Amid the daily drenching of treasonous-lunacy, can we agree to wish calm-sanity on the world in 2026, as we leave benighted 2025 behind us?
I'll drop a little humor into this missive at the very end, along with Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah & Kwanza etc. wishes. But meanwhile...
...let's keep poking at on my 35+ - likely futile - proposals that liberals, Democrats and their residually-sane conservative neighbors might enact, to fix many flaws exploited lately by enemies of our enlightenment and republic.
This series began with an appraisal of political tactics to win elections, especially the most successful one of the last 50 years, the "Contract With America" concocted by Newt Gingrich in 1994 to bury any remnants of the Rooseveltean coalition, commencing decades of Republican dominance. A 'contract' hypocritically betrayed by the GOP! Still, it worked for them. We need to know why.
In Part Three I listed my own proposed winning promises! Some need legislation to either overcome a veto or await a non-traitor president. (Though far easier to pass than a Constitutional amendments, so stop whining about the Electoral College!) But half a dozen are internal reforms Congress can make no matter who's in the Oval Office.
In Parts 4-7 I commenced dissecting and explaining each of the proposals. Some would directly solve some of the weaknesses Donald Trump has exposed in the U.S. system.
So, let's continue.
== The immigration dilemma ==
Scream "racism!" all day, but that won't cancel a fact few liberals ever admit or confront. That enemies of the Enlightenment and liberalism found an effective tactic, a way to f---up western nations, politically.
The tactic? Drive hmany thousands of hapless, innocent refugees across borders into generously liberal democracies! Then watch, giggling, as millions of voters in those countries swing rightward at the polls.
Cringe and deny and evade thinking about it, all you like. But when your enemy employs a winning tactic - in this case leveraging your own goodness and generosity against you - it might be sapient to notice! (As you should notice the tactical effectiveness of the Gingrich 'contract.')
Dig it. In order to do good things in this world (many of them suggested in this series) you must have political power! And sorry - alas - that means prioritizing.
You can't do everything. So do things first that will both improve matters and win more elections and give us the power to do more good things! Um... duh?
Anyway, here I offer a potential way to approach that sweet spot in a vexing issue. Remaining generous,while countering the till-now 100% effective Putin refugee ploy.
IMMIGRATION REFORM: There are already proposed immigration law reforms on the table, worked out by sincere Democrats and sincere Republicans, back when the latter were still a thing. These bipartisan reforms will be revisited, debated, updated and then brought to a vote.
In addition, if a foreign nation is a top ten source of refugees seeking U.S. asylum from persecution in their homelands, then by law it shall be incumbent upon the political and social elites in that nation to help solve the problem, or else take responsibility for causing their citizens to flee.
Upon verification that their regime is among those top ten, that nation’s elites will be billed, enforceably, for U.S. expenses in giving refuge to that nation’s citizens. Further, all trade and other advantages of said elites will be suspended and access to the United States banned, except for the purpose of negotiating ways that the U.S. can help in that nation’s rise to both liberty and prosperity, thus reducing refugee flows in the best possible way.
== Hurt him where it hurts most ==
With due allowance and leeway for needs of the Office of President, public property shall be accounted-for. The manager will allocate which portions of any trip expense should be deemed private and thereupon – above a basic, reasonable allowance – shall be billed to the president or his/her party.
This office shall supervise annual physical and mental examination by external experts for all senior office holders including the President, Vice President, Cabinet members and leaders of Congress.
Any group of twenty senators or House members or state governors may choose one periodical, network or other news source to get credentialed to the White House Press Pool, spreading inquiry across all party lines and ensuring that all rational points of view get access.
== Cancel the many levels of graft! (Well... a lot of them) ==
Here's another one that may seem obvious. Only note what I say about presidential libraries! These have morphed into massive ego shrines, where ex-presidents get to "keep" the lavish gifts they receive from individuals and foreign potentates, so long as they are officially 'on (permanent) loan' from the National Archives!
Donald Trump has even declared that he plans to 'donate' the big Qatari 747 jet, via the Archives, to his post-presidential library for his own personal and permanent use!
Dig it: we can get Obama and Clinton and (maybe reluctantly) GW Bush to sign off on this. And we can word it in a way where the grifters cannot plausibly refuse.
