I agree, it's societal. Do we look to entangle this by raising up accountability as a virtue? Let's make accountability fashionable again! ? In every interaction we have, we have an opportunity to underline the accountability we see -- or to highlight its absence and work with others to obtain accountability, in a civil way. In a grassroots way, this is one of our only hopes....doing it on the streets (civil nature).
I'm not sure who these Republican candidates are talking to for campaign advice. Is the MAGA bubble so airtight that they really do not understand that the vast majority of the country is fed up and disgusted with them? That outlawing abortion, beating up on trans kids and discrimination against LGBTQ+ folks is extremely unpopular? And do they also fail to understand that the only candidate Trump is going to support is Trump. If by reasons of criminal conviction or fleeing the country to avoid prosecution, Trump does not end up as the Republican candidate, don't they understand that he will tell the MAGA horde to stay home and wait for his glorious return?
Along with the classic Fascist doctrines, I belive R's are taking advice and counsel from these guys and/or their playbooks.
Vladislav Surkov
Author of "Close to Zero"
And Peter Pomerantsev
Author of "Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia"
Read these books and you will understand some of the R's tactics, strategies, and goals. The best precusor to these books and understanding is Dr. Synder's book, "The Road to Unfreedom". "Historian Margaret MacMillan writing for The New York Times calls the book a "good wake up call",[4] while Tim Adams in a review for The Guardian describes the book as "persuasive", "chilling and unignorable"[5] and a review in Fair Observer calls it an "important addition to the literature explaining current events" and rising authoritarianism."
'Road to Unfreedom' by Timothy Snyder is the #1 handbook that every American household should have. Even for Christians, without democracy -- freedom of religion is moot.
My wife is a left wing Christian but her siblings are far right Christians and want a theocracy here. She can't talk with them about politics. If we become a fascist nation, left wing Christians will be punished.
Steve, this is my 2nd attempt to reply to your thoughtful comments. Thanks for sharing, Tears well up as I read yours. I’m an 81-year-old survivor, still trying heal from fascist family dynamics, including PTSD starting when I was 8 1/2. It’s often due to generational family trauma. My mother didn’t make it, some cousins didn’t either. One joined Opus Dei; it messed her up in spite of being the most intelligent person I’ve met. Fascists use and discard people when no longer useful. Lack of empathy is at the core. Gaslighting often the norm. My siblings are also far right, regardless religiosity. Politics is banned while insipid chit chat favored, but I avoid instinctively. I often can’t resist the urge to bring up political issues, at the risk of being ostracized, often excluded. I’m the White black sheep
My initial intent was to suggest that if fascists prevail they will start punishing those most vulnerable and go up the proverbial ladder. Reminder: “First they came for . . . “
Silver lining: I volunteer for single-payer healthcare for all , including mental health. We also call it Medicare for all.
I suspect fascists are untreated traumatized people, in denial about their condition.
Family dysfunction is part of modern madness. Traditional Indigenous people, Earth-based, feel freer to accept and respect diversity of opinions. I recommend, “My Name Is Chellis & I’m in Recovery from Western Civilization,” by Chellis Glendinning (1994) Shambhala
Please express to your wife my solidarity, to both of you.
I am reading this! Just finished Ruth's book, "Strongmen". DeSantis' ad l fits the autocratic strongman image. Male cruelty, subjugation of the weak, religious savior complex. Chilling.
On the one hand, more than a few people, myself included, have concerns about Biden's age. On the other hand, have you seen the corporate media lately? No matter how good the economic news is, the best they can muster is page A16. No matter what putrid crap Trump vomits up at a rally or on Truth Anti-Social, they try to normalize it. They need the horserace and if they tell the truth about Biden, or more important, the truth about Republicans, the horse race is over.
I'm not concerned with his age. I'm 82 and in good shape and I think he's in good shape also. The only concern is how others view him. But trump is old also and no one is making an issue of his age. He is far more incoherent than Biden.
Agree 100%. His experience / history of this country makes him the man of the hour. I have known many, many people well into their 90s that could run intellectual circles around younger folk. Ageism is the GOP/MAGA's only hope against Biden. Older people speak up against ageism!
And no wine. Biden does not drink alcohol. Age is always a worry--but I think it is worth the risk. The team in the WH is terrific, and I am becoming increasingly confident in the VP.
Because people are stupid, and with short memories to boot. If you cannot see Biden is the better choice, and has been a excellent President compared to Trump, you need your head examined.
Mainly because GOP voters don't understand that what Trump is selling is fascism. They don't want to believe it's fascism, due to confirmation bias/motivated reasoning.
