Department of Swamp Reclamation is on the job heads must roll.

Posted by: Not Ewe | Feb 13 2025 15:06 utc | 3

Fellow barflies, If you (rightly) think that current events are (even more!) irrational & inexplicable than usual, I invite you to have a look at my working hypothesis for the ongoing geopolitical carousel:
It might very well be the case that what has happened is that in the course of the last 1-2 years the US has already acknowledged defeat and accepted its new role as a mere regional power, and is in now under Trump in the process of implementing the surrender terms, the retreat and demobilization of the losing side to its new reality as a regional power.
https://concernedceltiberian.substack.com/p/the-new-entente
Incisive and constructive critic is welcome!

Posted by: ConcernedCeltiberian | Feb 13 2025 15:37 utc | 5

Honestly surprised me that Trump has crippled the NED in addition to USAID. For so many countries they now have a window to enact anti-foreign interference legislation without the baying of the foreign-funded “independent” media, NGOs, influencers and politicians. They should do that NOW, you never know the future with the US.
The Nicaragua “independent” voices will now fade away so fast without US funding. Same in Venezuela, Thailand, Georgia, Romania and so many other nations around the world. Within the US, its a bit like the fallout from the 1970s hearings that showed the CIA running a colossal media and culture manipulation program.
That’s the good news of course. Slashing the DoE, and the regulatory departments such as the EPA, OSHA etc., will only serve oligarch greed and reduce the quality of life for the rest. Perhaps better next the really big numbers in the US DoD procurement programs?

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 13 2025 15:40 utc | 7

NED, Clintons, Soros, “Israel”, “Ukraine”, the nasty black MK-Ultra style programs (needs more whistleblowers), all the “TIA” and similar “surveillance” crap, and tens of thousands of criminals (aka “politicians” and “political parties”) involved worldwide (including in tiny European countries) that all should be jailed for life with their wealth appropriated.
All of that, not only in the US but in all countries and other “things”/monstrosities such as the EU.
I dare not hope but let it roll and become an avalanche, with enough momentum it would also crush zionism no matter what Trump himself believes or supports.

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Feb 13 2025 15:43 utc | 9

@Posted by: kupkee | Feb 13 2025 15:39 utc | 6
The colder NA winter has driven up US domestic gas demand and prices, so Europe may have a very hard time refilling those depleted gas storage facilities. China’s LNG demand is still growing. Following the classic post-materialist logic of the European elites, Gas Infrastructure Europe has redefined its gas storage status ratings so that a level under 50% is no longer rated as Red and “dangerous” (the current level is under 50%) but now Green. With under 40% amber, and under 30% red. Our elites are following the Ostrich strategy to dealing with issues (just like Russian oil mixed with other oil is no longer Russian wrt the sanctions).
If the stupid Baltics or others stop one member of the Russian “shadow” oil fleet, Russia should simply stop all LNG exports to the EU. Then lets see what they will be paying for LNG through the rest of 2025.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 13 2025 15:50 utc | 11

Mr. Musk is not a credible source for anything except fantabulist daydreams.
Posted by: too scents | Feb 13 2025 15:48 utc | 10
If you follow the link you’ll see that Musk was not the original “source.” It’s a retweet.
That said, I know nothing about the credibility of the original source.

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 15:56 utc | 13

https://concernedceltiberian.substack.com/p/the-new-entente
Incisive and constructive critic is welcome!
Posted by: ConcernedCeltiberian | Feb 13 2025 15:37 utc | 5
Thanks, someone else already posted this and I don’t agree with the first part of your analysis (the part about the defeat and weird war stuff). The latter part is spot on though, at least in my opinion.
Also the link to this posting is ultra valuable to understand the current trajectory, thank you for that one:
https://cynthiachung.substack.com/p/elon-musk-as-tesla-20-the-legacy

Posted by: Zet | Feb 13 2025 15:57 utc | 15

what is ”Apartheid Clyde” in reference to?? thanks.. i take it that is musk, but aside from being from south africa, what is the clyde part about??

