Thanks to Phillips and Adam. Here is an account by a Roman historian, Dio Cassius, of the insane Roman emperor, Commodus. That seems relevant now that America has the first insane president in its history.
"The emperor's megalomania extended to the amphitheater, as well, where he fought as a gladiator, in spite of the contempt in which that class was held. In September AD 192, he presented himself for the first time at the games. Senators were obliged to attend, and Dio tells of Commodus killing an ostrich and displaying the severed head in one hand and his bloody sword in the other, implying that he could treat them the same way. Such was the absurdity of the spectacle, the decapitated ostriches running around with their heads cut off, and the threat to their lives, says Dio, that he and the other senators had to chew the laurel leaves of their garlands to keep from laughing."
Good discussion - thanks! And you ask what can and what should democrats be doing right now? Check out the video (youtube?) of Connecticut's Rep. Larson in committee yesterday. THAT is what every dem politician should be doing, every chance that presents itself. This fury at what's happening is what so many of us are feeling - our sane leaders need to be expressing it for us. This will galvanize the broad resistance that's needed...across the country but also in Congress. How else to get the Republicans there to become patriotic once again unless they are shamed and humiliated out of their cowardly coma.
Thanks for this interesting video chat. It's very welcome to see a Democrat and a Republican looking for common ground in their fight against fascism. I guess the rebellion needs to find their own Dantooine to start the fight from. It's frightening to see the US decline from Europe. The free press, independent newspapers and journalism seem to have been silenced. DOGE is in control of the government, Senate and the House have fallen in line with the emperor's new suits.
Only the judicial power separates the US from an authoritarian state- for now. Montesqieu is turning in hia grave. Already everything's been done to undermine the rule of law. People get detained without reason, judges are being vilified, politicians giving the Nazi salute.... Literally everything the USA and their founding fathers stood for is gone. Where is the counter narrative? I think it's safe to say that the silent majority in the USA favours Trump and Musk. It's a sign of the time that Bernie Sanders leads the rebellion from the far left. There's nobody left in the political center that is willing to risk their had on the political chopping block.
The polls say Trump and Musk are deeply unpopular (Musk even more unpopular than Trump), but a lot of people are very alienated politically and quite inactive (this has been a long-standing feature of the US)... no time to go into the details but it means that consolidation of authoritarian control is unlikely, while collapse is likely
Yes, the hosts at CNBC were laughing at Lutkins as he spoke of Americans producing t-shirts and sneakers beccause of tariffs on imports. Trump waves around tariffs like Commodus a bloody sword. Canada is his ostrich, he imagines.
The idea that the German economy could be more powerful than the Russians for production of military materiel is just bonkers. You only need to look at their very-few Pumas to understand this - or the (lack of) effectiveness of the Leopards. They were failing to produce them with cheap Russian gas and reliable nuclear power, but now they have to re-tool, re-skill and re-organise without either. Their infrastructure - particularly trains - is in a terrible state You continue to confuse GDP with capabilities and resources and, as such, continue to inhabit a dreamworld.
Prof Bill Mitchell nicely summarises their predicament in this blog post from earlier this year:
The problems with Germany are structurally immense and spread across the EU (and particularly the Eurozone). You really need to look elsewhere for your cope Professor.
Interesting, but what is of more relevance right now is the ability of the areas Rome then controlled to now produce adequate military personnel, equipment and logistics. Even if you throw in the land across the Rhine that they always had a problem with, the nations there now aren't up to the task and will likely never be so.
Readers looking for a more reality based discussion of the problems facing NATO with any large confrontation with Russia should read this from Commodore Steven Jermy (ex-Royal Navy submariner and sub-hunter). He's talking 10 years with a massive re-design - and given there's zero evidence of that beyond chat about money - it'll be very much longer than that. I
Thanks to Phillips and Adam. Here is an account by a Roman historian, Dio Cassius, of the insane Roman emperor, Commodus. That seems relevant now that America has the first insane president in its history.
