Monday, August 20, 2018

Big Brother Don And "The Brotherhood"


Has anyone else noted the tendency of those wrapping themselves in "liberty", the flag, and Bible are always shilling for the Orwellian agenda of the far Right and economic elites?

I pulled out my old copy of "1984", just to see how far we've descended as a nation. The frightening realization was this. We are not at the bottom yet, but the downward trajectory is steeper than ever.

“Just remember, what you are seeing and what you are reading is not what's happening.” Big Brother Don.
 
Very Orwellian. Rudy "O'Brien" Giuliani, the Right-wing Authoritarian 9-11 guy sums up the Orwellian Trump era doublethink even more concisely than his client.
 
"Truth isn't truth". 

That nugget of doublethink takes a place among Eric Blair's, "Ignorance is strength. Freedom is slavery. War is peace." 

This is Republican/Trumpism now. 
==
 Orwell:
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
 
The very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history.
In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
==

The rising white nationalism and far Right/Trumpist tribal beliefs and ideology are expressed with the same fervor as 1984’s “two-minutes hate”. It is also similar to cults and religious fundamentalism. As in, "Jesus sent Trump to save us!"

They are indoctrinated in the same authoritarian way, until they become fanatic crusaders for their Party and their tribe. (AKA the interests of corporate elites, white identity politics, and suppression of education, science, journalism and democracy.)

They are conditioned to despise and distrust all sources of information that questions their leaders and ideology. Corporate media rarely challenge Wall Street and capitalism in general, but since they call out the lies of the Right, they become the "enemy of the people".

Minorities, liberals, and the press have become the scapegoats of this new fascism.

It is very much an Orwellian cult, and they are programmed to hate liberalism and democratic socialism as the equivalent of "Goldstein's Brotherhood" or Stalinism. This is so ironic, while they embrace Putin over the majority of their fellow Americans.

Now their ignorance, resentment, fear, anger and hate are fueled to the point of dangerous extremism.

The white nationalists and Republican Party created this monster, There can be no good consequences of Orwellian rulers, austerity, and permanent conflict. It will be the norm until we see either Republicans put the country and the rule of law over their Party's power, or the opposition party finds a spine and conscience, as well as an overwhelming number of informed voters.

It will come down to either that unlikely scenario, or until some catastrophic upheaval eventually intervenes. 

The first option has an expiration date this November. After that, the inevitable awaits. 


27 comments:

Jefferson's Guardian said...

WHEN TRUMP IS JAILED, GIULIANI CAN VISIT HIM AND SAY 'DON'T WORRY, DONALD: PRISON ISN’T PRISON' ~~ by Chantal Da Silva, for Newsweek, August 20, 2018

The "alternative" reality concept started by Trump's counsel, Kellyanne Conway, is catching on.

Yes, Mr. Trump, that orange jumpsuit you're wearing isn't really orange ~~ it's only reflection.

LOLOL

Jefferson's Guardian said...

"The first option has an expiration date this November. After that, the inevitable awaits." ~~ Dave Dubya

This November, I'm afraid, will only slow the fascist train of the Government Of Putin and the white supremacists. It may even detour this runaway train, but it will never derail it.

The hate from the right has always been there -- ever since reconstruction and through to the Civil Rights Act, and culminating in the ascension to the presidency of a person of color in 2009.

Donald Trump played his hateful bigoted base -- at first through a litmus test challenging his predecessor's legitimacy as a U.S. citizen. Once he took the temperature of the electorate, he knew his chances were enhanced. He is truly Hitler-like in his ability to manipulate those whose emotions overshadow their intellect.

My concern, Dave, is November's overturning of the House, and possibly the Senate, will create a false sense of security and well-being. It will be anything, but.

As long as there are "the Chucks" of the world out there, this nation's democratic values, its tradition of the rule of law and its embracing of "liberty and justice for all", are at risk.

We're halfway into the dark and foreboding forest. We have a long way to go before we walk out into daylight.

Dave Dubya said...

JG,
The course of fascism will proceed until checked. A weak opposition party may slow it at best.

