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Brent Nyitray's avatar

I still say we are seeing a split in real time into 3 political factions in the US.

A populist, Trumpy party

A swampy Uniparty

A woke - climate Lefty party.

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D Parker's avatar

NO.

A “woke - climate Lefty party”?

What is it about the fascist far-left that it can’t be honest about anything – beginning with the fact that it keeps on changing it’s labelling like a used car lot that has to change it’s name because it scams customers?

Woke – far left collectivism/fascism/socialism or the new term this week.

Climate?

You mean Global cooling?

Or is it Global warming?

Or is it Climate change? (newsflash – the climate is ALWAYS changing)

Or is it the Climate crisis?

Or is it the Climate emergency?

Which is it this week?

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Brent Nyitray's avatar

"What is it about the fascist far-left that it can’t be honest about anything – beginning with the fact that it keeps on changing it’s labelling like a used car lot that has to change it’s name because it scams customers?"

Because it is authoritarian and utopian, the ends justify the means.

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D Parker's avatar

Remember that Utopia was defined over 500 years ago as ‘no place.’

They must keep changing the name to keep on scamming people.

Collectivism has never worked in 400 years, so they have to entice people into giving them power before they realize they been duped.

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Brent Nyitray's avatar

Indeed.

In the physical sciences, knowledge is cumulative.

In the social sciences, it is cyclical.

The left is trying to rehabilitate Marxism yet again, albeit on the basis of identity group, not class.

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David White's avatar

And on the basis of redistribution of status, rather than controlling "the means of production. Both the definition of "oppression" and the means (justified by the ends ...) to re-dress "oppression" are novel.

As might be guessed, I regard the concept of "oppression" as problematic. (Even more problematic than Whiteness, imagine that). The quotation marks are intended to "subjunctivize" the noun in question. But we must recognize the reality expressed as "Democracy is a middle-class form of govern-ment". As we move more and more toward being a society of post-industrial nobles and post-industrial peasants, it is an under-statement to say things like "Our Democracy in peril". As far as I am aware, history records no example of a nobility willing to share power equally with its associated peasantry.

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Brent Nyitray's avatar

Why nationalize the private sector when you can conscript it via the regulatory state and ESG investing?

The whole point of their focus on identity is that they want to make the argument that one's lot in life is a function of privilege and oppression, which means that success is a random variable, like winning the lottery.

That allows them to re-distribute under the guise of "equity" with the Professional Left managerial class in charge of redistributing the bounty.

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Sam McGowan's avatar

The answer is in the words "far left" which is followers of Karl Marx. Marxism is based on lies and his followers, particularly Leninists, believed lies were truth if they accomplished a purpose. The far left are liars, just like their father, Satan.

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Jeff Keener's avatar

It will be whatever it needs to be. Words are the most malleable material humans have ever created.

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David White's avatar

The "swampy" Elitists, who get their power from de facto bribery, are effectively in alliance with the Lefties.

Once the Populists have been oh so righteously de-righted, probably by way of a "moral turpitude" law the prevents "fascists" from running for office, the Lefties will find out the hard way who is really in charge. Lefty "Thought Leaders" will be relegated to the role of "Regime Propagandists". And Lefty "Thought Followers" will either STFU about redistribution of wealth, or find that it is their turn to be fired.

A top-down revolution is a contradiction in terms. It can only mean post-industrial nobles de-righting post-industrial peasants.

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Brent Nyitray's avatar

I suspect the Hamas / Israel situation is the beginning of the end for the alliance between the Uniparty and the Left.

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Libertarian's avatar

I doubt it because what unites the Uniparty and Left is welfare socialism neocons; and other people’s money is a more powerful motivator for them than ideology.

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Brent Nyitray's avatar

Yes, but the democrats have to be worried about all of the big donors de-funding universities over support of Hamas.

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Danimal28's avatar

Couldn't agree more.

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BradK (Afuera!)'s avatar

From an ideological perspective, I would slice it up as

Trump/MAGA, who are more or less neo-Libertarians with a strong streak of patriotism.

So-Con hard Right, who are the Bible basher, Brietbart readers who still believe banning all abortion and somehow overturning same-sex marriage are winning issues at the ballot box regardless of how many elections it actually loses them.

Then we have the radical neo-Marxist Left who have gone so far off the reservation they couldn't find their way back if they tried. The are the lost tribe of America, taking with them a significant portion of the last two generations. They represent the very antithesis of everything America once stood for and are balls-to-bones Totalitarians.

Finally, a largely non-ideological layer of scum across the top, the Uniparty, whose only quest is for power and wealth. They view public service as nothing more than a grift and will whore themselves out to whichever cause or position is the most beneficial to themselves. Hillary Clinton and Lindsey Graham are just two of the exemplars.

