Florida Whitewash

Under Ron DeSantis Florida has gone through a long process of white conservatives dictating what can or cannot be read, discussed, or allowed in schools. This includes the very racist gaslighting that CRT is a “Marxist” attack on our country, and therefore must be banned. 

This is what happens when graduate level people of color dare to address the history and effects of slavery and racism. This of course also feeds into the fascist screed that universities are indoctrinating our kids into communism. 

Yeah, Hitler had the same idea.

Enter Florida’s white conservatives. They alone believe they are entitled to define racism and they alone must dictate the teaching of African American history. Mighty white of them to let us know.

One of my observations of the far white right is, “Racism isn’t racism to racists”. 

Nowhere is this demonstrated so absurdly as when they play their ever-present “victim card”. It turns out most of them believe THEY are the “real victims” of racism.

Whites Believe They Are Victims of Racism More Often Than Blacks

Whites believe that they have replaced blacks as the primary victims of racial discrimination in contemporary America, according to a new study from researchers at Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Business School…"These data are the first to demonstrate that not only do whites think more progress has been made toward equality than do blacks, but whites also now believe that this progress is linked to a new inequality, at their expense," note researchers. Whites see racial equality as a zero-sum game, in which gains for one group mean losses for the other.

It should come as no surprise what happens when white conservatives in Florida decide what African American History Standards can be taught in public schools. 

Two of those white conservative workgroup members, Dr. William Allen and Dr. Frances Presley Rice, provided a statement to TV10 Tampa Bay, saying in part, “The intent of this particular benchmark clarification is to show that some slaves developed highly specialized trades from which they benefitted. This is factual and well documented…Any attempt to reduce slaves to just victims of oppression fails to recognize their strength, courage and resiliency during a difficult time in American history. Florida students deserve to learn how slaves took advantage of whatever circumstances they were in to benefit themselves and the community of African descendants."

“Slavery wasn’t all bad” seems to be their heartwarming message in the latest version of Florida’s State Academic Standards.

No doubt you’ve heard about the latest hoopla around them promoting, “Florida students deserve to learn how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit”.

After reading their “standards” I found that’s not even the most insidious thought control device in their program.

SS.912.AA.4.6

Examine organizational approaches to resisting equality in America. Benchmark Clarifications:

1: Instruction includes the immediate and lasting effects of organizations that sought to resist achieving American equality (e.g., state legislatures, Ku Klux Klan [KKK], White Citizens’ Councils [WCC], law enforcement agencies, elected officials such as the “Pork Chop Gang,” private school consortiums, Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission [MSSC]).

2: Instruction includes different methods used by coalitions (e.g., white primaries, acts of violence, unjust laws such as poll taxes, literacy tests, sundown laws, anti-miscegenation laws). 

Any history student will notice a common feature of the “organizational approaches to resisting equality”.

Did you see it?

Everything they mentioned was from the 19th Century and first half of the 20th Century. Nothing new to see here, amirite? It as if those delicate “victims of racism” want everyone to think racists were ALL Democrats. Of course, this includes their “Black tormenters”.

Noticeably absent are the facts that racists abandoned the Democratic Party and are all Trump supporters now. Not a peep about the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, and the “Unite the Right” racists who held the lethal tiki-torch rally in Charlottesville in 2017. It’s as if they don’t exist, aren’t relevant, or just don’t matter. See no evil, see no racism…except against white conservatives.

20th and 21st Century Republican race-based gerrymandering is also missing. Nothing to see here either, amirite?

Never happened. Nope. Don’t want the kids or their parents to feel “uncomfortable”, do we?

Most recently Alabama Republicans defied federal courts in passing their new congressional map. Arrogantly violating the Voting Rights Act the new Alabama congressional map allows Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice in only 1 of 7 districts despite being 1 of 4 Alabamians.

Since racism isn't racism to racists, whitewashing isn't whitewashing to white whitewashers.

Leave it to conservative white men to do their damnedest to whitewash slavery and racism as they amplify their fantasies of racist “victimization”. Yes, apparently, they deserve to learn how white conservatives “took advantage of whatever circumstances they were in to benefit themselves and the community of White American descendants”.

Pillars of Con-servatism

Let's take a moment to lift the veil of virtue and values shrouding the core of American con-servatism found in the Republican Party. 

Trumpism thrives in the fertile ground of the reactionary/authoritarian/greed mindset of the Republican Party. The trajectory of this ideology is seen through the arc spanning Hoover, McCarthyism, Nixon, Reagan, the Bush/Cheney Cartel and ultimately Trump. Maximizing personal power and wealth for the economic elites has been their real goal all along.

