This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1335131
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1335131
Indeed, by Trump’s rhetoric and behavior, they HAVE BEEN anointed. Commanded. Encouraged. Incited.
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And even when he’s gone, he’ll still be their “Shadow President.” We have a long road ahead to rebuild our society. What’s worse: Trump or COVID? I am not sure at all.
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The dumbest leading the dumbest.
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I really wonder when or if we will be able to deprogram these people. I’ve said before they all remind me of the Soviet woman on my USIA exhibit who informed me that Stalin didn’t drop the bomb on Nazi Germany or Japan because he wasn’t a “hateful racist” like FDR or Truman. When audience members reproached her for her stupidity and told her Stalin HAD no atom bomb to drop at the time, she just started screaming, “STALIN WAS THE MOST HUMANE PERSON! STALIN WAS THE MOST HUMANE PERSON!” I didn’t dream before 2016 we had people like this in the US, but they’ve made their presence known loudly and proudly since 45’s election.
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You haven’t been paying attention. They’ve been here the whole time.
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Donald Trump is a terrorist. When this is all over, he should be treated as one, along with any sympathizers.
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MAGATs are simply the second coming of the Know Nothings on steroids. Once one acknowledges this, many things become clear. May they all find Covid.
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Nope. Sorry. The right needs to be brought low and under control with a boot on its throat. They have proven this beyond doubt or debate.
NMNQ
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Civil War II: You’re Gonna Lose This One Too, Assholes
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From the article:
Until there is genuine interest in dialogue and communication that bridges differences, convincing Americans that we should become united will be an impossible task.
This bland sentiment seems out-of-place in the argument, which otherwise advances the grave specter that the civil division in this country has been stoked red hot by the demagogic, racist blowhard at the podium, constantly inciting violence in his cheering crowds, the necessary protection of their way of life from the pestilence of liberals and immigrants.
Lost the chance to put out this fire four years back, the first time Trump offered to cover the legal expenses any supporter thuggish enough to answer his call to deal with a Trump protester: “Take 'em out!”
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I’m sure you’re right. I just believed in my naivete that most people were firm on the basic principles of the country: rule of law, separation of powers, accountability, free and fair elections. That was the sum total of my personal American exceptionalism. I’ve been forced to abandon that particular conceit…
it is out of place because the right has 100% irrevocably repudiated the social contract and all the desperate verbiage from people like the author is an attempt to deny that fact, rationalize it away and go on pretending that we still have 350m people somehow, at some basic level devoted to repairing it and making it work. They are not and never will be again. Do i need to provide a definition for never? Seems I do for people like the author.
ETA: on the phone tonight so please ignore my big clumsy thumbs lol
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That begs the question — are the President’s words serving as a warrant of sorts for people to unilaterally act?
Duh?
This has been another installment of “Simple Answers to Obvious Questions.”
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Yeah, Americans were never exceptional except in two ways: luck, and an insane level of self-regard.
Oh, and the peculiar belief that our ideals cancelled out our realities: we are exceptionally good at gaslighting ourselves–I mean, even the British can take lessons from us!
Because both sides are equally responsible, right? When did TPM start publishing pieces by the ghost of David Broder? Oh, such concern! Oh, such handwringing! Why won’t the Democrats reach across the aisle and find common ground! Oh, why won’t they be the bigger person!
My favorite take on High Broderism was written during the Obama years, when the press was going full Susan Collins in their concern about partisanship. It’s like going out to dinner with a crazy person: you order steak and potatoes, they order arsenic and tire rims. Now share.
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Indeed.
This is from Clarissa Ward’s book, “On All Fronts”, you can change ISIS to Trump.
“ISIS had created a language and a way of thinking based on circular logic that blocked off the need for reason, empathy, for self-doubt. In this way, even bland bureaucrats were capable of perpetuating grotesque horrors.”
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They were firm on the principles unless and only until those principles worked against their favor.