Not dead yet but

[BlueSpot]

I just watched a video on YouTube about the death of Mao Zedong (link to follow). I was in high school at the time and not interested in news or politics. Had a major crush on a schoolmate at the time though, lol. Teenagers, SMH. Some of you are probably familiar with the story already.

It seems to fit what's going on now with Trump. Not only did they hide his illness from the people, they hid it from him. It finally became obvious after pics from a meeting came out showing how seriously bad his condition had become. They still hid him away. There was a big power struggle after he finally died in September 1976. I can totally see that same thing happening here. People vying for power. On a positive note, the crazies were arrested and sanity prevailed. Not sure what reversed that in later years but then I am not a student of Chinese history. Somebody might fill in that info in the comments.

Can you imagine all the people Trump installed into positions of power going into a major power struggle here? OMG, it'd be crazy. I'm not sure where the sanity would come from, if I'm honest. I can think of a few possibilities. But it's where the new leadership would come from so place your bets.

Anyway, if you don't know the story, here's a link to the video:

[markodochartaigh]

1. There is a clear line of succession.

Although I remember when Raygun was shot and Al Haig said that he was in control (which seems to have been sane-washed in recent years). I doubt that there will be a struggle for control of the country, Vance will assume the office.
In the Republican party I think that there will be an enormous power struggle since they completely submitted to Trump. No doubt our oiligarchs will struggle as well. The oiligarchs and the Republicans have to get their base behind someone and I think that they might choose war to solidify their base. I doubt it would be war with Russia since so much of the Republican leadership seems compromised by Putin. I doubt that it would be China even though the military industrial complex has been trying to move the US in that direction. It might be Iran. I expect that war would continue until the US was no longer capable of fighting without nuclear weapons.




https://adst.org/2014/03/al-haig-and-the-reagan-assassination-attempt-im-in-charge-here/

[BlueSpot]

2. Appreciate that comforting thought

I remember the Haig speech. {shudder}

But I still fear things will get very crazy. I mean, Vance? If it isn't public, I can still see it happening behind closed doors.

[markodochartaigh]

3. Vance doesn't seem very popular now even among Republicans.

But see how many Republican voters have started to say good things about Putin and Russia even as Ukraine was invaded.

I think that we shouldn't discount the ability of techbro controlled social media to sway Republican minds, especially if there is a war.

[B.See]

5. Welcome to DU

[marble falls]

7. No time to say hello, goodbye!!!

[markodochartaigh]

6. I grew up in a very red area of Texas a half century ago.

I'm constantly hearing today's Republican politicians say things that I heard back then. And today's Republican voters respond the same as voters did when I was growing up. Authoritarianism is like a cancer which has spread. Back then Amarillo was considered a Southern backwater, decades behind California or New York. Now much of the country has fallen behind, but the attitudes themselves are nothing new.

Edit: And Welcome to DU!