Country: USA

Conservative activist Charlie Kirks' rightwing-uniting, political-fireworks machine, Turning Point USA, held another one of its bi-annual rallies this past weekend.

Republicans are far more adept at solidifying a slogan and uniting a base than the Dems, and TPUSA  now plays an important role toward that end, both with on-campus activism and the flashy, US-flag-imbued and Reagan-styled-patriotism-dripping affairs, where passionately anti-Dem speeches by known rightwing stars—from pundits to politicians to the time's cause-serving flavour-of-the-month—take the cadence of a sermon inspired by a Mussolinian interpretation of a Jerry Lewis comedy roast, such efforts aimed at attracting younger viewers whilst warning them of a 'lefty world' and impressing upon them the wondrous and free times that once were and can be, again, but the Dems have to be destroyed before they destroy America.

This iteration was branded "Turning Point Action", and the few speeches I did hear did vibrate with a message meant to inspire action, but one that intensified a fear-induced hatred that sapped out a metaphorical reading of "destroy" to mean "a humiliating defeat," all such figures of speech taking on a more ominous feel albeit one that can be easily denied despite the general hatred steeped in ignorance that's exploited to generate fear through the Culture War they're determined to see as an event that pits True America against Marxist-infiltrated America killers, rather than the gross, asinine exaggeration of an opportunistic GOP versus the vicious 'Woke' overswing made worse by opportunistic Dems.

Every decade for the past 100+ years has been marked by moral debates that see "good and wholesome" struggling to beat back "evil progressive decadence," these battles  always related to changes brought on by increased knowledge about the world and the life-altering technology that this allowed to be introduced into common, daily life. With that comes the mingling and influence of varied cultures, and the reshaping of social mores—marketing and corporations being the biggest culprits as concerns the latter. Thus the dominant culture and the national identity it gives shape to is sure to be challenged by the perceptions and desires of the younger generations who will find themselves in conflict with the imposed ways whose course leads them toward an unnecessarily bleak future, today's problems compounded to an impossible resolve. This usually skips one generation every fourth one.

The Dems exploit this aspect as part of their image, but, having become obsessed with wars, this is reflected domestically, having instigated a deeper divide and delivered a half-ass handling of social issues contributed plenty that provided the firm skeleton on which Republicans, MAGA ones particularly, fleshed out their new Culture War chapter.

Albeit I do agree that there are areas of concern that deserve greater scrutiny, many related topics are sure to strike a public debate, period; fighting that process is ridiculous, but what's opted for. Conversely, on the GOP side, framing these issues in a productive, non-politicized manner is what's needed, but not what's applied; the weaponization witnessed, based on anecdotes and outliers, quickly turn reprehensible their attitude should one remember that fellow Americans fighting for their right to 'be' is what's at the other end of the comic-book Cultural Commie Cult villain they've created in order to win elections.

Dan Bongino is one whose troubling tribal diatribe rested on a truly laughable interpretation of a foe that conflates a fictionalized understanding of "leftism" with outdated and ignorant stereotypes, mishmashing Progressives and communism and trans issues into reductive notions of Stalinism absorbed through Cold War propaganda, repeating the same incredibly stupid arguments that may work with the base he cultivates, but has me questioning what kind of mental deficiency produces such mindsets.

Yes, Dan, those who vote Dem want you to give your iPhone to Bob, who's too lazy to work and buy his own. It has nothing to do with shifting power toward workers and putting a halt to the beyond-incredibly abusive and unfair distribution that's blindly celebrated but achieved through highly-exploitative and destructive means of corporatized control, for whom social welfare is always an unquestioned guarantee... how to explain the last? I mean, without turning into a babbling Libertarian idiot sure to say "small" and "big" followed by "government" too many times without actually saying a damn thing.

You wanna call 'em grifters—and I'm sure that many are—but, no matter how absurd and off the wall some of the claims may be, the conviction appears to be genuine. However, public people adhering steadfast to a surface form and seeking only to validate that interpretation whilst promoting false, negative views that generate hate, "grifter" may not be the right word, but there's definitely lots of honesty lacking there.

By the way, Republicans are mostly responsible for the sorry state of schools, not CRT.

Bongino was let go from Fox News this spring, claiming an inability to successfully negotiate a new contract as the cause, stating that he held no ill-will against his former employer. In combination with Tucker Carlson's forced departure, I'm beginning to wonder whether his termination was related to a clean-up of sorts.

The last speaker I heard, Steve Bannon, is what tied together all the impressions from the bits I'd seen, Bannon's rage, his speech laden with white nationalist lingo, the clarion call that formalised actual war out of the cultural one. 

Carrying both threat and defiance, Bannon proclaimed Trump the unquestioned Republican nominee; the crowd roared. 

