demagogue on 12/9/2025 at 23:02

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He can't have his reichstag fire moment unless he shows credible grief and deference.

Practically speaking, his death was gift to Trump because it shut up one of the influential Epstein files pushers on the right, which is presumably why the two or three times reporters asked Trump about it he seemed really upbeat, even giddy, especially the one where his answer was he was doing great following the death because his white house ballroom was being built. I can imagine, aside from bilking the rubes as usual, half of his motivation in pulling out all the stops out for the guy is his relief or appreciation for the annoyance having been silenced.

I guess it's worth noting that the assassin seemed to be a groyper killing Kirk for not being white nationalist enough & pushing the Epstein hoax against the Dear Leader, and maybe some kook wing accellerationism in the mix. If Trump ever does talk about him, listen to how he phrases it. But I think he won't speak of him in light of any details like he couldn't for Crooks.

Nicker on 18/9/2025 at 03:25

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I understand the cynicism many have to the suggestion of using Truth & Reconciliation in the USA. Criticism and negativity are default human responses. This is par for the course where I work, especially when doing group problem solving.

There is plenty to be cynical about in the USA, at the best of times, and these are the worst of times. The great democratic experiment is poised to crash and burn, in large part because its safeguards were put in place by people who expected that the resistance to tyranny would be strong and swift and unanimous. The Founders could not have imagined that its greatest weakness was their presumption that decency would naturally overwhelm and prevail, quickly and decisively. They did not anticipate fully, the slow and deliberate erosion of the protections they put in place, or that the majority of elected officers would allow, and even encourage, the wholesale defiance of the Constitution. They could not imagine that not one but all three branches would be bent to the breaking by one foul hand.

Not to imply that Trump is working alone or that he is the mastermind. He is but a diseased tool in the hands of the usual suspects.

So the first question isn't how might a process of T&R be enacted. The first question must be; is the USA worth saving?

I say it is. As a Canadian, it's not directly my business but as a citizen of a world, increasingly threatened by fascist mobs and greedy tyrants, saving the first and greatest democracy is a must. And with nothing to lose, it's worth a try.


The fork in the road for the USA, seems to be Civil War OR Everything Slowly Drifts Back To Normal, hopefully. Of course, there is always surrendering to tyranny but that's more the consequence of not choosing, rather than a choice itself.

Unlike the retrospective forms of T&R we have in Canada or we see in South Africa, the proposal in this thread is a proactive form, intended to provide an escape for average people who feel genuinely betrayed by their Dear Leader. It might show a way back for those politicians who have retained some sliver of decency and for those enablers, in all three branches, who still treasure their country.

Perhaps the offer of an olive branch rather than the threat of a club, can turn the tide and tip the balance. Of course you can't actually hold a commission until after 47 is out of office but a bi-partisan agreement to have a T&R immediately afterwards, would be incentive enough.

It sounds better than another Civil War, IMO.

nickie on 20/9/2025 at 10:47

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I've managed, with difficulty, to move DuatDweller's post but I see there are other posts which need moving and I'll ask Al to have a look as I also am having problems with access and timeouts and other stuff.