You've likely seen the news by now that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party was decisively routed by the opposition Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar. Orban had been in power for 16 years, that time marked by an increasing turn to authoritarianism.
(As an aside, being called Peter Magyar in Hungary is like being called Pete American here. Do with that what you will.)
Tisza's win is a victory for the people of Hungary, who turned out in record numbers to repudiate the loathsome Orban. More than 80% of eligible voters across the country cast ballots. Closer to home, it's a significant blow to those on the right who embraced Orban's approach as a model for American society. Fuckers like Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, Rod Dreher, Ilya Shapiro, and our dipshit President have caped for Orban for years. The goddamn Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the front line of the reactionary right in America, has been hosting events in Hungary since 2022.
It's not an overstatement, in my ball-knowing mind, to say that Orban's defeat signals a turning point in the rise of authoritarianism across Europe. It also likely means good things for Ukraine (and by comparison, bad things for Russia). Orban's Hungary had been the lone holdout in keeping the European Union from increasing its aid to Volodmyr Zelenskyy's government. Good on you, people of Hungary.
In his victory speech, Magyar minced no words. Speaking of the Orban administration officials whose corruption and anti-democratic actions crippled the Hungarian economy, he said, "No mercy, they will need to take responsibility for all their actions." Hear me now and believe me later - I will back whatever Democrat makes that the first plank of his or her platform.
Independent journalist Caolan Robertson has been reporting from Budapest for the past several weeks. Here's a good segment he released yesterday on the mood in the streets. (It's about 16 minutes - suck it up and watch something good for you, ya filthy animals.)
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My peoples! JD Vance is the mush. He can't even do election interference correctly.
ReplyDeleteThose Hungarians weren't going to listen to that asshole!
ReplyDeletehusky matchday! on the road against a local rival from marls’ neck of the woods. missing two injured starters. if we play to our capability we should be very competitive.
ReplyDeleteThat the American president would get into a public pissing match with the Pope and say that he was the reason Leo was chosen Pope is a level of narcissism that smacks the gob. I leave religious arguments and interpretations to the more knowledgeable and faithful in the commentariat, but hoo buddy, it appears to require some serious mental contortions within the congregation.
ReplyDeleteA Donna post, perhaps?
sometimes everything clicks and a team plays better than the sum of its parts. and sometimes the coach gets too cute with the lineup trying to cover for missing pieces. today was the latter for your huskies. down 2-0 and being dominated after 20 minutes. found something and clawed two back to be level at the break. lost our keeper to what appears to be a broken hand. gave up a pair in the first six minutes of the second half. lost, 4-2. on to rock ridge.
ReplyDelete“Hear me now and believe me later”
ReplyDeleteDid Hungary elect Hans or Franz?
He's there to pump up the economy
ReplyDeletejd vance is a twat. this is my considered political position.
ReplyDeleteTotal
ReplyDeleteDave, I appreciate your optimism in my ability to comment intelligently and cogently on the absolute wacko-ness of DJT and his attempts to engage (?) the Pope. Good fu%&ing Grief!
ReplyDeleteIt's hubris. And deranged. And non-sensical. And just outright weird.
What the Fuck?!
This Pope is from here. You'd think DJT or his handlers would be wanting to champion him/that and turn it TOWARD their "side," NOT go toe-to-toe with him. Because look, every time, the Pope wins. It's as simple as that. Don't be messing with Chicago Catholics. Or any Catholics for that matter. They're not down with messing with the Bishop of Rome. For the freakin' world! And that includes the Catholics that aren't "really" Catholic. You know, the cultural ones - who aren't religious really and are pissed about all the horrible-ness of the Catholic church from forever, if we're honest. Especially with children. But they're still "Catholic" ~
From my point of view, DJT is completely gone. He's a mentally-compromised, narcissist, as diagnosed in the DSM-5. To the letter. It's frightening that he's the leader with his hands on the codes (or whatever!) - he's destroyed our stance as a nation and our rep in the world. And now, the "Christians" of the far right - Franklin Graham and the like - these people who have conflated "Christian Nationalism" with faith - Charlie Kirk people (OMDL!!) - have made real Christian faith a complete joke. It would be funny if it wasn't so serious. Graham's dad is rolling over in his grave. And people who buy this ideology (which is what it is - NOT faith, it's a perversion of faith and it is categorically political in nature), are so fu$%ing confused now about God and Christ, that they've sold themselves to this abomination. It's disgusting and wrong. And so very disappointing. And to take on the Pope -- the very epitome of someone who seeks to live like Jesus taught ...well, like I said, he was never gonna "win" against that.
So - you can see I had something to say this morning. Not super cogent. And not very comprehensive theologically. Not really. The whole thing from a point of faith boils down to this -- for True Christians (with a capital "T"), God and Christ is so far from anything this administration or DJT presents, it's as obvious as the sun rising. And the Pope is the biggest face of the biggest group of Christians in the world (1.4 billion!), the biggest single religious body in the world! That is still so. So, trying to take him on - STUPID! And while I don't know the extent of the damage this admin will have left when they're gone, I do know, it will be deep and long. But in my courage of the Tillich-ian kind (hope even when it seems none should be), I still hold onto the claim, that "the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not [cannot/does not] overcome it." And "weeping may linger in the night, but joy comes in the morning." At least most of the time.
way to piss off the right reverend donna, dave. or should i say the righteous reverend. i’m here for all of that.
ReplyDeleteI think this discourse is helping. I tuned into the am radio, and they're talking lots about the recent ca gov candidate who dropped out amidst allegations of serious sexual misconduct.
ReplyDeleteThat's an issue they care about now. Good work, Gheorghies!