The creation of “the inner circle” is underway in America. I believe in Russian it’s called MIR/MIL. The idea of being in the exclusive club. So synonymous with Russian organized crime. There’s a cost for entry, some form of expression of loyalty, and protection thereafter. It’s as if we’ve been witness to the flight of the oligarchs from Russia here and now whether it’s Montana/Texas land grabs or the influx of degrading shows that depict Americas as weak and vulnerable, the process is unfolding before our eyes. If you look at every aspect of the Trump administration, it’s pushing away normal people and inviting high rollers into this most special of clubs.
The far right in the US has had a long history of its association with dictators with punishment and suppression of universities due to their left wing tendencies JD Vance who has surrounded himself with far right high tech billionaires eg Musk and Theil, has said that these universities with large endowments need to be punished by taxation for the simple reason that they don’t conform to the radical right wing fascist rhetoric Vance has also asserted in an interview that dissenting companies need to feel economic pain Perhaps this is why so many wealthy companies are trying to curry favor with the current Nazi regime, calling for extraconstitutional solutions with aggressive and robust behavior Frequently Vance has said that the country is in a late republican period meaning the days of democracy are over and we need to move to a dictatorship As his friend Curtis Yarvin has said Americans need to get over their “dictatorphobia” https://bit.ly/3BrXePA and https://bit.ly/3BlFKEk
This is a guy who is vice president and would be the Nazi nominee for the president in 2028
The GOP was already extreme before Trump. The only Republican president in the last 45 years with any integrity was George H.W. Bush, and he only lasted the one term.
The U.S. doesn't have a Trump problem. We have a problem with right wing extremism and all of the infrastructure which supports it.
The absolute best thing which could happen to the country would be for Democrats to achieve a supermajority in Congress. California achieved this in the state legislature. Once that happened, our state was suddenly able to pass a budget every year. All of the rancor and nonsense disappeared, and lawmakers were able to put their heads down and just do their jobs. California's economy recently surpassed that of Japan. We're doing pretty good.
I doubt I'll see that happen at the national level in my lifetime.
I’m not particularly sad you lost your bout with computers, Mr Kasparov. I not a fan of podcasts and conversations where I’m just talked at, and I suspect I’m not alone.
Many of us are refugees from print media, seeking honest forums for truth and debate. I’d much rather read written essays and respond accordingly than have more MSNBC-style “conversations.” It’s much easier to digest and respond to that than it is to passively listen to talking heads. Thanks.
Thank you for your response to my comment! The 'Pro-MAGA' people that I was refering to was not the average Trump voter, however to Trump voters that worship him almost like a religous figure (which is a considerable amount).
A prime example of Trump sicophants reacting this way was their reaction to tarrifs. The constant back and fourth between 'The art of deal' and 'He's bringing jobs back to the US' was really eye opening to me in showing that to a large portion of the Trump voterbase, he cannot do wrong. Therefore leading me to the conclusion that their voices should not be taken seriously when we look for things that the Democrat party improve on.
Y'all blaming Democrats for the second Trump abomination, it's like blaming Ukraine for the war still going on. Get a grip! It's much simpler than you tend to present it, and it most certainly ain't a game of chess where the smarter and more prepared side wins. As you yourself, Gary, have pointed out previously - it would be a game of chess if both sides played by the rules. This is not the case here, especially in the last election. If in 2016 Trump was helped by the Russian trolls and infection of social media, in 2024 he has most certainly rigged the election at the ballot tabulation phase, with the help of his oligarchs lead by the most brazen of them - Elon Musk. In his demented state of mind where there is no control of the brain-mouth function, Trump admitted it in public. Looks like they deployed an algorithm to flip votes in swing states (where a small % makes the most difference) and just enough to not trigger a recount. Possibly again helped by Russia, the data scientists that discovered this anomaly call it the Russian Tail, because it resembles the results in Georgia (the country) and elsewhere in the Russian sphere of influence. Please stop with the "both sidesing" nonsense. We have a clear and undisputed, villain here, who isn't even hiding, because he doesn't need to. Just like Putin.