FDR was called a "traitor to his class" for his concern for the welfare of the common folk.  Anything that doesn't support a trickle-up economy is demonized as socialism/communism. Not that they care to know the difference. Never mind our Constitution is loaded with socialistic principles like taxes, regulation of commerce, and the dreaded "provision for the general welfare”.

Taxes, regulation, and welfare! Oh, my! The founders were communists!

Everything the Right hates most is in our founding document, except the electoral college, of course. Where would they be without racism, resentment, bigotry, ignorance, and indifference? These have become their tools to seize the levers of power. 

This is why Trump said, "I love the poorly educated". This is why voter rights, fair representation, and education are always their primary targets. As the saying goes, they need to fuel a culture war to ward off a class war.

Divide and conquer, with a sprinkling of deep reverence for wealth and the wealthy,

By stoking fear, anger and resentments, they've been successful at building conformity, loyalty and groupthink into a neo-fascist agenda.

And so, we have the three primary pillars of con-servatism.

1. Racism/bigotry for the most ignorant bottom feeders wallowing in the white fright and resentments of white nationalism..

2. Authoritarianism for the fascists, paranoid militia gun nuts, and religious fanatics who are not fully embedded in, but tolerant, or dismissive, of racism and bigotry. This is all presented in the guise of "liberty and faith". Yes, American fascism comes carrying a Bible and wrapped in the flag.

3. Insatiable greed and lust for power by rigging government, law, and the economy to favor the economic elites.

And there it is, the unwritten and unspoken platform of the radical Right.

Bigotry, authoritarianism, and greed.

Mar-a-Lago Indictment

 

At last Trump has been indicted in the Mar-a-Lago documents case.

This is good. Not charging him would tell the world Trump is above the law, and shatter any pretense we are a nation of laws, not men.

There are 38 counts against him and his co-conspirator, personal aide Walt Nauta.

COUNTS 1-31

Willful Retention of National Defense Information

18 U.S.C. 793(e)

Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in Federal investigations and bankruptcy

18 U.S.C. § 1519

COUNT 32

Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice

18U.S.C. § 1512(k)

18 U.S.C. § 1512 (b)

18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)

COUNT 37

False Statements and Representations

18 U.S.C. §§ 1001(a)

COUNT 38

False Statements and Representations

18 U.S.C.§ 1001(a)

I’m disappointed by the one charge not included in the indictment. It was the one crime that would have mandated Trump could never hold office again.

18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally

(a)

Whoever willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys, or attempts to do so, or, with intent to do so takes and carries away any record, proceeding, map, book, paper, document, or other thing, filed or deposited with any clerk or officer of any court of the United States, or in any public office, or with any judicial or public officer of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

(b)

Whoever, having the custody of any such record, proceeding, map, book, document, paper, or other thing, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.

 

My theory on why this charge isn’t included is the penalty would apply to an election. Supposedly the FBI is loath to “interfere” in elections, right, James Comey?

Merrick Garland’s Memo on “Election Year Sensitivities” may have had an influence on the decision. I don’t think it should have, but maybe that was part of the reasoning.

STATEMENTS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND CHARGING NEAR AN ELECTION

The Department of Justice has a strong interest in the prosecution of election-related crimes, such as those involving federal and state campaign finance laws, federal patronage laws, and corruption of the election process. As Department employees, however, we must be particularly sensitive to safeguarding the Department's reputation for fairness, neutrality, and non-partisanship.

Simply put, partisan politics must play no role in the decisions of federal investigators or prosecutors regarding any investigations or criminal charges. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors may never select the timing of public statements (attributed or not), investigative steps, criminal charges, or any other action in any matter or case for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party. Such a purpose, or the appearance of such a purpose, is inconsistent with the Department's mission and with the Principles of Federal Prosecution.

 

We know Trump and the radical Right will howl about “election interference” no matter what, anyway.

But that’s not the worst response in their radical reactionary hysteria.

We already have Republican insurrectionist traitors beating the drums for civil war. They are emulating Trump, when he told his white nationalist "Proud Boys" thugs to "stand back and stand by".

“President Trump said he has "been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM." This is a perimeter probe from the oppressors. Hold. rPOTUS has this. Buckle up. 1/50K know your bridges. Rock steady calm. That is all.” ~ Rep. Clay Higgins

“We have now reached a war phase. Eye for an eye.” - Rep. Andy Biggs

The DOJ should take these threats seriously.