EMOLUMENTS AND GIFTS ACT: Emoluments and gifts and other forms of valuable beneficence bestowed upon the president, or members of Congress, or judges, or their staffs shall be more strictly defined and transparently controlled.
All existing and future presidential libraries or museums or any kind of shrine shall strictly limit the holding, display or lending of gifts to, from, or by a president or ex-president, which shall instead be owned and held (except for facsimiles) by the Smithsonian.
Donations by corporations or wealthy individuals to pet projects of a president or other members of government, including presidential libraries or inauguration events, shall be presumed to be illegal bribery unless they are approved by a nonpartisan ethical commission.
== And finally... ==
Finally, here's one they'll never pass, though it could benefit the nation, immensely.
BUDGETS: If Congress fails to fulfill its budgetary obligations or to raise the debt ceiling, the result will not be a ‘government shutdown.’ Rather, all pay and benefits will cease going to any Senator or Representative whose annual income is above the national average, until appropriate legislation has passed, at which point only 50% of any backlog arrears may be made-up.
== Were these ones kinda 'obvious'? ==
Yeah, obvious, schmobvious. They must be explicit in order to be useful as a sales-pitched Newer Deal!
And if you pass most of them, you'll make clear what should have been, back when Pelosi, Sanders, Schumer, AOC, Liz Warren and the resut united to pass the 2021-22 Miracle Bills. That Democrats are serious about wanting democracy and institutions to work.
Turns out those miracle bills were far from enough! So let's get on with the job of rescuing a flawed system. One that only happened to give humanity its best and most hopeful era, ever.
The Greatest - GI Bill - Generation is watching us. Let's not let 'em down.
Continuing with Part Nine....
======================================================
== Oh, yeah... here's that humorous lagniappe... ==
I promised wry amusement. Re the Epstein pedophilia and now 'redaction' scandal: this was all eerily predicted in a fun/absurd Kirsten Dunst film "Dick" (1999). Nixon hires two flakey 15 year olds as White House dog walkers... who fall in love with him and croon fantasies into the president's office tape recorder...
...tapes that soon are subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee. And Dick realizes... "I can survive all the rest, the burglary, the coverups, the bribes.... But messing with 15 year olds will get me lynched!"
So he erases their love songs, leading to the 18 minute "Gap"!
In light of the the pathetic Bondi 'redactions' and Epstein's pal -- the pussy-grabber -- having on-record said "I like 'em young" ... have I uncovered "Dick" as an important part of the training set for the AI that's running this simulation?
Tell me another place online where you get connections like this!
Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah & Kwanza etc. wishes for sanity, peace and joy in years ahead.
And to hell with the aliens who've been shining a stoopidity ray upon us. Vamoose, twerps, or we'll getcha, someday.
Debt Ceiling
ReplyDeleteThe best solution is the one that most other countries use
If the Legislature cannot pass a budget then THAT is the trigger for a General Election - with your constitution you probably can't just go for a General election - but you may be able to say that if the Legislature does not pass a budget all of the individual seats become vacant and require special elections
Asylum Seekers
The problem is that it takes YEARS for the
"They can stay - Send them back"
decision to be made - which means that there are hundreds of thousands of people "In Limbo" - they cannot "work" and need to be supported
If that decision took weeks instead of years then that number would be massively reduced
It would be a LOT cheaper to massively increase the decision making people and as a result reduce the people in Limbo
And THAT problem is also a major issue in the UK!!!
Sorry Duncan, neither is as significant as it would be to tell the elites in oppressor nations "If you drive your people to flee to us then YOU will pay all expenses and we may consider that an act of war.
ReplyDeleteLots of people son't understand why the world's oldest major Republic could not use parliamentary snap elections. As a continental nation with poor infrastructure, it took weeks for most states to send reps to DC. A regular calendar election cycle made more sense. And parliamentary systems have their own troubles.
NOW, would I love to see a snap election on Trump? The GOP would be driven into the nuttery hinterland where it currently deserves.