The moment crystalized the change that had occurred, the GOP no longer in charge of their party, the establishment Republicans bullied into stepping aside and remaining quiet, this split made visible through more freely expressed attacks aimed toward other conservatives. Those not fully dedicated to their MAGA leader.

DeSantis, having taken aim at Trump, has fallen out of favour. When asked to vote for a second-place choice, those present voted on the one that Charlie Kirk calls "Big Brown Swamee", Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Nothing racist, "Big Brown" is all in good humour... That's my fear with Ramaswamy: he seems to be trying to be more conservative than traditional white conservatives in order to make up for that "Big Brown" aspect... that's used to identify him, hence, his success within that sphere relies on more hardline politics than those of traditional white conservatives, the racist moniker thus applied, and allowed, as jovial derision denoting a conditional form of acceptance.

Of interest, in link with the previous entry: All those present 95.8% replied with "No" to the question: Do you think that US should be involved in the Ukraine war?

By now, all should know better than to expect from the Progressives the kind of behaviour that matches all that they'd campaigned on, one that fits the label that they gladly decided to wear in order to gain popularity among younger voters, which is why every single anti-war effort voiced in recent times came from Republicans, Marjory Taylor Greene compensating for some passive Squad? 

Following Biden's decision to send cluster bombs, having none of the unbanned stuff left that could be sent, Rep. MTG had introduced a proposition to stop the US sending the controversial ammunition to Ukraine.

Cluster bombs detonate while in the air, scattering several smaller bombs. Problem with these are the wide areas that can be impacted by one bomb, the spread potentially killing or injuring indiscriminately while also delivering a high ratio of duds, which sit on the ground, unexploded, remaining lethal should they be disturbed. Like forgotten landmines, kids playing and stumbling on units slightly dug in or hidden in long grass...

Many countries have signed a treaty banning the use of cluster bombs, whose use isn't illegal, according to international law, though usage of such weapons nearly always produces conditions which are in themselves considered a war crime.

The result of the vote on whether the US should send cluster bombs was:

That briefing Janet Yellen gave on her return from Beijing... whoa! She sure knows how to deliver a chilling moment; my mind keeps bringing me back to it.

I'm willing to bet that it can be used to gauge the worth and honesty of one's geopolitical views simply by separating those who know precisely which comment I'm talking about from those who don't. However, here's the answer: The instance I'm referring to is the comment she made regarding the US dollar's role as global reserve currency, flatly asserting that the dollar was gonna continue to dominate and be universally accepted as the sole primary standard for many, many more years to come.

Everything about that moment creeped the hell out of me. The lack of emotion on the matter and in her delivery... yet, it was a comment dripping with menace and arrogance, and the cold detachment was a feature, passively suggesting a violent resolve if needed, for she was delivering an unquestionable fact that were to become fact by any means.

Psychos. Power-lusting ones already dangerously drunk on limited power. And high on all types of drugs, too, it seems?

Yeah... OK. Let's just sit back and watch things get better, why don't we. I mean, how can it not?

The ability to hit stupidity levels that continually manage to surprise all isn't an easy feat, but it's just one of many rare skills that distinguish Western politicians from the rest, having perfected the talent to a degree that eclipses any and all competition.

The BRICS alliance; everything about it is sure to upset Washington, but they're the very reason that gave cause to the reasoning that gave it life. The White House has weaponised the very essence of what sets the basis for a relationship with the US, which it 'sells' as being both superior and secure. Yet, market crashes are now a part of tightening patterns with shortening relapse cycles whose cause can be identified as bankers and investment 'gurus' who are allowed to take all sorts of gambles that affect the world's economy while shifting massive wealth back to them, all without giving a thought to countless whose savings they scrapped, and that's when all's good and your country didn't piss off the US, doing so potentially linked to being too good a competitor.

The US, along with the EU and the whole Coco-Puffs Coalition, how many billions did they steal from other countries in the past few years alone? Absolutely, I call it "theft", for if it weren't for the same Loony-Tunes Team in the first place, there'd be no manufactured reason leading to what's presented as justification for freezing, for keeps, other nation's money.

It's long been clear to me that booting Russia from SWIFT was going to trigger a chain reaction leading to a dedollarization, and it's long upset me that the Crazy Crooners Crew either hadn't foreseen any of that or didn't care, and it's made me real nervous ever since the process was started then accelerated at speeds best captured on a Machmeter just how nonchalant and unbothered the Insanely Idiotic Ideologues were.

Then, Yellen's comment. Chill.

