The effort to delegitimize certain ethnic, religious and gender groups can be traced to social Darwinism, which was a major facet of fascism. The fact that we are going down the social Darwinism road, shows how the "right" has accepted fascism.
Your comment on the using the highest and lowest courts to abolish precedence is revealing. This destabilizes a leg of the tripod of democracy. When you're hell bent on getting your way, this multi-pronged approach for that one shaken, vulnerable leg of the tripod ,,,, could topple the stool.
How do we protect the lower ( local) courts? Do they not abide by Federal law, as their parental foundation and thereby oversight also?
Lower courts cannot act willy nilly, if the republic is to survive.
I think MTG would be good for the third essay although I also think that a good essay could be about the long time GOPers who completely transformed and sold their (already questionable) souls under Trump...Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio, Lindsay Graham are good examples.
How about Kevin Mccarthy and the rest of the Republican "leadership" who have all remained totally silent in the wake of the Santos revelations? Lying has become the norm in one our major political parties and that's frightening.
That reminds me of the coup attempt by Sen Prescott Bush in 1933 to install fascism here. It was thought that fascism would give business more power. So, their thinking was to eliminate democracy here so that they could install authoritarianism. Similar to Jan 6th.
Topic not a person...women talk about supporting women, good qualified women, but when it come supporting they do not endorse or support with $. Good ol boys are very much at work regardless. I saw this in San Mateo Co Supervisor race. This along with “oil” money , the great female candidate did not have a chance.
I’m thinking of Elise Stefanik as an example of someone in Republican leadership who not only sold her soul, but ousted Liz Chaney. Given her pre-history, she in fact represents someone ‘remade’ by Trump; a way to tie things together.
Agree Tom and she's a woman and quite young, to get so sucked up into it and now to have such power. The age component reminds me of some comments re: J6 witnesses, so many were in their 20's and yet had power or access to power, with less world /business experience.
Stefanik wasn’t sucked in by ideology or anything other than ambition. Her embrace of MAGA is no different than the hug of hateful populism by fellow Ivy Leaguer, Desantis.
It is worth looking at lower profile, Republican players, such as Jack Bergman,Michigan -1. Jack’s district is one of the largest in all of the US but sparsely populated. He was just reelected for a third term in Congress.He has done little for his District. His background is military reserve and for profit jail management.Ian Bund, Ann Arbor
The Trump/Desantos wing of the GOP are nothing but a Fascist group. Thanks to you, Ruth, the light will be shining on them! Im still quite surprised that more “normal” GOP members aren’t condemning them for what they are!
Mitt Romney comes to mind, I have always respected him being GOP. I believe he voted for the first impeachment (?). Or long standing Chuck Grassley from Iowa. ...
Agree with the premise of your question. If the Republicans were a healthy, functioning party they would have shot down this nonsense a long time ago. Instead they have evolved into an authoritarian party like Orban’s Fidesz (sp?)They are enablers.
"Im still quite surprised that more “normal” GOP members aren’t condemning them for what they are!"
I believe that Trump's propaganda is so effective that GOP politicians have been sucked into his vortex of unreality. It has been shown that in cult-like behavior, a lie from someone in authority within one's clan will be believed, over the truth from someone outside of the clan. It's all very post-truth, where fellings are more important than facts. The GOP clan has been so polarized against the outside enemy that they don't want to criticize anyone within their own clan. They have extreme solidarity and the party might even seem sacrosanct to them.
Yes, I wonder about Rupert Murdoch’s money connections. He actually created a media apparatus to take down democracy in the US. In other words, what’s in it for him?
he's been very successful to destroy democracy & start a new word order of total fascist domination-- what's in it for him? unlimited power & more money. some wealthy elites never have "ENOUGH".
Destruction of accountability through dismantling regulation. He’s seeking a Putin like oligarchical structure. Evidently Murdoch hasn’t been paying attention to what happens to an oligarch with questions...or worse.
Like Mary Trumps' inside look at the family, 'too little and not enough,' (paraphrasing here ...)
One thing mystifies me is when the ultra- old are of more extremist views., or lack an anchor. Like I think of Sen Chuck Grassley (IA-R) , he was conservative but I could agree with him and definitely trusted his integrity years ago. At his age, what is the motivator?
I have looked at it and thought inheritance of something. What is their legacy to be? So many goods years and ... lack of trust from independents or dems. Trust is huge. What motivates the elders to jump ship for Trump? Ruth, what do you think the common thread might be of these age segments?