Honestly? I think more than a few are exhibiting an authoritarian streak and as long as it isn’t impacting them, they’re more than happy to dictate how people live or don’t live.
They have so throughly brain washed their voters through their right-wing propaganda media machine, they must do all this idiotic conspiracy bullshit in order to stay in their good graces for the primary. The monster insane voters they have built, they have become their masters in a way.
"Yes ya know, our generation basically consists of you and I, and we are misfits of mankind. Yeah but mankind has lost its mind, which we freaks have been desperately trying to find. Though they strove to be stronger, they simply ended up being a monster. So since the form of our fathers, I reckon, we're just mutants of this here monster."
Preamble to the song Mutants of the Monster-- Black Oak Arkansas
Tragic case I read about on CNN today, of a Kentucky couple that was unable to hold the body of their deceased baby because of abortion regulations. That is stunning/ life-altering sorrow. More of these super-tragic incidents -- do --- need to be highlighted -- to budge minds.
Reminiscent of the courage of Emmett Till's mother to allow the displaying of her son's mutilated body to -- spur outrage.
Truth does die in the darkness...... spread light everywhere we trod!
I suspect that “… these [GOP] candidates are talking to for campaign advice … “ to people of their ilk; thugs and bullies. They’re fascists and expect to impose their agenda through brute force. Persuasion and elections, to them, don’t matter.
There may be more solidarity amongst fascist GOP candidates and their sycophant followers than in the rank and file of the Dem Party. There’s nothing that the GOP isn’t willing to do to gain fascistic, or total power. We underestimate the opposition, in my view, to our peril.
I’m concern ithat Dems may be less eager to win while the GOP is willing to do anything to reach the prize of control of all branches of gov’t. Their game is the long game while most Dems seem reluctant to play.
This is, in part, why we need to let the public know that our opposition is fascist and remind the what they have done once in power, including genocide.
The picture that we need to paint is not pretty, but it needs to be painted. These thugs need to be called out for what they are, fascists, terrorists; crime and violence addicted psychopaths and sociopaths.
The latter have “zero degree of empathy,” a truly dangerous personality. It amazes me that psychopaths and sociopaths are helped rather than denied access to power.
I suspect that “… these [GOP] candidates are talking to for campaign advice … “ to people of their ilk; thugs and bullies. They’re fascists and expect to impose their agenda through brute force. Persuasion and elections, to them, don’t matter.
There may be more solidarity amongst fascist GOP candidates and their sycophant followers than in the rank and file of the Dem Party. There’s nothing that the GOP isn’t willing to do to gain fascistic, or total power. We underestimate the opposition, in my view, to our peril.
I’m concern ithat Dems may be less eager to win while the GOP is willing to do anything to reach the prize of control of all branches of gov’t. Their game is the long game while most Dems seem reluctant to play.
This is, in part, why we need to let the public know that our opposition is fascist and remind the what they have done once in power, including genocide.
The picture that we need to paint is not pretty, but it needs to be painted. These thugs need to be called out for what they are, fascists, terrorists; crime and violence addicted psychopaths and sociopaths.
The latter have “zero degree of empathy,” a truly dangerous personality. It amazes me that psychopaths and sociopaths are helped rather than denied access to power.
I think Democrats are eager to win, but they don't have the same lust for power that we see with Republicans. This leads them to bring the proverbial rubber knife to a gunfight time after time. Democratic leaders, up to an including Biden, don't seem to understand that the Republicans of today see them as devils, illegitimate in all forms, not opponents to be argued with, but enemies to be destroyed. And unless or until they realize this, they will never respond with force.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat - in the banality of evil, Hannah Arendt said it all. We’re here, or there. The danger is rising. Anne Frank left her diary. What will we leave?
The DeSantis video was so absurd and over the top that it seems like a parody of itself, DeSantis intespersed with shots of oiled muscle men and Christian Bale from "American Psycho?" Really? Who is he trying to reach, other psychopaths? The INCEL vote? Wuh? Adolescent boys are too young to vote the last time I checked.
Pete Buttigieg put it best: "“I’m going to leave aside the strangeness of trying to prove your manhood by putting up a video that splices images of you in between oiled-up, shirtless bodybuilders, and just get to the bigger issue that is on my mind whenever I see this stuff in the policy space, which is, again, who are you trying to help?”
I agree, a parody. It's like an SNL (Saturday Night Live) skit. Or the old holiday 'elf' parody you could do on your phone, 5 years back. I say, "Let's talk infrastructure, economy and jobs."
