US Politics: #Musky DeSaster

[Zorral]

Looking everywhere, even under the sofa cushions but am failing finding commies and marxists -- though the population of fascists and nazis grows exponentially, it seems with every murder and corruption committed with impunity and immunity. 

[The Anti-Targ]

On 5/29/2023 at 11:31 AM, ThinkerX said:

 

The operative term here is 'crazy fucks.' To me it seems that at least some members of the Freedom Caucus are so out of touch with reality they might actually try to depose McCarthy *without* a viable replacement lined up - or maybe somebody *only* they think is viable. This might result in a situation where McCarthy is no longer Speaker - but neither is anybody else. That possibility is what made me think the D's might step in with a lifeline for McCarthy, but that appears either unlikely or impossible.

And this is the party some recently elected (at the state level) D's willingly defected to.

I wonder if it would be too, errr, on the nose if a break away "moderate" right wing party split off from the Republican party and adopted the Rhinoceros as its animal spirit.

Edited May 29, 2023 by The Anti-Targ

[Zorral]

Heather Cox Richards, Letters From An American -- Fascism

Within a matter of a few years of the publication of "FASCISM!" the authors were under investigation by the resurgent Republican right as "communist agents". It happened right in front of everyone and he only ones who recognized it were silenced by the threat of being called "communists" and having their lives destroyed. We call it "McCarthyism" and think it died with him, but it didn't, and now it's so strong we live in fear of it taking formal power next year.

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/may-29-2023?

Quote

 

Beginning in 1943, the War Department published a series of pamphlets for U.S. Army personnel in the European theater of World War II. Titled Army Talks, the series was designed “to help [the personnel] become better-informed men and women and therefore better soldiers.”

On March 24, 1945, the topic for the week was “FASCISM!”

“You are away from home, separated from your families, no longer at a civilian job or at school and many of you are risking your very lives,” the pamphlet explained, “because of a thing called fascism.” But, the publication asked, what is fascism? “Fascism is not the easiest thing to identify and analyze,” it said, “nor, once in power, is it easy to destroy. It is important for our future and that of the world that as many of us as possible understand the causes and practices of fascism, in order to combat it.”

Fascism, the U.S. government document explained, “is government by the few and for the few. The objective is seizure and control of the economic, political, social, and cultural life of the state.” “The people run democratic governments, but fascist governments run the people.”

“The basic principles of democracy stand in the way of their desires; hence—democracy must go! Anyone who is not a member of their inner gang has to do what he’s told. They permit no civil liberties, no equality before the law.” “Fascism treats women as mere breeders. ‘Children, kitchen, and the church,’ was the Nazi slogan for women,” the pamphlet said.

Fascists “make their own rules and change them when they choose…. They maintain themselves in power by use of force combined with propaganda based on primitive ideas of ‘blood’ and ‘race,’ by skillful manipulation of fear and hate, and by false promise of security. The propaganda glorifies war and insists it is smart and ‘realistic’ to be pitiless and violent.”

Fascists understood that “the fundamental principle of democracy—faith in the common sense of the common people—was the direct opposite of the fascist principle of rule by the elite few,” it explained, “[s]o they fought democracy…. They played political, religious, social, and economic groups against each other and seized power while these groups struggled.”

Americans should not be fooled into thinking that fascism could not come to America, the pamphlet warned; after all, “[w]e once laughed Hitler off as a harmless little clown with a funny mustache.” And indeed, the U.S. had experienced “sorry instances of mob sadism, lynchings, vigilantism, terror, and suppression of civil liberties. We have had our hooded gangs, Black Legions, Silver Shirts, and racial and religious bigots. All of them, in the name of Americanism, have used undemocratic methods and doctrines which…can be properly identified as ‘fascist.’”

The War Department thought it was important for Americans to understand the tactics fascists would use to take power in the United States. They would try to gain power “under the guise of ‘super-patriotism’ and ‘super-Americanism.’” And they would use three techniques:

First, they would pit religious, racial, and economic groups against one another to break down national unity. Part of that effort to divide and conquer would be a “well-planned ‘hate campaign’ against minority races, religions, and other groups.”