Posted by: james | Feb 13 2025 16:04 utc | 17

to all the Mustie cheering squad. CavIat emptor!!!! Yes indeed the murikan government in all its branches needs a serious audit and overhaul. But No indeedie are Must, Palantir (which already runs the IRS) Krause, who is the CEO of Cloud Software Group, a private company one of whose shareholders is vulture sleaze Singer of Elliott Management infamy the right people to do it. Some points. These are all private (even if stock is publicly traded) companies. There is no con=gressional oversight, for what ever that’s worth. There are no Freedom off Information obligations. NONE of the people involved have security clearances, especially not the young engineers employed by Must to do the data upload – on a weekend. The private records of millions of Americans have just been stolen and can be exploited or resold at will. Trump can bloviate all he wants but if /when he and Must fall out of love, Must has the data and can thumb his nose. And FYI, that “read only” smoke is smoke. Read by whom? Or what?
As for the firings and the blocking of things like USAID and NED, which I agree have done horrible things to the world – there are contracts and contracts require due process. If there is no law then what has happened is that one bunch of thugs has taken over for another bunch of thugs.
Here’s one link. I am happy to put up more if any one cares. I think Roger Boyd may be working on this. It is dismaying to see/hear pundits applauding what is essentially a coup. What I most want to say is : think it through.
Elon Musk’s Digital Coup – Global ResearchGlobal Research – Centre for Research on.pdf

Posted by: Formerly Miss Lacy | Feb 13 2025 16:14 utc | 19

@Posted by: Zet | Feb 13 2025 15:57 utc | 15
Ehret misinterprets major pieces of history, and makes linkages where there are none, to support his fantastical theories. I find Chung to generally be less paranoid schizo than Ehret. The CCF was a truly socialist movement in Canada which was instrumental in establishing public health care in Canada, as well as other social programs. Ehret completely misrepresents its major policy initiatives to support his delusions. The “Frankfurt” School (actually based in post-WW2 Washington DC mainly for the decade after WW2) was directly funded by the US government and US millionaires to help develop an anti-communist critical theory that would not challenge capitalism.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 13 2025 16:20 utc | 21

https://www.globalresearch.ca/sack-rome-elon-musk-digital-coup/5879791.

Posted by: Formerly Miss Lacy | Feb 13 2025 16:24 utc | 23

Posted by: Formerly Miss Lacy | Feb 13 2025 16:14 utc | 19
Contracts are not so sacred as people think. Courts tend to view breach of contract as morally and ethically neutral. Go look up the term “efficient breach.”
Breaking a contract of course has consequences, but the consequences are limited to have to pay damages, usually. So, any entity that has contracted with USAID can try suing the FEderal government for breach of contract and ask for damages.
By the way, Punitive damages are not awarded for breach of contract in the US. That is because courts look at things in terms of economics, not a moral failing of the breaching party.
Expectancy damages, in terms of lost profits, and consequential damages are available.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 13 2025 16:41 utc | 25

Elaborating on #25, From an efficient breach theory perspective, DOGE may find it more efficient to just break contracts with NED/USAID vendors, and pay the penalty, vs. the longer-term expense of continuously renewing and shoveling money to foreign governments via USAID/NED.
We also don’t know what the terms of these contracts are. There may be clauses limiting damages, or allowing the US Govt to cancel with minimal notice. Smaller private sector companies face the onerous task of trying to sue the Feds, good luck with that. It may be cheaper to just take the loss and move on.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 13 2025 17:02 utc | 27

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 13 2025 16:20 utc | 21
Thank you for your addition, very valuable and yes, I’ve also thought that some things in there didn’t match my existing information (which is quite limited on this topic), especially regarding the Frankfurt School 🙂
Right now I’m just trying to get a better feeling for all the people who are comprising the current US administration; the exact details don’t matter that much in this specific case. I just want to be able to take their perspective (in this case Musks).

Posted by: Zet | Feb 13 2025 17:05 utc | 29

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 15:53 utc | 12
#########
If true, do you believe those files will ever be revealed?
I think Trump toys with releasing them to get the Zionists off his back when they are going too far.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2025 16:05 utc | 18
********#******
Sorry if this is disjointed. Just thinking as I type:
I think either is possible, or even both.
I remember a video of him from many decades ago, well before the comb-over.
He struck me as serious, thoughtful & truly “patriotic.” I have a hard time reconciling the young man with the clown image we’ve seen since the “reality star.”
I imagine his 2017 “conversion” to Judaism was practical; as in-depth as his party changes between indie, dem & gop. A means to an end, not an end.
If the rumors are true, then I expect when he saw what they reveal he would make use of them.
Initially if needed as a threat. But until the Sachs video, I haven’t seen him take any action that would have threatened Israel. Quite the opposite.
It seems more likely that Israel would see his promise to release them as a threat. And that threat would be quite dangerous to make.
There were the 2 attempts on his life.
I haven’t seen him mention the files in a while.
His recent statements about the Gaza Riviera struck me as so outrageous as to possibly be a deliberate misleading away from his real plan.
As Honzo says, He’s pulling US troops out of Syria, exposing Israel’s
flank to Turkey. What about al Tanf & its oil??
He has promised more weapons to Israel, but have they been delivered? Are they en route?
To me releasing those files could be a trigger to garner support & pull the rug out from under Israel.