I suspect a 95% drop in the number of "Asylum Seekers in Limbo" is actually far more effective than trying to extract money from people in foreign lands -
DeleteI am pretty damn sure that the only ones that you will be able to extract money from will be the ones who have zero actual power
1) How many regime changes have worked out in producing less refugees, lately?
Delete2) As of the Nations south of your border, most of those corrupt elites are beholden to American business interests - how do you believe those billionaires willing to turn the US itself into a fascist shithole country will deal with that?
3) Even if implemented - how do you think those countries will align themselves? China was kept out of Panama because of military threats, but it is comparatively tiny.*
4) Good luck of trying to influence other first-world nations to freeze or confiscate the money. Your soft power political capital was gone the moment we realized we have been sold out.
*Thinking of it, I would be very surprised if the Maduro regime would not get military support from China via Brazil. And even if the regime is replaced, you will likely have a civil war or an insurgency, at least at the proportions of Iraq.
Oh, I forgot: With the death of US AID and an estimated 14 million people, your soft power influence in those regions is now soaked up by China, Russia and middle powers like the Arab nations.
DeleteFinally, Mr. Climate Change will not care if you sanction him.
DeleteDuncan processing asylum seekers quicker is good. How does it limit the flow inward that riles up EVERY voting populace where it happens and turns the electorate to the right? You are perfectly illustrating liberal derangement... an inability to face hard, practical choices and keep the power to do good things.
DeleteOger is doing the same thing. We have banned and cornered and asset pressured right wing elits before. Care to put wager on it? Agin, you ignore the core point. And it truly does make liberals writhe.
We have banned and cornered and asset pressured right wing elits before.
DeleteLike, Merrick Garland did?
"Die Kleinen hängt man, die Großen lässt man laufen."
There is another point you should address: How to regain the trust of your former partners.
ReplyDeleteI very much assume that the transatlantic and other partnerships will be down the gutter far more than they are now (we are already at a point were intelligence services are becoming hostile to each other).
I don't think the Biden "We're Back" approach will suffice, because a) we are projected to have conventional deterrence capability in 2029*, and b) there might have been committed more war crimes or other atrocities by the US by then.
*Barring Russia invading earlier, and hoping what is left of the alliance willing to defend the Baltics and Poland will suffice.
"I don't think the Biden "We're Back" approach will suffice, because a) we are projected to have conventional deterrence capability in 2029*, and b) there might have been committed more war crimes or other atrocities by the US by then."
DeleteJESUS seruiously? THREE utterly bizarre statements.
So Europe is re-arming, to take up its proper responsibilities after 80 years building lovely socialist-generous states under total (and costly) US protection? Great! I am glad of that and welcome the degree to which YOU will be protecting US from Putin etc. for a while. It is your turn. It is so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so your turn.
Feel free as ingrates to shrug off the debt of those 80 years. Though I doubt most Europeans will be utter ingrates, like you. I predict (bet on it?) that the next Biden saying "we're back!" will be greeted with hosannahs of joy almost as ecstatic as those emitted by the sane 60% over here.
Especially here, in the satrapy of California, the most creative and productive and advanced nation on the globe, who have to endure dominance by the mercurial USA far more than you ever had to.
True, this time we're going to have to repair far, far more damage than after DT's 1st term, as you say. But what seems most churlish about your wretched sentences between the quotation marks is your utter lack of sympathy for our torment.
In fact, I think I detect a tone of hand-rubbing glee. And if THAT is also the attitude of your neighbors, then I have choice words for fusking ingrates.
I think I detect a tone of hand-rubbing glee.
DeleteJust so you know, I'm hearing a different vibe. The sober recognition that, after many quarrels and reconciliations, this time the on-again, off-again girlfriend has crossed a line that makes it difficult to take her back, or even want to.
It is possible to reconcile after such a revelation, but it's not easy, and both sides have to really be motivated to do so.
LOL, this Peak Pax Americana, California cult boomer world savior mentality is so yesterday. The world doesn’t actually want or need saving by you; it’s moving on. I don’t just say that to be flippant; I observe it everywhere, in what is happening, how people talk; almost NOBODY thinks like you any more, or buys what you’re selling. It’s a boomer nostalgia act, for a time when your message was more plausible. It’s also stunningly arrogant, to lecture everyone about how great you are, better everything else in history *combined*, and when they reject that message, to brush them off as “ingrates”. You really think this is gonna win friends and influence people? Brilliant.
