The pessimist in me thinks this bastard could live another decade as it seems pieces of shit last forever. But if he does die soon that’s a big net plus. His movement and power is personal in nature—Vance will crumble without him.
There are two types of people in Trump's orbit. Pathetic losers with daddy issues, like Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, Caroline Levitt (sp) Alina Habba etc. Then there are the people who are using Trump for their own nefarious ends, ends that Trump is probably only vaguely familiar with. Stephen Miller, Vought, Bannon. And then there is JD Vance who is a combination of both of those types. The Miller/Vought types believe themselves to be brilliant Machiavellian operators, but the fact that they are using Trump as a means to their and means they need him. Means they couldn't do it without him, because if they could do it without him they would be figuring out a way to take him out. They don't want to admit how much they need him for their project, so in that way they are just as behold into Trump as the ones with daddy issues.When Trump goes, Maga falls apart and they can't hold this project together without Maga. Without Trump, Maga won't feel safe anymore and when cowards don't feel safe, they throw a fit.
The only person who I can possibly see who might be able to replace The Dotard in the cult’s affections is, believe it or not, Kristi Noem. She has a certain sort of charisma that would play well with the MAGA morons, plus her Dunning-Kruger score is right up there with 47’s. She’s got all the redneck bona fides, and she truly, deeply believes in the cause.
I don’t have any illusions that Vance *wants* to be nicer or less authoritarian.
I just think that:
(1) As you say, he’d be surrounded by vipers going in for the kill. He’s not Gerald Ford in this scenario — that’s Mike Johnson, both literally and temperamentally — but rather, he’s an Agnew who’s managed to evade investigation of whatever skeletons he’s got before the boss gets in the deep shit.
(2) Vance doesn’t have the base’s rabid support. He’ll get an initial sympathy bump, but his lack of charisma will shine through in the following months. His problem is, he’s a true believer in whatever his current daddy figure wants; he doesn’t know how to decide on that for himself.
(3) Also, he’s not a comedian like Trump. The base loves Trump because he’s a good time; he just gets up there and says wild shit. Vance couldn’t do this to save his life. He’ll flounder around doing boring stump speeches while the economy crashes around him. Congressional Republicans will peel off from his initiatives one by one as their masters in the propagandasphere have their own internal civil war over who gets to control all of Trump’s new magic powers. This will only undermine those powers, as each faction will fight to conserve the movement’s waning political capital for their own aims.
Trump was the force that made the machine work, because his force convinced them that they could all do everything all at once. They’ll try to coordinate to replicate his effect, but his sheer bullying was what kept them all in line. None of them will let any other toady bully them around.
And so many congressional Republicans are beholden to Trump because of Trump's power over the Republican voter base. Many of them want a way out, but are too cowardly to go against their boss. But once the boss is out of the picture, this will present an out for them as well. Remember these are the Republican Congress people that are getting screamed at in town halls where they come from. Their voters are not happy with them. And Trump out of the picture would give them an opportunity to redeem themselves with their voter bases. Even though they all deserve to be voted out at least. Fucking cowards
Vance is in a league of his own, backed by many in the tech community, including Curtis Yarvin. While his humor and charisma may not be his strongest suits, he has made it clear where he stands on certain issues, even if it means going against the grain.
I suppose the only downside to Trump shuffling off this mortal coil would be that for however long it took Vance to get a VP confirmed and sworn in, Pastor Mike Johnson would be one heartbeat away from making America Saudi Arabia for Jesus.
Vance doesn't have the grip on the cult that Trump does. Not sure how he can be "worse" when MAGA will have its own identity crisis once Trump's gone. They'll be like the Democrats are now - scattered. And other Republicans with ambition who were once scared of Trump won't be as nervous to challenge JD. Bring on the big beautiful day!
Not only does JDVance lack the charisma to command his own cult of personality; everyone in the USA, inside and outside of government, hates his guts. His skeevy, backstabbing ways earned him no friends and plenty of enemies during his whole two years in the US Senate, so good luck dealing with Congress, JD.
