These justices will be able to ensure gerrymandering, and right-wing political tricks for the president are allowed. The poor will be hurt by these conservative picks.
I refer you all to Henry Rollins’ recent screed (part 1, very slightly edited):
I hate “we’re f*cked.”
I mean, I don’t want to shame anyone who has said it, thought it, or posted it. I have too. But as a philosophy, as a statement of belief, I hate it. Because it means you’ve given up.
We are absolutely NOT f*cked.
Things are so bad. This country has taken a turn that I could never have predicted. It is absolutely fascist, nativist, and extremist. It’s every bit as scary as it seems.
But we are not f*cked.
I read a long-form article on the Russia hacks in the New Yorker not long ago. However much you think that influenced the outcome, it was an instructive piece of journalism. There is very little indication that there was a specific political agenda that was being wished for. The goal was simple: Sow chaos and undermine the faith of Westerners in their own institutions.
This is really important to think about right now.
I have a high regard for Mueller and I think his investigation will have some influence. But don’t wait on him to save us. He can’t. And don’t wait on impeachment. I would support it fervently, but it is nothing to bank on. And especially don’t assume Trump can’t win again. He absolutely can. Our best bet – better, even, than all of our protests and actions – is actually voting.
It’s so square. It’s so old-fashioned. Many of us involved with the hard-left or anarchist scene have been trained to disregard it.
F*cking don’t. NOT NOW, guys. It is the best tool at our disposal. Yeah, you can say that they will sabotage it, reject it, whatever. “Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.” In other words, don’t create troubles before they exist. Anything seems possible to me right now, but it remains the case – despite hacked voting machines and gerrymandering – that there is no known mechanism by which our government can deny massive voter turnout.
Take back the House in November. Then take back the Presidency in 2020. The worst thing we could do is pretend that these are givens. I never, ever, ever thought that this piece of sh*t could sit in the Oval Office. I was so humbled by my error. Therefore I assume he could take it again – I know he could – unless we accept the threat as real.
When we say, “We’re f*cked,” we roll over. We defeat ourselves. We do their job for them. Don’t do that. We are NOT f*cked. We are in a fight. It sucks. It’s hard. People are suffering. The earth is suffering. It will get worse.
You know, since everyone loves the Nazi comparisons, there were people during the HEYDAY of the Third Reich who NEVER said, “We’re f*cked.” They said, “We’re in a fight.” And you know what’s interesting? Nazi Germany went from the worst regime in the world to a liberal democracy within a lifetime.
Look at Japan. Take the historical view. Stop pretending that the worst of what’s happening now is what is going to always happen. This is what is happening RIGHT NOW. That’s all you know. If you think it’s going to be this way forever, read a book.
Countries slide into fascism for long periods. It happens. Countries also have short-term extremist right-wing governments. Happens in Europe all the time. They get voted out. The threat remains. The threat of fascism will remain in America in a way it never has before. It’s a real movement. But we’re not f*cked. Not even close. We can get off the ropes in the mid-terms and knock them out in 2020. But only if we stop saying that we’re f*cked, and start seeing this as a fight.
I’m no Pollyanna. Things are so unutterably bad that I walk around in a constant state of nausea and horror. But you have to take the historical view, and you can’t lie down and say we’re doomed, or else they have beaten you.
“Again, I don’t want to shame anyone who says, “We’re f*cked” as an emotional reaction. I get it, I really do. But if you say that as a historical reality, then you SHOULD be ashamed. We are so far from being f*cked. It’s time for that warrior spirit, from everyone.
Our best bet, actually our only realistic bet, is to mobilize the vote. There has always been a silver lining to this situation. I have always hesitated to state it, for fear of sounding like I am not taking the horror seriously. F*ck that; I do. But there has always been the possibility, there remains the possibility, that this is a time when our country faces up to its worst reflection, sees it truly, and breaks the f*cking mirror. A time when the last bastion of white power and male supremacy and oligarchy attempts to enact fascism, but the antibodies of the American system and American multi-culturalism kick in to reject it.
