:crabs x10000:

  • Mardoniush [she/her]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    Approving of all the jokes, but also remember, she was, much like the emperor in 40k, a rotting hub of an entire power network that the Democrats failed to transit away to a successor. This is a disaster for them as decades of institutional knowledge, power, and connections is wiped out and they scramble to fight amongst the scraps for their own patronage networks.

    We’re going to see this happen a lot, as neither the GOP nor the Dems have stable power transitions, elder retired statesmen, a formal ladder of heirachy, or even just a personal apprenticeship system. Every Gerontocrat that dies hollows the US state out in a way that decades of UK politicians actively trying could only dream of.

    • combat_brandonism [they/them]@hexbear.net
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      1 year ago

      This is a disaster for them as decades of institutional knowledge, power, and connections is wiped out and they scramble to fight amongst the scraps for their own patronage networks.

      We’re going to see this happen a lot, as neither the GOP nor the Dems have stable power transitions, elder retired statesmen, a formal ladder of heirachy, or even just a personal apprenticeship system. Every Gerontocrat that dies hollows the US state out in a way that decades of UK politicians actively trying could only dream of.

      party-sicko

        • Frank [he/him, he/him]@hexbear.net
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          1 year ago

          Obummer is an entirely self-interested Neoliberal loser, though. He can’t help them navigate an institutional collapse. He never did anything to develop a new generation of party members, all he’s done is cash in and occaisionally step out of retirement to make things dramatically worse.

          • combat_brandonism [they/them]@hexbear.net
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            1 year ago

            Mostly good take, I would argue he has done patronage and it’s the reason the technocrat neolibs wield so much power in the party and in the private sector.

            It even intrudes on my industry where some webshit devs are still coasting on ‘saving healthcare.gov’.

    • NewLeaf [he/him]@hexbear.netOP
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      1 year ago

      I just don’t get it! There are plenty of Gen X neoliberal stooges they could pass this on to. They could continue dying at their desks and still get a good roster going. I guess it just goes to show that they don’t even care about what happens to their projects after they die. It’s all about grifting and hanging out with Epstein

      • nat_turner_overdrive [he/him]@hexbear.net
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        1 year ago

        I don’t know who said it but I saw a description of this that made sense to me. In previous eras, American politicians had policy visions, real projects they were trying to see enacted. They could find successors and train them, introduce them into their patronage networks, etc. The modern era of American politics lacks any cohesive vision (beyond dismantling the system and selling it off to private owners), they don’t have any vision of a future to share with younger politicos. There is no larger project they are a part of, they are all there simply for the personal power, influence, and the wealth that brings them. There’s no compelling reason to step down if you don’t give a shit what happens after you die, so you just ride it out.

    • Frank [he/him, he/him]@hexbear.net
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      1 year ago

      This is a good point. Biden has no successor. There is no charismatic and widely liked Democrat being groomed for power. All they’ve got a Kopmala, who can’t speak in public without saying something bizarre and laughing at a strategically devastating moment, and rat boy, who is mostly known for his skills in racism and killing dogs.

      Obama disbanding his troops then letting the entire state level Dem apparatus starve without support looks so much bigger in retrospect.

      • robot_dog_with_gun [they/them]@hexbear.net
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        1 year ago

        from the perspective of the party’s long-term interest, they have AOC but they’re too right wing to get behind her and save capitalism. What they should have but don’t is someone exactly like AOC (but more openly neolib) with 5 or 10 more years experience to do another 2008 obama.

        the closest thing to anyone reasonable is probably governor whitmer and i only say that because i don’t know how old she is.