Mary Trump recently warned us.

There is nothing he won’t do to get away with his crimes. He will turn his followers against the rest of us, he will threaten to destroy the Republican Party if it doesn’t do his bidding (and it will do his bidding). If none of that works, he will burn it all down.

It will get worse before it gets better. It will be frightening, it will be frustrating, and it will be dangerous. But it will get better eventually. If we stick together and refuse to give up hope, it will get better.

The time to take a stand for our Constitution, rule of law, and our democracy is at hand. All Americans of conscience need to unite against the enemies within. We can, and must, vote them all out.

Another D-Day

 

Trump’s lawyers’ meeting with Special Prosecutor Jack Smith didn’t pan out as he’d hoped. After complaining about an unfair process and mistreatment of Trump, they were advised by Smith’s team to file a complaint with the Inspector General’s office next door. Obviously, they had nothing legally improper to complain about, so they just left the building.

Trump’s panicked reaction was what a criminal authoritarian narcissist right out of “Central Casting” would say, to borrow one of his favorite phrases.

Reports are the Marxist Special Prosecutor, DOJ, & FBI, want to Indict me on the BOXES HOAX, despite all of the wrongdoing that they have done for SEVEN YEARS, including SPYING ON MY CAMPAIGN. Biden Crimes go unpunished, including that he had Boxes in Chinatown, in his garage by the 'Corvette,' & 1,850 Boxes in Delaware that he won't allow anyone to see. That is real OBSTRUCTION! They seek retribution for Republicans looking into Biden's CRIMES! I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!"

Trump whined on his absurdly named “Truth Social” about a “Marxist Special Prosecutor, DOJ & FBI” wanting to indict him on the “BOXES HOAX”, and that the FBI spied on his campaign, repeating another old debunked claim.

True to the old Nazi playbook, he played all the usual cards, including the “commie card”, the “victim card”, and the wildly false “accusation card”. This is just his latest in a long string of lies that also adhere to the Nazi line he projected on July 3, 2021,  “If you say it enough and keep saying it, just keep saying it, they’ll start to believe you.”

Right, except when you say it to federal law enforcement.

His crazed wild-eyed tirade about “Biden Crimes” going unpunished is also pure projection, of course. He couldn’t cite any crime that he hadn’t already committed. So he piled on more projection about ”OBSTRUCTION”, “retribution” and lastly, “ELECTION INTERFERENCE!”

Hmm. I dare say the Tangerine Tyrant is “going through some things”.

And no matter what he says, Biden isn’t going through those things. Trump will howl about Biden and Pence being as guilty as he is, but there’s a wee difference in their cases concerning government documents. 

They complied with the law and returned them without being asked. Trump refused to return them after being asked.  He proceeded to obstruct efforts to have them returned by having them moved just before the FBI came to get them. He was reported to have waved secret war plans on Iran at his country club. That’s a big no-no.

Trump remains the “only one” to have done this, despite his desperate lie, “I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG”.

Now he’s about to face real felony charges.

Here’s a partial list of the crimes Trump committed that Biden and Pence did NOT commit:

 

18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally

(a)

Whoever willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys, or attempts to do so, or, with intent to do so takes and carries away any record, proceeding, map, book, paper, document, or other thing, filed or deposited with any clerk or officer of any court of the United States, or in any public office, or with any judicial or public officer of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

(b)

Whoever, having the custody of any such record, proceeding, map, book, document, paper, or other thing, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.

 

18 USC 793 — Gathering, transmitting or losing defence information

(f)

Whoever, being entrusted with or having lawful possession or control of any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, note, or information, relating to the national defense, (1) through gross negligence permits the same to be removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of his trust, or to be lost, stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, or (2) having knowledge that the same has been illegally removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of its trust, or lost, or stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, and fails to make prompt report of such loss, theft, abstraction, or destruction to his superior officer—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

 

18 U.S. Code § 1519 - Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in Federal investigations and bankruptcy

 

Whoever knowingly alters, destroys, mutilates, conceals, covers up, falsifies, or makes a false entry in any record, document, or tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation or proper administration of any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States or any case filed under title 11, or in relation to or contemplation of any such matter or case, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

 

18 U.S. Code § 1924 Unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.

18 U.S. Code § 1001 - Statements or entries generally

(a)Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—

(1)

falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;

(2)

makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or

(3)

makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;

shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both. If the matter relates to an offense under chapter 109A, 109B, 110, or 117, or section 1591, then the term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be not more than 8 years.