If the Dems take the House or Senate it can at least give us some relief by deadlock. Progress can only be accomplished by conscience followed by action. Neither are characteristic of the Junior Corporatist Party.

Even if they dare apply real checks, we will still fall into a Constitutional crisis. If no Republicans step up like some did during Watergate that crisis is inevitable. Then follows the great decline and catastrophic upheaval.

Ex Con servative said...

Everything in this column is spot on. Right wing hate media really does condition their "faithful" to believe an alternate reality. Limbaugh does it, the local guys do it, Faux does it. I know, I lived it. It's really an effective tactic of recruiting or enforcing the beliefs of the gullible or ignorant.

My fear is that November will either not be enough to stop the slide, or the big crash that is coming will get blamed on the Dems. Then it's over. When will we ever learn that unregulated capitalism just creates huge boom and bust cycles that crush the people on the bottom.

One more thing. Socialism combined with democracy is not communism! Is Denmark a Communist country? And yes, Socialism can coexist and even thrive together with capitalism, provided the capitalism is strongly regulated. If not, hello fascism.

Jefferson's Guardian said...

"Right wing hate media really does condition their 'faithful' to believe an alternate reality. Limbaugh does it, the local guys do it, Faux does it. I know, I lived it. It's really an effective tactic of recruiting or enforcing the beliefs of the gullible or ignorant." ~~ Ex Con servative

So true. Their propaganda provides the fertile soil to grow their hate and venom; the mouthpiece for their fascist mindset.

"Free speech" has a dark and sinister underbelly. An educated electorate is essentially the only counter-balance to effectively turn back society's unsavory side.

Democracy. It's such a fragile sculpture to display seemingly unprotected. Only a strong constitutional history of rule-of-law, coupled with political and societal norms and practices, can keep the guardrails intact and the runaway car on the road.

The integrity and strength of those guardrails is being challenged in these times of crisis.

TB3 said...

"Only a strong constitutional history of rule-of-law, coupled with political and societal norms and practices, can keep the guardrails intact and the runaway car on the road." -- JG

Unfortunately, for many, Rule of Law is something people are only exposed to in a Dick Wolf television series and history is something found on Cable and is usually Saran-wrapped in jingoism.

Dave Dubya said...

In Trumpistan "rule of law" is for brown people, opponants and critics, along with pardons for cronies and toadies.

History is the twisted nexus of theocratic Bible thumper David Barton and whatever the hell Trump Tweets.

Ex Con servative said...

Also, as we all know, the Rethugs have never been about the Constitution, or Democracy for that matter. They will trash and are trashing Democracy for their own greedy wants and need for power. It's who they are.

Democracy by definition has to be inclusive...by the people, for the people.The opposite of what the right wants.And they are now being led by a criminal, who cares nothing for this country, only his warped, privileged self. Republicans, you should be ashamed of yourself(though we know you won't be.)

Jefferson's Guardian said...

Paul Manafort is headin' up the river, but not before crossing the Potomac to be tried in D.C. for criminal charges that will most definitely involve the Trump campaign.

And of course, Michael Cohen's plea to the charges against him, and his possible cooperation with the government, certainly made yesterday, August 21st, a very very bad day for Donald Trump.

What a shame. ;-)

Dave Dubya said...

August 21st featured these three reports on the most corrupt party in American history:


https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/21/politics/michael-cohen-plea-deal-talks/index.html

Michael Cohen pleads guilty, implicates Trump


https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/21/politics/pa\ul-manafort-trial-jury/index.html


Paul Manafort found guilty on eight counts


https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/21/politics/duncan-hunter-campaign-charges/index.html


Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife indicted in use of campaign funds for personal expenses

Jefferson's Guardian said...

And, of course, let's not neglect to mention the indictments issued against Duncan Hunter and his wife yesterday for campaign fraud.

The mountain of corruption created by the Republican Party keeps mounting higher and higher.

Is this the "fill dirt" Donald Trump intended to replace with the brackish swamp water he labeled as Washington D.C.?

I'm waiting eagerly for Trump's deflective Tweets which should start coming at anytime now. LOL

Jefferson's Guardian said...