Without their leader, the MAGA cult will fracture into pieces. It's already well on its way. Oh sure, when Tr*mp finally croaks, we’ll have the rending of garments and gnashing of teeth and a whole slew of new batshit conspiracy theories from the MAGAts who will mourn their martyr, but fuck them. Plus, does anyone think this crowd will accept JD’s brown-skinned wife as their First Lady? They can’t bear the thought of Women of Color even existing, let alone allow one to do the WH Christmas decorations.
The death of Tr*mp will also free Congressional Republican zombies from their perceived duty to knee-jerkedly rubber-stamp everything that issues from the Oval Office, and once they’re free at last, the pit of MAGA snakes in DC will gleefully proceed to eat their own. Well, that’s my best-case scenario.
I was saying the exact same above. They lack the courage to go against Donald Trump, they will not lack the courage to go against JD Vance. He was born to be a punching bag which is why Trump picked him as his VP
I admit to being “one of those” who was rooting for the devil. JD Vance has zero redeeming qualities but let’s not fool ourselves. These are only puppets for the evil cabal that’s destroying our democracy, none of whom care about winning in the judicial system, just hoping to gum it up so badly that it all comes tumbling down. Still, he can’t drum up Christ like devotion amongst MAGA and that may be the key in the midterms.
That's true. But fascist movements absolutely require a charismatic front man. There has never been a fascist movement without one. And think about this for a minute. There has never been a fascist regime that survived its first leader. Fascist regimes aren't handed down from leader to leader to leader.Hitler. One "term "Franco. One man tenure, Mussolini, one man tenure. Fascism by definition is a populist movement. And without a populist strong man at the helm, it falls apart.
I just hope he gets to share in the decline and torment he wishes upon us. So many reasons though, like the specific attacks on Black-led cities, the leverage of racism in his successful sadopopulist campaign. The now extrajudicial execution of random people on small watercraft in international waters. The feting of a traitor who attacked the Capitol in the service of overthrowing the government to install him.
Definitely going to get myself a sushi boat on that very day though.
Ah, thanks for the Barnabas quote! My mom was a FAN with the Dark Shadows magazine, tie in novels, and daily viewings - she had a HUGE crush on John Karlen, for some reason.
ANYHOW...I don't think a Vance presidency would be worse. He is not the cult leader. The cult dies without the leader. Oh, sure, we'll still have the same racist shitheads who elected Trump, and the enablers, but it'll lack zeal. Already, Trump has lost a lot of his own luster, and I'm not just talking about his plaster flat make up.
Vance is a phony - Trump, love him or hate him (hate, on this side) is who he is. Vance? Who the hell knows? He also has that mincing little condescending tone. He's a liar but not even an entertaining one.
To paraphrase my favorite spaceman, John Crichton (Farscape): He's an obnoxious gasbag. Who's gonna shell out for that?
Trump really brings the worst out of people, and that includes many of us, who are out of options and down to "why won't this fucker just die already?"
And a Jaydee presidency could indeed be worse (though possibly short-lived), because it would mean a full-blown broligarchy.
I believe that if Trump died (and assuming I survive the 6 month long celebratory parties) and JD Vance become president the republican party would fracture into multiple factions all vying for power. The republican party would become the party of chaos. I think it extremely unlikely that Vance could corral enough support to lead effectively or win a next election. The cult of Trump is all the MAGATs see and they would no longer have a flag bearer to carry on the destruction we have endured so far. My question is: Could the democrats get their shit together enough to take control and keep it?
Header pic from Cerebus? You got some explaining to do SER
😀😀😀
Dark Shadows is the perfect ending!
I agree also. Barnabas was acted and written with an inner wisdom about life .
I guess 170 plus years in his family crypt gave him time to ponder over it also.
The pessimist in me thinks this bastard could live another decade as it seems pieces of shit last forever. But if he does die soon that’s a big net plus. His movement and power is personal in nature—Vance will crumble without him.