I want to point out something that seems to have escaped everyone's notice - possibly including yours, Garry. We talk about whataboutism (or both-sides-ism), and about the MAGA members who are deeply dug in vs. those who might be "reached." But ALL of this ignores the Democrats' own complicity in their loss - and the situation we find ourselves in.
For example, none of it explains why 19 million Democrats who voted for Biden stayed home and did NOT vote for Harris. Nor does it explain why - beyond not having a primary (which anyone with half a brain could see there was no time for) - the Party, including the DNC and major figures like Obama and Clinton, spent the first four to six weeks of the campaign ACTIVELY undermining Harris at every step. (See the new book "Fight" to understand just how deep and broad that undermining went.)
None of that can be blamed on the MAGA crowd, or on whataboutism. Sadly, the Democrats helped sow the seeds of their own electoral demise.
My own opinion is that the main reason Kamala lost was because of the Covid hangover. It was a worldwide phenomenon that ruling parties got their comeuppance.
Biden was polling poorly before he dropped out of the race, and I don't think it was just the senility issue. Kamala made it closer, but it wasn't enough. I think it was mostly the blowback from Covid.
I respectfully disagree. The pandemic was openly and clearly declared over in May of 2023 (it was actually over almost a full year prior, but the CDC decided to wait extra time). I doubt sincerely that it would still have been a factor - particularly a major factor - in an election 18-24 months later.
I think you are more on point re Biden's polling and the (bogus) senility issue.
But now having read the book, "Fight" has convinced me that the immediate and persistent undermining of Harris by the Party itself was among the most significant reasons she lost.
> The pandemic was openly and clearly declared over in May of 2023 (it was actually over almost a full year prior, but the CDC decided to wait extra time).
Supply chain disruption and inflation continued apace after that. And political backlash can occur after the precipitating event is over.
Perhaps. But the supply chain disruption and inflation had begun to diminish by then, so they were certainly weren't as "bad" a they had been. I think that people (i.e., the MAGA crowd) were simply looking for excuses to continue to complain.
Garry, your comments on Nikki Haley reminded me of Jackie Robinson who, after retiring from baseball, surprised many by supporting the Republican Party. One reason he cited was (paraphrasing from memory) was, "...that it would have undermined everything I did if baseball were integrated, but our political parties were not."
Wow! I'm so grateful that someone with your knowledge, experience and accessibility is doing what I've been saying needs to be done - having dialog with those who have opposing viewpoints to ours, who are willing to be vocal and, at least, open to listening and speaking to the other's POV. I was going to say listening and speaking to the other "side," but there aren't just two sides or viewpoints. There are many points in between which we realize once we get past the well-rehearsed, parroted talking points.
When it comes down to it, I hope we DO have a large majority of people who want to live in a law-based, Constitutionally-honored democracy. It doesn't matter really what we call it so long as it's better than we had, and there's a good vision and plan going forward.
If anything, the Trump result makes me think that not voting is a good strategy when confronted with bad and worse options. The Democrat leadership need to wake up and listen to the people, rather than expecting loyalists.
I always appreciate your thoughtful opinion pieces and/or interviews in the WSJ, and I equally appreciate the thought you put into responding to the comments to your substack posts. I tend to agree with one of the commenters on this post, who says he prefers written essays, but podcasts are a good way to stay engaged when you can’t read like during a workout. Please keep posting!
Gracias por este tipo de espacios de reflexión. Es clave que personalidades como usted visibilicen las situaciones que estamos atravesando como humanidad. Sería interesante hacer un análisis más detallado sobre la comparación de los regímenes dictatoriales (y sus inicios) vs la situación actual en USA. Un saludo desde Colombia y gracias por escribir y por el Ajedrez.