"Listen, get on a soapbox with Hitler, you're gonna lose — he was a great orator. But if you can make fun of him, if you can have people laugh at him, you win." - Mel Brooks
So true. Humor loosens people up. People remember something that is posed humorously. Like good political cartoons -- succinct. Authoritarian type personalities are rigid. Lose spontaneity, are unable to 'come back.' They are on an arena without their Armour. I believe humor is our #1 tool, to disarm them.
I have no doubt Ron Desantis is dogged, cold and ruthlessly proto fascist. More so than even his deranged rival Donald Trump. In the way authoritarians think, and crazy and unlikely as it sounds, I wouldn't be surprised if Trump actually ends up asking Desantis to be his running mate for VP?
The only difference between a governor and a president is the laws they uphold by enforcement, the military’s and their size they control and nukes. To say DeSantis does not have power is very misleading. There are millions of unhappy Floridans who would dis agree with you.
Yes of course he has power on the state level in Florida. He's an acting fascist governor. I meant just not on a national level yet where he can control DOJ, FBI, the military, national security, intelligence, nukes, and encourage and incite black shirt supporters to intimidate and threaten his political opponents.
Trump is done with Mike Pence and Mike is done with Trump. The GOP might unify fascist elements that way. Noem or Lake, females of his character, a Dark Horse, might solidify the white racist character and bring women.
If, if, that can be a big word, the GOP win the White House, the house and the Senate in 2024, our democracy and freedoms are over. The GOP will never leave power, either there will no elections or they will just ignore the will of the voters. They have proven that is what they intended to do in the last election, and that is what Trump was trying to do as well through violence. Half of the GOP house and Senate should be brought up on charges of sedition just for their attempt at throwing a free and fair election. We are living in very dangerous times for our country. Our institutions are barely holding their own and seem inadequate to hold these people to account for their crimes and UnAmerican activities. They are committing them faster than the system can process them. How this turns out is 50/50, and could easily go the other way and we become a fascist, authoritarian country. Trust me I will not go along with that form of Government, and anybody who love’s democracy and freedom will not go along either. I read some one who said, “the American people won’t go along with this of Government.” Really, 40% of the nation says they will. All of this is giving my heebie-jeebies the heebie-jeebies!
"Hi, have you registered to vote?" --- we should be asking everyone we encounter. Store clerks, neighbors, now is the best time to engage in topics before the ugly election cycle starts. People will not listen then -- it will be too ugly.
We are all surrounded by right-wing crazies. Will these crazies really vote? I’m curious. Will they see the inside of a voting booth? This cult is suffering from emotional instabilities. Reliability is their weakness.
Oh the right-wing voters are crazy, certifiable even! They are a more steady voter then Dem’s, they vote. Just look at all the shit hole red states, and the House of Insanity in DC.
Look what lends significant support to DeSantis in Florida: the Villages. I believe it’s a Republican stronghold of primarily old white people with very biased opinions about who compromises “the Other”.
There are some big money donors who also support DeSantis. Many of these donors are bizarre people due to their money and possibly the ways they got their money.
Then you have his very ambitious wife, who is just as ruthless as he is and who is supposedly the advisor with the biggest influence.
Put that support together with DeSantis, who is an Ivy Leaguer (like Hawley and Cruz) and familiar with the corrupt Florida politics. He knows better but is a cold and calculating person. Gives me the shivers.
"....bizarre people due to their money and possibly the ways they got their money." -- Money is the root of all evil. Many people are what I refer to as 'money-droolers'-- so in admiration of people with the $$, that they'll walk off a cliff for them. Newsflash: most of us - including them- are 'middle class' --- and benefit from the Biden administration's policies. Wake up people!
“Root of all evil”. That’s a misquote Jan. 💕 “The LOVE of money is an evil”. Besides that, that’s Paul. Eric Erickson writes: it’s not the money, power, statute...... ect. Rather, the acquisition of. The acquisition consumes the totality of an individual. Anyway, I agree with you. Love is the most important thing on earth.
Thank you Art for your gentle correction of my misquote. I agree 100% - it is the acquisition just as you say that 'consumes the totality of an individual.' A poison.
Thank you, Ruth, for,again, such an insightful look at the dynamics at play in the bizarro world of Strongmen trying to out-strongman Strongmen. This gross and abhorrent display is so hard to believe that some candidates and some persons holding public office will stoop to such low levels to gain or continue to hold power. Lindsey Graham’s humiliating grovel to his adopted cult hero recently, in his own home state, is another perfect example public power addiction at any cost. It raises the oft repeated question from yet another dark chapter in our history: “Have you no sense of decency, Senator?”