Where do you want to stand in that equation? As someone who rolled over because we’ve have had two awful years of sh*t that much of the world has already experienced many, many, many times over, so you decided that we’re finished and done for? Come on. Look at Europe, look at Africa, look at Asia. Back and forth with this sh*t, and much worse.
I have your back. Get up. Here’s my hand. Let’s fight.
It can’t become hip to give up. It can’t become hip to say we are f*cked. Look at history. People have been so much more f*cked than us, and won. If you truly believe we are finished, I’m sorry, but you were the first to fall. Stick a fork in you, turn you over, you’re done. I don’t want to see you do that, if only for the selfish reason that we need you.
Do all the protests, do all the direct action, make all the phone calls, then mobilize in October and November. That’s when we can get off the ropes and start punching again. Take the long view, my sisters and brothers. Don’t let them take you out of the fight.
Shoot, let’s just be glad that Congress hasn’t decided that nine justices simply isn’t enough and that we need 13, or, better yet, 15. And that DJT is just the man to fill those empty slots. The only thing holding them back it would have to be effective in like 2021 or something like that.
Funny set-up and punchline, Brian. Also … I wish they’d let you do the official court portraits. I especially get a kick out of your Sotomayor and Darth Vadar G.
When someone can point to “social justice” in the Constitution I will gladly give credence to the many and varied calls for our courts to take it into account on rulings and decisions. At this point, social justice is little more than a malleable buzz phrase that can be invoked to justify or condemn virtually any behavior or concept the author chooses.
I would also like to see which decision(s) you consider to be Authoritarian Nationalism and how you came to that conclusion.
Cheapskate0 almost 6 years ago
One: Before midnight Mountain Time, that’s pretty early for this strip!
Two: Hey, Brian, I kind of liked the artwork last week! Hand drawn, I think you said last Monday? What is your usual method?
Three: I don’t really want to comment on the content. Considering how many more judges that may retire in the next six years, I get depressed.
Four: Because, if thing don’t change between now and 2020, current occupant looks on track to get a second term!
Five: And last I looked, things aren’t changing. At least in a favorable direction.
Mr. Blawt almost 6 years ago
These justices will be able to ensure gerrymandering, and right-wing political tricks for the president are allowed. The poor will be hurt by these conservative picks.
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 6 years ago
“America: 1785-2018.” R.I.P. It was nice while it lasted, but it’s over now.
Motivemagus almost 6 years ago
I refer you all to Henry Rollins’ recent screed (part 1, very slightly edited):
I hate “we’re f*cked.”
I mean, I don’t want to shame anyone who has said it, thought it, or posted it. I have too. But as a philosophy, as a statement of belief, I hate it. Because it means you’ve given up.
We are absolutely NOT f*cked.
Things are so bad. This country has taken a turn that I could never have predicted. It is absolutely fascist, nativist, and extremist. It’s every bit as scary as it seems.
But we are not f*cked.
I read a long-form article on the Russia hacks in the New Yorker not long ago. However much you think that influenced the outcome, it was an instructive piece of journalism. There is very little indication that there was a specific political agenda that was being wished for. The goal was simple: Sow chaos and undermine the faith of Westerners in their own institutions.
This is really important to think about right now.
I have a high regard for Mueller and I think his investigation will have some influence. But don’t wait on him to save us. He can’t. And don’t wait on impeachment. I would support it fervently, but it is nothing to bank on. And especially don’t assume Trump can’t win again. He absolutely can. Our best bet – better, even, than all of our protests and actions – is actually voting.
It’s so square. It’s so old-fashioned. Many of us involved with the hard-left or anarchist scene have been trained to disregard it.
F*cking don’t. NOT NOW, guys. It is the best tool at our disposal. Yeah, you can say that they will sabotage it, reject it, whatever. “Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.” In other words, don’t create troubles before they exist. Anything seems possible to me right now, but it remains the case – despite hacked voting machines and gerrymandering – that there is no known mechanism by which our government can deny massive voter turnout.
Motivemagus almost 6 years ago
Henry Rollins, part 2:
Take back the House in November. Then take back the Presidency in 2020. The worst thing we could do is pretend that these are givens. I never, ever, ever thought that this piece of sh*t could sit in the Oval Office. I was so humbled by my error. Therefore I assume he could take it again – I know he could – unless we accept the threat as real.