Second, they would deny any need for international cooperation, because that would fly in the face of their insistence that their supporters were better than everyone else. “In place of international cooperation, the fascists seek to substitute a perverted sort of ultra-nationalism which tells their people that they are the only people in the world who count. With this goes hatred and suspicion toward the people of all other nations.”

Third, fascists would insist that “the world has but two choices—either fascism or communism, and they label as ‘communists’ everyone who refuses to support them.”

It is “vitally important” to learn to spot native fascists, the government said, “even though they adopt names and slogans with popular appeal, drape themselves with the American flag, and attempt to carry out their program in the name of the democracy they are trying to destroy.”

The only way to stop the rise of fascism in the United States, the document said, “is by making our democracy work and by actively cooperating to preserve world peace and security.” In the midst of the insecurity of the modern world, the hatred at the root of fascism “fulfills a triple mission.” By dividing people, it weakens democracy. “By getting men to hate rather than to think,” it prevents them “from seeking the real cause and a democratic solution to the problem.” By falsely promising prosperity, it lures people to embrace its security.

“Fascism thrives on indifference and ignorance,” it warned. Freedom requires “being alert and on guard against the infringement not only of our own freedom but the freedom of every American. If we permit discrimination, prejudice, or hate to rob anyone of his democratic rights, our own freedom and all democracy is threatened.” And if “we want to make certain that fascism does not come to America, we must make certain that it does not thrive anywhere in the world.”

Seventy-eight years after the publication of “FASCISM!” with its program for recognizing that political system and stopping it from taking over the United States, President Joe Biden today at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, honored those who gave their lives fighting to preserve democracy. “On this day, we come together again to reflect, to remember, but above all, to recommit to the future our fallen heroes fought for, …a future grounded in freedom, democracy, equality, tolerance, opportunity, and…justice.”

“[T]he truest memorial to their lives,” the president said, is to act “every day to ensure that our democracy endures, our Constitution endures, and the soul of our nation and our decency endures.”

—

Notes:

https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=armytalks

War Department, “Army Talk 64: FASCISM!” March 24, 1945, at https://archive.org/details/ArmyTalkOrientationFactSheet64-Fascism/mode/2up

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/05/29/remarks-by-president-biden-at-the-155th-national-memorial-day-observance/

https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1663379851716198400

316 Comments
    
TCinLA
Writes Thats Another Fine Mess
7 hr ago
Within a matter of a few years of the publication of "FASCISM!" the authors were under investigation by the resurgent Republican right as "communist agents". It happened right in front of everyone and he only ones who recognized it were silenced by the threat of being called "communists" and having their lives destroyed. We call it "McCarthyism" and think it died with him, but it didn't, and now it's so strong we live in fear of it taking formal power next year.

 

 

[Zorral]

Again, an out and out white supremacist nazi fascist racist weeps he's being smeared by being called a white supremacist while linking to neo nazi white supremacist sites.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/rep-paul-gosar-claims-he-has-been-smeared-as-a-nazi

~~~~~~

TX now has banned all drag anytime anywhere.

~~~~~~

Today, we were notified by two more friends that are moving out of Miami because they feel so unsafe there.  Note: neither of them is Black, LGBTQ, and immigrant -- both are single Latina moms though.  They are moving to NYC.  Both are fortunate they have jobs and places to live lined up.  Another woman, who isn't single, who isn't a mom, white, is quite a bit older, and married to a Cuban American, is also, with her musician husband, leaving Miami for NYC again.  Her mom is in assisted living and her apartment is now vacant so they too have a place to live.

 

Edited May 30, 2023 by Zorral

[LongRider]

On 5/29/2023 at 1:12 PM, Zorral said:

Looking everywhere, even under the sofa cushions but am failing finding commies and marxists --

Best keep looking, they are known to be sneaky bastards.     

[Fez]

Democrats did vote against the rule, but only 2 Republicans did instead of all 3 HFC members. So things proceed smoothly. Honestly not sure what would've happened if the rule was defeated.