Another issue that needs to be swiftly ended is the normalization of Trump’s behavior by indirectly praising him with comments like “He’s really talented at working a crowd.” That’s like saying, “That mafia boss is really good at secretly killing people.”
Today’s Media: ‘Hey, ratings are king, baby. Who cares if we’re normalizing a monster as he destroys democracy with his ex-POTUS Reality Show 2.0. He makes us lots of money.’
By covering DJT’s candidacy as business as usual and by NOT informing the public relentlessly of his profound unfitness and profound danger to this country, to the 🌎…well, the consequences may very well be catastrophic. We all lose.
So true a picture of the choices Republican voters have, and one would hope they aren't enamored of the brutish declarations. We are all, no matter which party, dependent on our youth to vote for democracy, integrity, and a commitment to the Constitution. I pray that there are enough who DO NOT get all their news from social media, to make sane, informed choices in the primary and national elections.
Why I believe that the republican candidates are proffering their conservative views, I don’t believe they are all engaging in bottom feeding. However, Trump and DeSantis are fighting for the recognition of being the biggest pathological, unhinged and dangerous virus to our nation. I don’t know who is more successful and crazy.
As a woman, I'm gonna need one of the streaming services to do a reboot of Xena: Warrior Princess, stat. Because I don't know about the rest of you ladies, but all this macho BS is making me want to break a beer bottle on a table and mix it up, y'know? And I don't even drink beer.
I'd like to believe those who say DeSantis is going down.
But y'all, his signs R everywhere here in North Florida. They don't just like him, they love him. These rednecks are angry, armed and itching for Armageddon.
But does my old, soiled profession, journalism, warn anybody?
Oh no. It's all horserace and access and savvy style, as Jay Rosen would say. Liars are just savvy!
I wonder if the fact that newsrooms are havens for testosterone has anything to do with them not caring if we have a strongman over us. I think so. I think they'd like it. Look how they loved Trump, even as he put babies in cages and tear-gassed old ladies.
Thank you for writing reality, Ms. Ben-Ghiat. So much gratitude for your work. 🙏
And in the end, as Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg asked: what good does he plan to do? What public policy does he wish to pursue on behalf of the public good? Somehow DeSantis managed to be homophobic and homoerotic all at the same time. Quite an achievement. He is not only a bad governor, and bad candidate--he is a rotten human being.
They have figured out a way to campaign on homophobia, with homo eroticism (and sadism), it's very disturbing. We saw this with Tucker Carlson as well. Same with the Natzis! It appears to be a very specific formula, one that gets the results they are aiming for.
This summary is right on! DeSantis wants to compete as the most brutal, savage alpha creature in the world. Of course DeSantis is trying too hard and too late to beat trump in the Primary, but he continues to reap presently irreparable harm in Florida.
And in retaliation for being humiliated as a candidate (maybe) he will double down on thrashing Florida into a broken mess. What good does he do for the people he represents--let alone those he despises?
I agree, it's societal. Do we look to entangle this by raising up accountability as a virtue? Let's make accountability fashionable again! ? In every interaction we have, we have an opportunity to underline the accountability we see -- or to highlight its absence and work with others to obtain accountability, in a civil way. In a grassroots way, this is one of our only hopes....doing it on the streets (civil nature).
I'm not sure who these Republican candidates are talking to for campaign advice. Is the MAGA bubble so airtight that they really do not understand that the vast majority of the country is fed up and disgusted with them? That outlawing abortion, beating up on trans kids and discrimination against LGBTQ+ folks is extremely unpopular? And do they also fail to understand that the only candidate Trump is going to support is Trump. If by reasons of criminal conviction or fleeing the country to avoid prosecution, Trump does not end up as the Republican candidate, don't they understand that he will tell the MAGA horde to stay home and wait for his glorious return?
Along with the classic Fascist doctrines, I belive R's are taking advice and counsel from these guys and/or their playbooks.
Vladislav Surkov
Author of "Close to Zero"
And Peter Pomerantsev
Author of "Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia"
Read these books and you will understand some of the R's tactics, strategies, and goals. The best precusor to these books and understanding is Dr. Synder's book, "The Road to Unfreedom". "Historian Margaret MacMillan writing for The New York Times calls the book a "good wake up call",[4] while Tim Adams in a review for The Guardian describes the book as "persuasive", "chilling and unignorable"[5] and a review in Fair Observer calls it an "important addition to the literature explaining current events" and rising authoritarianism."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_Unfreedom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladislav_Surkov
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Pomerantsev
'Road to Unfreedom' by Timothy Snyder is the #1 handbook that every American household should have. Even for Christians, without democracy -- freedom of religion is moot.