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 17:05 utc | 31

Posted by: librul | Feb 13 2025 17:05 utc | 30
Thank you, librul!

Posted by: juliania | Feb 13 2025 17:11 utc | 33

juliania@26…..these wars, plural, seen the pics from Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria. He sent a shipment of Daycare Buster Bombs to the Apartheid State. They can go places Caterpillars can’t. Wait till you see Trump Plaza Gaza, he sees land for what it is, the most valuable asset held in a portfolio, so he sees lost revenue. It’s business.
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 13 2025 17:15 utc | 35

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 17:05 utc | 31
##########
It is said in American politics, “personnel is policy”.
Trump has surrounded himself with committed Zionists throughout his cabinet. Ivanka converted years ago.
Trump’s campaign was funded by Zionists.
America is a fundamentally Zionist society. Trump’s strongest support comes from Christian Zionists.
Personnel is policy.
Is he going to be the first American President to abandon the Zionist occupation which serves many foreign objectives for the Empire?

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2025 17:18 utc | 37

ConcernedCeltiberian:
Yikes that’s a lot to deal with in one go! (Far too much for me).
Beware of confirmation bias when finding a “solution” that might make more sense than a very messy world/humanity. Humans do not actually tend to make much sense in the end, not individually and not in groups. Often not even when limited to single aims and actions (or we would all be much more successful, right? As opposed to being “collections of errors”). We even twist rationality into rationalizing errors in/with hindsight. Chaos and complexity is greatly underrated by many orders of magnitude and than add all the plain meanness, idiocy, and self-harm on top.
If we made at least a little bit sense (a tiny bit more!) our world would be very different and there certainly wouldn’t have been any war in ex-Ukraine 🙂
·
One initial thought from me is that the “wide open spaces” are anything but enticing, instead they are much too close for comfort to being enormous kill zones.
This:
Imagine yourself having to traverse an enormous field in an “all or nothing” move (there is no prize for getting halfway before being defeated) that will take plenty of time, be extremely visible, without much in the way of truly usable roads or infrastructure, where any fighting will need a long thin logistics train trailing behind you, and where the surface you’re standing on may or may not be or turn into glue at a whim of nature. Top it all up with no cover against anything.
Still keen? 🙂
But yes it is still a “weird war”, not because of this but because all wars are weird wars (because of the inherent deficiencies of all plans etc.) and because there are so many complicating variables.
As for the “inactivity” around “Zapo” I think it partly has to do with the nuclear plant there complicating everything including concentrating a lot of ex-Ukrainian efforts and skullduggery.
Dnipro isn’t too far north either and that’s a fairly big city that is/will be hard to surround.
Again: the open areas have no useful roads while the non-open areas have roads etc. connecting them and everything favors using the roads as much as possible.
Maybe that’s all the explanation needed? (I’m not sure).
Transportation, electricity, everything dual use: the Russians have tried (and still try) to be relatively gentle against the civilian population by enabling as many as possible to leave and increase any such pressure slowly and/or in stages. To what extent this can be said to be working or not is hard to say beyond the obvious and extreme counter-examples such as Iraq, Dresden, and Gaza, which are things one should be happy the Russians consider far beneath themselves, their own self-esteem, and their own (true) pride.
I have to stop there, I realize that’s only addressing a tiny bit of what you wrote.
·
Aside: celt-iberian… from northern Spain?

