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babylonsister

(172,351 posts)
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 07:08 AM 23 hrs ago

The Sleeping Giant Is Awakening

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/robert-reich/114969/the-sleeping-giant-is-awakening

The Sleeping Giant Is Awakening
by Robert Reich | September 23, 2025 - 5:36am
— from Robert Reich's Substack

Friends,

snip//

You could almost feel the great sleeping giant of America open an eye and frown, then blink both eyes and sit up and stretch, and then roar “what the hell is going on here?”

snip//

The giant roared again a decade later, after television showed civil rights marchers getting clobbered by white supremacists. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act.

It roared again after tens of thousands of young Americans were killed in the jungles of Vietnam, finally bringing to an end one of the nation’s costliest, deadliest, and stupidest wars.

It roared again at Richard Nixon after Nixon was heard on tape plotting the coverup of Watergate — then being forced to exit the White House by helicopter on his way back to California.

It is starting to roar again now — at the sociopathic occupant of the Oval Office who won’t tolerate criticism, who in one wild week revealed his utter contempt for the freedom of Americans to criticize him, to write or speak negatively about him, even to joke about him.

Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I’ve seen a lot. I know the signs. The sleeping giant always remains asleep until some venality becomes so noxious, some action so disrespectful of the common good, some brutality so noisy, that he has no choice but to awaken.

And when he does, the good sense of the American people causes him to put an end to whatever it was that awakened him.
62 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Sleeping Giant Is Awakening (Original Post) babylonsister 23 hrs ago OP
Get thee to the greatest page malaise 23 hrs ago #1
I most pellucidly agree GreenWave 21 hrs ago #19
Hehehe malaise 21 hrs ago #21
The sleeping giant is now woke. sop 23 hrs ago #2
Nicely played malaise 21 hrs ago #24
I hope this is true. SamKnause 23 hrs ago #3
K&R spanone 23 hrs ago #4
let us hope.... markie 23 hrs ago #5
Who would have guessed that mnhtnbb 23 hrs ago #6
Believe Kimmel was the straw that broke the camel's back. KS Toronado 21 hrs ago #26
His guest tonight is BonnieJW 20 hrs ago #32
Oh boy, this ought to be real FUN KS Toronado 20 hrs ago #34
Might watch, tho I usually don't; PBS and movies preferred. elleng 18 hrs ago #40
Actually Gov. Newsome is a guest on Stephen Colbert tonight. FakeNoose 12 hrs ago #56
Tonights Episode: The Constitution! BidenRocks 17 hrs ago #44
Agree. MorbidButterflyTat 14 hrs ago #53
I'm not buying it Random Boomer 18 hrs ago #37
That was compounded by Trump's own remarks afterward NH Ethylene 14 hrs ago #54
HEAR, HEAR Skittles 1 hr ago #62
Epstein! Epstein! Epstein! MrWowWow 23 hrs ago #7
Sadly ironic that... Trueblue Texan 22 hrs ago #8
The Oval Oaf of offal. BattleRow 6 hrs ago #60
As I remember it there was always a significant number who remained sound asleep. gordianot 22 hrs ago #9
yes Dyedinthewoolliberal 18 hrs ago #38
Saturday October 18: No Kings! . . . . .nt Bernardo de La Paz 22 hrs ago #10
I still can't fathom why we don't have more frequent protests... johnnyplankton 22 hrs ago #12
You are free to organize locally. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz 22 hrs ago #13
People in Tucson have been protesting weekly in some locations Attilatheblond 21 hrs ago #20
Greta Thunberg protested MorbidButterflyTat 14 hrs ago #55
I pray this Kimmel incident wakes some people up as to what is happening. Katinfl 22 hrs ago #11
This belongs here malaise 22 hrs ago #14
Together, the American People have HUGE financial power that can crush these corporate cowards. Joinfortmill 22 hrs ago #15
This! Ray Bruns 22 hrs ago #16
Well, you just don't fuck with their TV shows ashredux 22 hrs ago #17
I remember Traildogbob 21 hrs ago #27
The new third rail of American politics is late night tv Blues Heron 22 hrs ago #18
nothing will happen azureblue 21 hrs ago #22
Just as the 'Sinister Six' are doing. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E 21 hrs ago #25
I Wonder What Would Happen Mr.Bee 21 hrs ago #23
"The Sleeping Giant Is Awakening" J_William_Ryan 21 hrs ago #28
All this hell Traildogbob 21 hrs ago #29
I certainly hope this is the case relayerbob 21 hrs ago #30
POS signed an Antifa Act as terrorism act yestersay pioche4 21 hrs ago #31
I had sticky notes from by the DAV. I did this Captain Zero 10 hrs ago #57
Yup. BumRushDaShow 20 hrs ago #33
I'm hopefully tending to agree that we've hit an inflection point. slightlv 20 hrs ago #35
This is my hope. Martin68 19 hrs ago #36
I will withhold my optimism, if SCOTUS gives him more power, I can't see a political way out. Bev54 18 hrs ago #39
We've all felt some rumblings of pushback and resistance building! I, like many, bemoan the slothlike speed liberalla 18 hrs ago #41
Well at least it woke the sleeping giant of Corporate entertainment companies Beringia 18 hrs ago #42
FLUSH HIM LIKE A GOOD BM. TAKE ACTION TODAY. (Indivisible and NoKings) FIGHT BACK WITH FRIENDS usonian 18 hrs ago #43
Wake up America! oasis 17 hrs ago #45
"You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the other possibilities" Hekate 17 hrs ago #46
Please let this be true. nt PufPuf23 17 hrs ago #47
God willing Mme. Defarge 17 hrs ago #48
K&R red dog 1 16 hrs ago #49
I have been witnessing this steadily since Drumpf's inauguration in January. During his first term, I attended a few KitFox 15 hrs ago #50
Same here! BigmanPigman 10 hrs ago #58
Sleeping giant should have awoken about ten months ago. WarGamer 15 hrs ago #51
Fi Fie Fo Fum..... Bayard 15 hrs ago #52
DISNEY / ABC clearly got the message !!!!! Jack Valentino 7 hrs ago #59
I think the sleeping giant has been drugged by billionaires. C Moon 1 hr ago #61

