what, Mr. President-Elect? I found your man!

Teslas Are The Most Fatal Cars On The Road, Study Finds

A new study from iSeeCars shows people are being killed in Teslas far more often than any other brand

By Andy Kalmowitz

And you know what! This guy broke the law to enter our country, so this sociopath should be at the top of your deportation list, right?

Should be an easy call!

Side note: Color me shocked that Elon's massive machines, designed to distract drivers with massive fancy screens, are this murder-hungry.

Oh, and aren't they supposed to drive themself by now? Don't worry, it's probably just another five years away. Or maybe 10. Or maybe ...

Okay, one link about the elderly deranged asshole who is about to re-claim the most powerful seat in the world. What do his competitors, the other authoritarians who want to be the most powerful human in the world, think about our nation's old/new tough guy?

Trump Thinks Putin Is His Friend. The Russians Just Issued a Humiliating Statement to the Contrary.

The psychological warfare has begun.

By Fred Kaplan and Slate

They all know that he is a pathetic and weak human being. Reminder: Trump looks up to the "strongest" men in every authoritarian hellhole on earth. And they will all look him in the eye and laugh.

THE BEST NEWS IN MY FEED TODAY

I have a feeling that this section of the weblog will often be occupied, starting on January 20th, by the news of what our neighbors are doing for our world. You know, our neighbors who don't have to live in a nation governed by a kleptocratic kakistocracy.

Like this ...

And we still have 2 months of essential community investing before the Kleptocrats take over.

The Department of Energy is racing to close $25 billion in pending loans to businesses building major clean energy projects across the country. The push is one of Biden’s last chances to cement his climate legacy before President-elect Donald Trump takes office next year under the promise of shredding Democratic spending programs.

I'm sorry. Today was filled with far too much news on that vicious side of my handy economic scale for my liking.

I hope to correct this going forward and shine more light on the good stuff being done in these dark days.

Stay strong, my friends.