When we say, “We’re f*cked,” we roll over. We defeat ourselves. We do their job for them. Don’t do that. We are NOT f*cked. We are in a fight. It sucks. It’s hard. People are suffering. The earth is suffering. It will get worse.
You know, since everyone loves the Nazi comparisons, there were people during the HEYDAY of the Third Reich who NEVER said, “We’re f*cked.” They said, “We’re in a fight.” And you know what’s interesting? Nazi Germany went from the worst regime in the world to a liberal democracy within a lifetime.
Look at Japan. Take the historical view. Stop pretending that the worst of what’s happening now is what is going to always happen. This is what is happening RIGHT NOW. That’s all you know. If you think it’s going to be this way forever, read a book.
Countries slide into fascism for long periods. It happens. Countries also have short-term extremist right-wing governments. Happens in Europe all the time. They get voted out. The threat remains. The threat of fascism will remain in America in a way it never has before. It’s a real movement. But we’re not f*cked. Not even close. We can get off the ropes in the mid-terms and knock them out in 2020. But only if we stop saying that we’re f*cked, and start seeing this as a fight.
I’m no Pollyanna. Things are so unutterably bad that I walk around in a constant state of nausea and horror. But you have to take the historical view, and you can’t lie down and say we’re doomed, or else they have beaten you.
Motivemagus almost 6 years ago
Henry Rollins, Part 3:
“Again, I don’t want to shame anyone who says, “We’re f*cked” as an emotional reaction. I get it, I really do. But if you say that as a historical reality, then you SHOULD be ashamed. We are so far from being f*cked. It’s time for that warrior spirit, from everyone.
Our best bet, actually our only realistic bet, is to mobilize the vote. There has always been a silver lining to this situation. I have always hesitated to state it, for fear of sounding like I am not taking the horror seriously. F*ck that; I do. But there has always been the possibility, there remains the possibility, that this is a time when our country faces up to its worst reflection, sees it truly, and breaks the f*cking mirror. A time when the last bastion of white power and male supremacy and oligarchy attempts to enact fascism, but the antibodies of the American system and American multi-culturalism kick in to reject it.
Where do you want to stand in that equation? As someone who rolled over because we’ve have had two awful years of sh*t that much of the world has already experienced many, many, many times over, so you decided that we’re finished and done for? Come on. Look at Europe, look at Africa, look at Asia. Back and forth with this sh*t, and much worse.
I have your back. Get up. Here’s my hand. Let’s fight.
It can’t become hip to give up. It can’t become hip to say we are f*cked. Look at history. People have been so much more f*cked than us, and won. If you truly believe we are finished, I’m sorry, but you were the first to fall. Stick a fork in you, turn you over, you’re done. I don’t want to see you do that, if only for the selfish reason that we need you.
Do all the protests, do all the direct action, make all the phone calls, then mobilize in October and November. That’s when we can get off the ropes and start punching again. Take the long view, my sisters and brothers. Don’t let them take you out of the fight.
And if you need me for anything, I am here.
Durak Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Shoot, let’s just be glad that Congress hasn’t decided that nine justices simply isn’t enough and that we need 13, or, better yet, 15. And that DJT is just the man to fill those empty slots. The only thing holding them back it would have to be effective in like 2021 or something like that.
Godfreydaniel almost 6 years ago
I’d love to see Brian’s take on the Justices (allegedly) merely calling balls and strikes!
Andrew Sleeth almost 6 years ago
Funny set-up and punchline, Brian. Also … I wish they’d let you do the official court portraits. I especially get a kick out of your Sotomayor and Darth Vadar G.
Andylit Premium Member almost 6 years ago
When someone can point to “social justice” in the Constitution I will gladly give credence to the many and varied calls for our courts to take it into account on rulings and decisions. At this point, social justice is little more than a malleable buzz phrase that can be invoked to justify or condemn virtually any behavior or concept the author chooses.
I would also like to see which decision(s) you consider to be Authoritarian Nationalism and how you came to that conclusion.