I'm Just Waiting for the Reichstag to Catch Fire.

[msanthrope]

Does anyone else have an foreboding feeling of dread? There's nothing these people will not do to stay in power. Nothing.

[AJT]

1. I'm right with you.

[msanthrope]

5. There's nothing these assholes won't do to us. nt

[GeoWilliam750]

38. What is Bill O doing in this segment?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028644848

Does this rise to inciting to violence?

[KittyWampus]

2. No, they're being watched. And they'll be blamed.

[msanthrope]

7. I don't think they perceive that. Truly...I think these people

are utterly without remorse, and operate in a moral vaccum.

Look at Conway....normal people are not able to lie like that without shame curbing them. These people have no shame.

[Exultant Democracy]

43. Exactly, being watched only matters if you have a sense of shame.

They also have a good 25-30% of Americans drinking the fake news koolaid hard.

[KittyWampus]

55. it has nothing to do with shame. Any plans will be exposed.

[msanthrope]

59. By whom? nt

[KittyWampus]

56. They aren't in a vacuum. They are being watched/listened to. They THINK they're untouchable.

[msanthrope]

58. Yes, and by and large, they are untouchable. nt

[madaboutharry]

3. No

Not anymore. They know we are on to them.

[msanthrope]

9. I don't think they do. nt

[regnaD kciN]

27. They may "know we are on to them"

…but, in the event of a "terrorist attack" with enough of a shock-and-awe value, the vast majority of the populace will be freaked enough to give the administration their way in everything, just as long as long as they're kept safe…just like sixteen years ago.

[SammyWinstonJack]

44. Will that really work this time around with so many expecting it and in light of what we've learned?

Might make matters worse for them.

[msanthrope]

54. The problem is that the people most likely to do such an act have no

idea the consequences of such an act. They don't think like that. Normal curbs on behavior don't apply.

[coco22]

68. The people will be angry because ..

he is incompetent,doesn't read PDB's,etc...It will be something else anyway.

[dem4decades]

4. Bannon and Miller must get out along with Trump.

ASAP

[jmg257]

6. Not at all. Crumbling and away they go. They are beyond trust now. Nt

[msanthrope]

10. I don't think they know that. nt

[jmg257]

11. Ah now i get your point...acts of desperation. Hmm...

[msanthrope]

13. Not just desperation......but these people have no moral boundaries. nt

[Cha]

22. I don't think they care.

[littlemissmartypants]

31. Exactly Cha.

One of the hallmarks, that attitude of disrespect for the law.

[Cha]

32. Thank you for that, littlemisssmartypants.. it's so obvious

[GoCubsGo]

8. Yep.I dread finding out what they're about to pull.

It will have to be BIG in order to distract everyone from this.

[msanthrope]

12. That's what I mean. Really big.....and there's no one they wouldn't sacrifice. nt

[GoCubsGo]

17. Yeah, I'm afraid people are going die over this.

Quite possibly lots and lots of them. And, you are right. They won't care, just so long as they can exploit it all.

[struggle4progress]

14. Forewarned is forearmed. Let's get to work and bring the whole wormy rotten rightwing tower

crashing down. It may cost us somewhat more than we like, but we can win

[workinclasszero]

15. I would not put it pass Trump/Bannon

To arrange an incident to save their political lives.

Or maybe a nice little war eh?

We must all pull together with BLOTUS 45 then right?

HA!!! They better pray to Ayn Rand that nothing happens anytime soon because EVERYONE will think they are behind it now!

[Jim Beard]

64. Trumps time is getting closer

&list=RDkBfxl_T6ldg#t=19

&list=RDkBfxl_T6ldg#t=19" target="_blank">Bye, Bye Trumpie

[pangaia]

16. Yes...same feeling

[Adrahil]

18. Two possibilities IMO...

1) Trump starts something with Iran.

2) Putin does something provocative to allow Trump to respond strongly against. Putin and Trump "negotiate" and back down a bit allowing Trump to seize headlines and push the story that he was "tough" in Russia.

I think it will be option 2.

[roamer65]

19. Cats out of the bag, now. Reichstag type shit would bring millions into the streets.

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. I think you're right. Bad move on their part if they pull that crap.

[msanthrope]

53. They don't see that as a consequence. Millions could come out they'd

claim they were Soros-paid protestors.

[BainsBane]

20. I think they were trying to invent one

That's what Bowling Green was, only it failed miserably.