[The Anti-Targ]

Perhaps one thing that sticks in the craw of HFC members more than voting for a McCarthy debt ceiling bill / rule thingy is voting with Democrats against it. Possibly the best thing to do for the House vote is to loudly proclaim, well in advance, that every Democrat will vote against the bill because McCarthy has taken too much away from Biden's spending programme that they can no longer support it. Then every Republican will vote for it for fear of being called a RINO for voting in lock step with Democrats. Considering the average IQ/EQ of the Republican House members this reverse psychology trick could actually work, and for those Republicans smart enough to see through the trick they were going to vote with McCarthy anyway.

On 5/30/2023 at 8:12 AM, Zorral said:

Looking everywhere, even under the sofa cushions but am failing finding commies and marxists --. 

Clearly not looking in the mirror 

[Gaston de Foix]

9 hours ago, The Anti-Targ said:

Perhaps one thing that sticks in the craw of HFC members more than voting for a McCarthy debt ceiling bill / rule thingy is voting with Democrats against it. Possibly the best thing to do for the House vote is to loudly proclaim, well in advance, that every Democrat will vote against the bill because McCarthy has taken too much away from Biden's spending programme that they can no longer support it. 

Team McCarthy are trying to spread this narrative, and the WH is trying to support it, but neither is in control of the discourse.  

I do wonder how much the widespread knowledge that the HFC's shtick-in-trade is calling any potential bill unviable and a betrayal had upstream consequences on the center-of-gravity of this deal.  

[The Anti-Targ]

I think there may be enough crazies in the House who want to see the US default just to see what happens, or they know what will happen and they want to watch it all burn.

[DMC]

It's interesting that McCarthy/GOP leadership seems to still be whipping votes in an effort to meet the 150 vote promise Hakeem Jeffries appears to be holding him to.  Conventional wisdom is if McCarthy secures a majority of the majority - only about 112 members of the GOP conference - his Speakership should be secure (for now). 

But now it seems like he's worried more Democrats will vote for the bill than Republicans, which would be a bad look - as members of his party have already started to voice.  Still, it is rather surprising how quickly GOP leadership has gotten the crazy right/HFC to shut up or at least go back to holding their fire...again, at least for now:

Quote

The message was echoed inside and outside the room by other influential conservatives — including Rep. JIM JORDAN (R-Ohio), the Freedom Caucus co-founder and godfather of the hard right. Ousting McCarthy over the debt deal, Jordan told reporters, was “a terrible idea.”

It appeared to get through to the rabble-rousers: Bishop left the meeting and refused to discuss McCarthy’s future with reporters. “I’m not getting into that,” Roy told us as he jumped into an elevator. Another hard-liner who had joined in the saber-rattling, Rep. RALPH NORMAN (R-S.C.), told our Sarah Ferris that McCarthy was not actually at risk.

If McCarthy can keep Jordan on board, I strongly suspect he'll survive any aftermath of the deal.

[Mr. Chatywin et al.]

1 minute ago, DMC said:

his Speakership should be secure (for now). 

 

Dude sold his soul for what? To be a historical footnote and a punching bag? 

[DMC]

8 minutes ago, Tywin et al. said:

Dude sold his soul for what? To be a historical footnote and a punching bag? 

I mean, such is the nature of the Republican Speaker the last 12 years.  If he does get a majority of his conference on board with this bill, there's a compelling argument he's done a better job pacifying the hard right than either Boehner or Ryan.

[Mr. Chatywin et al.]

5 minutes ago, DMC said:

I mean, such is the nature of the Republican Speaker the last 12 years.  If he does get a majority of his conference on board with this bill, there's a compelling argument he's done a better job pacifying the hard right than either Boehner or Ryan.

Always required:

 

[Zorral]

Their high school canceled an LGBTQ play. These teens put it on anyway.

Probably unnecessary to say the school canceled the play because a minority group of adults screamed it was obscene?  This play is a Robin Hood retelling: “Marian, or The True Tale of Robin Hood,” [is] a gender-bending take on Sherwood Forest’s beloved bandit.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/05/31/marian-school-theater-lgbtq-indiana/

It's a lovely read, particularly as so much of their local community was in support.