 

So here we are, on the 79th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. Within a year, Hitler would be dead, and his Third Reich destroyed.

But tragically, fascism, racism, and Nazis would survive. We are now in a strikingly similar time of criminal authoritarian leaders, with the rising racism and white nationalism that infected 1930’s Germany.

We survived Trump’s Putsch of January sixth, but his threat remains.

The lesson we must learn should be clear by now. The struggle against fascism never ends. It is time for democracy’s 21st Century D-Day, as the Orange Fuhrer glowers in a seething rage from his bunker.

Neo-Nazis and Leftism

 

If Nazi Germany had a Memorial Day, Hitler’s greeting would have been very much in line with this one from Trump:

 Happy Memorial Day to all. But especially to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country they love, and to those in line of a very different, but equally dangerous fire, stopping the threats of the terrorists, misfits and lunatic thugs who are working feverishly from within to overturn and destroy our once great country, which has never been in greater peril than it is right now. We must stop the communists, Marxists and fascist “pigs” at every turn and, Make America Great Again!

The Nazi playbook is all there; false victimization, demonization, scapegoating, and dehumanizing the opposition.

“Wait a minute there, Dubya”, Someone might say. “Haven’t you heard of Godwin’s Law?”

“Why, yes, I have”, I would reply. Then I’d show him what Mike Godwin himself has to say about calling radical Right Republicans neo-Nazis.

" Sure, call Trump a Nazi. Just make sure you know what you’re talking about."

I came up with Godwin’s Law. In its original form, Godwin’s Law goes like this: “As an online discussion continues, the probability of a reference or comparison to Hitler or Nazis approaches 1.”

First, let me get this Donald Trump issue out of the way: If you’re thoughtful about it and show some real awareness of history, go ahead and refer to Hitler or Nazis when you talk about Trump. Or any other politician.

OK, I will.

Hitler: "Ein Volk. Ein Reich. Ein Fuhrer!" 

Trump September 17, 2022: "One movement. One people. One family. One glorious American nation!" 

Just as Hitler's Nazis revered their "martyr" in the "Horst Wessel Song", American neo-Nazis revere their "martyr", the insurrectionist Ashli Babbitt. Her mother was just arrested for assault. That's what neo-Nazis do. Violence is their language, as they find delight through cruelties that result in real suffering and loss for people they hate or fear.

And there's so much more.

Like Hitler, Trump has no respect for facts, the rule of law, and our democratic ideals. He begins this attack on our Constitution with an absurd false dichotomy before going to his Big Lie on his deceptively named “Truth Social”.

"Do you throw the Presidential Election Results of 2020 OUT and declare the RIGHTFUL WINNER, or do you have a NEW ELECTION? A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.”

What kind of traitor would call for the termination of the Constitution?

On the day of his SDNY indictment, Trump wailed:

These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICATED the 45th President of the United States of America, and the leading Republican Candidate, by far, for the 2024 Nomination for President. THIS IS AN ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY THE LIKES OF WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. IT IS LIKEWISE A CONTINUING ATTACK ON OUR ONCE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION, A NATION IN SERIOUS DECLINE. SO SAD!

“Indicated” by thugs and monsters. 

Here we have Trump’s semi-illiterate version of “Mein Kampf” for MAGAts. We can almost feel the hot-blooded chant of “Ein Reich! Ein Volk! Ein Fuhrer!” behind his vile neo-Nazi diatribes.

Ron Desantis would also echo the original Fuhrer when he told Trey Gowdy on FOX®, “The woke mind virus is basically a form of cultural Marxism. At the end of the day it’s an attack on the truth. And because it’s a war on truth, I think we have no choice but to wage a war on woke”.

“Woke” essentially means whatever and whomever they hate, of course.

DeSantis blew the dog whistle to his racist base when he scored a double, by invoking hate for a Jew, and praise for a white guy who strangled a mentally ill Black man on a subway train.

“We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Left's pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens. We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Let’s show this Marine... America’s got his back.”

Penny is charged with second-degree manslaughter. The pro-criminal projection here is once again wrapped in praise for a killer.

They loved the racist who killed Trayvon Martin.

They send money and praise to a sociopath punk named Kyle Rittenhouse for killing BLM protesters.

Governor Abbot plans to pardon another bigot who killed a protester in Texas. The killer Daniel Perry proclaimed, “I might have to kill a few people on my way to work”.

These are the heroes of neo-Nazis.

They LOVE white people who kill Blacks and others they hate.