And now, amid growing tensions and a Graham cracker that wants to invade the country, Mexico is seeking new global partners and it's considering the possibility of joining the group of 5 7 11 27 128 BRICS nations (not actual member count), the Annoyingly Avid A-holes' betrayed a twitch in their eye as a wince briefly floated past the proper power-veneer. Finally, a clear sign that the Massive Missile Monsters were deeply affected, and a message, too, unofficially, rising from the bottommost depths of some lobbyist's heaven: Mexico must consider this choice carefully, for it presents "a move that could significantly shift the country's foreign policy and its economic relation."

And, so, what to make of the recent idiocy used to inject fear and amp the anti-Russian and anti-Chinese sentiments?

Here it is: BRICS is all a ploy to form an alliance with South American countries, and China and Russia are combining forces to surround the US, planning to move all kinds of military hardware as close to the US as they can! Be fearful, they warned, these being well-known media and military figures with a conservative leaning. Naming them is irrelevant and something I want to avoid. as I'm certain the narrative will eventually bounce your way and I don't want to send traffic in certain directions nor help establish as an initial source that may affect interpretation what appears to be little more than fear-inducing propaganda.

Oh, while on the subject: If NATO was no justification, why should anyone fear this???

By the way, did I ever mention that kooks are what's running things?

With the heat of election fever boiling to a frenzy as we near autumn, the electo—What's that? Primaries. Really?! Elections aren't this upcoming November? Next year?! Are you kidding me?! You mean things are only gonna get worse? Oh.

Sigh.

And Florida's Ron DeSantis is already running low on money (Williamson, too), his campaign said to be "burning through funds"? Are fake AI images and placing a temp hold on one's own preached ethics that expensive, or is it the frenzied anti-Trump and anti-LGBTQ video that drained campaign coffers? Double "antis" aren't cheap, I hear. DeSantis may want to consider better campaign managers, methinks, acquiring more campaign funds, too?

Trying to "shake things up" and rethink a new strategy is how DeSantis explained laying off about a dozen staffers this weekend. 

Frankly, I'm not gonna complain that, so far, everything about DeSantis' campaign took a wrong turn; he frightens me more than Trump as he's a firm ideologue in a way that Trump isn't, and he's shown that he's willing to executive order rightwing policies in to force his exceptionally white and hetero America on the country, and he's the kind who'd flex American muscles all over just to assert ol' fashioned strength.

Everything that is the essence of DeSantis is a throwback to the 1950s archetypal view of America, which sees any Commie and, therefore, "radical leftist Marxists" like Joe Biden and The Squad—who've offered next to no squadding lately—can only be dangerous enemies of the state pushing lethal social programs; any and all issues classified under "social justice" and "welfare" are anti-America cultural nuclear bombs, of course.

So, Biden wanting to wipe out a share of student debt, that's never been popular with DeSantis, ditto the GOP. Following their train of thought, your final destination is sure to be "inflation", which comes after "handouts bad"; in their world, all other paths clearly lead to everyone wearing the same pyjamas and sharing the exact same thought. Of course. Though that course is limited to America, per evidence. Must be the geography.

And, aware of it or not, Biden has much to make up for on that issue, "radical Commie policies" being what the working class were hoping for. The student debt proposal was big; it made all but the Big Money people happy.

So, the expected thing was what became reality: the promise took on the shape of empty election BS the Dems tried to play out while allowing their efforts to be blocked by the big meany GOP, who very easily had the Supreme Court overturn the Biden Bunch's student-debt forgiveness plan, claiming it "exceeded the authority Congress delegated to the executive branch."

Two possible routes, and not one Dem in the Bunch that's qualified to point out that Biden was choosing the wrong one by taking the "state of emergency" path? Any which way you slice it, nothing there to make the Dems look good.

But wait! Biden's working real hard to live up to his promise... it's not his fault... but if you vote for him again, he'll wipe all students debts—every penny—and re-instate that pond thing with the boats... oh, you know which one; that thing. Where people rent boats and swim... Row and wade! That's the one. He swears he'll take care of that, too.

What's that? Roe vs. Wade? No, Biden never eats caviar; he prefers swimming. Now that the Biden agenda is clear, let's applaud these wonderful results:

"President Joe Biden's administration will cancel $39 billion in student debt for more than 804,000 borrowers,"

In a statement, Biden boasted: "These borrowers will join the millions of people that my administration has provided relief to over the past two years – resulting in over $116 billion in loan relief to over 3 million borrowers under my administration," (Reuters)

The liberal media produced headlines proclaiming the grand news, all of them letting on that Biden fiercely got a win for over 800,000 (one said 8 million) who were seeing their debt being forgiven.

