Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

In reply to the discussion: How did we get here? [View all]

maxrandb

(17,192 posts)
2. Whenever asked how we ended up in this shitshow, I say something like this
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 08:22 AM
Yesterday

Well, you see...

President Obama didn't fix all of America's problems within a week of taking office, and even had the gall to not deliver ponies as demanded.

We decided that the way to make America "more progressive" was to sit out the 2010 Mid-term election (A CENSUS YEAR), and allow unhinged racists with tri-corner hats and Medicare provided "My Scooters"...screaming like banshees for 14 months about getting "gubmint out of my Medicare", to take over 65% of all State Legislatures and Governorships, as well as a majority of the Federal Government House and Senate.

Then, we sat back as a racist fucking orange circus clown spent the next 14 months demanding to see the first African American President's Birth Certificate. We never showed up to protest at the studios of ...NOT ONE SINGLE one of the 1,500 Hate Radio stations, (MANY BASED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE CONFINE OF 80-20 BLUE TO RED CITIES), who spewed racist birther shit 24/7.

Then, it became perfectly normal for CBS, NBC, ABC, the NY Times, the WA Post, and of course Faux News to present the entire racist birther shit as nothing more than a "he said-she said" issue.

Then we gleefully watched "Game of Thrones" and wondered how people could allow such a fucked up...but totally entertaining...leadership structure take hold in Westoros.

Then we got busy with our kids and our lives as our newly empowered T-baggers drew state and federal congressional districts that looked like a sheep fucking a housecat...we expressed a little bit of concern when all of these "snake swallowing a shriveled penis" districts ensured our new overlords could win 45% of a states voters, while getting 86% of its representation...coincidental, of course.

Then we nominated a fantastic candidate, and one that was probably the most qualified ever to serve as President, but all anyone wanted to talk about was some "scandal" about some "email" bullshit...except for some of "us"...who preferred talking about how "our wonderful, started from nothing and worked her ass off to get where she was, truly historic candidate, was just EXACTLY THE SAME as an orange colored, racist freak-show, carnival barking, used-car-powered-by-snake-oil selling, serial unwanted pussy-grabbing moron".

Then, just to ensure we went completely through the Looking Glass and were using the broken shards to slit out wrists, we enabled the party of the "orange colored, racist freak-show, carnival barking, used car, snake oil selling, serial unwanted pussy-grabbing moron", to be the only check on his power.

There's something in there about some Russians doing some shit, but truly...THIS SHIT SHOW IS ALL OURS.

and that's the story of "How we ended up in this shitshow?"

How did we get here? [View all] surfered Yesterday OP
The bigger question: True Dough Yesterday #1
I think I would rather proceed forward rather than 'return' to anything. OldBaldy1701E Yesterday #6
Here's how... MarcoZandrini Yesterday #19
Whenever asked how we ended up in this shitshow, I say something like this maxrandb Yesterday #2
Great post malaise Yesterday #3
Just one thing. OldBaldy1701E Yesterday #5
I think that was the point.......nt Hope22 Yesterday #7
I suppose, but there are only mentions of times since 2000. OldBaldy1701E Yesterday #11
Yes, folks like Rumsfeld and Cheney to name a few... Hope22 Yesterday #28
More than a century Clouds Passing Yesterday #21
True. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E 22 hrs ago #32
With so many Americans not voting when they could or voting Republican, this is The Will of the People. betsuni Yesterday #12
Was the 2024 election the will of the people? Bluewonder 13 hrs ago #40
Welcome to DU. Chemical Bill 6 hrs ago #48
Don't forget Newt Gingrich, delegitimizing the Clinton presidency. SharonAnn Yesterday #13
As I recall, Newt led the genuinely hostile/cheating, Ayn Rand mentality in congress. JudyM 19 hrs ago #34
That was amazing, but please do a follow-up Polybius Yesterday #15
You nailed it once again. llmart Yesterday #18
So true. And IMO, the 2010 midterms was the most disastrous point on this timeline we now follow.... Ol Janx Spirit Yesterday #23
Yes, I read a comment recently about the divisiveness of the far left. LisaM 16 hrs ago #36
Republicans have been forcing Democrats out... Chemical Bill 6 hrs ago #49
I'm saving this. It says it all. mcar 2 hrs ago #55
There are a few crucial missing pieces in there, IMHO debsy Yesterday #4
The 'Patriot Act' Hope22 Yesterday #8
Very true debsy Yesterday #9
Very important. llmart Yesterday #17
Yes to all of this. Hope22 Yesterday #26
I remember when I heard they named it Department of Homeland Security, MIButterfly 23 hrs ago #31
das Vaterland. nt Wednesdays 17 hrs ago #35
Man! jaymac Yesterday #10
Good point- Leonard Leo, the wizard of the federalist society! debsy Yesterday #14
Most Americans don't even know about him. A ton of them right wingers, too. -nt CrispyQ Yesterday #27
The ONLY satisfaction I feel about this whole shit show Submariner Yesterday #16
Been Sayin' For Years Mr.Bee Yesterday #20
Insanity and ignorance did indeed trickle down. LiberalArkie Yesterday #22
"It all began with Reagan...." Grins Yesterday #24
I entirely agree. I watched my parents change from middle-of-the-road Democrats to full tilt right wing madness because Martin68 Yesterday #25
Two years: 1971 and 1973. valleyrogue Yesterday #29
50+ years, and no one has tried to undo it n/t leftstreet Yesterday #30
Ah..."good ole" Paul Weyrich. I think Thom Hartman talked about him, when... electric_blue68 16 hrs ago #37
The Powell Memorandum.... electric_blue68 15 hrs ago #38
Those were key years and figures. The funding of the think tanks included Richard Mellon Scaife too. summer_in_TX 13 hrs ago #41
And let us not forget Barry Goldwater debsy 21 hrs ago #33
Missing Newt Gingrich in the scenario. Buttoneer 14 hrs ago #39
The two party system got us here. thought crime 13 hrs ago #42
Let Robert Reich explain Bluewonder 13 hrs ago #43
Limbaugh, Quanon, Mike Flynn, Russia, indifference. mahina 8 hrs ago #44
Trump is right-wing fear/authoritarian/racist celebrity conspiracy theory media empire come to life. betsuni 8 hrs ago #45
Raygun was the worst POTUS ever!!!!! BigmanPigman 7 hrs ago #46
American idiots. flvegan 7 hrs ago #47
It was THEM. Morbius 4 hrs ago #50
Elections of Republican presidents... BH liberal 3 hrs ago #51
Its amazing how anti Trump DrudgeReport is now BlueWaveNeverEnd 3 hrs ago #52
It is shocking to see... BH liberal 3 hrs ago #53
The fallout from the Citizens United decision... BH liberal 3 hrs ago #54
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»How did we get here?»Reply #2