Trumpocalypse, Week Two Open Thread

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@Kupo

Is anyone else feeling the need to do something positive for the world in response to this?

I sure am! Me and some folks are trying to put together a crowdfunding proposal for a commune(s) not unlike some things that’ve been discussed here and elsewhere of late, to serve as shelters and incubators of change. It’s early days yet, and slow going on account of the organizer (me) is adapting to a heavy workload that frankly is sapping my energy something fierce, but many hands make light work and all that. Let me know if you’d like to sign up. Goes for the rest of y’all too.

I keep seeing right-wingers talk about how protesters are going to “wake a sleeping giant”. Wasn’t that supposed to have already happened because of “PC culture”? Wasn’t the alt-right supposed to be the sleeping giant we supposedly woke by asking people to be considerate towards others? Not our fault it’s so unimpressive you gotta act like it’s not even the real giant. Don’t pick a fuckin’ fight and then cry when you get hit back.

It’s cute how they think we’re radicalizing them, though.

@LindsayIrene, aaah, it just wouldn’t be a proper progressive article on the internet if there wasn’t a what about the mens! whine somewhere at the bottom, would it?

@reash, that’s why I’m optimistic about things – thanks @Axe for providing more context, too. Their “sleeping giant” was the Trump primary, and they figure that’s what’s been woken up. Now? Now the real giant is waking, and it ain’t wearing a red ballcap. His supporters are peeling off like onion skins. We’ve got the momentum and the people; now it’s time to push.

@Dalillama, that’s great to hear! I hope that you can get that organized and get vulnerable people safe. It’s great that you’re able to keep so organized in amidst all of this. Well done.

@rogue angel, happy to help 🙂 note that the Convention Refugee status may require the Minister of Immigration to declare the US applicable country-of-origin for convention refugees – doesn’t have to, but it makes it much easier. Otherwise you have to basically prove that those things apply to you, which may be tough. The Minister of Immigration is an immigrant himself, though – he immigrated from Somalia in ’93 as a teenager, so he’s personally aware of the plight of vulnerable people. His comments have been pretty encouraging at least!

I have the idea of making one that says “The Cake Is An Alternative Fact”

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/shut_up_and_take_my_money.gif

@Scildfreja

I don’t know how you’re staying optimistic, but bless you. I can’t. Impeaching Trump will leave us with President “Scare-em-straight” Pence (while the GOP pin the EOs on Trump and pretend they didn’t just shove their own policies under the pen of a useful idiot), and most of the country doesn’t even know what the alt-right is. Bills are being drafted in states with bad histories of police brutality legalizing homicide against peaceful protesters. It’s too much, and I’m far from the only one in my community feeling cornered.

Let me know if you want me to make t-shirts too. I have the idea of making one that says “The Cake Is An Alternative Fact”

OMG…that is awesome! I could probably finance my entire transition (and then some) if I did that.

@reash, I know that Pence is a disaster all on his own, but – well. There are two (three?) major issues right now – Trump, Pence, Ryan. Trump brings with him Bannon and the Plutocrats, worst 70’s boy-band ever. Pence brings with him his own monstrosities wrapped up in a flag and a cross. Ryan’s a douchebro with his own terrors, too.

Right now all three are there. Pence is doing what he wants behind the scenes; even if there’s a struggle going on between Pence and Bannon for control over Trump, Pence still has his sticky hands on the levers of power.

This is a big problem, and one of the best ways to tackle a big problem is to reduce it down to the small parts. So, the first part is Trump. We get rid of him, then we can bulldoze Pence into the rubbish tip along with the crumbling GOP. Then we can glare meaningfully at Ryan, who will curl up into a ball and cry.

I think that’s the plan, at least.

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/list/001/214/797/27e.png

OMG, I really want one of those shirts. Or even just illustration of a cake/slice of cake with the words “alternative fact” under it would be amazing.

Have you ever noticed how Trump supporters (and fascists in general) have a tendency of calling their oppressive ideas by laudable names and phrasing them in ways that makes you think they actually believe their schtick? It’s usually “make [insert dog whistle for your oppressive group] great again”.

I’ve seen some of the shit they’ve said about gassing autistic people and how my gender isn’t real. I’m terrified. I legitimately think it’s time I changed my views on gun control and bought a gun.

@D.D. Webb

My anarchist friends have been trying to get me to go to their improvised gun range to get training. That, or I might just talk to Pink Pistols.

I feel like I’m the one going to get charged with shooting someone in Trump’s America.

@tempusfugit, awww, thank you :3 I don’t really do email outside of work, but I’m happy to talk about that sort of thing here. Frankly, the sort of plan which needs to be kept secret is a fragile ( and probably very illegal ) one. The best plans in these circumstances can be made public, because they rely on things other than secrecy to work. You gotta have an especially advantageous position to be able to effect change on your own, anyways – best to rely on group action. That’s where our success so far has come from. Phoning and marching and mailing and knocking on congressional doors! What ideas do you have that you think would help?

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/861/

So yeah, this is a thing now. Not that anyone believed the fight was over by a long shot, but in case you need a little boost of outrage

Okay, so I just got back from that meeting hosted by my MP that I told you about. Here’s the course of action for the next few weeks that was put forth:

* Attend protests against the ban on the 18th and 25 of February, and the 8th of March. (The last, of course, is on International Women’s Day).

* Attend a phonebank to promote the protests.

* Put up posters decrying the ban.

Surprisingly, the tactic of calling politicians was not brought up, but I told him about this afterwards and he said he’d mention this at subsequent meetings. Again, if anyone’s got any suggestions for people other than the PM and their MP that Australians should ring, I’m all ears.

Kickass!

Court denies initial request for emergency stay in Trump travel ban

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/04/politics/doj-appeals-travel-ban-ruling/index.html?adkey=bn