Bill Maher makes the danger as plainly obvious as possible

[misanthrope]

And there's plenty of us who see it unfolding just as he describes.

[Hoyt]

1. Maher fan, but think he's wrong here. trump is done. At least I hope.

But, that might mean some GOPer — perhaps worse than trump — could get 2024 nomination.

[napi21]

2. I don't know of any Pub who is as well known as DT, & that's a big part of his attraction to the

other Pubs.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

58. They used to generally go with "the next guy in line." I'm not sure who that would be these days.

[Hekate]

48. Trumpism is not done. He could drop dead tomorrow & the fascist movement would continue...

We and our republic stand on the edge of a knife.

[andym]

63. Trump's not "done"

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/576023-trump-heads-to-iowa-as-2024-chatter-grows
"Donald Trump is sending the clearest signals yet that he’s planning another presidential run in 2024 as he heads to Iowa for a rally this weekend.

The Saturday event in the first-in-the-nation caucus state is the latest sign the former president is gearing up for a third White House bid as he doles out midterm endorsements, hires aides in places such as Iowa and boasts in media interviews of what he sees as a glide path to victory in a 2024 GOP primary.

After it was reported this week that aides had to hold him back from officially announcing a bid, Republicans are viewing a Trump candidacy as a near certainty."

[Hoyt]

64. He lost and is done. I'm not going to spend the next 3 years worrying about that loser POS.

[demtenjeep]

3. eyes open

for sure

[Crunchy Frog]

4. Wow! I've been very unimpressed with him lately,

but I think he really hit a home run with this.

I think that things are being set up in crucial swing states right now, so that Trmp will NOT BE ABLE TO LOSE. People who think this will be politics as usual will be in for a very rude awakening.

I personally plan for my family to be out of the country when it happens.

[SoCalDavidS]

8. I'm Jealous

Where are you thinking of going?

[napi21]

5. I just watched Bill's show & what he says scares the sh** out of me. He'd is right about

everything he said & I don't know how to stop him! If anyone has any ideas, I'm listening!!!

[Grasswire2]

6. start charging crimes

I believe Al Franken had some advice the other day.

[smirkymonkey]

7. It scared this s**t out of me too.

Something about what he said just rang frighteningly true to me. It's insane, but I can totally see it happening because this country has gone insane and the rule of law means nothing anymore. They can do whatever they want now and they want him. They want chaos and hate and madness and nobody is stopping them.

[DET]

9. Must See TV

Maher’s prediction of what will happen in the next few years was perhaps the most direct and terrifying depiction of a nightmare scenario for our country that I’ve ever seen. If that doesnt scare you, nothing will.

[Duppers]

10. Hubby thinks we'll be...

...in a "neighbor to neighbor"/ Kosovo fighting-style civil war within the next 2 to 3yrs.

I'm doubtful, so he said I'm in denial.

Opinion on this? Am I being a naive Pollyanna?

Thanks!

[wnylib]

22. Your hubby is right.

That is what a civil war looks like when there is no clear cut geographical division like there was between the North and South in 1861.

While there are some strong geographical divisions in the US now between red and blue states, there are many people in red states who are not red in their politics. Likewise, in blue states like my own NY, there are large rural pockets here that are deep red.

It is more like city vs. urban than state vs. state. Even within cities and urban areas, there is a mix of political loyalties. So as civil order declines, it will be neighbor against neighbor and relative against relative. Just look at how many divisions there are in families and friendships now over covid, QAnon, and Jan 6. How many posts have there been here that tell of broken friendships and split families over these issues right now? It will get worse as social order breaks down further.

I disagree with Maher when he says that one comparison between Hitler and Trump does not hold true, that of mass genocide. RWers are already promoting mass genocide through covid that started, according to Don JR, with the hope of killing off liberals and progressives in large blue state cities. They are even willing to kill off their own in order to make Biden and Dems look bad.

