Is Trump a white nationalist? Don’t help him avoid the question.

October 24, 2018

Following up on Trump’s declaration that he is a “nationalist”, many are noticing that (especially coupled with Trump’s acknowledgement that he’s “not supposed to use that word”) Trump was, deliberately or otherwise, invoking white nationalism.

It’s been noticed enough that CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta actually asked Trump if he meant to invoke white nationalism. Politico’s coverage of the Acosta-Trump exchange suggested in the headline (“Trump: I’m a nationalist, but not a white nationalist“) that Trump affirmatively denied being a white nationalist.

But Trump did no such thing. So why act like he did?

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The language of fascism: (White) Nationalism and Ted Cruz

October 23, 2018

So, the big fash-watch news of the past 24 hours has been huge: Donald Trump literally declared himself a “nationalist” in a closely watched campaign speech. There was no ambiguity at all, he repeated himself:

“You know, they have a word, it sort of became old-fashioned. It’s called a nationalist,” Trump said at a campaign event in Houston, where he rallied voters to support Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in November’s midterm elections.

“And I say, ‘Really? We’re not supposed to use that word,’” Trump continued. “You know what I am? I’m a nationalist. OK? I’m a nationalist.”

As the crowd in the Houston Toyota Center roared with applause, the president continued: “Use that word. Use that word.”

Sigh.

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Democrats and the politics of self-destruction

October 15, 2018

With Trump in the White House and Republicans controlling Congress, and America still trapped in a two-party system, Democrats are inherently the party of resistance now. There is, of course, one cardinal rule that Democrats must follow to fulfill this role.

Democrats must resist.

Frustratingly, Democrats are practically falling all over themselves to fail at this one simple task, and it’s probably going to doom us all.

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Fighting words, continued

October 11, 2018

Just yesterday, I was commenting on Republicans’ eagerness to brand liberals like Clinton and Feinstein as violent. But it turns out it’s not just Clinton finally calling for Democrats to grow a spine. In the last 24 hours, the country suddenly noticed Eric Holder’s comments at a Georgia rally on Sunday. From CNN:

“It is time for us as Democrats to be as tough as they are, to be as dedicated as they are, to be as committed as they are,” Holder said. “Michelle always says, Michelle Obama, I love her. She and my wife are really tight. Which always scares me and Barack. Michelle always says, ‘When they go low, we go high.’ No. No. When they go low, we kick them.”

It’s about damn time the Democrats start fighting back. But the right is eager to distort Holder’s message, and to invoke “angry black man” racial stereotypes in the process.

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The language of fascism: Cassus belli (the case for war)

October 10, 2018

We’re now in a post-Kavanaugh world, and it’s a tense one. Democrats have lost trust in the Supreme Court (which seems a natural, if delayed, reaction to Republicans deliberately destroying the judicial confirmation process). Establishment Democrats like Hillary Clinton are finally calling for Democrats to stop being “civil” and start fighting back.

Of course, right-wing media is now misrepresenting her comments as, literally, “a declaration of war and a license for violence“. This deliberate lie is meant to prime Trump supporters for a pogrom against liberals, possibly liberal women in particular. (Not that they need much more priming; the Trump crowd’s chants of “lock her up” have now expanded beyond Hillary Clinton to include Sen. Feinstein, too.)

This is how fascism becomes violent; it falsely blames the victims for initiating or provoking the violence. By the time violence erupts, the public is primed to accept it.

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Senator Collins, white women, and intersectional fascism

October 5, 2018

A few moments ago, Sen. Susan Collins declared and defended her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, all but guaranteeing his confirmation. Her excruciatingly long speech, loaded with gaslighting and propaganda, will be a permanent scar on her reputation. More than the “yes” vote itself, her speech will be remembered for legitimizing not only the confirmation of a sexual predator, but Republicans’ long-planned hijacking of the Supreme Court.

It’s important to note and remember how Susan Collins betrayed America today. But it’s also important to understand why, as a “moderate” white woman, her betrayal is only a symptom of a larger disease.

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Torching the republic: Smoke, mirrors, and gaslighting

October 4, 2018 2 Comments

Late last night, Mitch filed for a Senate cloture vote on the Brett Kavanaugh nomination. This was to ensure the Senate can still hold a Friday vote, even though no Senator had seen the FBI’s investigation report (Senators can read it, one at a time, starting early this morning).

On Monday, Jeff Flake said it was important to have a legitimate FBI investigation, not just one that gives Republicans “more cover” to vote for Kavanaugh. But as the vote looms, it’s clear all that Flake (and Ben Sasse, and other Republicans) care about is cover. Mitch is still shameless, but other Republicans are doing everything they can to preserve their reputations as principled people–everything, that is, except voting no.

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Torching the republic: Jeff Flake’s moral cowardice

September 28, 2018

As discussed earlier today, Jeff Flake is a moral coward. Tonight, he is still a moral coward, just one trying harder to not be seen as one.

He is on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He could have withheld his vote on Brett Kavanaugh until a proper investigation was complete. He could have voted yes on Senator Blumenthal’s motion to subpoena Mark Judge. He could have moved to subpoena other witnesses. As a committee member, he could have done any number of things to fulfill the actual purpose of the committee, which is to vet the President’s judicial nominees.

Jeff Flake did nothing heroic today.

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Twitter user @senjudiciary on September 4, 2018: “The American Bar Association, whose assessment Democratic leaders have called the “gold standard” of judicial evaluations, rated Judge Kavanaugh unanimously well-qualified.”

Torching the republic: Forcing Kavanaugh on the American people

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Things are moving quickly since yesterday’s testimony by Christine Ford that Brett Kavanaugh tried to sexually assault her. Last night, a prominent Jesuit magazine rescinding its endorsement of Kavanaugh, and the American Bar Association asking the Judiciary Committee to delay the vote and request a thorough FBI background check:

Each appointment to our nation’s Highest Court (as with all others) is simply too important to rush to a vote. Deciding to proceed without conducting additional investigation would not only have a lasting impact on the Senate’s reputation, but it will also negatively affect the great trust necessary for the American people to have in the Supreme Court.

How much do Republicans care about these developments? Not one bit.

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Torching the republic: Sen. Grassley, hero of sexual predators?

September 27, 2018 2 Comments

As I write this, Christine Blasey Ford is testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee about Brett Kavanaugh and his attempt to rape her. She is leaving no doubt in her testimony; when asked how certain she was that Kavanaugh assaulted her, she answered, “100 percent.”

This isn’t a credibility contest between Christine Ford and Brett Kavanaugh, it’s a credibility contest between Christine Ford and the GOP-controlled Senate. And the Senate is losing.

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