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Brent Nyitray's avatar

That's fair, though the left and the Uniparty lump Trump/Maga and the So-Con hard right together.

But as long as the Uniparty considers the Trump / MAGA populists to be a bigger threat than the neo-Marxist Left, it will continue to play footsie with the Left.

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Libertarian's avatar

Agree and the swampy Uniparty is essentially Dems and RINO Socialist Neocons. And since they depend so much on other people’s money, they will win regardless of ideology. And they’ll keep winning until the scam goes belly up in March 2025 when core inflation bursts over 25% and debt over $40 Trillion.

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Brent Nyitray's avatar

Once the debt gets too big, the Uniparty will establish a 25% VAT like the rest of Europe and that will be that.

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Libertarian's avatar

Resulting in stats like this; “An average home in the US is 4,982 square feet, while an average home on the old continent is only 1,589 square feet. “

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Brent Nyitray's avatar

Well, the circumstances leading up to that trace back to dual mandate in the Carter Admin.

The dual mandate requires the Fed to minimize unemployment in the context of controlling inflation. Nice idea in theory, but,...

To the Fed, it means: "keep the pedal to the metal as long as CPI inflation is behaving."

Inflation = too much money chasing too few goods

Bubble = too much money chasing too few assets.

Here we are.

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JJoshua's avatar

Which is Manchin in then?

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Brent Nyitray's avatar

Uniparty

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reality speaks's avatar

Manchin is toast as a politician he sold out West Virginia voters for a few pieces of silver and in the process allowed Brandon to get his massive spending blowout for the Climate mafia. Who would vote for this fool now.

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Jon's avatar

Sasha, the only silver lining I see on our country's death spiral is that many of the once indoctrinated are seeing the light, and brave enough to take a stand.

You, Jenny Hollander, Eve Barlow, Taibbi, Greenwald, Weiss and many others understand what a dangerous place this country is.

Perhaps, you should consider working together and doing a series of forums around the country to promote your views.

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D Parker's avatar

They are the true liberals that need to join with pro-freedom conservatives based on our mutual philosophies founded in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.

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Jon's avatar

There is a cabal of Dem elites. Media, Academia, Permanent government (FBI, CIA, IRS, FDA), Hollywood (who are useful idiots) and corporate moguls who are attempting to take over the country. They may already have.

They must be stopped. Trump understood this, and I'll vote for anyone who recognizes this.

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JudyC's avatar

The trouble is, of course, that many politicians will SAY anything they think we want to hear, and when elected will “vote their conscience”, which actually means “I’ll vote for anything that makes me rich and gets me power”. Happens time after time, over and over and over. This next election is more crucial than many realize. WE get it, but there are a lot of folks out there, on both sides of the fence, who still believe in the process and who are ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL!

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Frankshotsauce's avatar

I can never understand why the left calls out “right wing extremism”. I see the extremism on the left with abortion til birth, transitioning kids while minors, how-to books in libraries, people arrested for Jan 6 non-crimes but kept in jail for several years without charge, forced vaccinations, cancel culture, censorship, etc., etc., and now the total abdication of our support of Israel with cries of “Allahu Akbar”. I never dreamed our society could be captured to this extent.

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David White's avatar

One of the Left's favorite fallacies (technically known as "affirming the consequent") is in effect "possible interpretation => certain interpretation". Yes, "right wing extremism" would justify rejection of "left-wing extremism." But so would ... rejection of left-wing extremism, duh. Lefties can't do logic. That is what comes from not believing in objective truth: if there is no such thing as objective truth, there is no point in rejecting invalid arguments in order to reach objective truths. Double Duh.

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JW Writes's avatar

sigh... the world is depressing and I'm looking out at a grey day, so I'll write about the WWII cooking (and potential WWIII?). I have some old cookbooks from my grandmother and used book stores. They're fun to read through and have great ideas but so much of them are dishes most people now would turn their noses up at (and sound gross... when I got one recently I texted my adult kids the names and ingredients to a bunch and we were all suitably disgusted! haha). But for all us crazy preparers (which sounds much nicer than preppers), knowing the things that were rationed or scarce are important, to pair with modern food preservation techniques.

There's a reason that homesteading, canning, dehydrating, gardening, and home freeze drying are growing hugely fast right now. (There were NO canning jars available anywhere in 2020 and half of 2021.) The fact that, in this country, people are scared enough to go back to the old, labor intensive, not convenient ways of thinking about their households and pantries is very telling as to the state of things. (And yes, I do all those things!)