My wife is a left wing Christian but her siblings are far right Christians and want a theocracy here. She can't talk with them about politics. If we become a fascist nation, left wing Christians will be punished.
Steve, this is my 2nd attempt to reply to your thoughtful comments. Thanks for sharing, Tears well up as I read yours. I’m an 81-year-old survivor, still trying heal from fascist family dynamics, including PTSD starting when I was 8 1/2. It’s often due to generational family trauma. My mother didn’t make it, some cousins didn’t either. One joined Opus Dei; it messed her up in spite of being the most intelligent person I’ve met. Fascists use and discard people when no longer useful. Lack of empathy is at the core. Gaslighting often the norm. My siblings are also far right, regardless religiosity. Politics is banned while insipid chit chat favored, but I avoid instinctively. I often can’t resist the urge to bring up political issues, at the risk of being ostracized, often excluded. I’m the White black sheep
My initial intent was to suggest that if fascists prevail they will start punishing those most vulnerable and go up the proverbial ladder. Reminder: “First they came for . . . “
Silver lining: I volunteer for single-payer healthcare for all , including mental health. We also call it Medicare for all.
I suspect fascists are untreated traumatized people, in denial about their condition.
Family dysfunction is part of modern madness. Traditional Indigenous people, Earth-based, feel freer to accept and respect diversity of opinions. I recommend, “My Name Is Chellis & I’m in Recovery from Western Civilization,” by Chellis Glendinning (1994) Shambhala
Please express to your wife my solidarity, to both of you.
Must read. Excellent.
I am reading this! Just finished Ruth's book, "Strongmen". DeSantis' ad l fits the autocratic strongman image. Male cruelty, subjugation of the weak, religious savior complex. Chilling.
But in polls Biden and Trump poll fairly evenly. Why?
On the one hand, more than a few people, myself included, have concerns about Biden's age. On the other hand, have you seen the corporate media lately? No matter how good the economic news is, the best they can muster is page A16. No matter what putrid crap Trump vomits up at a rally or on Truth Anti-Social, they try to normalize it. They need the horserace and if they tell the truth about Biden, or more important, the truth about Republicans, the horse race is over.
You are, of course, right.
I'm not concerned with his age. I'm 82 and in good shape and I think he's in good shape also. The only concern is how others view him. But trump is old also and no one is making an issue of his age. He is far more incoherent than Biden.
Agree 100%. His experience / history of this country makes him the man of the hour. I have known many, many people well into their 90s that could run intellectual circles around younger folk. Ageism is the GOP/MAGA's only hope against Biden. Older people speak up against ageism!
I also highlight the Pope's age. And Biden still bicycles. He keeps a full schedule -- no golf!
Golf is for people who don't like to exercise. I walk my dog every morning.
And no wine. Biden does not drink alcohol. Age is always a worry--but I think it is worth the risk. The team in the WH is terrific, and I am becoming increasingly confident in the VP.
That’s the greed multiplier. Economy is good. “But our profits will be bigger with lower corporate taxes” (GOP control). Get it?
Because people are stupid, and with short memories to boot. If you cannot see Biden is the better choice, and has been a excellent President compared to Trump, you need your head examined.
Why?
Mainly because GOP voters don't understand that what Trump is selling is fascism. They don't want to believe it's fascism, due to confirmation bias/motivated reasoning.
Honestly? I think more than a few are exhibiting an authoritarian streak and as long as it isn’t impacting them, they’re more than happy to dictate how people live or don’t live.
The corporate media manipulate polling data so they can have a horse race. They're a big part of the problem.
William, maybe because Trump caters to his base (or appears to) while Biden often seems unwilling to do so.
They have so throughly brain washed their voters through their right-wing propaganda media machine, they must do all this idiotic conspiracy bullshit in order to stay in their good graces for the primary. The monster insane voters they have built, they have become their masters in a way.
"Yes ya know, our generation basically consists of you and I, and we are misfits of mankind. Yeah but mankind has lost its mind, which we freaks have been desperately trying to find. Though they strove to be stronger, they simply ended up being a monster. So since the form of our fathers, I reckon, we're just mutants of this here monster."