DeleteTake a look in the mirror, dude: your arrogant boomer America cultism is a big part of the problem and the reason the world is moving on. But like I said before, I don’t expect anything to change your mind; only funerals can do that.
Larry hits it, mostly. Note that the rift Always was there since Vietnam, and deepened during Iraq. Venezuela will not do much to close it, and neither will Canada or Greenland. I do not believe they are off the table.
DeleteAnd there is of course the regime change goal in the National Security Strategy (which was called "Divorce papers" over here by respected Media)
But there is another point:
Industrial autarky. Currently, we lack three systems that are not in par with what they US can deliver: F35, Patriot Defense Missile systems and tactical nuclear warheads.
The "Killswitch" debate made everyone scramble for closing the gaps. That will take time, but already major military hardware companies are in the red numbers because we stopped ordering.
With other words, we don't need your Tech anymore.
Oh, and while I can see where your spite comes from:
You had 35 years to build up a working welfare state since the end of the Cold war. You chose not to have one.
Both the Clinton and Bush Junior administrations torpedoed the European integration and unification process, which was central to the European Defense Initiative (which got quietly killed).
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, Obama chose to ignore the Budapest Treaty (you know, the piece of worthless paper in which Ukraine gave up their nuclear weapons in Exchange for security guarantees) and thereby showing the world the worth of American promises (and those of Euro co-signers, to be fair).
Sympathy for your torment?
I am in political analysis mode, doctor. That in of itself forbids an emotional stance. And I will save that for the people directly affected by the policies like those in detention by ICE, the Epstein victims, protesters and public persons being targeted by both death threats and law enforcement, the people dying from the stop of USAID and measles and in areas Trump will choose to invade.
Sympathy for your personal torment?
Like, guilt, shame?
National guilt and shame?
Sorry, but I don't believe that works.
Guilt and shame is useless.
Taking responsibility is not.
Which has four general steps:
1) Admitting the mistakes and wrongdoings;
2) Making ammends
3) Taking steps to ensure that it doesn't happen again;
4) Remembering "The Thing" and steps 1-3.
So, I repeat but rephrase my question:
What could a possible President Newsom and a blue Congress do to regain the trust of allies?
After the US have allied with our enemies foreign & domestic, advanced the climate change, helped to destroy the rule of law between nations, have committed crimes of war and against humanity (which are already there, and I dare not to fathom how extensive they will be in three years.)?
Or, if that does not give you any ideas:
What could they fail to do so the split remains permanent?
From the Sneetches book by Dr. Seuss:
ReplyDeleteAll the rest of that day, on those wild screaming beaches,
The Fix-it-Up Chappie kept fixing up Sneetches.
Off again! On again!
In again! Out again!
Through the machines they raced round and about again,
Changing their stars every minute or two.
They kept paying money. They kept running through
Until neither the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew
Whether this one was that one…or that one was this one
Or which one was what one…or what one was who.
I suppose that's what "transgender for everyone" looks like.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/13/opinion/gop-women-misogyny-problem.html
ReplyDeleteThere’s this thing going around on the internet right now — a theory of political behavior — and it’s basically that everyone’s 12. So if you’re Elon Musk, of course you’re obsessed with robots and cars and going to space. You’re 12 years old, right? Trump is like a 12-year-old’s idea of masculine authority.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Although late to the party, it's nice to see Dr Brin concede that 'Mass Migration equals War & Invasion', a point that Voxday & the Alt-Right have argued for a long time but the progressive left has consistently denied.
ReplyDeleteEven so, it's somewhat disheartening to see our fine host doubling-down on the whole 'Independent Tool' argument, as constitutional doctrine has long held that 'independent' government agencies, functionaries & flunkies who do not answer to the direct will of the citizen equal a very undemocratic tyranny.
Currently in the US, we see this tyranny in action as low level federal judges routinely veto & overrule the decisions of the democratically elected Executive & Congressional branches, a tyrannical act that the left currently celebrates when directed against their political opposition, but would roundly condemn if the same tyrannical authority was used veto & overrule the pro-sanctuary, pro-gun control, pro-abortion & pro-diversity agenda of the progressive left.