The creation of “the inner circle” is underway in America. I believe in Russian it’s called MIR/MIL. The idea of being in the exclusive club. So synonymous with Russian organized crime. There’s a cost for entry, some form of expression of loyalty, and protection thereafter. It’s as if we’ve been witness to the flight of the oligarchs from Russia here and now whether it’s Montana/Texas land grabs or the influx of degrading shows that depict Americas as weak and vulnerable, the process is unfolding before our eyes. If you look at every aspect of the Trump administration, it’s pushing away normal people and inviting high rollers into this most special of clubs.
The 21st Century Nazi Cult of the Far Right
The far right in the US has had a long history of its association with dictators with punishment and suppression of universities due to their left wing tendencies JD Vance who has surrounded himself with far right high tech billionaires eg Musk and Theil, has said that these universities with large endowments need to be punished by taxation for the simple reason that they don’t conform to the radical right wing fascist rhetoric Vance has also asserted in an interview that dissenting companies need to feel economic pain Perhaps this is why so many wealthy companies are trying to curry favor with the current Nazi regime, calling for extraconstitutional solutions with aggressive and robust behavior Frequently Vance has said that the country is in a late republican period meaning the days of democracy are over and we need to move to a dictatorship As his friend Curtis Yarvin has said Americans need to get over their “dictatorphobia” https://bit.ly/3BrXePA and https://bit.ly/3BlFKEk
This is a guy who is vice president and would be the Nazi nominee for the president in 2028
The GOP was already extreme before Trump. The only Republican president in the last 45 years with any integrity was George H.W. Bush, and he only lasted the one term.
The U.S. doesn't have a Trump problem. We have a problem with right wing extremism and all of the infrastructure which supports it.
The absolute best thing which could happen to the country would be for Democrats to achieve a supermajority in Congress. California achieved this in the state legislature. Once that happened, our state was suddenly able to pass a budget every year. All of the rancor and nonsense disappeared, and lawmakers were able to put their heads down and just do their jobs. California's economy recently surpassed that of Japan. We're doing pretty good.
I doubt I'll see that happen at the national level in my lifetime.
With the possible exception of his confirmation of Clarence Thomas. That one decision swung Gore vs Bush in 2000.
> supermajority in Congress
Meaning a majority in the House and a supermajority in the Senate.
I’m not particularly sad you lost your bout with computers, Mr Kasparov. I not a fan of podcasts and conversations where I’m just talked at, and I suspect I’m not alone.
Many of us are refugees from print media, seeking honest forums for truth and debate. I’d much rather read written essays and respond accordingly than have more MSNBC-style “conversations.” It’s much easier to digest and respond to that than it is to passively listen to talking heads. Thanks.
Thank you for your response to my comment! The 'Pro-MAGA' people that I was refering to was not the average Trump voter, however to Trump voters that worship him almost like a religous figure (which is a considerable amount).
A prime example of Trump sicophants reacting this way was their reaction to tarrifs. The constant back and fourth between 'The art of deal' and 'He's bringing jobs back to the US' was really eye opening to me in showing that to a large portion of the Trump voterbase, he cannot do wrong. Therefore leading me to the conclusion that their voices should not be taken seriously when we look for things that the Democrat party improve on.
Y'all blaming Democrats for the second Trump abomination, it's like blaming Ukraine for the war still going on. Get a grip! It's much simpler than you tend to present it, and it most certainly ain't a game of chess where the smarter and more prepared side wins. As you yourself, Gary, have pointed out previously - it would be a game of chess if both sides played by the rules. This is not the case here, especially in the last election. If in 2016 Trump was helped by the Russian trolls and infection of social media, in 2024 he has most certainly rigged the election at the ballot tabulation phase, with the help of his oligarchs lead by the most brazen of them - Elon Musk. In his demented state of mind where there is no control of the brain-mouth function, Trump admitted it in public. Looks like they deployed an algorithm to flip votes in swing states (where a small % makes the most difference) and just enough to not trigger a recount. Possibly again helped by Russia, the data scientists that discovered this anomaly call it the Russian Tail, because it resembles the results in Georgia (the country) and elsewhere in the Russian sphere of influence. Please stop with the "both sidesing" nonsense. We have a clear and undisputed, villain here, who isn't even hiding, because he doesn't need to. Just like Putin.