Correction -- should read: "Is this the "fill dirt" Donald Trump intended to use to replace the brackish swamp water he labeled as Washington D.C.?"

Jefferson's Guardian said...

Hey Chuck! Are you going to contribute to the "Michael Cohen Truth Fund" website to help assist him in telling the truth?

Maybe the contributions help him get a swanky place to go in the federal witness protection program? After all, I'm sure the Russian Mafiya is gathering at their hangout at Brighton Beach to plan their "take out" order.

LOLOL

Jefferson's Guardian said...

MAGA: "My Attorney Got Arrested"

LOLOL

Jefferson's Guardian said...

"The question can no longer be whether the President and those closest to him broke the law. That is settled. Three of the people closest to Trump as he ran for and won the Presidency have now pleaded guilty or have been convicted of significant federal crimes: Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, and Michael Flynn. The question now becomes far narrower and, for Trump, more troubling: What is the political impact of a President’s criminal liability being established in a federal court? How will Congress respond? And if Congress does not act, how will voters respond in the midterm elections?" ~~ With Michael Cohen’s Guilty Plea, President Trump Has Been Implicated in a Criminal Conspiracy, by Adam Davidson, The New Yorker, August 21, 2018

And to think -- the best is yet to be! Trump hasn't even been indicted yet, and he's already implicated as a co-conspirator in a criminal case!

So what's the mobster-in-chief's next move? Will he follow in Nixon's shoes and duplicate his Saturday Night Massacre?...or will he be inpatient and impulsive, and make sure he does the dirty deed before the weekend?

Maybe he'll create some magnificent diversion -- like bomb Iran?...or fly planes into the Trump Tower?...or the Congressional Dome?

Surely he will not resign, will he? Surely not.

Something's up the mobster's heavily-starched sleeve, and you can bet it will not be good. He's been too quiet today, and not throwing out his usual asinine flurry of Tweets and insults.

Gee, do you think he's contemplating suicide?...or just trashing the White House? ;-)

TB3 said...

"Hey Chuck! Are you going to contribute to the "Michael Cohen Truth Fund" website to help assist him in telling the truth?"

He's waiting to see what the concensus is inside the Rightwing Bubble on how to best deflect and distract from all that is happening now. Stay tuned.

Jefferson's Guardian said...

No doubt, TB3, no doubt! LOL

The spin is already apparent. Did you happen to see Sarah Sanders's press briefing this afternoon? "...the president has done nothing wrong and there are no charges against him."

If she said it once, she said it a half-dozen times. Of course, she's partly right. No charges have been formerly brought against Trump...yet. ;-)

Jefferson's Guardian said...

Michael Cohen plead guilty to two counts of campaign finance violations that are not a crime. President Obama had a big campaign finance violation and it was easily settled! ~~ Donald Trump, Twitter, August 22, 2018

Let's add another meme to the list: "Crimes are not crimes".

What a moron.

Ex Con servative said...

I have a theory on the current, out of control Republican party corruption. Although always driven by money and power above anything else, the current Rethugs have gotten amazingly brazen in their corruption. I think a big reason can be attributed to having right wing media always there to bail them out, or deflect from the truth. What has happened for the last thirty plus years has been a snowball effect...lie, steal, get away with it, and do it even more next time. The corporate, for profit, "mainstream" media is complicit also, never holding them accountable for much of anything, much less the deterioration of our country.

The clip of hypocrite Lindsey Graham spouting about Bill Clinton from the nineties is enough to turn a person's stomach, much less the quotes from "Holier than thou" Mike Pence. Wow.

I hope they all go down in disgrace(one can only hope.)

Jefferson's Guardian said...

"What has happened for the last thirty plus years has been a snowball effect...lie, steal, get away with it, and do it even more next time. The corporate, for profit, 'mainstream' media is complicit also, never holding them accountable for much of anything..." ~~ Ex Con servative

Ex Con, your theory is correct. In the mid-1980s, when the networks took away fair and balanced reporting due to net non-revenue generating, non-profit creating newsrooms, and replaced them with opinion segments instead, it opened the door to segmentation along party lines.