From his 'Executive Office Managers' to his 'Inspector Generals' to his uncheckable intelligence agencies, every aspect of Dr Brin's 'independent shadow government' is unconstitutional as it violates the Separation of Powers doctrine by placing an unaccountable tyrant over & above the elected representatives of the people.
That said, I have things to go & people to do, so I'll step away for a month or so to allow Dr Brin to proselytize unhindered.
Best
It may be a hobby that I parse for a 3 second skim WHICH insanity style locum is in. This time he is logical and aiming in my (very) general direction. Though still jibbering loco.
DeleteHis cult has the presidency, Congress and Supreme Court all locked up. Such power would be constrained in the past by tradition, an assumption of professionalism and the notion of coming elections. ALL of those are being demolished right now. Because they know (1) they will lose any future fair election massively, and (2) they have committed vast crimes that will be revealed and acted upon, as soon as raw power does not protect them. They must act now.
Professionalism is being smashed in all directions. Hence my efforts to offer ways to protect it. Across the nation electoral cheats are already under way. As in states gerrymandered so that citizens cannot even theoretically eject the corrupt party in power.
But I got going typing and should stop. He is, after all, even in the less-incoherent phases, utterly crazy. And he has already made clear his plans for us, if we let him.
The FBI has stated that they have 1000 agents and 20 lawyers working on redaction on the Epstein-Trump files. So far, we have zero leaks of unredacted files.
ReplyDeleteWhat does that tell us?
1) They have not built in much redundancy to the process in order to ID leakers. If 10 people have seen a file that leaks, then there are 10 suspects for the leak. If two people have seen a file, then there are two suspects. They are reducing the number of eyes on files in order to be able to hone in on leakers.
2) We have not heard of prosecutions for attempted leaking. Even if a leaker prosecution was made under seal, we would probably know something was up, simply because an FBI would "disappear" after being arrested. This is the sort of gossip that would leak, because 500+ people would know that Agent X wasn't at work and wasn't fired. There have not even been rumors of lots of agents being reassigned to other work (while they were under formal investigation).
3) They are almost-certainly using AI to find leakers. Manual checking just makes more potential leakers. No leaks means using AI. Also means the owners / managers / programmers of the AI have blackmail on the DoJ. If an AI is checking for leaks, then anyone with access to the AI has access to the Trump-Epstein files, the ID of potential leakers, and the ID of those involved with criminal cover-up. In order for Trump and the oligarchs in the files to trust the AI owner, they would have to be someone that was already blackmailed, or was willing to be.
4) The DoJ has a remarkably small number of agents that take their oath to our constitution. seriously. No leaks = no patriots.
5) The bureaucratic mechanisms for allocating the files to be redacted are not heavily staffed and must be true loyalists.
6) When this is over, any FBI agent that touched the files and did not leak must lose their job and be barred from law enforcement employment. Any AI owner whose AI was used must be barred from government contracts and the company broken up. Employees and "consultants" from the AI companies should never be allowed any sort of governmental contracts or jobs.
matthew's #1,2, 3 do NOT lead to #4. or #5. It is not their JOB to 'leak.' Yes, individual agents can and should be wrestling daily with their conscience and sense of duty. Know that the latter is riven by loyalty to the law, to principle to the nation and basic decency, which, alas, are now in conflict. But the TIMING of such things is not up to YOU of all people to judge.
DeleteI hope that Biden set aside some of the best people into bureaucratically obscure and safe places where Bannon cannot find them, with orders to prepare for a moment of maximum legality AND effectiveness... but given Biden's lack of other preparations, I fear he did not, alas.
But m's entire premise is base upon assumptions of INCOMPETENCE on the part of those he is asking ato act competently. It's not even logical.
Though I agree with his last sentence when it comes to the most-complicit.
Think, will you? There is only one 'leak' that will be a devastating cure and it is not in the Epstein files.