I see your viewpoint. I come to elder states person. As an admiring grandchild who admired her grandparents' values. When I look at these elders, I think what values are they passing on? It's so unnatural to me what I see. What values do they speak and put words to for listening ears around a Sunday dinner table? Money, non-government, lack of IRS and infrastructure? No FAA ?
Absolutely! The anti-democracy movement has been seen in the Powell memo, neoliberalism and the radical Libertarian agenda that infected the Reagan administration. The Republican Party longs for a more feudal time and a government that reflects that. If they were alive during the Revolutionary War, they would have fled back to England, to enjoy the strict hierarchy they so wanted. They are obsolete in today's world.
absolutely- I was in high school when Reagan* was elected... I hated him & everything he stood for-- & if a teenager could see through the facade - the people who embraced him knew exactly who & what the GOP was-- wealthy; prowar; crony capitalists. The GOP used to hide it better; now it is in your face & they brag about it.
*Reagan was anti Russia (Now GOP embrace dictatorships worldwide)
Is a non- strategy for progression of society. His ads were very uplifting, people could get caught up in the 'good feel' and zone out on the words / message. We are sometimes fools.
isn't he? as least for the GOP -- I'm surprised by the younger Murdocks..... thought they may not have been as radical as their father-- but so far they are just as evil as PawPaw Murdock.
Fox business plan: buy enough advertising and we will help radicalize your base. Criticize our methods or try to regulate us, and we will turn the true believers against you.
Media consolidation! Murdoch was begged by NYC officials to buy the Post! Years ago, one person or corp could not own competing media groups. Murdoch had Fox then all Regis were rewritten to allow him to buy the Post. Now we have the right wing propaganda machine the Sinclair group owning hundreds of tV stations across the country!
Louis, absolutely!!!! Mary Trump especially and Jennifer Rubin a few days ago on the Mary Trump Show had a more “mind control” and “psychological realm” name for the “right wing propaganda machine” of today that you speak of within media consolidation!!!!!!…………….it reminded me more of what Aldous Huxley warned of in his stellar novel “Brave New World” of too much “technology” which can obscure TRUTH and that is what Charles Koch presented in Nancy MacLean’s “Democracy in Chains.” Charles Koch was looking for a “technology of change” beyond the “1984” realm of
George Orwell’s “Big Brother is Watching” right wing propaganda machine and more into the mind control and psychological realm of Brave New World!! Thank you so much for you input, Louis!!!!
It should come as no surprise that Charles Koch is a sociopath. Of all the sociopaths that I'm familiar with, I can't think of any that like democracy.
Big Brother doesn't have to watch you anymore-- people are "watching/ Policing" themselves-- posting on social media-- what they do; who they see; posts of crimes; posts of dinner-- sheesh!!! Talk about TMI!!!
The collusion between business and government is a major part of fascism. NAZI Germany's cartel economy was littered with oligopolies................... just like we are. Our leadership is either ignoring the symptoms or doesn't know what fascism is.
---or are in "on it" like during the beginning of Hitler's rise to power?-- wealthy industrialists bankrolled Hitler. They thought they could control him. that didn't go well then & it will not go well now.
I wonder if your third “person” could be a literal third person discussion of the possibility that the function of Trump, MTG, Boebert et al is to distract from the serious dysfunction of our political system (insider trading by Congress, back room deals, the abuse of power and the cover-up(s) of criminal activity by “elites.”
My choice - Kevin McCarthy, who knew full well and even admitted that Trump and Rohrabacher were paid Russian tools. I'm still very concerned about the obvious but under-reported (memory holed, even!) pipeline of Russian money into the GOP, both directly and laundered through the NRA and possibly other conduits. Mitch McConnell (while not a candidate for your 3rd essay subject), Lindsey Graham, and exited liars like Madison Cawthorn all have likely received laundered Russian funds. It's part of the information war that Putin is waging on US and most of US don't realize the breadth and scope of the ongoing attack :(
Good point.... it's almost shareholder dividends distributed widely. throughout the GOP populace. How would we know what goes into individual's accounts? People are so do or die tied into the GOP, it's unexplainable. Maybe DOJ is unraveling that thread, that would be a slow unravel.