Obviously, this was a windfall for the corporate networks, but neglectful toward the historical Fourth Estate and its obligations and role in a democratic society.

This type of "news reporting", in particular, targets low-information voters and the uneducated -- the most susceptible to propaganda.

Related, and as you said, corruption then goes unabated, and in too many cases unnoticed, because it's seen and bundled as partisan.

The people lose, democracy loses, and the mega-corporate media conglomerates are the biggest and only winners.

Dave Dubya said...

At least Liz Warren is making some efforts to level the playing field and undoing the rigged game.

Warren Introduces Accountable Capitalism Act

https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-introduces-accountable-capitalism-act

U.P. Tim said...

The first two Trump supporters Rep. Chris Collins (R) New York and Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) California are going down for insider trading and using campaign funds for his lavish lifestyle respectively. Hunter is using the same playbook that our Liar-in-Chief is using. It's a witch hunt and and the Deep State is after him. The corruption and criminal activity sure doesn't fall far from the tree (Trump regime). Jeff Sessions was number three on the list for supporting Trump and he appears to be in some hot water today also. The story has it that he could be gone after the mid-terms. Like Ex Con says " I hope they all go down in disgrace ". Millions of people can only hope. Graham, Pence and Hatch also made my stomach turn with their hypocrisy. The stained dress and BJ lives on.

Jefferson's Guardian said...

"Something's up the mobster's heavily-starched sleeve, and you can bet it will not be good. He's been too quiet today, and not throwing out his usual asinine flurry of Tweets and insults." ~~ Jefferson's Guardian (me), 8/22/2018

Well, it didn't take long...

I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. “South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers.” @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews ~~ Donald Trump, Twitter, Aug 22, 2018

Sure, Mr. Trump, why not stir racial tensions in South Africa? What's the matter?...doing the same in this country wasn't enough for you?

You're a f#@king preverted racist asshole.

Ex Con servative said...

JG, you're so right with your analysis of the for profit media, and what damage is being done because of it. Like you said, it has literally divided the country along party lines...it's really bad.

I'll take it a step further, and say that this same ideology, "Run it like a business", has totally screwed up healthcare,pharmaceuticals, education, the prison system, the banking system,the government, and even the military. Real nice.

Have you ever noticed how we call healthcare an industry? Remember a time when it wasn't this way? Remember when every third commercial was NOT for a medication?

This was all designed to make certain people really wealthy at the expense of so much that is good, and it has worked great. And it was sold as the opposite.

On a better note, there are some really smart (and wise) people on this board(thank God).

Dave Dubya said...

JG,
You're a f#@king preverted racist asshole.
Add being rich celebrity representing a totally corrupt party, and this is exactly how he became president.

Tim,
The tragedy is be their will be no real justice. Maybe a little hand-slap or fine, and then they will be off to get rich with corporate cronies. This is the system they built.

Ex-Con,
The public interest has long devolved from providing services to the perverted "run like a business", and further degraded to "steal like a kleptocracy".

Jefferson's Guardian said...

"The public interest has long devolved from providing services to the perverted 'run like a business', and further degraded to 'steal like a kleptocracy'." ~~ Dave Dubya

Dave, you offered a very accurate picture of the two end-points of the Republican attitude toward government.

As you remarked, originally the party's redress was to operate government as a business. So, of course, they elect a person with absolutely no experience in any form of government, who instead is a shady businessman with probable links to organized criminal symdicates.

They still haven't installed a government they wanted run like a business. They did get, though, a true "Mafiya Don".

The irony of the "skipped step" is inescapable. Indeed, drain the swamp...and install a cesspool. LOL

Ex Con servative said...

Their form of "Run it like a business" is to siphon as much money into their own pockets, and their cronies, and the rest of us can clean up the mess. Come to think of it, it's exactly what many CEOs have done for the last few decades. It's definitely time for a large tax increase at the top, so the "job creators" reinvest in their companies, instead of having a money hoarding competition.

Why would anybody vote for someone who believes that anyone in government is an incompetent bumbling fool? It's a self fulfilling prophecy. Hence, what we have today.