Post 9w8vRDPY0qmLPaoCCO by rick@social.hwc.brussels
(DIR) More posts by rick@social.hwc.brussels
(DIR) Post #9w4jjwOXWj3m3ZezGS by InternetKevin@mastodon.cloud
2020-06-14T13:43:35Z
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@IronMan "The interview was a disaster, a case study in why Donald Trump is not and cannot be the person to handle this moment in time.""The only world in which police using chokeholds could sound “innocent” or “perfect” is a world in which you don’t think about what happens to people when they’re literally being choked — or one where you assume that it won’t happen to people like you."#TheFailingPresident#RacistPresident https://www.vox.com/2020/6/12/21289495/trump-fox-news-chokehold-lincoln
(DIR) Post #9w4jjyDGlbEVhCP0yW by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-14T13:45:38Z
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@InternetKevin @IronMan just the idea that we even have to "debate" this in 2020 is ridiculous.. from outsider point of view, US is quickly degenerating and the GOP/DEM are not up to the challenge.
(DIR) Post #9w4kb1b4upXnXTpyDI by IronMan@mstdn.social
2020-06-14T13:52:42Z
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@rickThere are people busting their asses day in and out for years here. We're up to the challenge, OK? @InternetKevin
(DIR) Post #9w4kb1trmyZaTkcyUy by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-14T13:55:04Z
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@IronMan @InternetKevin I agree people are up to the challenge, I'm just not so sure about elected leaders, inside all the institutional apparatus. I know people will ultimately win over all this, but between now and November, lots of things can happen. including Trump using Mil against own people (already did in many ways)
(DIR) Post #9w4lQgbsBsLXVTqKdk by IronMan@mstdn.social
2020-06-14T14:01:24Z
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@rickLook at people like the D.C. mayor.We're up to it.@InternetKevin
(DIR) Post #9w4lQkqYRET0eAk74y by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-14T14:04:17Z
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@IronMan @InternetKevin haven't seen him much anywhere (TV, social media, news) but thank God mayors are not fully asleep, after all their seats is what is on the line here, I suspect there will be a huge recyling of elected leaders, those that failed & followed Trump "liberate America" in the middle of a pandemic will get thrown away, those that were able to listen to BLM AND take care of the ongoing pandemic will stay. In some way, this is all good : time to clean up the real swamp !
(DIR) Post #9w4lsdrO0XTR5RQgvA by InternetKevin@mastodon.cloud
2020-06-14T14:05:13Z
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@rick Trump learned the limits of how far the military will go along with him over that, and lost respect amongst many in the U.S. military. Similarly he pretended to be supreme ruler over states reopening, but then had to back down quickly @IronMan
(DIR) Post #9w4lse5Z9oofnQ411U by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-14T14:09:30Z
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@InternetKevin @IronMan YUp I saw it happening from my remote observatory in Brussels, but I'm afraid this is far from over. And if it's not Trump doing the batshit crazy stuff it will be some far-right militias with military grade weapons doing some shit that will inflame the nation even more. Not convinced US people have the situation under any control or advantage.
(DIR) Post #9w4mFvtR7x75fxUiau by IronMan@mstdn.social
2020-06-14T14:11:06Z
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@rickThe D.C. mayor is a black woman. She's been in the news quite a bit here.Anyway, yes there are many people in political office who are doing good work. They happen to be almost all Democrats. @InternetKevin
(DIR) Post #9w4mG7OgM7dvM3CKK8 by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-14T14:13:45Z
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@IronMan @InternetKevin I just hope you're right and that anything but trump can be secured in November, including a peaceful transition, the US has lost A LOT of klout on this side of the Atlantic. Damage from this "adventure" is going to take a decade or two to fix, meanwhile China, Russia keeps on using this state of things to their own advantage.
(DIR) Post #9w4mtg5LJuheEQ11F2 by QueenRamonda@mstdn.social
2020-06-14T14:18:53Z
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@IronMan @rick @InternetKevin Muriel Bowser, Stacey Abrams, Gretchen Whitmer...I could fill Mastodon with a list of Democrats getting the job done. We're up to it.