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Feb 13 2025 17:26 utc | 39

In response to
”
I’ve recently seen a couple rumors that Israel was behind the JFK assassination.
If true, I wonder what opening those secret files would do.
Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 15:53 utc | 12
”
In the latest Nima/Alex Krainer video Alex Krainer says that the UK was involved in the JFK assassination.
Alex thinks that the split between the US and Europe is really focused on the UK because of its still existent imperialism……he made the point that there are lots that believe easily that Occupied Palestine rules the US but can’t fathom that the UK might be behind the curtain somewhere.
I agree and wonder if the Trump team is out to trash private finance or just the UK version of it?….they want to be the king of the private hill with real old money like Pope Frank, King Chuck and friends.
The shit show continues until it doesn’t and there are encouraging signs, IMO.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 13 2025 17:30 utc | 41

“the obvious and extreme counter-examples such as Iraq, Dresden, and Gaza, which are things one should be happy the Russians consider far beneath themselves, their own self-esteem, and their own (true) pride
Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Feb 13 2025 17:26 utc | 39”
†***********
The obvious & extreme counter examples are all American approaches that, aside the inhumanity, barbarism & cruelty, serve to create failed states complete with terrorist havens & mercenary warriors.
Not something most want sitting & brewing on their borders.
Better to go slow, leave as much infrastructure as you can, & once the enemy is destroyed or in retreat, rebuild & care for the remaining citizens who will be their neighbors.
The prime example of Mariupol, which has been largely rebuilt & its population levels restored to almost what they were before the SMO as refugees have returned.

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 17:39 utc | 43

I’ve recently seen a couple rumors that Israel was behind the JFK assassination.
If true, I wonder what opening those secret files would do.
Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 15:53 utc | 12

There was no fucking JFK assassination. If any papers are released, they are fake and will provide a hundred years more misdirection to demented fools.
Miles W Mathis has done more than enough work on the “JFK assassination” to blast it into bits.
The idea that israel had any need to assassinate that warmongering (he never actually said anything anti-war) crypto jew running most of the jewish mafia in america is comical, if understandable.
The “gimp with the golden name” RFK is exactly the same. Already stabbed everyone in the back on vaccines and gaza.
Expect him to be “assassinated” too when he gets bored and wants to retire to a luxury island.
The entire JFK person was a fake. Not one unedited (that is, without pasted in faces) photo of him with his “family” has ever been seen, and the supposed 50 000 existing negatives of photos of his family that no one has likewise ever seen turned to rubble in a bank safe in one of the 9/11 buildings. Rubble. Not melted plastic. Rubble. Shown in court to prove that they were all accidentally “destroyed”.
…
Now bring the chimpanzees to shout at me for being “uneducated”. Educate yourself first by reading that paper by Miles W Mathis (can’t link, gets scrubbed instantly, but you can duckduckgo it). Come back and defend those photos with a straight face.

Posted by: Jack M | Feb 13 2025 17:44 utc | 45

Free Hand
Unclasping its grip, the U.S. lets an entitled yet faltering Europe slip toward the abyss, while Ukraine is left to be crushed beneath the tank treads of reality.
https://www.beyondwasteland.net/p/free-hand

Posted by: KevinB | Feb 13 2025 17:46 utc | 47

“China’s real estate bust leads other countries”
Source: https://jugglingdynamite.com/2025/02/13/chinas-real-estate-bust-forewarns-other-countries
@B:
Still believing that all is OK in China ? Still believing that China there hasn’t no housing bubble ?

Posted by: WMG | Feb 13 2025 17:48 utc | 49

I just heard that the USS Harry S Truman had a Collision with MV Besiktas north of the Suez Canal, does anyone have more information about this? The Besiktas is a pretty big cargo ship, how the hell did it collide with the Truman

Posted by: Kadath | Feb 13 2025 17:49 utc | 51

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 17:39 utc | 43
#########
What many do not know is that Ukraine has been making even fewer investments in infrastructure than America. I assume infrastructure money disappear for decades.
Cities like Mariupol were not nice and modern before the SMO.
Mariupol has been brought up to modern Russian standards, making it better than it has been since the USSR.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2025 17:52 utc | 53

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 13 2025 17:45 utc | 46
########
Elections have consequences.
America has been through more turmoil. The civil war, the Depression, and Obama.
Chill out and enjoy the ride.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2025 17:54 utc | 55

I’ve recently seen a couple rumors that Israel was behind the JFK assassination.
If true, I wonder what opening those secret files would do.
@Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 15:53 utc | 12
If “Israel” *was* behind it, then the relevant files won’t come out during this administration.
Hmm…maybe Trump can keep those files in his desk drawer for when Netanyahu comes to visit
and Trump needs an ace card for arm twisting negotiations.
I picture the JFK conspiracy as an infinity sign.
An infinity sign has no beginning and no end.
No hierarchy.
No top dog of the conspiracy.
It was designed that way.
If you enter the infinity sign from any point
you see someone “down stream” from there
and someone “up stream” from there.
But it is a different pair found wherever you
choose to enter.
The CIA is found there,
so is the Mafia,
and elements of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and the FBI,
and the Hunt family
and Cubans
and “Israel”
and LBJ.
Good luck.

