3008 Comments
User's avatar
Helen's avatar

From the Roaring Twenties to the Great Depression......the rise of Populism......

In looking for an explanation of T****'s (rapidly diminishing) adoring fans, I remembered......

"Huey Long was a strong proponent of tariffs, viewing them as a tool for economic nationalism and isolationism. He supported tariffs to protect American industries and argued that the government should disassociate from European war debt settlements. His views are often cited in discussions of populist economic policies, including comparisons to modern debates over tariffs and protectionism.

Economic nationalism: Long was an ardent supporter of tariffs, seeing them as essential for protecting American industries and workers from foreign competition. He labeled himself a "tariff Democrat".

Isolationism: His support for tariffs was connected to his broader political stance of isolationism and American nationalism. He opposed intervention in European affairs, including the settlement of war debts, and advocated for Philippine independence.

Comparison to modern populism: Long's views are frequently compared to modern debates surrounding protectionist trade policies. Some analyses suggest he and figures like Donald Trump share a similar populist economic approach that includes a strong focus on tariffs as a solution to economic stress.

Contrast with New Deal: As a prominent critic of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, Long proposed his own alternative called "Share Our Wealth," which focused on wealth redistribution, a wealth tax, and massive federal spending. While his tax and spending plans were more radical, his stance on tariffs aligns with a broader populist tradition of protecting domestic industries. "

Oh Gosh. Please don't let T**** decide to become a Democrat again. He would argue he gets two terms for each party he represents.

Expand full comment
Tessie's avatar

Oh, *I* see: When it comes to sending troops to attack cities, you can't be King ENOUGH, but when it comes to disbursing money to help people [sarcastic voice] "Oh, I'm helpless! Utterly, utterly helpless!"

/Sideshow Bob

Expand full comment
Darrell Leland's avatar

There are some serious "Masque of the Red Death" vibes going on here.

Expand full comment
Mildred Downey Broxon's avatar

Yes, and I wish they were facing the same problem. COVID didn't suffice; they vaxxed in secret while decrying the whole idea of immunization. Cholera would work...

Expand full comment
Major Is My Spirit Animal's avatar

Maybe that Anthrax Guy could come out of retirement for one last go round.

After all, they never found him.

Expand full comment
djny10003's avatar

I wonder if whoever suggested a "Great Gatsby" theme was trolling the tRump gang. Did any of them read the book, about a rich phony who's dead inside throwing wild parties just before the world economy collapses? Probably not.

Expand full comment
Mexfiles's avatar

As I recall from 10th grade English, Jay Gatsby's "little party" ends pretty badly for him.

Expand full comment
Mx.le Maerin's Luxury Comedy's avatar

Got one for Open Thread for yez..

https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/11/04/an-ohio-writer-returned-to-her-hometown-to-see-what-shed-missed-it-was-a-lot/

As I skeeted when I shared this on Bluesky, I strongly relate to this article. Tho my folks made it to a big-city suburb where I grew up, my dad's side has deeply Appalachian roots (including the VP's home of Middletown OH). Visiting these older family locales has made me very aware of the different realities to be found there.

Expand full comment
Helen's avatar

First Class passengers dancing on the Titanic, right before she hit the iceberg.......

Oh, shit, yeah, that's right. They were the ones that got away in the lifeboats, leaving the lower class passengers to drown......

They are truly the cockroaches of the world.

Expand full comment
In Crom We Trust's avatar

Ding dong, Dick Cheney's dead... Auspicious start to the day.

Expand full comment
Jim Parker's avatar

Couldn't the universe have taken one more asshole? You know the asshole I'm talking about.

Expand full comment
biff murphy's avatar

He's probably in the Cryovac getting ready to be born again!

Expand full comment
In Crom We Trust's avatar

Wouldn't be surprised!

Expand full comment
Connor Fitzgerald's avatar

“Next Halloween, maybe the theme could be ‘The French Revolution.’ “

I mean, yeah, that works. Of course Les Misérables is set a couple decades after the Revolution, but Orange doesn’t know that, and it would awesome to watch his face as he realizes the approaching mob isn’t actually there just to help celebrate.

“What a fantastic mob, straight out of central casting.”

“Mr. President, we need to go!”

Expand full comment
Mexfiles's avatar

July Revolution of 1830. Not exactly a "No Kings" revolt, but at least a less obnoxious one. I ended up reading the entire book when I was 12 and in bed for too long with strep.

Expand full comment
mr_snarky's avatar

i'm okay with the regime's over-the-top, in-your-face, i'm-rich-and-you're-not shows of excess like this party as long as they're paid for with bribe money (aka "donations"). it's like performance art in corruption.

Expand full comment
WasX's avatar

My village election volunteers, as ever, did not have the shit together sufficient to deal with a paper ballot. FFS, half the people around here have a doctorate, wtaf. Took nearly an hour, virtually empty and I was third to show.

Expand full comment
Peter MacMonagle's avatar

There is plenty of money for parties, airplanes for the Gestapo, and a new ballroom, so the SNAP denial is a scam. This is using food as a weapon as other autocratic governments have done. "If you starve them, they will buckle under" because they are hungry. We have many resources to keep that from happening, but the Democratic party MUST use this tyranny of the minority to make sure EVERYONE knows it is the Republicans and Trump's administration deliberately weaponizing food to keep from releasing the Epstein files/ names of pedophiles. It is election day, if you want to eat, vote BLUE

Expand full comment
Steve Haddon's avatar

I was going to suggest "The Handmaids Tale" for next year - but... with the way things are going, that's not going to be a "party theme". That's going to be "real life".

Expand full comment
Nancy Naive's avatar

60 Minions — The first and most successful television newsmagazine

Expand full comment
Nancy Naive's avatar

Aztecan autopsy… I wonder if the pathologist removed the still-beating mechanical heart and showed it to him?

Expand full comment
Lawyers, Guns 'n' Money's avatar

Why do MAGA like to pretend they aren't the hoi polloi that Trump so despises and holds deep contempt toward?

Expand full comment
Saviour of Bread's avatar

You know the whole “If there were no guns people would just use knives” nonsense? There was a knife attack on a train in England at the weekend, ten injured, no dead. In part because of one unarmed railway employee.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxr4qn6d66o

And, because it’s that time of day:

[stroke mode]

Saved multiple lives, is that more than saved lives?

[/stroke mode]

Expand full comment
Daniel's avatar

Some of the passengers may have been Concurrent Buddhists, believing every single incarnation exists simultaneously across all dimensions superimposed onto each other. Don't shit on their beliefs.

Expand full comment
Saviour of Bread's avatar

Fair point.

Expand full comment