(DIR) Post #9w4nHSgslwYXdguoOe by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-14T14:24:55Z
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@QueenRamonda @IronMan @InternetKevin I have no doubt, individuals are doing a great job & certainly the last 2 weeks have seen more promises or engagement to reform, I've seen mayors listening & governors upholding the Constitution, but still frustrated by the GOP/DEM apparatus, and also frustrated with Congress inaction; but the worst from my point of view, being someone that read a lot about US politics since 2 decades, the worst to me is the cult-like loyalism that perverted the GOP
(DIR) Post #9w4nie7kN6F6uxRYhs by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-14T14:29:02Z
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@QueenRamonda @IronMan @InternetKevin the silence of the entire GOP, about everything & anything that enfolded in the last 4 years. Their silence is complicity, I'm wondering how voters are going to punish that if at all and I really hope the next season the DEM's recover both House, Congress & Presidency & then stay on it for 2 decades or at least until the GOP either crumble apart after Trump or seriously challenge itself towards democratic regeneration.
(DIR) Post #9w4nk7JbKCnNk4goJk by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-14T14:29:30Z
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@QueenRamonda @IronMan @InternetKevin Otherwise, a democracy with a One party system isn't really what I would call an exemplary model for democracy.
(DIR) Post #9w4o09js56QVtOcpGa by QueenRamonda@mstdn.social
2020-06-14T14:31:38Z
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@rick @IronMan @InternetKevin If you are indeed watching closely, you will see that any inaction in Congress is due solely to the GOP and that the 2 parties are absolutely nothing alike. Are Democrats perfect? No. I don't need perfect. I require good. I require Trump gone. #VoteDemocraticI see that you don't live here, though. So that's for others. But please don't denigrate the one party trying to help. Thanks.
(DIR) Post #9w4oOtBskCiLoCWLGC by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-14T14:36:53Z
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@QueenRamonda My intention is not denigrating. I think what I write out of fear of the worst still being possible. Because I know right under my skin what authoritarianism, cult like mentality and societal drifts can lead to (even if my experience is at much smaller scale) I write out of concern, not out of simply dumping shit on Politics. Maybe (probably) not obvious to read that from my tone/perception/perspective and I understand if it's the case.
(DIR) Post #9w4pHW72FYKk9zInRI by InternetKevin@mastodon.cloud
2020-06-14T14:43:31Z
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@rick @QueenRamonda @IronMan GOP Senators literally de-railed the impeachment trial with a slew of Russian propaganda. They actively worked against U.S. interests and against the U.S. Constitution. Overtly. On national television.
(DIR) Post #9w4pHWKrQ9OOqrlpzM by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-14T14:47:31Z
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@InternetKevin @QueenRamonda @IronMan With the entire western world watching it live and taking notes. I won't hide that a lot of observers in this space thought the famous "check & balances" of the US system would actually work...they did not. And it will be absurd if there are no consequences for the loyalists or if the GOP return to being "the Republican Party" once Trump is gone as if the last 4 years were "normal"...
