I came back to read this piece after today’s news, just to reread everything to make sure that there doesn’t seem to be a set playbook for this situation. That they beat all those odds. That Orban actually did concede. The breath of relief I gave…thank you Jay. I needed this piece. Both before and after. Thank you.
It is so important for people to compare our autocratic slide, and see the similarities but also the differences. We must keep fighting back each step of the way.
all the people in this article who are under attack while defending our democracy should be sent a copy of robert reich's column about the institutions that have pushed back and are doing well, and the ones that folded and are not doing so well. resistance works.
What makes me so mad is the blatant way he sends VP over to "support" him! “What has happened in this country, what has happened in the midst of this election campaign, is one of the worst examples of foreign election interference that I’ve ever seen or ever even read about,” Vance told a news conference. “The bureaucrats in Brussels have tried to destroy the economy of Hungary." How can Congress continue to support this administration????
Thank you for this information. It is further proof that my state of Texas is now an authoritarian state. Texas Republicans' playbook was Orban before Orban. Unlike Trump, Republicans here have consolidated power. Texas used to be much more oriented toward local control. However, Texas Republicans in Austin have jerked that local control back to Austin and started cramming down unpopular policies without worry because of gerrymandering and their consolidated power.
Also, the Texas constitution is extremely easy to amend. In fact, pretty much every election has a proposed constitutional amendment (or ten) on it. Republicans have achieved amendments which transfer our natural resources into private, multi-national corporations' hands and sell it as "free" enterprise and rugged individualism. In fact, it is the opposite of that, unless you are one of their chosen insiders. And if you are an insider "free" means free ride on the Texas taxpayer's back.
In the most recent election, Republicans wrote proposed amendments in the most deceptive and misrepresentative way possible. Constitutional amendments always pass. They are never publicized, explained or dissected. People just check yes because it is impossible to stand and read a proposal on a ballot for the first time and figure out if it is a good idea.
So, federalism is our saving grace in this country. But, local control itself can be co-opted as well as Texas shows. I think there are examples of everything on the Orban checklist in Texas right now. Then, think about Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, etc. etc. all bowing to Trump and backing his plays in Washington. Fully defeating Trump's power consolidation requires national political operatives to integrate their strategies in places they don't think they can win and fight locally everywhere.
I hope Orbán loses because he doesn't deserve to be Hungary's leader after how he's treated it. And Trump, stay the f*ck out of Hungary, you’re not going to make things worse for the Hungarians like you're making it for us and the Middle East!
Staggering that the American VP is currently openly stumping for a Putin backed tyrant in Hungary. This should automatically render Vance and his psychotic boss unfit to continue to hold an elected position of any kind. Wake up America!
Terrifying. I see elements of this in Australia. (Rupert Murdoch has so much power here.) Our saving grace is that voting here is mandatory. I am thankful to be made aware of the ‘original template’. Hopefully it will allow us to see the red flags more readily. Hopefully Hungary can regrasp democracy before it’s too late. Hopefully the USA can regrasp democracy before it’s too late.
Great analysis! The similarities are disturbing, but the differences are telling as well. One more significant difference—Orban may be a megalomaniacal bully and narcissist, but I don’t think he is suffering rapid mental decline right before our very eyes.
It seems to me that an endorsement from Trump and Vance could be a negative. It was that way in Canada. Vance has a very negative attitude toward Europe and vice versus.
Wow! After reading this I see myself as a double loser: an American with Hungarian heritage. I'm hoping that Orban goes down in this election, that the Hungarians are smart enough to foil all the disinformation they've been bathed in.
I came back to read this piece after today’s news, just to reread everything to make sure that there doesn’t seem to be a set playbook for this situation. That they beat all those odds. That Orban actually did concede. The breath of relief I gave…thank you Jay. I needed this piece. Both before and after. Thank you.
https://captainfransentim.substack.com/p/europe-at-a-crossroads-confronting?r=5jmmex&utm_medium=ios
It is so important for people to compare our autocratic slide, and see the similarities but also the differences. We must keep fighting back each step of the way.
all the people in this article who are under attack while defending our democracy should be sent a copy of robert reich's column about the institutions that have pushed back and are doing well, and the ones that folded and are not doing so well. resistance works.
So friggen frightening.
This is the stuff nightmares are made of.
Can’t wait to wake up!
Jay this has been very educational and well written, thanks you.
The first thing that came to mind when I saw the picture attached to this article is, "Yep. That's definitely a cock holster, and Orban likes it."
What makes me so mad is the blatant way he sends VP over to "support" him! “What has happened in this country, what has happened in the midst of this election campaign, is one of the worst examples of foreign election interference that I’ve ever seen or ever even read about,” Vance told a news conference. “The bureaucrats in Brussels have tried to destroy the economy of Hungary." How can Congress continue to support this administration????
"How can Congress continue to support this administration????"
Congress IS this administration.
Now both are puppets of Putin.
https://musingsofanobody.substack.com/p/putins-american-puppets-are-on-the?r=q8120
Thank you for this information. It is further proof that my state of Texas is now an authoritarian state. Texas Republicans' playbook was Orban before Orban. Unlike Trump, Republicans here have consolidated power. Texas used to be much more oriented toward local control. However, Texas Republicans in Austin have jerked that local control back to Austin and started cramming down unpopular policies without worry because of gerrymandering and their consolidated power.
Also, the Texas constitution is extremely easy to amend. In fact, pretty much every election has a proposed constitutional amendment (or ten) on it. Republicans have achieved amendments which transfer our natural resources into private, multi-national corporations' hands and sell it as "free" enterprise and rugged individualism. In fact, it is the opposite of that, unless you are one of their chosen insiders. And if you are an insider "free" means free ride on the Texas taxpayer's back.
In the most recent election, Republicans wrote proposed amendments in the most deceptive and misrepresentative way possible. Constitutional amendments always pass. They are never publicized, explained or dissected. People just check yes because it is impossible to stand and read a proposal on a ballot for the first time and figure out if it is a good idea.
So, federalism is our saving grace in this country. But, local control itself can be co-opted as well as Texas shows. I think there are examples of everything on the Orban checklist in Texas right now. Then, think about Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, etc. etc. all bowing to Trump and backing his plays in Washington. Fully defeating Trump's power consolidation requires national political operatives to integrate their strategies in places they don't think they can win and fight locally everywhere.
I hope Orbán loses because he doesn't deserve to be Hungary's leader after how he's treated it. And Trump, stay the f*ck out of Hungary, you’re not going to make things worse for the Hungarians like you're making it for us and the Middle East!
Staggering that the American VP is currently openly stumping for a Putin backed tyrant in Hungary. This should automatically render Vance and his psychotic boss unfit to continue to hold an elected position of any kind. Wake up America!
Terrifying. I see elements of this in Australia. (Rupert Murdoch has so much power here.) Our saving grace is that voting here is mandatory. I am thankful to be made aware of the ‘original template’. Hopefully it will allow us to see the red flags more readily. Hopefully Hungary can regrasp democracy before it’s too late. Hopefully the USA can regrasp democracy before it’s too late.
Great analysis! The similarities are disturbing, but the differences are telling as well. One more significant difference—Orban may be a megalomaniacal bully and narcissist, but I don’t think he is suffering rapid mental decline right before our very eyes.
It seems to me that an endorsement from Trump and Vance could be a negative. It was that way in Canada. Vance has a very negative attitude toward Europe and vice versus.
Wow! After reading this I see myself as a double loser: an American with Hungarian heritage. I'm hoping that Orban goes down in this election, that the Hungarians are smart enough to foil all the disinformation they've been bathed in.