Then DeSantis pitched a promise that enthralls every Nazi, “I will serve two terms, and I will be able to destroy leftism in this country.”

Imagine if a Democratic candidate said they were going to "destroy conservatism in this country." We know how the corporate media and press would treat that statement with outrage. But It’s OK if you’re a Republican. (IOKIYAR) It’s just “rhetoric” and “legitimate political discourse”, as in how the GOP whitewashed Trump’s coup on 1/6/21. 

"America First" activist Tyler Russel admits what the white nationalist neo-Nazi base really wants. "We don't want freedom. We want a total Trumpian Reich. We want dictator Trump...And we want all these people who are traitors to this nation to go to jail."

To hell with all those American neo-Nazis who want to destroy our democracy. THAT is their goal, as they pack the courts with corrupt anti-democratic judges to cement minority rule.

This is the purpose of their war on truth, democracy, education, and our freedom. They want to restrict the right to vote, dictate forced births, dictate what books children can read, what teachers can teach, how people dress and perform, and force their radical Right, racist, one-party dictatorship on our nation. This is what they do while projecting and howling that the "left" is trying to control them.

Why do they really want to destroy leftism?

Leftism is anti-racist, so they hate it.

Leftism supports separation of church and state and opposes theocracy in the laws and courts, so they hate it. 

Leftism supports women's right to reproductive freedom, so they hate it.

Leftism supports ethical standards for the Supreme Court, so they hate it.

Leftism supports our justice system holding Trump and his mob accountable for their crimes, so they hate it.

Leftism supports school children's safety by banning assault weapons, so they hate it.

Leftism supports public education and public healthcare, so they hate it.

Leftism supports asylum for victims of war, crime, and tyranny, so they hate it.

Leftism supports our Constitutional taxes on the rich and corporations, so they hate it.

Leftism supports our Constitutional regulation of commerce, so they hate it.

Leftism supports our Constitutional provision for the general welfare, so they hate it.

Leftism supports the peaceful transfer of power, so they hate it.

Leftism supports cleaner air and water by regulating polluters, so they hate it.

Leftism supports feeding the poor and treating the sick, so they hate it.

Leftism supports and protects our Constitutional democracy and voting rights, so they hate it.

American neo-Nazis like DeSantis, Trump, and his cult will accuse all who oppose them of being "communists". Just like Hitler did to those who didn't "Sieg Heil" and goose-step for his Third Reich.

No wonder they purged Liz Cheney for daring to speak out, "No party, no nation, no people can defend and perpetuate a constitutional republic if they accept leaders who have gone to war with the rule of law, with the democratic process, with the Constitution itself.”

This is why American neo-Nazis love Trump and DeSantis. They share the same white nationalist hate for democracy and our ideal of consent of the governed. They share the same hate for fellow Americans who don’t look like them, or show intelligence, honesty, decency, and compassion.

Those are NOT their values. They seek wealth, power, and one-party control of our country, and above all, to punish people they hate. There’s the reason they want to destroy leftism, and not fascism.

They are enemies of our Constitution and democratic republic, and they have earned their designation as “neo-Nazis”.

Hillary Was Right

If anyone of sound mind and morals sat through the Trump/CNN debacle last night, I offer them both my pity and congratulations. Witnessing fascism's voice being amplified for over and hour, spewing a stream of lies and hate is exhausting and depressing. 

We can only ask ourselves, "What the hell is wrong with our country?"

This is the question I've been writing about since Bush and Cheney lied us into war and were reelected for their war crimes.

Trump is but the logical consequence of the moral decline and willful ignorance in a large percentage of our citizenry. White nationalism has taken over the American Bible Belt. We're watching good people be deceived by sociopaths and allowing their racial resentments, bigotry and fears of being replaced to dominate their politics. Now the question is, are they still good people?

Were "good Germans" still good people after willingly swearing an oath to Hitler? Sure, they may have still been good parents, and good neighbors and friends to fellow Nazis, but is that enough for them to remain good people?

The answer is no. Their willing embrace of anger and hate in service to evil cancels what might remain of any conscience or decency.

I'll leave it to others to fact check all his lies, and denounce his vile hate and outrageous behavior. We've seen quite enough of it already. 

Instead of my usual ranting, I want to share the important observations of former naval aviator Brynn Tannehill.

She knows her subject, and is the author of “American Fascism: How the GOP is Subverting Democracy".

This is what she tweeted regarding CNN's horror show last night:

A ton of ink (virtual or otherwise) has already been spilled on Trump and CNN. Obviously it was Trump at his most awful. And obviously CNN did our country a disservice by hosting what was effectively a Trump rally. But, there's an angle that's missing from the discussion. 