There are two types of people in Trump's orbit. Pathetic losers with daddy issues, like Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, Caroline Levitt (sp) Alina Habba etc. Then there are the people who are using Trump for their own nefarious ends, ends that Trump is probably only vaguely familiar with. Stephen Miller, Vought, Bannon. And then there is JD Vance who is a combination of both of those types. The Miller/Vought types believe themselves to be brilliant Machiavellian operators, but the fact that they are using Trump as a means to their and means they need him. Means they couldn't do it without him, because if they could do it without him they would be figuring out a way to take him out. They don't want to admit how much they need him for their project, so in that way they are just as behold into Trump as the ones with daddy issues.When Trump goes, Maga falls apart and they can't hold this project together without Maga. Without Trump, Maga won't feel safe anymore and when cowards don't feel safe, they throw a fit.
The only person who I can possibly see who might be able to replace The Dotard in the cult’s affections is, believe it or not, Kristi Noem. She has a certain sort of charisma that would play well with the MAGA morons, plus her Dunning-Kruger score is right up there with 47’s. She’s got all the redneck bona fides, and she truly, deeply believes in the cause.
I see where you're coming from, and your argument is compelling; however, I believe Marco Rubio's stance on the issue is more in line with my own.
Whatever happens, I hope it’s public, humiliating, and painful.
I don’t have any illusions that Vance *wants* to be nicer or less authoritarian.
I just think that:
(1) As you say, he’d be surrounded by vipers going in for the kill. He’s not Gerald Ford in this scenario — that’s Mike Johnson, both literally and temperamentally — but rather, he’s an Agnew who’s managed to evade investigation of whatever skeletons he’s got before the boss gets in the deep shit.
(2) Vance doesn’t have the base’s rabid support. He’ll get an initial sympathy bump, but his lack of charisma will shine through in the following months. His problem is, he’s a true believer in whatever his current daddy figure wants; he doesn’t know how to decide on that for himself.
(3) Also, he’s not a comedian like Trump. The base loves Trump because he’s a good time; he just gets up there and says wild shit. Vance couldn’t do this to save his life. He’ll flounder around doing boring stump speeches while the economy crashes around him. Congressional Republicans will peel off from his initiatives one by one as their masters in the propagandasphere have their own internal civil war over who gets to control all of Trump’s new magic powers. This will only undermine those powers, as each faction will fight to conserve the movement’s waning political capital for their own aims.
Trump was the force that made the machine work, because his force convinced them that they could all do everything all at once. They’ll try to coordinate to replicate his effect, but his sheer bullying was what kept them all in line. None of them will let any other toady bully them around.
And so many congressional Republicans are beholden to Trump because of Trump's power over the Republican voter base. Many of them want a way out, but are too cowardly to go against their boss. But once the boss is out of the picture, this will present an out for them as well. Remember these are the Republican Congress people that are getting screamed at in town halls where they come from. Their voters are not happy with them. And Trump out of the picture would give them an opportunity to redeem themselves with their voter bases. Even though they all deserve to be voted out at least. Fucking cowards
Basically JD Vance is to Donald Trump as Clarence Thomas was to Antonin Scalia.
Vance is in a league of his own, backed by many in the tech community, including Curtis Yarvin. While his humor and charisma may not be his strongest suits, he has made it clear where he stands on certain issues, even if it means going against the grain.
I suppose the only downside to Trump shuffling off this mortal coil would be that for however long it took Vance to get a VP confirmed and sworn in, Pastor Mike Johnson would be one heartbeat away from making America Saudi Arabia for Jesus.
Vance doesn't have the grip on the cult that Trump does. Not sure how he can be "worse" when MAGA will have its own identity crisis once Trump's gone. They'll be like the Democrats are now - scattered. And other Republicans with ambition who were once scared of Trump won't be as nervous to challenge JD. Bring on the big beautiful day!
Not only does JDVance lack the charisma to command his own cult of personality; everyone in the USA, inside and outside of government, hates his guts. His skeevy, backstabbing ways earned him no friends and plenty of enemies during his whole two years in the US Senate, so good luck dealing with Congress, JD.