I keep wondering why only 6 years of returns? Why don’t we have all the way back to the last Great Recession? That’s when the Russian Capital started pouring in via Deutsche Bank. We know what we will find out about TFG’s finances. But what else? How much of Putin’s $ has infiltrated the west and who, how deep, for how long?
For a 3rd examination ... suggest a county level level mini-Trump to show how the authoritarian virus has infected us in our daily personal activities. One of our 3 Josephine County (OR) mini-trumpian commissioners, Herman Baertschiger Jr., grifted state and local public monies through a variety of scams the last 2years, and while a leading Oregon state senator caused immeasurable chaos in our legislature for almost a decade. We local Dems are organizing to make sure the county commissioners’ thrice monthly meetings receive adequate public and media oversight so at least they have to sweat a bit to continue their grifting and abuse of power
I can connect you with a Democratic Party colleague, a recently retired journalist after decades at our local NPR affiliate (Jefferson Public Radio) who has been following the local MAGA grifters for many years …. documenting their initial rise in the Tea Party and area white supremacist paramilitaries like the 3 percenters, then going full-MAGA … Baertschiger is one of many
The effort to delegitimize certain ethnic, religious and gender groups can be traced to social Darwinism, which was a major facet of fascism. The fact that we are going down the social Darwinism road, shows how the "right" has accepted fascism.
Your comment on the using the highest and lowest courts to abolish precedence is revealing. This destabilizes a leg of the tripod of democracy. When you're hell bent on getting your way, this multi-pronged approach for that one shaken, vulnerable leg of the tripod ,,,, could topple the stool.
How do we protect the lower ( local) courts? Do they not abide by Federal law, as their parental foundation and thereby oversight also?
Lower courts cannot act willy nilly, if the republic is to survive.
Is it re- education, continuing ed courses?
That's my vote!
Yes - I think that MTG should be the subject of your third essay. Thank you for your good work day in and day out!
I think MTG would be good for the third essay although I also think that a good essay could be about the long time GOPers who completely transformed and sold their (already questionable) souls under Trump...Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio, Lindsay Graham are good examples.
Great thoughts!
How about Kevin Mccarthy and the rest of the Republican "leadership" who have all remained totally silent in the wake of the Santos revelations? Lying has become the norm in one our major political parties and that's frightening.
it's telling they don't rebuke outright liars. . . disturbing for sure. Lying creates such downward suction for their party.
Lying is normalized under fascism, so it makes perfect sense that this is what they are doing.
How about for the third essay, writing about the so-called “Freedom Caucus” as a whole, and the collective corrupt values of its members.
The term "Freedom Caucus" seems to be a euphemism for fascism.
Exactly my opinion, too.
Rep. Ralph Norman or Rep. Scott Perry. Both assisted with the failed coup.
That reminds me of the coup attempt by Sen Prescott Bush in 1933 to install fascism here. It was thought that fascism would give business more power. So, their thinking was to eliminate democracy here so that they could install authoritarianism. Similar to Jan 6th.
Topic not a person...women talk about supporting women, good qualified women, but when it come supporting they do not endorse or support with $. Good ol boys are very much at work regardless. I saw this in San Mateo Co Supervisor race. This along with “oil” money , the great female candidate did not have a chance.
I’m thinking of Elise Stefanik as an example of someone in Republican leadership who not only sold her soul, but ousted Liz Chaney. Given her pre-history, she in fact represents someone ‘remade’ by Trump; a way to tie things together.
She also supported/campaigned with Santos.
Agree Tom and she's a woman and quite young, to get so sucked up into it and now to have such power. The age component reminds me of some comments re: J6 witnesses, so many were in their 20's and yet had power or access to power, with less world /business experience.
Stefanik wasn’t sucked in by ideology or anything other than ambition. Her embrace of MAGA is no different than the hug of hateful populism by fellow Ivy Leaguer, Desantis.
I was going to suggest her.
It is worth looking at lower profile, Republican players, such as Jack Bergman,Michigan -1. Jack’s district is one of the largest in all of the US but sparsely populated. He was just reelected for a third term in Congress.He has done little for his District. His background is military reserve and for profit jail management.Ian Bund, Ann Arbor
Profit jail management is very scary. Human trafficking.
The Trump/Desantos wing of the GOP are nothing but a Fascist group. Thanks to you, Ruth, the light will be shining on them! Im still quite surprised that more “normal” GOP members aren’t condemning them for what they are!
agree, why isn't there a split in the GOP in that way?
