Don't blame me, I voted for the other guy. (Politics General)

By far the funniest party to this crisis has been Turkey and its president, Erdogan. He’s regularly used anti-nazi invectives in reference to Israel’s occupation of Gaza, compared Netanyahu to Hitler, said “Israel should be occupied like Nazi Germany was” (okay, Turkey, who the fuck are you to claim skin in the game, you only declared war on Germany on february of 1945 and sold them copious ammounts of chromium until then), slapped a trade embargo on Israel that everyone knew would be easily circumvented… in the end, it feels, he wanted to goad Iran and its allied militias to attack Israel and the US and expectedly lose, and then swoop in and seize the spoils. And now Iraq wants pro-Iranian militias to lay down their arms.

About that.

@Background Pony #D717
It’s important to discern whether this is a threat from him meant to build leverage over the enemy or a declararion of genuine intent. Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir have threatened to leave his cabinet if the ceasefire deal was signed, but so far i haven’t heard of them following up on the threat.

@Background Pony #D717
If I recall correctly, didn’t Trump say something about how Israel should “finish the fight” or something of that wording regarding Hamas way before the election happened?

@Background Pony #F6E5
“Finish the fight” is vague wording - it can either mean full victory over the opponent or a withdrawal. It’s a bit like his threat aimed at both Netanyahu and HAMAS that “all hell will break loose in the Middle East” if they didn’t stop fighting. It was said angrily, but the content of his words was laughably unclear.

If you kick out anyone older than me (for reference I turn 35 this coming April) how many would be left?

So the Alt Right virus continues to spread. I guess it’s inevitable at this point, and anyone who’s not a straight white Christian is in trouble. Maybe I’m doomposting.

@BadgingBadger
All hell has already broken out in the Middle East thanks to France and the UK drawing the borders to unite sworn enemies and separate allies to prevent being overthrown.

Delicious original story. I don’t recognize the characters (other than the implied SpiderMan) but that’s solid conflict-driven story telling, right there. 1 page, and you’ve got more backstory than most villains. And in a lot of cases, heroes too.

Others: sorry if I’m not responding to everyone. I’m only here this time because someone asked me why I wasn’t replying to everyone, and the answer is that I unsubscribe from here as soon as I’m done with the report or question in support that brought me here. So I’m not getting notifications from this thread.

Only reason I replied to Dustcan this time was the big cartoon with heroes on rooftops caught my eye.

You probably are.

Are any of you guys going to watch the Regime of Terror oh sorry. The Inauguration tomorrow?

@Background Pony #8F4B
After Elon’s meltdown on videogames. I’m ready.

I have a dentist appointment around noon so no. I’ll watch it after.

I’ve been trying to cram in a bunch of health appointments in preparation for when/if I lose my medicaid thanks to the incoming administration, and Jesus Christ I had to schedule this thing months in advance.

Didn’t tune in to garbage like that 8 years ago, won’t do it in 10 hours

Nope! Going to destress with some Powerwash Simulator, then get a summary of the horror parade he rolled out.

Self-care’s going to be more important than ever.

Happy Inauguration Day, everyone!

There’s like a not insignificant chance that Trump will shill his rug pull crypto shitcoin at the inauguration and that’s so funny to me

Trump has redefining scamming

@Commune
Made funnier by having the whole thing indoors, making it so much more obvious the only people “at the table” are billionaire CEOs feasting on the rubes.

@Zaknel
To me, it’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day and little more. I respect that man too much to ignore his day.

Lotta MAGA folk are upset over this because this means Trump can’t get any sort of revenge on them.

Now watch as Trump goes back to Twitter and starts whining about it.

Dark Brandon getting in one last jab.

@Background Pony #1F81
You say that like he ever stopped whining.

@Background Pony #F867
I am already sick, I do not need to vomit on top of it.

@Background Pony #1F81
The fact he has to even pardon these people in the first place is insane

Right on time for the inauguration, Chris Ladd published a new essay. Aptly named too, Hell is Empty.

“We can expect the next few years to be Springtime for Assholes, as thieves, cheats, lunatics and rapists enjoy their time in the sun.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself. It’s on all of us to push back in any way we can, no matter how small. Even if it’s a matter of shutting down an obnoxious family member who feels emboldened by this crap. If you can hold someone near you accountable, do it.

More importantly, don’t lose yourself. Either to despair, to apathy, or to hopelessness. It was believed the divine right of kings was unassailable until it wasn’t. It was believed as recently as 1989 that the Soviet Union would last forever, until it didn’t. This too shall pass, and likely within our lifetimes.

It’s going to suck, but what else is new? Ultimately, we’re going to be the ones to shape what comes after.

Today is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day for those living in the United States. Do you guys think Trump is going to mention it?

I hope and think it’s going to be okay. No point in exaggerating how bad things will be, he has already been president for 4 years that we survived just fine.