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Daniel's avatar

I am the youngest of seven and whenever my mother had a baby we had woman come live with us named Inez. She made fried chicken cooked in bacon grease. Man the skin was so good. Used lard and real ingredients when she cooked.

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Sandra Pinches's avatar

Lard makes the best pie crust by far.

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JW Writes's avatar

I make my own tallow, and we cook a lot with duck fat - best sear you'll ever get! We don't use any seed oils, save bacon grease, buy lard, make tallow, use Amish butter. SO flavorful!

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Sandra Pinches's avatar

My grandmother always had a pot of bacon grease on the stove. It was used to cook a lot of other things, as well as added to dressings for wilted greens (diluted vinegar, bit of sugar, salt and pepper, heated with the grease, poured over things like endive with bacon and onion bits).

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Libertarian's avatar

Do you ever try to make it now? I live close to Amish in PA and love their food. Shop there weekly.

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Sandra Pinches's avatar

It is really difficult to find endive anymore. A Lebanese-owned grocer near me stocked "chicory endive" for a couple months this fall, so I got some and made the endive recipe. The same place has gourmet, applewood smoked bacon, which I used for the dressing. It was fantastic!

My maternal heritage is entirely German, and we lived with my grandmother in Erie. A lot of what we ate was German style, with frequent use of vinegar, sauerkraut, pork, and divine Southern German baked goods. The Amish originated from the same part of Germany (southern Rhine Valley), so their food may be similar to my childhood fare.

This is the second time you and I have talked about ethnic food! I find it delightful! Food is one of those things that brings people together in joy.

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Libertarian's avatar

I shop at two Amish places in Honey Brook, PA. First stop is September’s for lunch (Reuben sandwich w sauerkraut) and goods like sourdough bread, beef and chicken pies, etc. Then to Route 10 Market for veggies, fruit, Shooflypie, and other local specialties. German cooking is underrated and as are their people for their affectionate nature once you get through the formidable exterior.

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D Parker's avatar

I’ve been studying the interwar years – the 1920’s and 1930’s, mostly the news reports.

It’s like watching an old movie with things going badly – such as anti-semantic groups that crop up (sound familiar?)….But at least you know things are going to turn out okay in the end.

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Steve's avatar

Do Yourself A Favor

Edgar Winter and Leon Russell

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Edgar+Winter+and+Leon+Russell+

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Jeff Keener's avatar

"Will we be a socialist “Woketopia” on a global scale where physical borders disappear and we’re grouped only be ideology? " -- Wow, Sasha, that's a crystallizing question. That is, I believe, the plan.

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Teresa Maupin's avatar

Love the summary! Thanks, Sasha. Holdovers here I come!!

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Don's avatar

definitely watch "Police State". I pitched an article to a site comparing my book to the movie and I think it scared them off when AMZ and others banned the movie. I bought my copy from salem.

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D Parker's avatar

Remember – the police state was brought to you by Obama’s sock puppet Biden and the “woke - climate Lefty party” that only cares about the ‘climate’ and ‘gun violence’ and wants to control every aspect of your life like the collectivist authoritarian ‘Bavarian Fascisti’ of old.

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Danimal28's avatar

Side note about a police state: Donald Trump, former commander in chief, is being denied a jury of his peers in NY. It is a right enshrined in our constitution((Art 3, Sec 2). Keep thinking about it...

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William Conner's avatar

Random comments for an excellent random article.

-Ammo for 'gender affirming care' below for your friends thinking they can stay on the fence on this one, help them, because they will greatly regret not taking a stand on this evil:

https://www.thefp.com/p/gender-affirming-care-dangerous-finland-doctor

-The Left governs as if they control the counting of votes, they certainly control the DOJ. How else can one explain all the obviously unpopular policies that never seem to bring large scale negative election results, especially since 2016? I have no idea if this is the case, but you cannot deny, they govern as if they control the counting and policing.

-Well, then again, I do have an idea of how unpopular, failed policy keeps getting elected. . . money. Pass trillion dollar bills (Obama the first one, Biden the second one), call them the opposite of what they do, and make sure that money trickles down to your network, giving the most effective incentive to spur whatever it takes to sway elections.

- Strive to live Romans 12; read it, what can it hurt?

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NotFromTexas's avatar

I doubt Manchin even runs, but IF he does, he'll draw a statistically insignificant number of votes from RFK, Jr., and Cornel West.

His value was his ability to posture as a centrist Democrat until it was time to vote - neither niblets' base trusts him to do anything but look out for Joe M. The fact that he doesn't bother to pretend doesn't excuse it, he's still a swamp creature.