Look at what they did to migrant children and families at the border. Look at how they react to Haitians and Afghans seeking asylum. Look at how much of Trump's support comes from white supremacists. The only thing that stopped them before was not having full control of all states and people in government. Racism is a unifying principle among RWers.

[Jon King]

25. Nah, the vast majority are lazy and like their lives.

There won't be any mass fighting. The few paid actors at school board meetings and a few hundred who protest now and then get the coverage. 99.99% of Americans are not going to fight for real. Too much TV to watch and snacks to eat.

[wnylib]

36. I read denial posts like this when

people warned in advance of the 2020 election that Trump would not accept the outcome and would resort to violence to stay in power. Some posters explicitly warned that Trump would call upon RW militia types. The deniers said that RW citizens were couch potatoes who would not lift a finger for him because they were all talk and no action. We saw how that turned out.

When ostriches put their heads in the sand, they leave their butts sticking up and vulnerable.

[uponit7771]

47. +1

[Drunken Irishman]

68. lol don't be ridiculous

You're comparing Trump not accepting an outcome (something tons of people predicted) to the prospects of a true, bloody civil war in the style of Kosovo. Those comparisons aren't remotely similar.

It's like saying because you predicted rain today that your prediction about the earth being flung into the sun tomorrow is going to be right.

Get a grip.

[wnylib]

70. My grip is fine. Get your head out of the sand.

[Tree Lady]

62. I think it depends on your neighbors

If you live on a street of progressive activists and Trump people I think he could be right.

But most people like me live in neighborhoods where we know without talking about it who is a democrat and who is a republican and we don't talk about it knowing it would stir things up. We talk about gardens, garbage cans left out, leaves, weather, grandkids, RV's, sports, local restaurants or wineries. Believe it or not there are things to talk about besides politics.

But two blocks over there is a guy who flies his F*** Biden flag and if I lived near him I know at some point words would be spoken.

[Initech]

69. Oh I have some hard MAGAs in my neighborhood.

And it has definitely made me think less of them especially after January 6th.

[TreasonousBastard]

11. I prefer not to believe it will happen this way, but it is certainly a...

possibility. People a lot smarter than Trump are planning this. Slobfather is merely a figurehead whose ego has him thinking he's the real leader

Maher's observation about the WTC shoild have everyone shitting themselves.

[vercetti2021]

12. I can see it

If Trumpers attack the capital in much bigger masses in 2024, how soon until the entire country goes at war with one another thereafter? It won't be like in Portland or anywhere where the Proud boys go and cause shit. It'll be neighbors, friends and even family killing one another. We are sadly approaching the scary end game which is American democracy. Either we have to win by any means to keep it intact or live under a fascist state. I refuse to live in that kinda country. I'll gladly take up arms and fight to restore it if I gotta. Rather die fighting than live in a country ruled by a group of mad men

[roamer65]

14. I don't see a unified fascist state, I see a repeat of the Yugoslav breakup.

Instead along mainly political lines, rather than ethnic ones.

[vercetti2021]

15. Not sure how that will work

Moving liberals and cons to their designated areas? It'll end in one trying to take it over completely or keeping it from falling.

[roamer65]

18. Chaos.

By then certain states will probably have seceded.

All highly theoretical at this point. Next 3 years are very critical to the future of our republic.

[vercetti2021]

19. Or Annex

I could see the pacific states annex to Canada. Sadly not sure how my family can all be moved, might end up fighting behind enemy lines.

[roamer65]

20. Also NY and New England.

[vercetti2021]

27. Maybe the great lake states as well

I know there are a lot of dumpers in MI. But they might end up getting either kicked out or the Canadian military would force their removal.

[roamer65]

30. Metro Detroit is fairly Democratic.

I live in a very Democratic enclave.

Thank the gods.

[vercetti2021]

31. Sadly I do not

I live in one of the reddest cities in Texas. I'm surrounded by these wackos and I know they know where I live. I had Biden signs on all our property and vehicles. What they don't expect is a liberal with a few guns. Long as my family can get to safety, I don't care what happens to me. I'll go down with my pride and honor honestly. I just want them safe and out of the state if it gets to that point

[roamer65]

32. Move to where the water is, if you can.

The Great Lakes.