This particular story in the WaPo goes nicely with another one, from yesterday, in its series on homeschooling. This one details an extreme xtian home schooling parents, who had been home schooled themselves in one of those families which not only sanctions but demands harsh, continuous physical punishment for children from the earliest of ages.  These parents changed their minds -- not about their faith per se -- but about public school being a demon infested place of the devil, and most definitely about beating children.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/interactive/2023/christian-home-schoolers-revolt/

 

 

[Jaxom 1974]

1 hour ago, DMC said:

It's interesting that McCarthy/GOP leadership seems to still be whipping votes in an effort to meet the 150 vote promise Hakeem Jeffries appears to be holding him to.  Conventional wisdom is if McCarthy secures a majority of the majority - only about 112 members of the GOP conference - his Speakership should be secure (for now). 

But now it seems like he's worried more Democrats will vote for the bill than Republicans, which would be a bad look - as members of his party have already started to voice.  Still, it is rather surprising how quickly GOP leadership has gotten the crazy right/HFC to shut up or at least go back to holding their fire...again, at least for now:

If McCarthy can keep Jordan on board, I strongly suspect he'll survive any aftermath of the deal.

Help me out here: Who has hoodwinked who over this Debt Limit bill...? If Twitter (I know, I know) is to be believed, Biden has gotten McCarthy to fold while losing less than it appears...?  I've been off chaperoning the kids on an outing for a couple days and not seen much news...

I'm lucky to have a signal for the internet at the moment as it is...

[Zorral]

13 hours ago, The Anti-Targ said:

Clearly not looking in the mirror 

We lurkz in Black Mirror! 

[Kalbear]

1 hour ago, Jaxom 1974 said:

Help me out here: Who has hoodwinked who over this Debt Limit bill...? If Twitter (I know, I know) is to be believed, Biden has gotten McCarthy to fold while losing less than it appears...?  I've been off chaperoning the kids on an outing for a couple days and not seen much news...

I'm lucky to have a signal for the internet at the moment as it is...

Basically? From what I can gather Biden was able to essentially give McCarthy a lot of lip service without giving up particularly that much in actual value. The biggest actual loss is defunding of the IRS funding increases. Everything else is a loss without being a loss and is not actual losses. 

It still sucks in the sense that the Republicans got something for their terrorist behavior but it's not painful, and the fact that it's McCarthy that is having the hardest time selling it seems to show that.

[Mlle. Zabzie]

17 minutes ago, Kalnestk Oblast said:

Basically? From what I can gather Biden was able to essentially give McCarthy a lot of lip service without giving up particularly that much in actual value. The biggest actual loss is defunding of the IRS funding increases. Everything else is a loss without being a loss and is not actual losses. 

It still sucks in the sense that the Republicans got something for their terrorist behavior but it's not painful, and the fact that it's McCarthy that is having the hardest time selling it seems to show that.

Eh, the IRS piece honestly isn't too big a give the way the WH is viewing it.  The tax bar is tending to agree.   FWIW the view is that because the money can be spent whenever, it doesn't actually affect the enforcement initiatives. About $20 billion is getting allocated currently to other priorities during FY 24 and 25.  The current spend will continue (and may actually accelerate) and as and when they want more money they can ask.  Basically this just accelerates the spend on the remaining $58.5 and enforcement, etc. will continue to accelerate.

[Mr. Chatywin et al.]

2 hours ago, Zorral said:

Probably unnecessary to say the school canceled the play because a minority group of adults screamed it was obscene? 

Make these shitheads read the material and do a full book report before they can complain. If what they do is worthy of an A, maybe they have a point. If not, fuck off.

Edited May 31, 2023 by Tywin et al.

[Gaston de Foix]

What the WH has gotten, IMHO, is a freedom from the terrible world of short-terms CRs which made future planning within USG challenging to impossible.  The duration of this agreement is its single best feature.  A Dem House and (mildly) Republican Senate in 2025 will result in a very different appropriations process.  

I mean there is another which is that the same people who are insisting that the deficit and national debt are an existential threat to the nation are also insisting (i) no new revenue; (ii) no defense cuts, and agreeing with the WH that there is (iii) no need for entitlement reform.  That is a schiziophrenic position.