But, he can run, collect donations, quit and keep the $, then settle in to that university president position.

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Steve's avatar

"Joe Manchin has announced he’s not going to run for Senate in West Virginia (probably because he would lose) and instead is going to tour the country to see if he can find some “middle ground” for sensible folks."

I (REALLY) wish hm all the luck!. Our political system Depends on 2 Adult parties. Right now we only have one.

IE: Biden's New Radical Policy Forces Federal Workers to Salute to the Rainbow Flag

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2023/11/09/biden-administration-introduces-gender-pronoun-mandate-n2631029

"The Biden Administration is taking woke to a whole new level with its new "gender pronoun" mandate.

On Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new rule that will force all employees to comply with the chosen gender pronouns of people despite their biological sex.

According to a Heritage Foundation expert and former HHS official, the new Biden mandate infringes upon employee rights and will result in workers being fired for "misgendering." "

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Richard's avatar

To be fair, we don't have any adult parties.

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Sandra Pinches's avatar

The wish and hope that one exists dies hard. I get it, but I can't delude myself that far.

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Richard's avatar

Lots of people here think it is the Republicans but if they are it is the abusive stepparent model. Trump or perhaps Ramaswami can possibly remake it but the prospect doesn't look good to me. I think it needs a new party. A Populist party might be the ticket. William Jennings Bryan was the last to fuse Left and Right elements. J D Vance perhaps.

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Sandra Pinches's avatar

I am definitely in favor of alternatives to the Dems and the GOP. Prior to the last midterms, Newt Gingrich wrote a series of articles for the WSJ on the idea of a Majority Party. I have not historically been one of his foremost fans, but I was impressed. His basic proposal was to construct a platform that consists of what the majority of Americans say they want. What a novel idea, right? He made the obvious point that both parties go out of their way currently to try to persuade the voters to buy into the politicians' extremist ideas, rather than offer to represent the preferences of the people. It would be refreshing to have another go at the concept of "representative government." Maybe that idea runs downhill over time, though, as the elected representatives find it is much more profitable to represent those who have the deepest pockets.

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Steve's avatar

Actually We Do.

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Ruth H's avatar

Manchin won’t carry WV however position he chooses. The country should see how self-centered he is. He argues against a rule, or law, until he’s offered something or offered to his wife Gail. Both would sell their soul for an ounce of gold. I lived in WV when he was SOS, then Governor, then Senator. It was always about himself or his wife. He’d freeze gov employees pay raises, but always exempted his office staff who continually received raises. His wife would sit on select boards so she could fire long-standing employees and replace with her picks.

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Michael Herman's avatar

Calling MAGA "extremists" is ridiculous. That is the label given to them by Democrats, and their handmaidens the mainstream media. Go to a rally, talk to the people in the movement. They are not extreme. They are concerned for our country and it's future.

Manchin and you play on the Democrats field labeling MAGA as extremists. They are not. They are salt-of-the-earth types who do not want to give our country over to the Woke. Who don't want to give in to an Kendi narrative that Whites are evil.

Journalists such as yourself need to cite the difference.

People who are mutilating children are extremists. That is the Woke Left. Who has taken over the Democratic Party.

The MAGA movement is the silent majority of normal Americans who have had enough.

There is nothing "extreme" about opposing the insane Left these days.

Don't play their game. Don't go along with the MAGA "extreme" narrative.

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Steve's avatar

While I have my problems with MAGA, they are anything BUT Extremist. They used to be called "The Silent Majority" ...The Reagan Democrats....next came TEA Party, Now MAGA.

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glindarayepix's avatar

Every time Biden uses the MAGA Extremist phrase, I edge closer to voting for Trump.

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Libertarian's avatar

Just a note that Sasha has very frequently written about how down to earth and unextreme MAGA people are.

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Sam McGowan's avatar

The only thing Manchin's retirement means is that Republicans now have a chance to capture another spot in the Senate. He's not going to run for president. We've already got RFK Jr (ANOTHER KENNEDY!) running as an independent. He's not going to try to start a third party. Those who harp on third parties are spitting in the wind. The best situation would be no parties but that's not going to happen because the Republicans, who started out as socialists, and the Democrats, who became socialists, are two powerful. They're two sides of the same coin. I doubt that the country survives much longer.

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Libertarian's avatar

Agree the Uniparty is Dems and RINOs who depend on other people’s money for socialized welfare, government jobs, wars and $33 trillion in debt.

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Professor Mus's avatar

I live in WV--and Manchin will not get a vote from me ever. He attended the WEF in Davos this year. An important fact that many folks do not know. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/19/joe-manchin-davos-inflation-reduction-act-europe-00078510

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