Posted by: librul | Feb 13 2025 17:58 utc | 57

Posted by: Jack M | Feb 13 2025 17:44 utc | 45
I never heard of Miles W Mathis so googled. 😂😂😂😂😂
Um, ok. Apparently his expertise in mathematics & physics is… unique…😂😂😂😂😂😂

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 18:01 utc | 59

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2025 17:52 utc | 53
Exactly.
And for a counter example, look no further than Libya.

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 18:04 utc | 61

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2025 17:54 utc | 55
Unfortunately I can’t LoveDonbass.
They came for the judiciary ….
I have to speak out !
History is littered with examples of what happened when people said nothing.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 13 2025 18:12 utc | 63

Posted by: james | Feb 13 2025 16:04 utc | 17
#########
Google “PayPal mafia”.
Musk and Thiel are Afrikaners with ties to fascism.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2025 18:19 utc | 65

Posted by: librul | Feb 13 2025 17:58 utc | 57
Trump ordered the release of the JFK files a month ago, per the article linked below:
“FBI says it has discovered thousands of new files on JFK assassination
Law enforcement agency says about 2,400 newly discovered records are being transferred to archives for declassification.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/12/fbi-says-it-has-discovered-nearly-two-thousand-four-hundred-files-on-jfk-assassination
Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 17:28 utc | 40

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 18:34 utc | 67

The relevant paragraph:
The FBI’s announcement comes after Trump last month ordered the declassification and release of all remaining files related to JFK’s assassination, along with outstanding records on the assassinations of Robert F Kennedy, JFK’s younger brother, and the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 18:37 utc | 69

Geostrategic structures are broken because they have been based on power imbalances that do not correspond to the daily life of people:
American citizens cannot, and should not, continue to live without health care, without transportation, without infrastructure, insecure and with constant paranoia about their neighbors.
African citizens cannot, and should not, continue to live without health care, without transportation, without infrastructure, insecure and with constant paranoia about their neighbors.
The citizens of Gaza cannot, and should not, continue to live without health care, without transportation, without infrastructure, insecure and with constant paranoia about their neighbors.
The citizens or villagers of the world should not continue to live like shit because of the ego, pride and arrogance of our species.
Because the human being has shown himself capable of living in legitimate competition, despite the intrinsic racial conflict (the animal part that sapiens has is territorial and gregarious), he must transform himself or suffer the degeneration of his best faculties.
Sapiens is intrinsically moral because from birth, the infant knows that the conflict with another child is based on objects. Children, if they have not been led astray, have the tendency to share everything they possess. Only children who have heard comments from their parents (who do not understand), internalize fear and become neurotic.
And now, when we are all 8,000,000,000 old sapiens, how are we supporting our children? Perhaps it would be better for all these egocentric failures in “this” life to realize that they have not failed but that they have promoted, with their arrogance, that today, children are better than us.

Posted by: Montoia | Feb 13 2025 18:39 utc | 71

Clown prize!
Posted by: Jack M | Feb 13 2025 17:48 utc | 50
You conveniently left out the parts that described the difference some 40 years have made. Clever 🙄

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 18:43 utc | 73

insincere buffoonery regarding the latest “culprits” behind the several assassination/murders of the 60’s.
It was a lone gunman, who knew everybody, it appears.
I thought it was actually Castro and some revolutionary Cubans paybacking?
No wait, Russia did it! Woodward said so.
Hang on, could it have been the mafias trying to get back at Bobby?
Why any of them could shut down inquiry, right?
Boot scrapings from noise makers trying to pass for something besides stupid.
Nobody needs another file, redacted or otherwise to understand who could keep the lid on a public secret in this country.
Plausible that commentators too young to have first hand knowledge or experience of the country they are burning sage over. But that would just be ageist. Quit the manure spreading, nothing is going to grow from that. Witting or unwitting, antisemitic hate or zionist deceivers, your hands are dirty with democracies blood.
Covering up the plain truth anyone can decipher from available information.
Authentic idiocy would be refreshing instead of this recurrent sewage beating the shore.