"The emperor's megalomania extended to the amphitheater, as well, where he fought as a gladiator, in spite of the contempt in which that class was held. In September AD 192, he presented himself for the first time at the games. Senators were obliged to attend, and Dio tells of Commodus killing an ostrich and displaying the severed head in one hand and his bloody sword in the other, implying that he could treat them the same way. Such was the absurdity of the spectacle, the decapitated ostriches running around with their heads cut off, and the threat to their lives, says Dio, that he and the other senators had to chew the laurel leaves of their garlands to keep from laughing."
In this case--people seem to afraid to laugh as well
Is it only me who hears the last episode with Nicolaï instead of with Adam kinzinger?
Right file up now
No, I’m also hearing a repost, with no Adam Kinzinger.
Right file there now
Excellent discussion.
Thanks Alan
Good discussion - thanks! And you ask what can and what should democrats be doing right now? Check out the video (youtube?) of Connecticut's Rep. Larson in committee yesterday. THAT is what every dem politician should be doing, every chance that presents itself. This fury at what's happening is what so many of us are feeling - our sane leaders need to be expressing it for us. This will galvanize the broad resistance that's needed...across the country but also in Congress. How else to get the Republicans there to become patriotic once again unless they are shamed and humiliated out of their cowardly coma.
I think I’ve heard this before.
Hopefully the new file is better!
Good file now, but terrible news about the US. I’m aghast!
Me too
Thanks for this interesting video chat. It's very welcome to see a Democrat and a Republican looking for common ground in their fight against fascism. I guess the rebellion needs to find their own Dantooine to start the fight from. It's frightening to see the US decline from Europe. The free press, independent newspapers and journalism seem to have been silenced. DOGE is in control of the government, Senate and the House have fallen in line with the emperor's new suits.
Only the judicial power separates the US from an authoritarian state- for now. Montesqieu is turning in hia grave. Already everything's been done to undermine the rule of law. People get detained without reason, judges are being vilified, politicians giving the Nazi salute.... Literally everything the USA and their founding fathers stood for is gone. Where is the counter narrative? I think it's safe to say that the silent majority in the USA favours Trump and Musk. It's a sign of the time that Bernie Sanders leads the rebellion from the far left. There's nobody left in the political center that is willing to risk their had on the political chopping block.
The polls say Trump and Musk are deeply unpopular (Musk even more unpopular than Trump), but a lot of people are very alienated politically and quite inactive (this has been a long-standing feature of the US)... no time to go into the details but it means that consolidation of authoritarian control is unlikely, while collapse is likely
Still no comment on Kursk Professor? Why so coy? Also have you noticed the ECHR decision on the Odessa massacre?
Yes, the hosts at CNBC were laughing at Lutkins as he spoke of Americans producing t-shirts and sneakers beccause of tariffs on imports. Trump waves around tariffs like Commodus a bloody sword. Canada is his ostrich, he imagines.
The idea that the German economy could be more powerful than the Russians for production of military materiel is just bonkers. You only need to look at their very-few Pumas to understand this - or the (lack of) effectiveness of the Leopards. They were failing to produce them with cheap Russian gas and reliable nuclear power, but now they have to re-tool, re-skill and re-organise without either. Their infrastructure - particularly trains - is in a terrible state You continue to confuse GDP with capabilities and resources and, as such, continue to inhabit a dreamworld.
Prof Bill Mitchell nicely summarises their predicament in this blog post from earlier this year:
https://billmitchell.org/blog/?p=62339
The problems with Germany are structurally immense and spread across the EU (and particularly the Eurozone). You really need to look elsewhere for your cope Professor.
Interesting, but what is of more relevance right now is the ability of the areas Rome then controlled to now produce adequate military personnel, equipment and logistics. Even if you throw in the land across the Rhine that they always had a problem with, the nations there now aren't up to the task and will likely never be so.
Readers looking for a more reality based discussion of the problems facing NATO with any large confrontation with Russia should read this from Commodore Steven Jermy (ex-Royal Navy submariner and sub-hunter). He's talking 10 years with a massive re-design - and given there's zero evidence of that beyond chat about money - it'll be very much longer than that. I
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/nato-war-with-russia/