Preamble to the song Mutants of the Monster-- Black Oak Arkansas
I’m really fed up with all the Fascist trash of the GOP. Hell is to good of outcome for them.
Tragic case I read about on CNN today, of a Kentucky couple that was unable to hold the body of their deceased baby because of abortion regulations. That is stunning/ life-altering sorrow. More of these super-tragic incidents -- do --- need to be highlighted -- to budge minds.
Reminiscent of the courage of Emmett Till's mother to allow the displaying of her son's mutilated body to -- spur outrage.
Truth does die in the darkness...... spread light everywhere we trod!
I suspect that “… these [GOP] candidates are talking to for campaign advice … “ to people of their ilk; thugs and bullies. They’re fascists and expect to impose their agenda through brute force. Persuasion and elections, to them, don’t matter.
There may be more solidarity amongst fascist GOP candidates and their sycophant followers than in the rank and file of the Dem Party. There’s nothing that the GOP isn’t willing to do to gain fascistic, or total power. We underestimate the opposition, in my view, to our peril.
I’m concern ithat Dems may be less eager to win while the GOP is willing to do anything to reach the prize of control of all branches of gov’t. Their game is the long game while most Dems seem reluctant to play.
This is, in part, why we need to let the public know that our opposition is fascist and remind the what they have done once in power, including genocide.
The picture that we need to paint is not pretty, but it needs to be painted. These thugs need to be called out for what they are, fascists, terrorists; crime and violence addicted psychopaths and sociopaths.
The latter have “zero degree of empathy,” a truly dangerous personality. It amazes me that psychopaths and sociopaths are helped rather than denied access to power.
My rant was meant as a reply to Peter and others, who was first to post. His comments triggered thoughts . . .
Peter,
I suspect that “… these [GOP] candidates are talking to for campaign advice … “ to people of their ilk; thugs and bullies. They’re fascists and expect to impose their agenda through brute force. Persuasion and elections, to them, don’t matter.
There may be more solidarity amongst fascist GOP candidates and their sycophant followers than in the rank and file of the Dem Party. There’s nothing that the GOP isn’t willing to do to gain fascistic, or total power. We underestimate the opposition, in my view, to our peril.
I’m concern ithat Dems may be less eager to win while the GOP is willing to do anything to reach the prize of control of all branches of gov’t. Their game is the long game while most Dems seem reluctant to play.
This is, in part, why we need to let the public know that our opposition is fascist and remind the what they have done once in power, including genocide.
The picture that we need to paint is not pretty, but it needs to be painted. These thugs need to be called out for what they are, fascists, terrorists; crime and violence addicted psychopaths and sociopaths.
The latter have “zero degree of empathy,” a truly dangerous personality. It amazes me that psychopaths and sociopaths are helped rather than denied access to power.
I think Democrats are eager to win, but they don't have the same lust for power that we see with Republicans. This leads them to bring the proverbial rubber knife to a gunfight time after time. Democratic leaders, up to an including Biden, don't seem to understand that the Republicans of today see them as devils, illegitimate in all forms, not opponents to be argued with, but enemies to be destroyed. And unless or until they realize this, they will never respond with force.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat - in the banality of evil, Hannah Arendt said it all. We’re here, or there. The danger is rising. Anne Frank left her diary. What will we leave?
👏👏👏👏
The DeSantis video was so absurd and over the top that it seems like a parody of itself, DeSantis intespersed with shots of oiled muscle men and Christian Bale from "American Psycho?" Really? Who is he trying to reach, other psychopaths? The INCEL vote? Wuh? Adolescent boys are too young to vote the last time I checked.
Pete Buttigieg put it best: "“I’m going to leave aside the strangeness of trying to prove your manhood by putting up a video that splices images of you in between oiled-up, shirtless bodybuilders, and just get to the bigger issue that is on my mind whenever I see this stuff in the policy space, which is, again, who are you trying to help?”
I agree, a parody. It's like an SNL (Saturday Night Live) skit. Or the old holiday 'elf' parody you could do on your phone, 5 years back. I say, "Let's talk infrastructure, economy and jobs."
"Listen, get on a soapbox with Hitler, you're gonna lose — he was a great orator. But if you can make fun of him, if you can have people laugh at him, you win." - Mel Brooks
So true. Humor loosens people up. People remember something that is posed humorously. Like good political cartoons -- succinct. Authoritarian type personalities are rigid. Lose spontaneity, are unable to 'come back.' They are on an arena without their Armour. I believe humor is our #1 tool, to disarm them.