Posted by: Not Ewe | Feb 13 2025 18:53 utc | 75

Quote (in italics):
Posted by: WMG | Feb 13 2025 17:47 utc | 48
What’s the difference ? What’s the context ? Are their monetary sovereignty the same ? Or as per usual are you just lumping all ” other countries” as the same .
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 13 2025 17:51 utc | 52
The dynamics of debt is everywhere the same. Debt = Debt. No matter what country one is in.

Posted by: WMG | Feb 13 2025 19:20 utc | 77

Qutoe (in italics):
@Posted by: WMG | Feb 13 2025 17:47 utc | 48
Did someone wake you up to spew your rubbish? The Chinese housing crash already happened, heavily managed by the Party-state to bring house prices back in line with earnings. Oh, and GDP kept growing at 5% per year. Go get help, maybe some basic education in basic political economy.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 13 2025 17:55 utc | 56
Chinese GDP may have grown by 5%. But is it “profitable” GDP ? (think: Micheal Pettis). Debt = Debt it has always the same dynamic, No matter what country one is in. No mmatter whether it’s “political” or not. Like building houses in the US or CAnada is actually “not productive” as well or only to a certain extent.

Posted by: WMG | Feb 13 2025 19:30 utc | 79

How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days
https://www-theatlantic-com.translate.goog/ideas/archive/2025/01/hitler-germany-constitution-authoritarianism/681233/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp&_x_tr_hist=true
Invoking Article 1 of the Weimar constitution, which stated that
” the government was an expression of the will of the people, Hitler informed the court that once he had achieved power through legal means, he intended to mold the government as he saw fit. ”
It was an astonishingly brazen statement. Mirrors exactly what Musk said in the Whitehouse the other night.
Listen to Musks words
Here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UIsP1KkSZmM&pp=ygUXbXVzayBzcGVlY2ggb3ZhbCBvZmZpY2U%3D
The similarities don’t stop there…
Hitler believed that an Ermächtigungsgesetz (“empowering law”) was crucial to his political survival. But passing such a law—which would dismantle the separation of powers, grant Hitler’s executive branch the authority to make laws without parliamentary approval, and allow Hitler to rule by decree, bypassing democratic institutions and the constitution—required the support of a two-thirds majority in the fractious Reichstag.
Hitler opened the meeting by boasting that millions of Germans had welcomed his chancellorship with “jubilation,” then outlined his plans for expunging key government officials and filling their positions with loyalists. At this point he turned to his main agenda item: the empowering law that, he argued, would give him the time (four years, according to the stipulations laid out in the draft of the law) and the authority necessary to make good on his campaign promises to revive the economy, reduce unemployment, increase military spending, withdraw from international treaty obligations, purge the country of foreigners he claimed were “poisoning” the blood of the nation,
Hitler had campaigned on the promise of draining the “parliamentarian swamp”—den parlamentarischen Sumpf—only to find himself now foundering in a quagmire of partisan politics and banging up against constitutional guardrails. He responded as he invariably did when confronted with dissenting opinions or inconvenient truths: He ignored them and doubled down.
Draining the swamp, trampling all over the separation of powers laws and rising rough shod over the constitution. Foreigners were “poisoning” the blood of the nation.
Sound familiar ?
Answers on a postcard.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 13 2025 19:47 utc | 81

And btw unlike many Europeans I (still!!!) actually like many (but obviously not all) “Americans”/Usians! Especially “deplorables” (real people) and also your average gun nuts but also all kinds of different people 🙂
Blame it on my white skin if you have to 😛 but I never met a black Usian I didn’t like. Hardly ever met any Africans I didn’t like (I’ve met more of those). Once upon a time in ancient history an actual self-confessed European nazi called me a “nigger lover” and I had no idea what he meant.
…and while I think of myself as “being from the right” plenty of people take one look at me and think “communist!” (lol) and even more so now when I (again) have long hair instead of suede-short hair. With long hair I guess it’s only a matter of time before some retarded nazi (or zionist) punches me again like long ago 🙁 This time I’ll strike back with my crutch! It won’t do no harm but it’s the thought that counts 😛
Okay enough ranting, good thing this is the open thread…

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Feb 13 2025 19:59 utc | 83

Quote (in italics):
The dynamics of debt is everywhere the same. Debt = Debt.
Posted by: WMG | Feb 13 2025 19:20 utc | 77
—
Again, for the 2nd time. There are at least as many different types of debt as there are ways to default on payment. Collectability is a spectrum. As is the knock on effect of default.
Posted by: too scents | Feb 13 2025 19:27 utc | 78
Again, for the last time. Debt = Debt. And repeating your position doesn’t change that fact. I am willing to change my mind but then you need to come with NEW facts.