markie

(23,643 posts)
5. let us hope....
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 07:28 AM
23 hrs ago
?si=p24swIy-l5PzA5mv

?si=m_r9uj_7CuXbuCcR

?si=sBDJ11mT_b5j7nSZ

(explicit)
?si=CaW19SH4xyCU56h2

?si=I5V-Hqjc_fXfV4xQ


mnhtnbb

(32,858 posts)
6. Who would have guessed that
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 07:35 AM
23 hrs ago

from all the outrageous actions taken to destroy the government by this Administration in the last eight months, to deny people on the street their liberty, to put armed troops on the streets, to restrict access to health care, that it would be muzzling a late night comedian that would wake the American people to the power they hold to grab the capitalists and wanna be fascists by their money balls and squeeze in order to protect a Constitutional right: the right to free speech? Take note, America.

KS Toronado

(21,317 posts)
26. Believe Kimmel was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:26 AM
21 hrs ago

Hope on his first show tonight he roasts tsf relentlessly all night and gives everyone a free
bottle of Tylenol.

KS Toronado

(21,317 posts)
34. Oh boy, this ought to be real FUN
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 10:02 AM
20 hrs ago

Will be the most watched program tonight, hope Gavin brings along some of his anti-rump
messages to show on the big screen. Also hope his "ratings" are through the roof.

FakeNoose

(38,706 posts)
56. Actually Gov. Newsome is a guest on Stephen Colbert tonight.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 06:49 PM
12 hrs ago

Jimmy Kimmel has Glen Powell and Sarah MacLachlan tonight.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/103725566

BidenRocks

(2,247 posts)
44. Tonights Episode: The Constitution!
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 01:27 PM
17 hrs ago

A Quinn Martin Production

Brought to you by 'Fukitall'

Problems with Chump?

Just Fukitall and feel better!

MorbidButterflyTat

(3,702 posts)
53. Agree.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 04:04 PM
14 hrs ago

It's been outrage after outrage after outrage. It's an accumulation of crap, not this one thing.