I have no doubt Ron Desantis is dogged, cold and ruthlessly proto fascist. More so than even his deranged rival Donald Trump. In the way authoritarians think, and crazy and unlikely as it sounds, I wouldn't be surprised if Trump actually ends up asking Desantis to be his running mate for VP?
Nothing proto, semi, maybe, almost, near to, or lite version of, to any of these clowns on the right, they are straight up Fascist period!
Agree. His mentality is fascist.
He's still emergent or proto in the sense that he so far has not gotten the reins of power (yet anyway). On a national level.
The only difference between a governor and a president is the laws they uphold by enforcement, the military’s and their size they control and nukes. To say DeSantis does not have power is very misleading. There are millions of unhappy Floridans who would dis agree with you.
Yes of course he has power on the state level in Florida. He's an acting fascist governor. I meant just not on a national level yet where he can control DOJ, FBI, the military, national security, intelligence, nukes, and encourage and incite black shirt supporters to intimidate and threaten his political opponents.
Trump is done with Mike Pence and Mike is done with Trump. The GOP might unify fascist elements that way. Noem or Lake, females of his character, a Dark Horse, might solidify the white racist character and bring women.
Patriarchal. I bet he chooses a woman. How woke, I might add!*
Unifying the fascist elements will be like a psychopaths convention.
Being an Arizonan, I can tell you that Lake is bat shit crazy.
Actually, that wouldn't surprise me.
If, if, that can be a big word, the GOP win the White House, the house and the Senate in 2024, our democracy and freedoms are over. The GOP will never leave power, either there will no elections or they will just ignore the will of the voters. They have proven that is what they intended to do in the last election, and that is what Trump was trying to do as well through violence. Half of the GOP house and Senate should be brought up on charges of sedition just for their attempt at throwing a free and fair election. We are living in very dangerous times for our country. Our institutions are barely holding their own and seem inadequate to hold these people to account for their crimes and UnAmerican activities. They are committing them faster than the system can process them. How this turns out is 50/50, and could easily go the other way and we become a fascist, authoritarian country. Trust me I will not go along with that form of Government, and anybody who love’s democracy and freedom will not go along either. I read some one who said, “the American people won’t go along with this of Government.” Really, 40% of the nation says they will. All of this is giving my heebie-jeebies the heebie-jeebies!
"Hi, have you registered to vote?" --- we should be asking everyone we encounter. Store clerks, neighbors, now is the best time to engage in topics before the ugly election cycle starts. People will not listen then -- it will be too ugly.
I sure am registered to vote, and I vote. But I’m surrounded by right-wing crazies.
I am too and my least favorite thing is to encourage any of them to register and vote.
We are all surrounded by right-wing crazies. Will these crazies really vote? I’m curious. Will they see the inside of a voting booth? This cult is suffering from emotional instabilities. Reliability is their weakness.
Oh the right-wing voters are crazy, certifiable even! They are a more steady voter then Dem’s, they vote. Just look at all the shit hole red states, and the House of Insanity in DC.
Worth watching, talks about some of the crazy shit the GOP Texas does.
https://youtu.be/L3fx1mEnE8c
Look what lends significant support to DeSantis in Florida: the Villages. I believe it’s a Republican stronghold of primarily old white people with very biased opinions about who compromises “the Other”.
There are some big money donors who also support DeSantis. Many of these donors are bizarre people due to their money and possibly the ways they got their money.
Then you have his very ambitious wife, who is just as ruthless as he is and who is supposedly the advisor with the biggest influence.
Put that support together with DeSantis, who is an Ivy Leaguer (like Hawley and Cruz) and familiar with the corrupt Florida politics. He knows better but is a cold and calculating person. Gives me the shivers.
"....bizarre people due to their money and possibly the ways they got their money." -- Money is the root of all evil. Many people are what I refer to as 'money-droolers'-- so in admiration of people with the $$, that they'll walk off a cliff for them. Newsflash: most of us - including them- are 'middle class' --- and benefit from the Biden administration's policies. Wake up people!
“Root of all evil”. That’s a misquote Jan. 💕 “The LOVE of money is an evil”. Besides that, that’s Paul. Eric Erickson writes: it’s not the money, power, statute...... ect. Rather, the acquisition of. The acquisition consumes the totality of an individual. Anyway, I agree with you. Love is the most important thing on earth.
Thank you Art for your gentle correction of my misquote. I agree 100% - it is the acquisition just as you say that 'consumes the totality of an individual.' A poison.
I agree, but would have preferred to have seen ‘Earth’ capitalized for the usual reasons as well as a sign of respect for Mother Earth.