Posted by: WMG | Feb 13 2025 20:01 utc | 85

This is on Twitter, for some reason they don’t update their YT or Rumble pages with new content.
🚨🇺🇸🤖 TECHNOFEUDALISM: Meet America’s New Oligarch Ruling Class
Pepe Escobar joins us to discuss how the US Deep State created Big Tech, why China’s technological innovation model is superior, and Trump’s obsession with AI dominance.
(01:42) What is technofeudalism?
(14:29) US Deep State and Silicon Valley
(20:04) Debunking globalist arguments on AI
(26:52) Why Big Tech is going to war against Deep State
(29:41) Chinese tech model
(38:35) Why Big Tech defected to Trump
https://x.com/NewRulesGeo/status/1890068423423709497

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2025 20:04 utc | 87

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Feb 13 2025 19:59 utc | 83
You could have got 25 libertarian gold bugs who were trained as auditors to do an audit. They would have found the same as DODGE.
WITHOUT breaking into a rewriting the payments systems. WITHOUT freezing payments. WITHOUT impounding funds. WITHOUT ideology deciding which payments should be stopped or not.
Using USAID as a disco light doesn’t work on me. As an audit would have found it.
A libertarian gold bug audit team would have done an audit and left the separation of powers laws alone.
An audit is a completely different thing to what you are currently watching. However, you don’t seem to grasp that.
This is a power grab.
One of the most enduring questions asked by historians over the last 80 years. Was how did Hitler get away with it. Why didn’t the German people stop him ?
Trump has shown over the last month. It is very easy if many people turn a blind eye. Can’t see the wood for the trees. Cheer him on while he does it due to a political ideology instead of calling a spade a spade regardless of your politics.
“Draining the swamp, trampling all over the separation of powers laws and riding rough shod over the constitution. Foreigners were “poisoning” the blood of the nation.”
That’s right wing populism right there in a nutshell. They all sing from the same song sheet no matter what country you are in.
You see that yes ?
Farage, Meloni , Weelders, Trump.
Just look who they borrowed it from.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 13 2025 20:37 utc | 89

At the time I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Just thought wtf is he doing.
Musk giving a Nazi salute at Trumps inauguration all makes perfect sense now.
This power grab ( not audit ) was planned months ago.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 13 2025 21:22 utc | 91

Posted by: Mary | Feb 13 2025 18:34 utc | 67
LOL. Talk to me when those files see the light of day. I wonder if this is what they’ll look like.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Aclu-v-ashcroft-redacted.jpg

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 13 2025 22:26 utc | 93

Posted by: ConcernedCeltiberian | Feb 13 2025 15:37 utc | 5
I posted your article here the other day; check the penultimate Ukraine related thread. I agree with a lot of it, and on the stuff I don’t necessarily automatically buy into, I concede that you may have a point.
@Zet – Did Russia end up implementing capital controls? The Forbes article you provided in response to my comment (above) was from January of 2024 and only said that there was a disagreement between the Russian central reserve bank and members of Putin’s gov’t and the Duma. What ended up happening?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 13 2025 22:35 utc | 95

Quote (in italics):
I am willing to change my mind but then you need to come with NEW facts.
Posted by: WMG | Feb 13 2025 20:01 utc | 85
—
Here ya go. The difference between a “mortgage” and a “deed of trust” was a significant factor in the housing bubble that led up to the GFC.
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/whats-the-difference-between-mortgage-deed-trust.html
Posted by: too scents | Feb 13 2025 20:10 utc | 88
No, not good enough. When someone isn’t able to pay its debts then it doesn’t matter what the character/structure of the debst is. The GFC was caused because the total amount of debt didn’t accelerate any more.

Posted by: WMG | Feb 13 2025 22:59 utc | 97

“China’s real estate bust leads other countries”
Source: https://jugglingdynamite.com/2025/02/13/chinas-real-estate-bust-forewarns-other-countries
@B:
Still believing that all is OK in China ? Still believing that in China there no (deflating) housing bubble ?
The fact that the amount of loans to builders is shrinking means that there will be less construction and lower GDP or even shrinking GDP.

Posted by: WMG | Feb 13 2025 23:07 utc | 99