[jalan48]

21. I agree-hopefully they are wounded enough to stop it's effects.

[bellmartin]

23. I don't think he can help himself

The juxtaposition of past events, current events, and his personality traits seem to make a Reichstag Fire incident that appears to involve non-citizens here in the U.S. not just possible, but almost inevitable.

He’s bragged many times about knowingly parading a “Potemkin Village”-type show to get what he wanted. He either believes that “radical Islamic terrorism” is an existential threat, or is callously willing to play on that belief in his followers, making extreme means to counter it justified by the end. He will not tolerate being proven wrong or denied the right to do something he wants, no matter how heinous.

It seems to me that it’s such a perfect fit for him and the current situation that he’ll OK it, even if one is expected and predicted by many people. In the simplistic vision he gravitates to, it’s been proven to work. However, I think that if the idea is in the air, a part of the public discussion before the event, it makes it that much easier to recognize and prove who the real guilty party was. And here’s a potential ace in the hole… people have succeeded in such crimes before, with enormous consequences, but… were they as incompetent, impetuous, and shockingly transparent in their lies as he is? I don’t think so. It may be the way we get rid of him quickly, when his people’s fingerprints are proven to be on it.

I notice that the actual Reichstag fire occurred less than a month after Germany had elected the new chancellor…

[msanthrope]

24. This is it in a nutshell. The normal boundaries don't apply to Trump.

He'd do it because he can't comprehend suffering any consequences.

[BannonsLiver]

25. Nope

They would need the support of the intel community to pull that off. Anyone here think they've got it?

[regnaD kciN]

28. Unless they use Russia's intel community instead

[BannonsLiver]

30. Nah, this isn't a Tom Clancy novel

and they're every bit as likely to cut their losses, or rather, their gains.

Russia's chief advisary is in a state of deep turmoil that gets worse by the day. Putin's primary objective has been achieved. He's playing with house money now.

[CanonRay]

26. I'm hoping they aren't as clever as the Nazis

[Dallasdem1988]

35. It wasn't the Nazis were clever

They just capitalized on a fools deed

[Kablooie]

37. He might have been the Nazis' fool through. Well never really know.

[Dallasdem1988]

48. This is true

We can't know for sure, but it is widely believed that he was indeed an anarchist. Not that it makes it any better either way.

[Generic Brad]

29. I completely share your dread

They are running out of time. It's coming within the next 5 days.

[jO456]

33. I thought something was going to happen at the superbowl to get

[jmowreader]

52. If Trump's NFL besties hadn't been in the game...maybe

[Dallasdem1988]

34. As long as we

Keep those black bloc loons in check their wont be one. Last thing we need is some idiot like the non students at Berkeley to decide to do some "bash the fash" mission that we all pay for.

People are waking up to this nightmare, violence and destruction of property will undermine everything we have going for us.

[Kablooie]

36. Bannon might do it.

I expect Trump would be too oblivious of the true situation to organize something like this.

[workinclasszero]

57. Yeah Bannon would be the mastermind

Trump is too busy watching TV, eating junk food and spreading lies via twitter.

I think Dump is just a figurehead.

Bannon is the real 45.

[VOX]

72. Exactly. Bannon is to Trump as Cheney was to W.

And as horrible as Cheney was, Bannon, I believe, is functionally psychotic and seriously dangerous.

Trump doesn't prepare for anything, is shockingly dumb (doesn't know who Frederick Douglass was???), and merely enjoys the title and playing the role.

Bannon is the head of the serpent.

[VOX]

73. Even when I'm pleasantly high, this very thought intrudes.

It feels as if it's set in stone, as if it already happened. I hate to say it, as I'm not prone to conspiracy-theorizing, but I put nothing...NOTHING beyond this band of amoral pirates. They have no compassion or empathy, or sense of right and wrong.

Bannon, especially...repulsive in body and mind, three failed marriages, a violent abuser, anti-Semitic...he'd fit in nicely in 1933 Germany.

[workinclasszero]

74. I agree

Trump is an ignorant pussy grabbing wastrel.

Bannon is a student of history and a fucking Nazi or just a plain fascist if you prefer.

He is bound and determined to subvert our democracy and unite this country with dictator Putin's Russian and start a holy war in the ME.

We should fear that bastard. He wants Armageddon and his finger is inches away from the end of the world button 24/7 now

[BringBackBarack]

39. Every morning when I wake up I am almost surprised

And say to myself, "Well, we survived another night." I worry that soon I won't be able to say that anymore. And my husband and I are Muslim (I am white and was born in Kansas, and he is a naturalized citizen born and raised in Pakistan). I know whatever happens will be blamed on Muslims, and I am trying quite hard not to be petrified.