Great question
Mitt Romney comes to mind, I have always respected him being GOP. I believe he voted for the first impeachment (?). Or long standing Chuck Grassley from Iowa. ...
Grassley was involved in the coup - he said Pence will not be coming to certify. 🤨
Agree with the premise of your question. If the Republicans were a healthy, functioning party they would have shot down this nonsense a long time ago. Instead they have evolved into an authoritarian party like Orban’s Fidesz (sp?)They are enablers.
"Im still quite surprised that more “normal” GOP members aren’t condemning them for what they are!"
I believe that Trump's propaganda is so effective that GOP politicians have been sucked into his vortex of unreality. It has been shown that in cult-like behavior, a lie from someone in authority within one's clan will be believed, over the truth from someone outside of the clan. It's all very post-truth, where fellings are more important than facts. The GOP clan has been so polarized against the outside enemy that they don't want to criticize anyone within their own clan. They have extreme solidarity and the party might even seem sacrosanct to them.
Well described, thank you.
Not formally GOP, but...Tucker Carlson/Sean Hannity? A major news network dedicated to lying?
And agree with others about those who lie by omission--ie Rubio, Graham etc who don't call out the liars, McCarthy who will agree to seat Santos, etc.
Yes, I wonder about Rupert Murdoch’s money connections. He actually created a media apparatus to take down democracy in the US. In other words, what’s in it for him?
he's been very successful to destroy democracy & start a new word order of total fascist domination-- what's in it for him? unlimited power & more money. some wealthy elites never have "ENOUGH".
Sickening
Destruction of accountability through dismantling regulation. He’s seeking a Putin like oligarchical structure. Evidently Murdoch hasn’t been paying attention to what happens to an oligarch with questions...or worse.
Like Mary Trumps' inside look at the family, 'too little and not enough,' (paraphrasing here ...)
One thing mystifies me is when the ultra- old are of more extremist views., or lack an anchor. Like I think of Sen Chuck Grassley (IA-R) , he was conservative but I could agree with him and definitely trusted his integrity years ago. At his age, what is the motivator?
I have looked at it and thought inheritance of something. What is their legacy to be? So many goods years and ... lack of trust from independents or dems. Trust is huge. What motivates the elders to jump ship for Trump? Ruth, what do you think the common thread might be of these age segments?
I see your viewpoint. I come to elder states person. As an admiring grandchild who admired her grandparents' values. When I look at these elders, I think what values are they passing on? It's so unnatural to me what I see. What values do they speak and put words to for listening ears around a Sunday dinner table? Money, non-government, lack of IRS and infrastructure? No FAA ?
as Bill BARR? MOSCOW MITCH McConnell said they will be DEAD-- they don't care. (paraphrasing)
"... preserving hierarchies..."
Absolutely! The anti-democracy movement has been seen in the Powell memo, neoliberalism and the radical Libertarian agenda that infected the Reagan administration. The Republican Party longs for a more feudal time and a government that reflects that. If they were alive during the Revolutionary War, they would have fled back to England, to enjoy the strict hierarchy they so wanted. They are obsolete in today's world.
As in they like feuding. This week, i read a church brochure, laying out in the lobby, and such negativity it was promoting.
No love and peace promotion there!
absolutely- I was in high school when Reagan* was elected... I hated him & everything he stood for-- & if a teenager could see through the facade - the people who embraced him knew exactly who & what the GOP was-- wealthy; prowar; crony capitalists. The GOP used to hide it better; now it is in your face & they brag about it.
*Reagan was anti Russia (Now GOP embrace dictatorships worldwide)
Check out McCarthy, my time. Roy Cohn got his start there.
'Trickle down' economics is arrogant and
Is a non- strategy for progression of society. His ads were very uplifting, people could get caught up in the 'good feel' and zone out on the words / message. We are sometimes fools.
Oligarch of media. Murdoch sees himself as a kingmaker.
isn't he? as least for the GOP -- I'm surprised by the younger Murdocks..... thought they may not have been as radical as their father-- but so far they are just as evil as PawPaw Murdock.
Fox business plan: buy enough advertising and we will help radicalize your base. Criticize our methods or try to regulate us, and we will turn the true believers against you.
Ellen, great point with the money and the media consolidation should also be an important factor as well.
Media consolidation! Murdoch was begged by NYC officials to buy the Post! Years ago, one person or corp could not own competing media groups. Murdoch had Fox then all Regis were rewritten to allow him to buy the Post. Now we have the right wing propaganda machine the Sinclair group owning hundreds of tV stations across the country!