In 20-30 years, you may not be able to do it as climate change gets worse.

[vercetti2021]

33. Given I'll be a huge target anyway

Being trans, that'll give them more steam for a kill

[roamer65]

34. ...

You need a

[vercetti2021]

35. I'm sure we would ensure we were all together

My family is extreme liberal and close. So we'd hightail it to a blue state ASAP. Thankfully NM is only an hour drive to the border.

[roamer65]

37. There u go.

👍👍

[Hekate]

49. Has the Canadian government shown the slightest interest in this annexation notion?

We’d be way more trouble than we’d be worth, in my opinion.

[gldstwmn]

61. Most of the MAGA states cannot survive independently economically.

That is where the proverbial rubber will or will not meet the road on this idea.

[OrangeJoe]

23. Yugoslavia

I worked for the UN during the first election in Bosnia. It was 1996 and the war had ended not that long ago. The pattern of living there was, one village was Serb, one Bosnian, near Croatia there were Croatian towns, Sarajevo was a mixture of the different ethnic groups. People fled their village if it they were outnumbered by neighboring ones and then established armed enclaves where they had the numbers to do so. Corruption was rampant with everything in short supply and only available on the black market.

War here would run along those same lines as what happened there. The big question would be where the American military sat as well as the various state National Guards. It won't be pretty.

[roamer65]

26. The United States is multiethnic just like the former Yugoslavia.

Plus politically polarized.

I see parallels. I hope my fears are wrong.

[LiberatedUSA]

54. This is why we need gun control now.

When the Republicans see Democrats obeying the new gun control and giving up their semi-autos so only those in positions of power have the those weapons, they will immediately follow suit and disarm as well, knowing that is the right thing to do.

[roamer65]

13. Too early to make this determination.

Too many wild cards in play, like a SCOTUS overturn of Roe v Wade.

[Jon King]

16. Wrong, they won't dare attack the Capitol.

Bill might be right about most of it. But no way they attack the Capitol again. This time there would be 1000000 times the amount of protection, they would not get within a mile of it.

And there are not 10 million or even 500000 who would actually fight for Trump. The ones that would were there on Jan 6th. I doubt there are more than a few hundred nuts willing to go to actual battle for them. Almost all Trumpers are internet warriors only and will be home with a beer watching football, not taking up arms for Trump.

This coup will be attempted all right, but it will be played out in the courts, not the Capitol like last time.

[BidenRocks]

17. He failed to mention

A run on the banks triggering a depression.
The FDIC only works if you trust the government.

[roamer65]

21. Even worse than a run on banks...

A hyperinflationary currency crisis as the dollar collapses and takes other fiat currencies down the shitter with it.

[BidenRocks]

24. Like the Deutsch Mark?

That helped their FG to take over the country.
Those rally's are looking alarmingly familiar.

[roamer65]

28. Who knows for sure?

But I do know that the breakup of Yugoslavia caused hyperinflation of their currency.

I remember seeing a 10 billion dinara note.

[DFW]

29. Vigilance is the only thing standing between us and Maher's nightmare scenario

The first thing that must be understood is that there is a third of the country for whom what Maher laid out is NOT a nightmare, but rather paradise. They are ignorant, armed, and bloodthirsty. Take them seriously.

One ace in the hole is that we have an attorney general who fully realizes the reason why Neil Gorsuch is sitting in HIS seat on the Supreme Court. He will be there for at least three more years, health permitting. I don’t think he has forgotten that since the day McTurtle tore up his job application.

[PortTack]

38. A third of the country is really a high number

25% of voters identify with the gqp and approx 1/3 of that 25% consider themselves part the of the cult which equals 8.25%

[DFW]

39. Maybe 8.25% is the number that would take up arms

I think 33% is the number that would applaud them.