[zentrum]

40. Very much so. nt

[calimary]

41. Yes. Sorry to say, yes. I suspect they wouldn't think twice about it, if they thought it would

silence the opposition, stop the rallies and the activism, muzzle the press for asking too many questions, and ensure they stayed in power. In a New York minute.

It sure turned things around for bush/cheney. Just sayin'. After 9/11, never was heard a discouraging word. For several years. And they all still walk free, unpunished, unindicted, unimpeached, having NEVER faced any kind of justice, to this very day. Back then there were two tracks of thought as to explaining why 9/11 happened. Anybody remember the LIHOP vs. MIHOP argument (Let It Happen On Purpose vs. Make It Happen On Purpose)? I always leaned toward the more passive LIHOP direction. However, anything that might happen from here on, I'd probably go the other way.

These people, Bannon in particular, have an AGENDA that they are hellbent on implementing. At all costs, and by any means possible. Let's hope they're so hobbled by the investigations and scandals and inquiries that they can't get anything done!

[iluvtennis]

42. Agree with you. Makes me sick to my stomach. Hope some relief is in site. #NewElection

[akbacchus_BC]

46. As you already know, the GOPs is for its party and not for the people.

What boggles my mind is why the GOP supporters vote for them every time. Are they clueless? The way the organge guy managed to bring out the worst in a small segment of America is unbelievable. Those folks are racists and trump spoke to them!

[Kimchijeon]

47. Yeah it does go with the clich

At least we won't be so surprised ....💀

[Hekate]

49. I took the day off from existential dread and simply enjoyed the cluster* that was the Japanese PM's

...visit to The World Famous White House. Imagine trying to explain this past weekend to someone who was sick all last week and missed the tv reports entirely, such as my Pilates guru this afternoon.

Everything from the horrible handshake to the dinner in the clubhouse dining room (No state dinner for you, Shinzo!) that included a real 1950-style iceberg lettuce wedge salad amidst people who paid $200,000 to join Mar A Lago is risible. Then the international crisis in full view of the club members, who took some pictures, along with the aides who spread the papers out and illuminated them with their own cell phones, while staff members worked invisibly all around and who the hell knows who among them is recording this for posterity and/or Putin. And the man with more money than brains who posted a note on his facebook page saying excitedly that he had met Rick! Who carries the nuclear football! And here's a selfie with Rick!

Somehow I had entered the Comedy of the Absurd Zone, which is just a little askew from the Twilight Zone, and for a few hours I couldn't stop laughing.

Oh well, I am returning to normal, thanks to several hours of CNN and MSNBC this evening. I have no idea what the Reichstag Fire will turn out to be, but clearly Trump is going to have to do something to wag the dog. The GOP has become rotten to the core in their mindless pursuit of power.

[Warren DeMontague]

50. I'm hoping

They are as incompetent as they appear to be.

[msanthrope]

62. Yeah.... but why do you think incompetence stops death? nt

[Warren DeMontague]

63. It doesn't, by any means. But my point is I don't know if this is some well-crafted plot

and not just the shambling train wreck it appears to be.

[bathroommonkey76]

51. The military planes flying over my place (since election day) have given me that feeling. nt

[LanternWaste]

60. Trump administration far too incompetent to fathom the mere concept of fire

Trump administration far too incompetent to fathom the mere concept of fire, let alone any political purposes it could be used for.

Applying Machiavellian schemes or a Martin Bormann-style cabal to Trump's people is as the application of Gustav Eiffel's or James Watt's engineering genius to Wile E. Coyote.

We are wasting time looking for subtlety of ideas and deftness of practice in an otherwise clumsy and obvious little fella whose administration suffers from "left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing" syndrome.

[msanthrope]

61. They'll contract it out. nt

[workinclasszero]

65. To the current KGB or whatever it's called

Highly possible huh?

[Tatiana]

66. Yes. I do. I keep waiting for the BIG ONE.

It doesn't matter that we are on to them. They are pure evil. They would do it as a FU to the rest of us on their way to hell.

[ElementaryPenguin]

67. Trump BETTER NOT with the Intelligence Community scrutinizing his every move!

Our allies too! The Trump Reichsters would get busted and wind up getting themselves executed !!! Bad time to try to pull that trick - with the whole world on to them!

[msanthrope]

69. And after that presser....nt

[msanthrope]

70. I'm telling ya'....every hour I check the BBC to make sure we are here. nt

[kairos12]

71. It's already started with his media Quislings. The MSM is the kindling.