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I think the sentiment expressed in the OP is exactly why he decided to do this now. It didn't do anything material, not really no, but what it did do was skyrocket Booker's name as a possible replacement for the widely hated Schumer. People are begging for someone to replace Schumer, this is Booker throwing his hat into the ring.

Whether or not the Dems will learn the right lesson from all this remains to be seen...but given their track record, I hope you'd forgive me for being skeptical of that.

I'm so tired of people telling me I was overreacting or being alarmist when I said...

• That Kamala was going to be a repeat of Hillary
• Trump wants to implement Project 2025
• Trump wants to be a dictator. He will seek a 3rd term (and a 4th, a 5th, and so on).
• Trump will deport innocent people, including permanent residents, or even citizens
• His admin will target political dissidents and opponents
• DOGE is just an excuse for Elon to do a power grab
• on and on and on

Now it's: Detention centers and El Salvadoran prisons are just the start. They are testing the waters for something much, much worse. (Edit: And to be clear, I wasn't the only person saying all these things. This isn't some sort of humble brag. I just listened to the countless experts, historians, and others much smarter and more well informed than me.)

I feel like I got gaslit by the media and Republicans saying that everything was going to be ok. That it was business as usual despite the rhetoric and to hunker down for the eventual pendulum swing back to the left. "Maybe I am overreacting, there's too many good people, systems, and checks that would stop the worst aspects from happening, surely..."

The best time to act was 4 (or even 8) years ago. The second best time is NOW. "It could never happen here" is so damn entrenched in the subconscious of our society people refuse to see the evidence in front of their eyes.

Terrorists.

"But we don't make it illegal to be homeless. We just put spikes on all our benches, shut down all the shelters, and had police crack down on "loitering." You can be homeless if you want...just do it over there. I have my property values to worry about."

This country makes you sick, because it IS sick.

The problem with this is there are actual Neo-Nazis in the government and MAGA militias. Regardless of what bad actors or the twitter mob that doesn't know any better say, if it looks like a Nazi, shouts like a Nazi, and salutes like a Nazi...

Have you checked The Big List of Protests for your local area?

Good comment.

Only have one thing to add: Americans are woefully out of practice when it comes to protesting, or being otherwise politically active. Most have never even been to one. Many can't even conceive of the process of going to one, let alone where to start to find information about one. And this is after decades of protesters being demonized or mocked (or misconstrued, to your point about demands being obfuscated) in the media.

I think foreigners, especially ones from other wealthy countries, don't realize how powerless the average American feels. "You're the wealthiest country in the history of the world!" Sure, but that's all bundled at the top. Most of us are struggling to stay housed (hell, half of us are literally one missed paycheck away from homelessness--and this is in a country with dystopic care for the homeless). Hard for someone to imagine traveling 12+ hours away (assuming they even own a car) for a single protest in a major city when they are hungry.

Of course, this is by design and we should fight anyway. Doesn't change the harsh reality of the hurdles in the way.

Reminds me of grade school again. Get bullied, nothing happens. Fight back, get punished.

Only in this case the school is Reddit, the bully is DOGE tearing the country apart, and fighting back is posting memes. What a world.

Still can't get over the Republicans out there with "Support Tesla" signs. Do they know it is an EV company?

Gee, they really can't stop proving how small-minded they are with their constant projection, huh?

"The liberal meanies keep accusing me of doing a propaganda...well, I'm gonna tell everyone THEY are doing a propaganda instead!" This is how a child's mind works, jfc.

Very well put.

Yeah, this is why the term "scientific racism" grinds my gears so much, including when people balk at the phrase "race is a social construct". If these people actually cared about the science, the notion of "scientific racism" would last about as long as it takes for it to enter their head. They cherry pick studies and sources to confirm their pre-existing prejudices.