Well said………👏👏👏👏👏
Louis, absolutely!!!! Mary Trump especially and Jennifer Rubin a few days ago on the Mary Trump Show had a more “mind control” and “psychological realm” name for the “right wing propaganda machine” of today that you speak of within media consolidation!!!!!!…………….it reminded me more of what Aldous Huxley warned of in his stellar novel “Brave New World” of too much “technology” which can obscure TRUTH and that is what Charles Koch presented in Nancy MacLean’s “Democracy in Chains.” Charles Koch was looking for a “technology of change” beyond the “1984” realm of
George Orwell’s “Big Brother is Watching” right wing propaganda machine and more into the mind control and psychological realm of Brave New World!! Thank you so much for you input, Louis!!!!
It should come as no surprise that Charles Koch is a sociopath. Of all the sociopaths that I'm familiar with, I can't think of any that like democracy.
Big Brother doesn't have to watch you anymore-- people are "watching/ Policing" themselves-- posting on social media-- what they do; who they see; posts of crimes; posts of dinner-- sheesh!!! Talk about TMI!!!
"The Corruption of Reality", Jon Schumaker
The collusion between business and government is a major part of fascism. NAZI Germany's cartel economy was littered with oligopolies................... just like we are. Our leadership is either ignoring the symptoms or doesn't know what fascism is.
---or are in "on it" like during the beginning of Hitler's rise to power?-- wealthy industrialists bankrolled Hitler. They thought they could control him. that didn't go well then & it will not go well now.
I wonder if your third “person” could be a literal third person discussion of the possibility that the function of Trump, MTG, Boebert et al is to distract from the serious dysfunction of our political system (insider trading by Congress, back room deals, the abuse of power and the cover-up(s) of criminal activity by “elites.”
I posted something similar & Stefanik can be added to the compilation.
My choice - Kevin McCarthy, who knew full well and even admitted that Trump and Rohrabacher were paid Russian tools. I'm still very concerned about the obvious but under-reported (memory holed, even!) pipeline of Russian money into the GOP, both directly and laundered through the NRA and possibly other conduits. Mitch McConnell (while not a candidate for your 3rd essay subject), Lindsey Graham, and exited liars like Madison Cawthorn all have likely received laundered Russian funds. It's part of the information war that Putin is waging on US and most of US don't realize the breadth and scope of the ongoing attack :(
Good point.... it's almost shareholder dividends distributed widely. throughout the GOP populace. How would we know what goes into individual's accounts? People are so do or die tied into the GOP, it's unexplainable. Maybe DOJ is unraveling that thread, that would be a slow unravel.
I keep wondering why only 6 years of returns? Why don’t we have all the way back to the last Great Recession? That’s when the Russian Capital started pouring in via Deutsche Bank. We know what we will find out about TFG’s finances. But what else? How much of Putin’s $ has infiltrated the west and who, how deep, for how long?
Information Wars, Richard Stengel
How to lose the information war, Nina Jankowicz
AND we are losing. NRA with Butina and Torsin. But doesn’t Citizens United makes it impossible for us to know the scope of so much dark money.
For a 3rd examination ... suggest a county level level mini-Trump to show how the authoritarian virus has infected us in our daily personal activities. One of our 3 Josephine County (OR) mini-trumpian commissioners, Herman Baertschiger Jr., grifted state and local public monies through a variety of scams the last 2years, and while a leading Oregon state senator caused immeasurable chaos in our legislature for almost a decade. We local Dems are organizing to make sure the county commissioners’ thrice monthly meetings receive adequate public and media oversight so at least they have to sweat a bit to continue their grifting and abuse of power
Agree, local government is soil we reap from. Wild teenagers without parents.
Fascism is politics with no ethics, and is what you are describing in OR. It's an obsession and almost OCD in nature.
Interesting! Maybe I will do a separate article on local-level grifters/liars.
I can connect you with a Democratic Party colleague, a recently retired journalist after decades at our local NPR affiliate (Jefferson Public Radio) who has been following the local MAGA grifters for many years …. documenting their initial rise in the Tea Party and area white supremacist paramilitaries like the 3 percenters, then going full-MAGA … Baertschiger is one of many
It's in the soil ...
Santos and DeSantis have such similar names, I'm trying to think of a third . . .