Namely, the audience. These were all Trump supporters. Republicans and independents who were supporters of the former President. Clinton called them a "basket of deplorables" in 2016, and they got offended.

Last night was a reminder she was right.

They laughed and cheered as Trump mocked the woman he was found liable for sexually assaulting. He was cheered when he called "moderator" Kaitlan Collins "a nasty woman." They eagerly devoured the myriad of lies he told about EVERYTHING.

It was a Gish Gallop, right down to claiming he would end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours without giving details. (Hint: there's no way the US could do that, even if we cut off aid immediately. Ukraine would keep fighting and looking for alternate suppliers of arms.)

And they believe it all. They LOVE it all. The cruelty is the point. They love Trump and Putin and Orban. They love Jesus too, and have claimed all of American Christianity for their own. They've destroyed its reputation in the process.

For most decent people, who don't laugh at people for being raped, seeing someone wearing a cross is a big warning sign: this person is not safe. This person is not kind. This person does not even vaguely live in the same reality the rest of us do. 

And yes, this thread will get a lot of "not all Christians" messages here. But these folks are at the spearhead a fascist movement that revels in cruelty, domination, and abuse of power. Not everyone that wore a swastika pin was bad, but there weren't many Oskar Schindlers.

But, above all else, last night was a reminder of what America under Trump was, and will be again if we put him back in office. Cruel, theocratic, vulgar, misogynistic, unmoored from reality, ignorant, immune to evidence, and racist. 

These are not good people, even if they believe their religious beliefs make them inherently good. This is a movement centered on grievances and vengeance against enemies of the herrenvolk. What we saw are the true believers Milton Mayer wrote about. 

Hardly anyone will read this. And even if it goes viral, it still isn't enough. But for those that do read it, I hope it reminds you that what is coming is dark beyond all belief. They want vengeance on those they believe they have tolerated for too long.

There is no bottom: there is no point at which his supporters will say, "No, we're going too far, this is wrong." These are people with an axe to grind, and without empathy for anyone who seen as an enemy.

If the 2nd Trump administration was putting trans people through tree shredders, his supporters would demand that they be dipped in lemon juice first.

Last night was a chilling reminder not only can it happen here, it WILL happen here if we get a second Trump term.

 

Paranoid By Default

 

It happens every day.

Insanity is becoming the norm now. Paranoia is the default state of mind in too many Americans.

The only good news is this victim of insanity survived.

“A teenager was shot by a homeowner after going to the wrong house to pick up siblings”

Ralph Yarl, 16, was “shot twice and struck in the head and arm,” his family’s attorneys said in a statement.

The teen was taken to a hospital, where he was in stable condition Sunday, police said.

“Despite the severity of his injuries and the seriousness of his condition, Ralph is alive and recovering,” civil rights attorneys S. Lee Merritt and Benjamin Crump, who have been retained by Yarl and his family, said in the statement.

Police learned the teenager’s parents had asked him to pick up his siblings at an address on 115th Terrace, but he accidentally went to a home on 115th Street, where he was shot.

“Ralph Yarl was picking up his younger brothers when he mistakenly rang the doorbell at the wrong house. A man shot Ralph twice and now he’s in critical condition. His family needs support during this tragedy,” Crump tweeted.

The homeowner – who has not been identified – was taken into custody and placed on a 24-hour hold, then released while police work to get a victim statement and gather more forensic evidence.

Under Missouri law, a person can be held for up to 24 hours for investigation of a felony, at which time they are required to be charged or released, Graves said at the news conference.

Asked whether the shooting may have been racially motivated, the police chief said, “the information that we have now, it does not say that that is racially motivated. That’s still an active investigation. But as a chief of police, I do recognize the racial components of this case.”

 

Believing the "Militia Amendment" endows them the constitutional right to shoot people they fear and overthrow the government, the NRA/Republican Cartel, paranoid white bigots, Radical Right conspiracy nuts, and racist neo-Confederates have all contributed to arming a nation of criminals, idiots and sociopaths.

Too many want to revive vigilantism and relive the Civil War and the movie version of the wild west. Too many are clinging to their weapons in the hope of an opportunity to kill people they hate.

I'm convinced the human species is genetically pre-programmed for self-extinction. We are infected with essentially the equivalent of angry book burning primates running amok with dynamite.

People gifted with good sense, a conscience and consciousness will have to live, and survive, among them for as long as there is a Republican Party.

Will we last that long?