From: bowman@montana.com   
      
   On Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:41:03 GMT, Charlie Gibbs wrote:   
      
   > On 2026-01-12, The Natural Philosopher  wrote:   
   >   
   >> On 12/01/2026 01:49, c186282 wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> I don't know if 'western civ' can continue much longer   
   >>>    in this environment. Totalitarian/authoritarian states however   
   >>>    CAN.   
   >>   
   >> Oddly enough I think the reverse. But then we in the UK have a strong   
   >> movement away from shit leaders and brainless authoritarianism, a state   
   >> that the US has yet to embrace.   
   >>   
   >> But another couple of Trump years ought to do the trick.   
   >   
   > Hopefully it won't be too late by then.  I can just hear a new MAGA   
   > battle cry: "No 22 in 28!"  For if the 22nd amendment is rescinded, the   
   > US is ready to have a dictator for life.   
      
   Elderly dictators tend to be self canceling. The 22nd cuts both ways. I   
   know it will never happen but if by some miracle we got a really, really   
   competent president...   
      
   Kurt Schlicter had an interesting take today. Vance would be the natural   
   candidate but Schlicter hopes he is primaried by some competent   
   alternatives. He wants Vance to ultimately get the nomination after   
   ripping the guts out of formidable challengers so he'll have built the   
   teams and tools to take on whatever the Democrats come up with.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)