A Crack In The Trump Plan

Chipping away at bad forces, starting in France

If you read the headlines this morning, you know that the GOP rejected Trump and MAGA last night. From the top of the NY Times:

“Shutdown Looms as G.O.P Rebels Against Trump.”

Speaker Johnson has less than a day to figure out how a deal between all the factions and stop the government from shutting down. This morning, Trump claimed that this is a “Biden problem,” simply because he’s currently the president. But this lead-up to a potential government shut-down is because of GOP infighting. But Trump knows how to phrase it for the press and social media and most Americans are not paying attention to the details of this. They will only hear “Biden caused a shut-down of the government.”

“The hastily produced plan failed by a vote of 235 to 174, with 38 Republicans and 197 Democrats voting no. Right-wing lawmakers balked at increasing the government’s borrowing limit, something many of them had long pledged not to do without spending cuts to keep the debt from ballooning further. House Democrats refused to back the deal because it would allow Mr. Trump and his allies to push through tax cuts for the wealthy.”

Trump tweeted:

“This is a Biden problem to solve, but if Republicans can help solve it, they will!” Mr. Trump said in a social media post. Earlier, at 1:16 a.m., Mr. Trump said he wanted Mr. Biden to be blamed for whatever political fallout might come, writing to Republicans: “Remember, the pressure is on whoever is President.”

Does the vote last night, wherein 38 Republicans voted against a Trump/Musk solution, reflect a loosening of Trump’s grip on non-loyalists, members of the GOP who support him, but not always? Hard to know.

That Trump has given Musk so much power (or Musk is taking it because he’s used to getting his way) due to his wealth, may rub many members of the GOP the wrong way. Musk looks and acts like a dangerous toddler, suggesting that he will fund primary challangers if members of the party up for re-election refuse to follow in-step.

Writing on X, Musk frequently throws his weight around in world politics, and the most recent (other than our political system) is Germany. He commented on their election and appears to support the far-right Alternative For Germany. The NY Times reports: “Elements of that once-fringe party, including its entire youth wing, have been classified as “confirmed extremist” by German domestic intelligence. But its ethnonationalist and Islamophobic message has proved to be a strong vote-getter at the local level.” Others have called this party a “threat to Germany’s democracy.”

We are witnessing a man use his financial power to manipulate countries and we need to be very aware of this. We are well aware that Trump admires Hitler. Evil forces are using social media skillfully, as we feared. Is this a reason to get off of the platforms? Or be more vocal and more strategic?

Here’s more about the 38 Republicans who voted against MAGA and Trump last night.

*****

I’d like to make another few comments on the rape case in France. Of the 51 men who raped Gisèle Pelicot while she was unconscious, only a few asked for her forgiveness. Six of the men were freed, having spent time in jail. Some said they intended to have sex with her, but not rape her. Many offered stunning explanations to the court, qualifying their acts as “involuntary rape,” “nonconsenting rape,” “accidental rape” or “rape by body but not mind.” These attitudes come from a place of rape culture. One doesn’t think of France that way, but a deep disrespect for women exists there, as it does in many countries. As in the MeToo Movement, bringing horrific actions and attitudes out in the open helps chip away and end rape culture.

Here is a timeline of the rapes and trial.

Throughout the trial, Ms. Pelicot was poised and steadfast. Her words:

“By making this trial public from Sept. 2, I wanted for society to be able to take up the debates that followed,” she added. “I have never regretted that decision. I am now confident in our ability to collectively seize a future in which everyone, women and men, can live in harmony, respect and mutual understanding.”

By making this a public trial, which she did not have to do under French law, she has become a feminist hero.

Not just for France, but for the world.

Miguel Medina/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Thanks for your support here, and I apologize for canceling our zoom tonight due to illness. I can’t seem to shake a bad cold that has me coughing every few minutes! I will reschedule soon.

Happy Friday, see you tomorrow.