I want to point out something that seems to have escaped everyone's notice - possibly including yours, Garry. We talk about whataboutism (or both-sides-ism), and about the MAGA members who are deeply dug in vs. those who might be "reached." But ALL of this ignores the Democrats' own complicity in their loss - and the situation we find ourselves in.
For example, none of it explains why 19 million Democrats who voted for Biden stayed home and did NOT vote for Harris. Nor does it explain why - beyond not having a primary (which anyone with half a brain could see there was no time for) - the Party, including the DNC and major figures like Obama and Clinton, spent the first four to six weeks of the campaign ACTIVELY undermining Harris at every step. (See the new book "Fight" to understand just how deep and broad that undermining went.)
None of that can be blamed on the MAGA crowd, or on whataboutism. Sadly, the Democrats helped sow the seeds of their own electoral demise.
My own opinion is that the main reason Kamala lost was because of the Covid hangover. It was a worldwide phenomenon that ruling parties got their comeuppance.
Biden was polling poorly before he dropped out of the race, and I don't think it was just the senility issue. Kamala made it closer, but it wasn't enough. I think it was mostly the blowback from Covid.
I respectfully disagree. The pandemic was openly and clearly declared over in May of 2023 (it was actually over almost a full year prior, but the CDC decided to wait extra time). I doubt sincerely that it would still have been a factor - particularly a major factor - in an election 18-24 months later.
I think you are more on point re Biden's polling and the (bogus) senility issue.
But now having read the book, "Fight" has convinced me that the immediate and persistent undermining of Harris by the Party itself was among the most significant reasons she lost.
> The pandemic was openly and clearly declared over in May of 2023 (it was actually over almost a full year prior, but the CDC decided to wait extra time).
Supply chain disruption and inflation continued apace after that. And political backlash can occur after the precipitating event is over.
Perhaps. But the supply chain disruption and inflation had begun to diminish by then, so they were certainly weren't as "bad" a they had been. I think that people (i.e., the MAGA crowd) were simply looking for excuses to continue to complain.
Garry, your comments on Nikki Haley reminded me of Jackie Robinson who, after retiring from baseball, surprised many by supporting the Republican Party. One reason he cited was (paraphrasing from memory) was, "...that it would have undermined everything I did if baseball were integrated, but our political parties were not."
Wow! I'm so grateful that someone with your knowledge, experience and accessibility is doing what I've been saying needs to be done - having dialog with those who have opposing viewpoints to ours, who are willing to be vocal and, at least, open to listening and speaking to the other's POV. I was going to say listening and speaking to the other "side," but there aren't just two sides or viewpoints. There are many points in between which we realize once we get past the well-rehearsed, parroted talking points.
When it comes down to it, I hope we DO have a large majority of people who want to live in a law-based, Constitutionally-honored democracy. It doesn't matter really what we call it so long as it's better than we had, and there's a good vision and plan going forward.
Thank you for your voice.
If anything, the Trump result makes me think that not voting is a good strategy when confronted with bad and worse options. The Democrat leadership need to wake up and listen to the people, rather than expecting loyalists.
I always appreciate your thoughtful opinion pieces and/or interviews in the WSJ, and I equally appreciate the thought you put into responding to the comments to your substack posts. I tend to agree with one of the commenters on this post, who says he prefers written essays, but podcasts are a good way to stay engaged when you can’t read like during a workout. Please keep posting!
Gracias por este tipo de espacios de reflexión. Es clave que personalidades como usted visibilicen las situaciones que estamos atravesando como humanidad. Sería interesante hacer un análisis más detallado sobre la comparación de los regímenes dictatoriales (y sus inicios) vs la situación actual en USA. Un saludo desde Colombia y gracias por escribir y por el Ajedrez.