NH Ethylene

(31,213 posts)
54. That was compounded by Trump's own remarks afterward
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 04:05 PM
14 hrs ago

He's been very explicit: He wants to control what is said about him via muzzling speech.
The sleeping giant woke up, looked around, and noticed the countless atrocities done over the past 8 months. If that scenario is accurate, it will grow exponentially, very quickly.

I fervently hope this is the case.

MrWowWow

(1,317 posts)
7. Epstein! Epstein! Epstein!
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 07:37 AM
23 hrs ago

Let that be the giant's blaring, nonstop mantra that keeps the pot stirred. No more sleeping on the job! Democracy is neither self-servicing nor a spectator sport! We must all collectively stir the pot or risk ending up in it.

Trueblue Texan

(3,777 posts)
8. Sadly ironic that...
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 07:54 AM
22 hrs ago

...it took one of the giant's entertainment outlets being threatened to jar it from its coma. I fear a tweak in strategy and everything else is still open game for the monster in the Oval.

gordianot

(15,663 posts)
9. As I remember it there was always a significant number who remained sound asleep.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:00 AM
22 hrs ago

It takes a good hard kick to wake them up.

johnnyplankton

(567 posts)
12. I still can't fathom why we don't have more frequent protests...
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:16 AM
22 hrs ago

Like we did for BLM. People were out every night for weeks (including me). When is that going to happen?

Hopefully before ICE and DHS continue to become Trump’s private thug army, and get way bigger with all that funding ($150. Billion)

Attilatheblond

(7,298 posts)
20. People in Tucson have been protesting weekly in some locations
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:54 AM
21 hrs ago

Even daily protests at some busy intersections, yes, even in the horrible AZ summer heat.

If you want more protests, ORGANIZE and make it happen.

Katinfl

(510 posts)
11. I pray this Kimmel incident wakes some people up as to what is happening.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:13 AM
22 hrs ago

We have the power to stop it. We need to use it.

Joinfortmill

(18,971 posts)
15. Together, the American People have HUGE financial power that can crush these corporate cowards.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:26 AM
22 hrs ago

ashredux

(2,769 posts)
17. Well, you just don't fuck with their TV shows
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:35 AM
22 hrs ago

Apparently, Trump could do all sorts of crazy things, but the last straw was a late night TV comedian that finally did the trick

Traildogbob

(11,849 posts)
27. I remember
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:29 AM
21 hrs ago

My granny back in 50’s and 60’s with her “soaps”. Everybody shut the hell up, get out from in front of the TV cause grandma is watching her STORIES!!
Do so and feel that long Hickory stick from her seat to your leg.

azureblue

(2,564 posts)
22. nothing will happen
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:09 AM
21 hrs ago

until the Republicans who are enabling Trump, are neutered. That has been the issue all along - Trump can't do anything without Repubs backing him. And the DOJ is protecting the Repubs in Congress and Trump.

J_William_Ryan

(3,017 posts)
28. "The Sleeping Giant Is Awakening"
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:31 AM
21 hrs ago

The ‘giant’ needs to stay wake during elections and vote to keep fascists like Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Trump out of power in the first place.

Traildogbob

(11,849 posts)
29. All this hell
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:35 AM
21 hrs ago

Sits in Mitch The Bitch’s Lap. He packed HIS courts and let Trump get away with impeachable political ending crimes.
He needs it around his neck and name for eternity.
The architect of ending Democracy. At minimum, the puppet to follow the 2025 billionaires orders to implement the whole fucking plan.

pioche4

(174 posts)
31. POS signed an Antifa Act as terrorism act yestersay
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:43 AM
21 hrs ago

They will claim anyone angainst them, their ideas and policies as Antifa…they’ve already done this, now they’ll have the ICE force to monitor it…I fear the sleeping giant has opened its eyes too late. I very much wish that this isn’t the case

Captain Zero

(8,446 posts)
57. I had sticky notes from by the DAV. I did this
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:12 PM
10 hrs ago

The sticky notes are double wide and have a slight border of the stars and stripes across the top. I took one and wrote this on it.

antifa
Headquarters


And put it my apartment door.
I plan on doing more.

BumRushDaShow

(160,502 posts)
33. Yup.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:56 AM
20 hrs ago

I have dubbed them "the Silent Majority". Those who aren't part of the craven, obnoxious and loud "minority" of somewhere between 25% - 30% of the population, who have had the backing of almost all of the "mainstream media" as their megaphone.