"Gives me the shivers."
DeSantis is a sociopath. They have no conscience nor remorse.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 Gotta watch those Psychos.
Indeed! They lack the most basic human virtues.
They do my friend. No amount of medication will help. They are just, plain, very broken souls. Who cause a lot of damage to others.
Thank you, Ruth, for,again, such an insightful look at the dynamics at play in the bizarro world of Strongmen trying to out-strongman Strongmen. This gross and abhorrent display is so hard to believe that some candidates and some persons holding public office will stoop to such low levels to gain or continue to hold power. Lindsey Graham’s humiliating grovel to his adopted cult hero recently, in his own home state, is another perfect example public power addiction at any cost. It raises the oft repeated question from yet another dark chapter in our history: “Have you no sense of decency, Senator?”
Another issue that needs to be swiftly ended is the normalization of Trump’s behavior by indirectly praising him with comments like “He’s really talented at working a crowd.” That’s like saying, “That mafia boss is really good at secretly killing people.”
Which supports my intuition that Ron DeSantis is a lousy human being.
Right on, Tony!
Lousy as a reptile too.
I second that motion!
"Have you no sense of decency, Senator?" -- long for the days of decency and civil public discourse.
Yes, Jan, indeed!
Fascism attempts to normalize and rationalize psychopathc behavior and all its vices.
Never can forget in February, 2016, Les Moonves of CBS was one of the first in media to declare out loud:
“It May Not Be Good for America, but It’s Damn Good for CBS”….
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/leslie-moonves-donald-trump-may-871464/amp/
Today’s Media: ‘Hey, ratings are king, baby. Who cares if we’re normalizing a monster as he destroys democracy with his ex-POTUS Reality Show 2.0. He makes us lots of money.’
By covering DJT’s candidacy as business as usual and by NOT informing the public relentlessly of his profound unfitness and profound danger to this country, to the 🌎…well, the consequences may very well be catastrophic. We all lose.
So true a picture of the choices Republican voters have, and one would hope they aren't enamored of the brutish declarations. We are all, no matter which party, dependent on our youth to vote for democracy, integrity, and a commitment to the Constitution. I pray that there are enough who DO NOT get all their news from social media, to make sane, informed choices in the primary and national elections.
We must focus / interact with young adults -- in these terribly confusing times -- link together to save democracy. Democracy needs their vote.
Florida is the place freedom goes to die!
Texas as well, hell all of the Red States really.
Why I believe that the republican candidates are proffering their conservative views, I don’t believe they are all engaging in bottom feeding. However, Trump and DeSantis are fighting for the recognition of being the biggest pathological, unhinged and dangerous virus to our nation. I don’t know who is more successful and crazy.
As a Floridian, let me just first say 😱
As a woman, I'm gonna need one of the streaming services to do a reboot of Xena: Warrior Princess, stat. Because I don't know about the rest of you ladies, but all this macho BS is making me want to break a beer bottle on a table and mix it up, y'know? And I don't even drink beer.
I'd like to believe those who say DeSantis is going down.
But y'all, his signs R everywhere here in North Florida. They don't just like him, they love him. These rednecks are angry, armed and itching for Armageddon.
But does my old, soiled profession, journalism, warn anybody?
Oh no. It's all horserace and access and savvy style, as Jay Rosen would say. Liars are just savvy!
I wonder if the fact that newsrooms are havens for testosterone has anything to do with them not caring if we have a strongman over us. I think so. I think they'd like it. Look how they loved Trump, even as he put babies in cages and tear-gassed old ladies.
Thank you for writing reality, Ms. Ben-Ghiat. So much gratitude for your work. 🙏
Lawlessness must become unfashionable again.
And in the end, as Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg asked: what good does he plan to do? What public policy does he wish to pursue on behalf of the public good? Somehow DeSantis managed to be homophobic and homoerotic all at the same time. Quite an achievement. He is not only a bad governor, and bad candidate--he is a rotten human being.
They have figured out a way to campaign on homophobia, with homo eroticism (and sadism), it's very disturbing. We saw this with Tucker Carlson as well. Same with the Natzis! It appears to be a very specific formula, one that gets the results they are aiming for.
This summary is right on! DeSantis wants to compete as the most brutal, savage alpha creature in the world. Of course DeSantis is trying too hard and too late to beat trump in the Primary, but he continues to reap presently irreparable harm in Florida.
And in retaliation for being humiliated as a candidate (maybe) he will double down on thrashing Florida into a broken mess. What good does he do for the people he represents--let alone those he despises?