I do not know to what degree Russia influenced our election,

[Tobin S.]

but I truly understand now why they wanted Trump. That fucker just makes people crazy- everyone. He makes people who support him crazy as well as those who oppose him. I've been following currents events very closely, and I haven't seen anything like what is happening now in our country since 2003. And even then, as we were being lied to and manipulated into a disastrous war, it wasn't as bad as it is now. The lies, deception, and skullduggery are just off the charts. Trump appears to be at war with his own people.

I really felt like I was standing on the brink of insanity the other day, then I realized that was the objective. That makes it a lot easier to guard against it. Yeah, this country is going to shit. But we will be able to more effectively take action to make things better if we keep our heads.

[herding cats]

1. Trump is a king of chaos, which makes him exhausting.

It's as if he feeds the hate, racism, sexism, bigotry and any other form of anger in an attempt to distract us and destroy us. He's trying to upend our country as we know it and create a desperate, terrified, mentally exhausted and malleable general population which is more easily dominated.

I'm not saying he's going to succeed, but from what I can tell this is his strategy. He's trying to keep us fighting on too many fronts for us to mentally, or emotionally manage. He's exploiting all of our most deeply held beliefs and fears, thus further dividing us at every possible opportunity.

We have to keep our wits about us and stay focused. We don't all have to focus on each travesty, or outrage. We can choose and pick those we know best and focus on what we know how to counter. Individually it may seem inadequate, but if we all do this collectively we become a force to be reckoned with. We just need to focus on our strengths and know our own weaknesses.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. They want to destabilize the U.S. and Europe as well

And watching the news, it looks like they've made some progress. I know what you mean. Watching the news gets more painful every day - and different groups in this country are violently opposing each other like never before. These are scary times.

[cally]

3. I'm exhausted

I've learned to take more news breaks and just not follow every scandal and outrage. It's too much but i do see the determination to get rid if this man as soon as pissible

[dalton99a]

4. The mentally deranged dotard is a perfect agent of chaos, arson and vandalism

[KY_EnviroGuy]

5. Far too deep and sinister for DeRump.

Let's not get distracted by tRump's personality and give him credit not due. That's what the big boys want, and to them he is disposable.

Although supported by Russian interference, I'm convinced the core of this web of distraction and turmoil comes from Republican organizations that have been around for quite a while, funded by the big money boys. These outfits have been discussed here before, even since my short time on DU. They are masters at staying out of the public spotlight.

These organizations spoon-feed tRump, just as they did W. Although I doubt he was their first choice in the election, it became later obvious he could be their useful idiot - so they backed him.

The reason I'm reiterating this is because I hope we don't forget to support our very important liberal (and neutral) organizations that are counterweights to right wing think tanks, media outlets and social war outfits. I intend to go back and review some of those organizations I have neglected, and perhaps donate a bit to them as my meager budget will allow.

I fear this may be a very rough period of time financially for our supportive organizations, as we are overwhelmed with needs from an unbelievable number of natural disasters and by numerous Democratic election campaigns.

[Tobin S.]

6. I know the Kochs didn't like Trump and did not back him.

You know it's bad when you can't even muster enough class to get the Koch's backing. Have you seen any other information to the extent of the backing of any of the other big money guys? I know the Mercer's really like Bannon and Breitbart.

BTW, I didn't mean to suggest in the OP that Trump actually knows what he's doing. Just that those who worked to put him where he is knew what effect he would have on the American people.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

7. Tobin, no I have not.

Frankly, after the election I lost interest. Maybe I'm being a simpleton but I've always assumed that in order to gain power, after the primaries Republicans typically back whoever runs against a Dem. In this case, what underlies that assumption is the large populist support that tRump got.

I think the big money boys see their people in office simply as place-holders they can ultimately control, and they do have tremendous leverage. Right now, it seems that system is experiencing huge turmoil.

I would be instructional to see a summary of where his money came from.

[Tobin S.]

8. Something I find intriguing right now is the fact that

even though, like you said, Trump is a useful idiot and he will sign any legislation that the Republican establishment puts in front of him, they are not putting anything in front of him. Nothing at all. They have complete control right now and you would think they would be having a legislative field day, but they haven't accomplished anything.

[Caliman73]

9. Not necessarily true.

They have not passed any significant legislation but they are doing things behind the scenes that will have profound effect for many years to come. Trump is filling the judiciary with political hacks like Neil Gorsuch. Younger, totally blind ideologues are being put into Federal bench seats in lifetime appointments. These will be the people that will be deciding most major precedent setting cases on their way up to the Supreme Court. They will be the candidates to fill vacant seats on the Court and higher positions in District Courts. Also, by not filling departmental vacancies and filling head slots with people who would destroy or privatize the public domain, the Republicans are working toward achieving one of their main objectives, which is to turn every facet of American life in to a commodity that can be controlled by their donors.

[Tobin S.]

10. Ah, I see what you are saying. But why isn't there any legislation coming out of Congress? n/t

[Caliman73]

11. They are gridlocked like usual.

The cloture rules while changed by the Democratic Congress to at least have President Obama get some people appointed during his terms, is still largely intact. There is legislation coming out of the House, but the big stuff usually dies in the Senate because they don't have the 60 votes to break cloture and have a vote. If you go to the Office of the Clerk of the House and the corollary in the Senate, you will see that there is a good amount of legislation going through. These are little things but they add up. It is only the really big and really nasty stuff that is getting coverage and being blocked, but things are still happening that will have an effect on us.

Republicans are devious. When they say they don't like government, they are lying. They love government. They love being in power. What they don't like is government that constrains the wealthiest people and protects the vulnerable. They would like nothing more than to have a government that protects property rights of the wealthy, while not being accountable to the general population.

[Tobin S.]

12. Thanks, Caliman.