Without their leader, the MAGA cult will fracture into pieces. It's already well on its way. Oh sure, when Tr*mp finally croaks, we’ll have the rending of garments and gnashing of teeth and a whole slew of new batshit conspiracy theories from the MAGAts who will mourn their martyr, but fuck them. Plus, does anyone think this crowd will accept JD’s brown-skinned wife as their First Lady? They can’t bear the thought of Women of Color even existing, let alone allow one to do the WH Christmas decorations.
The death of Tr*mp will also free Congressional Republican zombies from their perceived duty to knee-jerkedly rubber-stamp everything that issues from the Oval Office, and once they’re free at last, the pit of MAGA snakes in DC will gleefully proceed to eat their own. Well, that’s my best-case scenario.
I was saying the exact same above. They lack the courage to go against Donald Trump, they will not lack the courage to go against JD Vance. He was born to be a punching bag which is why Trump picked him as his VP
I like the way that you think!
I admit to being “one of those” who was rooting for the devil. JD Vance has zero redeeming qualities but let’s not fool ourselves. These are only puppets for the evil cabal that’s destroying our democracy, none of whom care about winning in the judicial system, just hoping to gum it up so badly that it all comes tumbling down. Still, he can’t drum up Christ like devotion amongst MAGA and that may be the key in the midterms.
That's true. But fascist movements absolutely require a charismatic front man. There has never been a fascist movement without one. And think about this for a minute. There has never been a fascist regime that survived its first leader. Fascist regimes aren't handed down from leader to leader to leader.Hitler. One "term "Franco. One man tenure, Mussolini, one man tenure. Fascism by definition is a populist movement. And without a populist strong man at the helm, it falls apart.
Great article.
I just hope he gets to share in the decline and torment he wishes upon us. So many reasons though, like the specific attacks on Black-led cities, the leverage of racism in his successful sadopopulist campaign. The now extrajudicial execution of random people on small watercraft in international waters. The feting of a traitor who attacked the Capitol in the service of overthrowing the government to install him.
Definitely going to get myself a sushi boat on that very day though.
Ah, thanks for the Barnabas quote! My mom was a FAN with the Dark Shadows magazine, tie in novels, and daily viewings - she had a HUGE crush on John Karlen, for some reason.
ANYHOW...I don't think a Vance presidency would be worse. He is not the cult leader. The cult dies without the leader. Oh, sure, we'll still have the same racist shitheads who elected Trump, and the enablers, but it'll lack zeal. Already, Trump has lost a lot of his own luster, and I'm not just talking about his plaster flat make up.
Vance is a phony - Trump, love him or hate him (hate, on this side) is who he is. Vance? Who the hell knows? He also has that mincing little condescending tone. He's a liar but not even an entertaining one.
To paraphrase my favorite spaceman, John Crichton (Farscape): He's an obnoxious gasbag. Who's gonna shell out for that?
That fucker is going to live past one hundred. I certainly won’t be sad when god mercifully removes him from being able to terrorize us though.
I've thought of that, but Vance and his owners won't wait that long.
Honestly I hope you’re right. I’m no Vance fan but I’d rather him and the idiots in SV be in charge of the opposition than Trump.
Trump really brings the worst out of people, and that includes many of us, who are out of options and down to "why won't this fucker just die already?"
And a Jaydee presidency could indeed be worse (though possibly short-lived), because it would mean a full-blown broligarchy.
He really does bring out the worst in people - he's our collective Id. All our evil thoughts and hateful feelings.
I believe that if Trump died (and assuming I survive the 6 month long celebratory parties) and JD Vance become president the republican party would fracture into multiple factions all vying for power. The republican party would become the party of chaos. I think it extremely unlikely that Vance could corral enough support to lead effectively or win a next election. The cult of Trump is all the MAGATs see and they would no longer have a flag bearer to carry on the destruction we have endured so far. My question is: Could the democrats get their shit together enough to take control and keep it?
The only conflict I feel is between my desire his regime fails as soon as possible and he suffers as much as possible.
He is one man. He cannot be in shrieking agony long enough to atone for what he has done.