[PortTack]

40. Well...okay maybe 33% of the gqp ...which still a small number

I don’t think a third of the 8.25% would take up arms

[DFW]

41. I'm from the South

I think only 33% of Republicans is very optimistic.

[misanthrope]

66. As am I and I agree

People don't realize what is fomenting down here.

[Hekate]

50. More than one sociopolitical poll has shown that at any time there are 1/3 of US citizens ...

…who strongly favor authoritarian government. This kind of poll doesn’t provide labels to choose from, but presents attitudes.

I first read this long before Trump showed up.

[uponit7771]

43. Only 64% of democrats believe Voter Suppression is a problem (link), we need better messaging

[DFW]

45. That has been the case since Humphrey vs. Nixon

But the Frank Luntzes of the world don’t work for us.

They never have.

[uponit7771]

51. There was no text book insurection during Humphrey and Nixon's eras. This *IS* different

... and the onus of making sure the insurrection against democracy gets mud stomped is not on the Luntzes of the country its on the democratic party to have a message similar to Mahrs saying we're screwed if we don't error on the side of treating MAGA leadership like they're against what we stand for.

[DFW]

52. Our problem is that our most skillful spokespeople today are entertainers, not politicians

Colbert, Myers, Stewart, Maher--smart people who have no patience for the crap in Washington. Only Al Franken actually jumped in, and he was so eloquent that the Republicans had to manufacture a scam to get rid of him--and look at what happened. Enough Democrats, including most of our own Senators, fell for the scam, and the women who "came forward" and claimed they had been molested were believed--unchallenged. Never mind that they all disappeared as soon as Al did. Guilty until proven innocent. No wonder so many of our best people don't enter politics at all.

Colbert and Maher are far more effective spokesmen than Chuck Schumer. How many video clips of Maher and Colbert are posted each week on DU? How many of Schumer?

[BannonsLiver]

42. Doom flavored catnip. Always a favorite around here.

The “a few of us saw it before anyone else” revisionist fantasy is a nice touch though.

[uponit7771]

44. The people who said it would be worse with Trump were more right than wrong. 500k dead

... 8 trillion of debt for not a damn thang and an ongoing insurrection against plurality where MAGA Nazis are literally denying voting access and enacting nullification laws.

Only 64% of democrats think voter suppression measures are an issue, I think we should stop rolling eyes and start thinking we CAN become Spain circa 1930

[BannonsLiver]

46. You can be in charge of that.

[634-5789]

53. Tubby orange moran is cooked, he's done.

There's no way that tRump will be anything...maybe incarcerated...in 2024. Maher is an alarmist.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

55. Spoiler you ...

[UTUSN]

56. K&R

[Efilroft Sul]

57. Maher is saying what some of us on DU have long been warning about with regard to election laws.

Congress needs to get moving on reforming the filibuster and pass laws that protect free and fair elections. Because all your hopes of getting out the vote in 2022 and 2024 without those laws on the books won't be good enough to save democracy from the GOP. I'm sure those who think we're ungrateful about Manchin and Sinema will be hitting this thread soon to tell us how wrong we are.

[Dawson Leery]

59. "the next time they came back with planes"

The GOP is planning to overturn the government.

[gldstwmn]

60. That was hard to watch. He will try again but also

a lot can happen between now and 2024. I don't understand how Trump's health is holding up at this point.

[napi21]

65. It soun ds like you think the same as me but neither of us has said it outside of our homes. Just

this evening as I was preparing dinner, MSNBC was on TV I heard them talking about DT & hoe he's still pushing the big lie. I kept saying to myself, "he's getting old & not in good health. Maybe by 2024 he.............." I'm sure you can guess how I finished my thought.

[gldstwmn]

67. Yes. He had a bad case of Covid. I find it hard to believe he is not experiencing any long hauler

symptoms yet. That along with a lifetime of no exercise and poor diet leave me wondering. Bannon is another one. I don't understand how he is still upright.