Most people are not "politics junkies" and basically try to go about their daily lives... waving away "the hyperbole" that they hear at every election, that rarely resulted in the end of the world as they know it.

But this time is different, when actual actions have occurred that are starting to impact some of the farthest reaches (and least paying attention) of the population.

slightlv

(6,594 posts)
35. I'm hopefully tending to agree that we've hit an inflection point.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 10:07 AM
20 hrs ago

I just hope getting rid of tr and his nazi dominions will also mean the end of P2025. THAT'S the real problem that will continue to haunt us as long as those right wing think tanks survive.

Bev54

(12,899 posts)
39. I will withhold my optimism, if SCOTUS gives him more power, I can't see a political way out.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 12:10 PM
18 hrs ago

liberalla

(10,693 posts)
41. We've all felt some rumblings of pushback and resistance building! I, like many, bemoan the slothlike speed
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 12:15 PM
18 hrs ago

it started as... Finally the momentum is getting going! Yay! Sleeping Giant! It's good to see you! I make really good (strong) coffee in a moka pot --- come by for a 'wake up' mug!

usonian

(20,716 posts)
43. FLUSH HIM LIKE A GOOD BM. TAKE ACTION TODAY. (Indivisible and NoKings) FIGHT BACK WITH FRIENDS
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 12:23 PM
18 hrs ago
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220667867



Democracy is busting out all over!



Be there or be Square.

https://www.nokings.org/?SQF_SOURCE=indivisible#map

Why today?

NO KINGS. That's why.


NO KINGS. That's why.


NO BRAINS WHATSOEVER. That's why.

More info from Indivisible.
Latest newsletter
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10114548
Home
https://indivisible.org/

Hekate

(99,507 posts)
46. "You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the other possibilities"
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 01:40 PM
17 hrs ago

Apparently this isn’t really from Winston Churchill, and its attribution to him is apocryphal.

Still, the saying has stuck around all this time because it’s just so damn true about us.

Yes, we did exit the disaster that was Vietnam — after over 50K young Americans and countless Vietnamese died there. And so on.

I hope Robert Reich is right, I really do. But this disaster was 40 years in the making, and I fear a long night is ahead before we see daylight again. Keep resisting, keep digging, keep hope alive.

red dog 1

(31,890 posts)
49. K&R
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 02:16 PM
16 hrs ago

Every day, in different ways, people are expressing their resistance to the Trump Crime Family.

KitFox

(420 posts)
50. I have been witnessing this steadily since Drumpf's inauguration in January. During his first term, I attended a few
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 03:28 PM
15 hrs ago

large protests: Women’s March, March For Our Lives, Save OBamacare. There were still protests here and there, but it seemed only us same loyal dozen or so would keep showing up. It is the total opposite now. There is something going on every week and the turnouts are always large and sometimes enormous. Besides rallies, there are overpass banner drops in many locations on weekdays and weekends. Different local “Indivisible” groups organize everything and publicize it in multiple formats. Besides big rallies, they organize folks to speak on pertinent policy at city council and town hall meetings. It is energizing to be a part of resisting with so many like minded folks. My pals and I bring our instruments and play music at the protests and people sing along or stop and listen. The variety and creativity on people’s signs is in itself uplifting and encouraging. I could ramble on, but I’ll close with this: At a huge rally, I saw a tiny, frail very elderly lady slowly inching her way along with her walker. On the front of her walker, her sign said: “Sometimes you find courage in unusual places”. So dear DU family, keep on insisting, resisting, and persisting however and whenever you can. Be well! 😊🧡

BigmanPigman

(53,814 posts)
58. Same here!
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:12 PM
10 hrs ago

I attended over 30 protests between 2016 and 2020. Now I am protesting again.

Anger and passion drive me. ANGER IS AN ENERGY (to quote the Sex Pistols).

Jack Valentino

(3,316 posts)
59. DISNEY / ABC clearly got the message !!!!!
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 10:56 PM
7 hrs ago

This was INDEED a TRIUMPH by the American people over TRUMP FASCISM !!!!

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