Dr Brin
ReplyDeleteThe flow of asylum seekers is NOT the problem - somebody who is accepted for asylum is almost invisible - just somebody else working away
The visible issue is the people who are seeking asylum and who are in limbo - these are the people who are being housed at government expense - they are not permitted to work and must be supported
These are the ones that the right wing throw into people's faces
The actual numbers are almost irelevant as the right wing will lie about them anyway - as they are doing about the numbers that Biden let in
Duncan you illustrate the desperation of folks on the left to evade addressing the problem in front of their eye... that Putin's gambit works. It works 100% and every single time. It has worked in countries where asylum adjudication is far less bad than in the US. It works and works, and you folks will squirm and change the subject and deny it is something to confront, head on.
DeleteThat POWER matters and you'll only get the power to do good things if you prioritize.
Biden et al could not ignore it, though. Which is why top dems DID augment border security and deportations. In fact YOUR distraction meme about adjudication implies massive deportation of those who are adjudicated as non persecuted!
Nothing can be done about this reflexive regidity of doctrine, alas. We are in our present situation partly because of polemical and doctrinal rigidity on our own side.
A Christmahanakwanzaa miracle for me.
ReplyDeleteNot only is there a brand new "Knives Out" movie on Netflix, but they've also got The West Wing back again.
Thank you, Santa.
Dr Brin
ReplyDeleteRe Europe and military power
After WW2 America USED Europe as its primary shield against the USSR - yes that did help Europe but its main function was to stop the USSR a mutual defence
After the USSR fell we ended up with a much much smaller "enemy" and the European defense spend was cut
Back then we thought that Russia had a more powerful military than any ONE european nation - but that Russia was less powerful than two of the biggest European nations
The Russian invasion of Ukraine showed that Russia was LESS powerful than the top five european nations
America has never been "defending europe" - and if the USA spent more on its military that was for its own selfish reasons
The ONLY reason that europe would need to increase its defence spending is if they have to think of America as an enemy
Do you really think that would be a good idea??
Jesus I am DONE with this utter shit: "After WW2 America USED Europe as its primary shield against the USSR ..."
DeleteDr Brin
ReplyDeleteThe USA is pretty bad about making the decisions on asylum
But so is every other country that I know about!! - they are all terrible and all take far too long
"YOUR distraction meme about adjudication implies massive deportation of those who are adjudicated as non-persecuted!"
Yes it does - and THAT is one of the problems - if a person is NOT being persecuted then they should NOT be able to stay - deporting them is 100% the correct decision
THAT is probably the point where your "blaming the lefties" has a lot of merit
as some of them will be against the deportation
Okay. so you admit deporation is an essential part of answering the Putin refugee gambit. Most on the left won't even admit that much.
DeleteAnd no... if we considered Europe a frontier satrapy we'd have DRAFTED millions of Europeans into those front lines. But our protection came without much of a price tage and you got to (smugly) make socialist paradises while calling us warmongers for protecting you. Feh.
Hi Dr Brin
ReplyDeleteAgainst the USSR - we protected you just as much as you protected us - especially as the battleground was to be in Europe - NOT in the USA
Against Russia - we have not NEEDED protection!
The fact that you CHOSE to waste huge amounts of resources on your military is your problem - not ours
Eisenhower said - "we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military–industrial complex."
Only you ignored him!
The drivel you just spewed, dear Duncan, is so diametrically opposite to true it is simply stunning. None of your sentences are remotely connected to reality. Were you an adversary I'd offer my usual wager stakes. But as-is, I'll simply shake my head in sad resignation of some ingrate-moronic insipidity by someone - an ally - whom I like.
DeleteDr Brin
ReplyDeletePlease point to any single point where my comment is NOT 100% true
Against the USSR - we protected you just as much as you protected us - especially as the battleground was to be in Europe - NOT in the USA
100% true
Against Russia - we have not NEEDED protection!
100% true - Russia has never been as powerful as "the rest of NATO" - it does have more nukes but either France or the UK have enough to destroy Russia
The fact that you CHOSE to waste huge amounts of resources on your military is your problem - not ours
100% true -
Eisenhower said - "we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military–industrial complex."
Only you ignored him!
100% true
it does have more nukes but either France or the UK have enough to destroy Russia
DeleteAn important problem. French and British nukes are all high caliber - you cannot answer "in kind" if tacticals are used. It is MAD from the start.