CONTRARY BRIN: ice raids

I'll pause this time - midweek - to blurt a couple of mini rants about the monsters who will soon unleash something hellish, in order to distract us. But hang around to the end, where I'll recommend some of the best recent comix from Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal!

This weekend, I'll get back to part 8 of my ongoing series of tactics that might help fix this mess we are in.

== Do not be fooled when Republicans 'stand up to Trump' ==

Parse it carefully. There are defection/revolts by a few in the Party of Lincoln vs. Trumpism. Some rare GOPpers who happen to be decent/principled and not very blackmailed are standing up. (Tho all GOP senators are complicit with DT's cabinet of monsters, that includes several KGB agents.)

But this vote re Obamacare is not such a revolt! It is a tactic to get the GOP out of a jam, backing away from their cruel act that risks enraging tens of millions, if Obamacare subsidies expire, then giving them excuse to blame dems for resulting deficits.

Likewise, the Roberts "Court" will rule against Trump on some symbolic matters, in order to maintain an illusion of 'balance'...

...though never re: any matter that affects POWER.

So, expect a curb or two on ICE raids, because that shit is mostly sadistic theater for diehard racist MAGAs. But Roger Taney Jr. - I mean John Roberts - will okay DT's power to fire IGs and JAGs and wreck whole agencies. And cheat elections and send troops into cities. And send ICE toward citizens. And bully the military officer corps.

That last matter - DEFENDING OUR DEFENDERS - is the core topic of my current posting. (Before this one.)

We need to make clear to our loyal military men and women that they aren't forgotten. And help is on the way!

But stay focused. Power is the criterion to watch.

== Are there any signs of movement by Principled Republicans? ==

Good question. Sure there are Kinzingers and Liz Cheney (gulp). But aside some such anecdotes, are there signs of actual, organized revolt by decent or at least slightly patriotic Republicans? Perhaps leading to a split-off Sane Conservative Party? (We need one.)

I'm likely clutching straws. Even if Paul Ryan, Romney, George F. Will and others do step up, Trump will only signal Putin to unleash the planned super-9/11 attack, now that he and Gabbard and Noem have re-assigned or fired or neutered many counter-terrorism agents and staff. Thus hoping to get us to rally around the leader. (It worked for Bush.) Whereupon... they hope to send well-drilled ICE prison-parolees after new targets to round up. Cancel elections...

... and release blackmail kompromat on any GOPper pol who dares to lift his head. (Or, in the case of Collins/Murkowski, whatever male relatives they are protecting, by submitting to Putin.)

So, standing up will take a lot more guts than Olde Republicans ever had. Or ever will.

There will be no more Ike/Dirksen/Goldwater/McCains. So, it's likely we must take this phase all the way to Appomattox. And do it all ourselves. Alack.

== Some fun (and philosophically brilliant) one pagers from SMBC! ==

I'm a sucker for this online strip. But I only come back every 6 months to binge it...

... which allows me to make a favorites list, just for you!

For example: This one is much like my story “The Giving Plague,” where circumstances force a bad man into being (repeatedly) a world-beloved hero.

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/branch-2

And do poke at these selected ones!

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/frenchmen

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/life-7

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/steve

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/xx

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/princess-3

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/happiness-5