But, like much else, all's in the presentation, and with a sinking administration, gotta spin what you got, and hope people see a rainbow and not another pile of BS, like this one:

The $39 billion isn't, technically, "relief", it's a correction made to the repayment program, which affects those who got their loan directly from the federal program, these being reimbursed through an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. There was an error in the program limits and terms, and billions in interest overcharges... and only older loan recipients will benefit.

The IDR plan is meant to spread fixed repayments adjusted to one's income over a period of 20-25 years; the balance is then forgiven, if any left 

Statement from Biden: Statement from President Joe Biden on New Student Debt Relief Actions

Setting aside the long chain of causes and effects leading to now and what qualifies as “invasion” and “oppression”, Israel's responses to any Palestinian acts taken against their Zionist invaders have long been disproportionate. But they were allowed; the world shielded their eyes because “Israel was good”, the white in an otherwise black Middle Eastern world… And the full weight of Washington was behind it.

As such, given the persistence of the badly-biased, Western-controlled, post-Holocaust-guilt-fueled dominant impression of right and wrong within the region—and the world—Tel-Aviv's post-7-Oct conduct, for all the bad, did deliver some good. Finally.

It's not a question of "America bad" or that the concept conveyed by the slogan-turned-derogatory-label has been adopted and converted into a tribal anti-West, anti-Capitalism belief or an anti-Democracy faith, it now representing a firm tenet of far-right or radical-left ideology as each accuses the other of hating nation or race and of being the driver of such sentiments... Grow up; it's a much bigger world than your navel allows you to see. And the West isn't all rainbows and unicorns. If it were, there'd be a segment complaining that rainbows and unicorns are too LGBTQ+, hence, things wouldn't be all 'Rainbows and Unicorns' even if things were all rainbows and unicorns.

Outlets that focus on the West's misdeeds tend to be equally or more pro-West than those who accuse them of anti-ness. What really separates the two are the types and degree of othering. These types of outlets fall mostly in the "niche" category while they've also been gifted an aura of "lunacy", being run by "conspiracy loons" 

And automatically labelling anyone who counters institutionally-accepted mainstream views an "anti" is very "othering" and tribalistic behaviour, this being so no matter how patriotic it's dressed up to be. Actually, it'd be more so the more saturated with patriotism such use of "anti" labels are, no?

Despite the interesting arguments that could be made for or against that last statement, one's things now real clear and inarguable, and it's the nature and depth of hypocrisy that drives and frames the variable, ad hoc single-standard adopted and applied by Washington and by those who belong to the West, which usually entails US might being behind them.

That's the good that's come out of Gaza.

Events in Ukraine had laid bare some of that, but whatever real benefit could truly be had by the West—a rude awakening—was easily overshadowed and drowned out by an easily-stoked hatred of Russians, so that those who attempted to inject any degree of reason into Westerners were clumped like caca to be flushed out of proper Democratic society activities and out-housed from freedoming meetings.

The Palestinians, however... well, even with all that's been blocked; even with all the attempts to control any reporting; even with journalists being systematically killed, the limited images coming out of Gaza can't be easily countered and justified unless turned zany by Zionism, the religious version of "Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs".

They tried, though, and continue to do so, but "Putin did it" doesn't seem to find many takers in order to excuse Israel's genocidal insanity, and even dragging Iran into the Evil Understudy #2 role drew more skepticism and calls of cynicism than the "death to" venom that had been expected by Western establishment ideologues, it seems.

Even among those whose default political/global position on anything is "America #1" and "Criticism of us = Against US", even they have changed their approach in light of what's witnessed, their zeal closer to zilch than zoo-zapper albeit being all zealotry. Because, there are some things that one simply can't defend, or just doesn't wanna defend given that, unless totally blinded by a Zionist fanaticism, one ought to be able to see quite clearly just how intolerable and unforgiving the sum of Zionist comments and acts now add up to, even with an event like 7-Oct-2024, as it was an act of desperation, not savagery, this being true no matter how brutal and condemnatory the actions of members of the Qassam brigade were that day.

So, not only have the Zionists established themselves to be intolerant, insufferable navels with a penchant for the types of actions that 

I'm in the camp that believes that Iran did what it did because it did what it had to do, but that it acted in the most diplomatic way possible 

No one died and only military installations were 

Because Iran is filled with incompetent and overly-religious boobs? Sure, OK, but  then, the US isn't because...???

This kind of this was expected

“In response to the recent missile and drone attack by Iran, the United States and its allies plan to impose new sanctions on Iran, including targeting its missile and drone program.”

Israel’s War Cabinet has also vowed that Iran will not get away “scot-free” and promised to respond at a time and in a manner of Israel’s choosing

John Kirby, the jalopy salesman  Morning Joe, ““an extraordinary military success” that sent “a strong message about where Israel is in the region versus where Iran is in the region, which is increasingly isolated.”