(DIR) Post #9w6HsGKCtznNmjjVWS by mariahill@mstdn.social
2020-06-14T23:07:27Z
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@rick We are working hard to overcome the electoral college disadvantage, voter suppression, rural (Republican) states having more power in the senate, and Republican gerrymandering. We will hold the House, winning the presidency looks very good, and we are positioned decently to take back the Senate. None of that is an accident. It's hard work by people on the ground. In addition, we have capable Democratic elected officials, whom we put in office.@InternetKevin @IronMan
(DIR) Post #9w6HsGdLkp6kk6gnMO by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-15T07:42:28Z
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@mariahillI know all about that, that's the list of things that worry me and make say the things I write. Why? Because I don't believe it will be enough. Like I said, I read, consume, watch a lot of US information, because, it impacts the whole world. Since 2 decades now. @InternetKevin @IronMan
(DIR) Post #9w6IGlP10ZCl7WfIPI by mariahill@mstdn.social
2020-06-14T23:17:04Z
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@rick I'm sure it does look bad from across the ocean. I spent time in Europe during the Clinton, GWB, and Obama administrations. I wasn't a tourist. There was always a noticeable relief when I told people I voted for Obama. (No one ever asked if I voted for Clinton or Bush père). You do get very different news, though, so I'm not surprised you don't know everything. As we do about Europe. I have to watch/read European sources to keep up. I don't get much here otherwise. @InternetKevin @IronMan
(DIR) Post #9w6IGldu7D79rhdBc8 by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-15T07:47:07Z
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@mariahillI know it's hard to judge from my writing or what you may find about me online, but I'm a news junkie, I have been following US/EU politics, geopolitics, protests and talk shows since decades now. It's absolutely not new to me that the blue wave is getting organized & working hard. But I have a glimpse into the red swarm, and I'm afraid it won't be enough. Just the Vote by mail @InternetKevin @IronMan - 1/2
(DIR) Post #9w6IGljDnRMs8C7Qu0 by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-15T07:47:08Z
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thing could be used by Trump. Or the pandemic, to postpone election. Like I said, I'm worried, really worried. @InternetKevin @IronMan @mariahill - 2/2
(DIR) Post #9w6ISHsSbj0L1bvtQm by NatashaRomanova@mstdn.social
2020-06-14T22:45:59Z
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@rick @IronMan @InternetKevin Bold of you to assume the mayor of D.C. is a man...
(DIR) Post #9w6ISI5vndmPhOEeQa by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-15T07:49:01Z
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@NatashaRomanovaMy bad, I searched D.C governor. And if I assume that, it's because there is way too many men's in politics. @IronMan @InternetKevin
(DIR) Post #9w8uns0je0ihkLRRPE by mariahill@mstdn.social
2020-06-15T20:27:30Z
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@rick It's hard to tell what people have been doing for decades from what they can fit into 500 characters. Hopefully it reassures you to know that constitutionally the election cannot be postponed as the primaries were. It must take place on November 3. Of course Trump is a blustering opportunist, wannabe dictator and will try to stay in power no matter what. We will stop that. @InternetKevin @IronMan
(DIR) Post #9w8unsDqrFDCP1Zuqm by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-16T14:08:14Z
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@mariahill Well, allow me to doubt, not for the sake of arguing or much less trolling you or anyone else here. But if Trump, the GOP had any hint of respect for the Constitution, something like Trump would not have been possible in the first place. Hence, I fear Trump will wipe his *** with the Constitution = he will use anything and everything to delay, postpone or even worst any election that can undermine his rule. Those are not "normal" campaign circumstances;@InternetKevin @IronMan
(DIR) Post #9w8vRDPY0qmLPaoCCO by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-16T14:15:00Z
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@mariahill I'm not convinced, society has learned much from the weaponizations of political campaigning empowered by Facebook/Twitter dark/light advertising, targeting & meme weaponizations. I'm not seeing the counter material able to disrupt the culture shift the Trump/alt-right/conservatives/evengelist-fanatics are unleashing on the US media landscape.
(DIR) Post #9w8vTqDShuxmLJPLUW by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-16T14:15:57Z
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@mariahill If Obama was the first to make use of big-data & deep canvassing, I fear the other side has taken these tools and used them against an entire swat of the US population, vulnerable to this kind of info warfare.
(DIR) Post #9w9Cvl9Yp60hyATtoG by mariahill@mstdn.social
2020-06-16T14:29:15Z
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@rick It's not that the Republicans don't use every possible trick. However, our federal system means the states run the elections. Trump cannot stop my Democratic state from holding the election. Governors of northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and western states formed confederations when the federal government wouldn't act on coronavirus. States have separate powers too. @InternetKevin @IronMan
(DIR) Post #9w9DFFIAzWfswhnpx2 by rick@social.hwc.brussels
2020-06-16T17:34:56Z
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@mariahill True, something that wasn't on my mind honestly, powerful if fully used, akin to strengthening the security of a system, the postal system supporting this, the actual infrastructure, the participants etc..it should all be secured, monitored, before this whole thing starts, I hope it is/will be :)@InternetKevin @IronMan