But it's not the inability of institutions. It's the learned helplessness of Congressional Republicans. - ThreadSky

kairyssdal.bsky.social • 2 days ago

But it's not the inability of institutions. It's the learned helplessness of Congressional Republicans.

This is a very good point that I haven't seen made yet.

It's not just Trump that is undermining trust in the US. It is also the inability of US institutions to stop him.

And even if you make that "inability to stop him so far," it's already too far to maintain trust.

Comments

marker-maker.bsky.social•2 days ago

And some justices seem to be learning from them.

flattop100.bsky.social•2 days ago

It's hard to break free when you join a cult.

edwardthethird.bsky.social•2 days ago

A flock of cowards

edwardthethird.bsky.social•2 days ago

It’s not helplessness. It’s fear. It’s wanting to hold on to their power. It’s fear of Trump. They know that he will own this party until he is gone

pch1960.bsky.social•2 days ago

Even 'learned helplessness' is a dodge. They are, by definition, 100% on board with this, whatever weak bleating they emit to the contrary. They have the power to stop him anytime. If they continue to not act they're more guilty than he is because Congress is actually where the buck stops.

grammacappy.bsky.social•2 days ago

Yep. Trump is Trump..same Trump(although more unchecked). He is acting like himself every damned day. It is the Congress SAYING NOTHING that is the most shocking-if we still have democracy it will be there demise IMO

lguap0.bsky.social•2 days ago

It’s neither. It’s voters that reward a weak Congress. Hoping that people in Congress will do the right thing because they’re just good people is wish casting at best. You need an electorate that cares. The American electorate does not.

nottooloud.bsky.social•2 days ago

and law firms, and educational institutions, and...

noletx.bsky.social•2 days ago

It’s not “learned hopelessness”, it’s cowardice, for fear of a mean girls tweet…

garyprkr.bsky.social•2 days ago

I don’t think it’s learned helplessness as much as spineless cowardice of republicans willing to stand on truth and principles

bluemeade7.bsky.social•2 days ago

This is not learned helplessness, this is INTENTIONAL defiance of the rule of law.

junnyb.bsky.social•2 days ago

I agree with you Kai with the exception of the phrase "learned helplessness" that phrase assumes a victimhood or trauma. They are not victims - they are choosing inaction. I believe they are making a calculated choice by obeying in advance.

vjpme.bsky.social•2 days ago

This exactly. They changed the meaning of a day to include the entire Congressional session so they could abscond their powers to Trump. Who does that? Republicans are greedy, evil cowards.

adrianwashere.bsky.social•2 days ago

Learned helplessness? Or complicity?

laurenbrns.bsky.social•2 days ago

Destroying the power of the federal government increases the power of their state over the businesses (and people) within them. This is about creating 50 fiefdoms that can be more easily corrupted and looted.

txdcny.bsky.social•2 days ago

Are they helpless or just supportive of the admin?

Maybe they only care abt retaining power & believe that the Trump admin suppression of decent helps maintain gop control of gov more than their unpopular policies hurt?

junipersbird.bsky.social•2 days ago

That's far too generous. The Republicans are willfully complicit.

hopeislikethesun.bsky.social•2 days ago

The Constitution and founding fathers expected uprisings from the people in the face of tyranny like we are seeing now when Congress and institutions failed https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/105.html

alecperkins.me•2 days ago

They deserve a lot of the blame but not completely. He plainly should have been in handcuffs on Jan 21, 2021, but wasn’t for the sake of “norms”.

kathyraines.bsky.social•2 days ago

Mitchell "Norms" McConnell.

chicken-squawk.bsky.social•2 days ago

And worse yet, the willingness of some Democrats to piecemeal support his policies

miss0line.bsky.social•2 days ago

Are they being threatened or are they financially benefitting?

quacks-anonymous.bsky.social•2 days ago

Also add Biden, who was a good president at the wrong time for the country, and the ineptitude of Merrick Garland. We literally had Trump on the ropes with Jack Smith but ran out of time.

jenji.bsky.social•2 days ago

This is the reason bond yields are rising. Congressional Republicans are content to let Trump destroy the economy

510pat.bsky.social•2 days ago

This is correct. Focus on the bad actors in power. It’s the GOP, from Trump to Congress to the Supreme Court. Place the blame where it belongs.

blimple.bsky.social•2 days ago

Also democrats and reporters and university heads and law firms and…. Everyone

vs-phd.bsky.social•2 days ago

Is it helplessness though? Most are perfectly happy with the plan, no?

mattbarrs.bsky.social•2 days ago

If you expand institutions to mean the press, business leaders, universities and major lawfirms... yes inability or unwillingness across the board.

joesegal.bsky.social•2 days ago

They have and had no desire to stop him, Kai. Never have. Never will. Their goal was the destruction of the state so they can reap massive gains for themselves & their wealthiest patrons and they don't care about any of us, if we live or die. Any of us!

That's the MAGA GOP. It is. It has been.

mikecherry.bsky.social•2 days ago

s/fealty/helplessness

jpmcjefferson.bsky.social•2 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/jpmcjefferson.bsky.social/post/3lmmjnzyops24

accadacca.bsky.social•2 days ago

Congressional Republicans haven’t been made helpless. They’ve chosen to be.

catharsis23.bsky.social•2 days ago

Learned helplessness? They're hooting and hollering with glee!

lahoff.bsky.social•2 days ago

That's right. Inability is not the same as unwillingness.

mxhrad.bsky.social•2 days ago

It’s not “helplessness.” Republican actively want a dictatorship run by a madman.

chadcrichton.bsky.social•2 days ago

I promise you that no one outside of the United States is upset that CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS aren't doing anything to protest against Trump or try to stop him from doing what he's doing.

The Republicans are doing exactly what we expect Republicans to do. It's EVERYONE ELSE who's shocking us.

jjkettlewell.com•2 days ago

"Learned helplessness" or moral rot? The entire Republican party has been focused on a single goal for decades: slashing help for the poor and the weakest among us in order to give tax breaks to the richest.

zjsimmons.bsky.social•2 days ago

Helpless is a weird way to think of accomplices IMO

whykiki.bsky.social•2 days ago

With a handful of exceptions, the GOP has always been a power-mad money-grubbing con. All that stuff about the Constitution and strong families and fiscal responsibility was always just a way to con voters into giving them, their donors and cronies money and power.

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