Rachel Maddow was a guest with Chris Hayes last night and mentioned how institutions we don’t think about also are also fundamental for our democracy. Like state bar associations that are holding lawyers accountable. These institutions and associations provide a framework for a civil society. It’s not just the courts that regulate behavior.
What I find fascinating now is that Trump remains the figurehead of this authoritarian oligarchy, a white Christian Nationalist movement, but he no longer seems to be capable of leading the charge. He has become confused , desperate, and disorganized. He has spent almost $100 M on lawyers with much more to come. He is campaigning mostly to stay out of jail.
But he has the unwavering, uncritical support of Fox News and the rest of the right wing media. Even though Biden is raising more money, Trump has many hidden billionaires propping him up, probably including money from Russia and Saudi Arabia. The Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation are now on board with destroying the government from within or without. The Supreme Court is certain protecting him from prosecution, as well as protecting red gerrymandered districts. His handlers just let Trump out to give performances and stir up the crowd. He is getting much less effective, as he can only ramble though distorted versions of his top hits. He isn’t holding many rallies any more. His fans flock to them, but they often leave early — but that doesn’t mean they are deserting the movement. Trump’s MAGA movement has metastasized throughout the south and much of the midwest — the planation states are totally under control. We have to confront this by spreading the truth through every media we can. These are not normal times.
Thanks for the fascist playbook but also for the list of organizations and media to look to for truth and solutions, Thom.
You would have been proud of how the Dems packed a recent County Commission meeting where I live. Word went out that a Commissioner (who actually was at the Insurrection) had proposed to introduce school "choice", taking the county clerk off the ballot so they could appoint that person, and reforms of our election system. He tabled those proposals.
We know most of what he wants to do is illegal---trust me, the current ELECTED County Clerk told him so! However, Jefferson said it best: “Eternal Vigilance is the price of democracy.”
I just saw Thom's TED Talk of eight years ago promoting the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would solve the Citizen's United catastrophe.
Hitler fooled the people by calling his party, the "National Socialist German Worker's Party" because socialism was very popular at the time. As we know, Hitler's party had nothing to do with socialism. Trump uses Hitler's rhetoric the same way, to fool the people.
Very few articles anywhere match the value of Hartman's today's piece. Americans victimized by daily assault by fascist advancement, alone in their homes, shades drawn, like a vast, unassembled army stirring in restless anxiety waiting for possible instruction, the battle plans for fighting the very real, growing daily threat of fascism are now delivered. Spelled out in detail, sources listed, cavalry buglers tooting for assembly given. The value here is tangible planning, concentrating on the weapon of mass communication, given force by assembly. By assembly. Find common voices and join. Read and re-read the nuggets of this piece. There is much more than mere pundit opinion here. Finally some real planning.
“Mere twelve years”—of brutality and murder. We need to fight back before that takes hold. They already have networks. We need to establish a Resistance.
Beautiful piece on this shared moment of darkness, Thom Hartmann. I think your inclusion of truly substantial positives really helps with morale - something we all need to keep up.
Question: Why did VoteVets not make the list of progressive organizations??
Threats of violence against people standing up for law and decency, and their families, is one of the primary tools of MAGA fascists. It seems the US should have a protest on election day, like Russia after the death of Navalny: go to vote at 12 o'clock and learn that you are not alone with being threatened.
Saving democracy comes from action and resistance. For example the citizens in the very first democracy in Athens were rallied to resist the approaching Persian fleet with a single word: “victory!”
The Athenian army vastly outnumbered at the battle of marathon overcame the odds and won. But the war wasn’t over and the remaining Persian fleet was sailing to lightly defended Athens. Pheillipides out ran the Persian fleet in the first marathon run of 26.5 miles and delivered the one word citizens want to hear.
Nike, the Greek word for victory and running shoe company, has a longer slogan: “Just do it.” Get out and vote. March if you can’t run. Democracy is worth standing up and resisting tyranny.
The Trump Bible is certainly in line with using so-called faith for perverted ends. (Jefferson edited his book but that was a different thing.) Fortunately it seems some Christians are not happy with his having added the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the “God Bless the USA” song to this edition. They know that this is a nation of laws, not a country run under the false cover of religion.
This was really great. I think illuminating the dangers AND providing oxygen in the form of hope is the winning combination and gets people paralyzed in fear/desperation to move and work. Please use this as the blueprint: the dangers are real, but here is the opportunity. Even someone as active as me (in real life, not online) needs to hear it to keep working. It’s really important.
Looking up the difference between “defined” fascism and “defined” communism, one might think they are very different forms of “governance,” But when one looks at the autocracies that have developed around our planet, ostensibly under one or the other of those philosophies, one would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. {We have not seen an ACTUAL national government under actual communism since — I submit, ever.
Other than some Kibbutzim, it just does not happen. In little communities maybe, but not on a large scale. }
CONSIDER: Autocracies and oligarchies and rigidly structured societies with a small cadre of elites at the top; industries and commerce tightly aligned with governmental power {with finance and privilege aggregating toward that power elite}; the great masses toiling to keep the wheels turning, occasionally “voting” on elections that don’t really matter; and usually one person with all-but-total authority to call the shots {until enough people get upset with him - usually a ‘him’ - and maybe they shoot him}.
Is that a description of Fascism? Is it a description of a so-called-Communist country you can think of?
Autocracy and Oligarchy {the new Aristocracy …} are all of a piece.
The word Fascism has strong emotional impact. I agree that it’s important for us to recognize that it is on the rise.
Vladimir Putin is not supposedly a “fascist,” but he might as well be. XI is not as absolute as Vlad, but maybe Mao was ..
I think we need to understand autocracy, as well.
We have successfully demonized Fascists and Nazis, but scratch any autocrat, ANY dictator, and there’s a Nazi underneath.
Trump loves Victor Orban AND Vladimir Putin. He’d trade places with either of them.
There you go …
If we think there’s no difference between Joe and Don, think about this.
Yeah, the Dems tend to listen to big money more than we want, but right now OUR VOTES DO MATTER, and we are choosing between a democracy that’s got issues, but IS a democracy …
Rhetoric does not direct human behavior, emotion does, particularly those triggered by survival threat(s). Interesting that even the brilliant investigative journalism of our dear Thom is emotion driven--anger is the great motivator, driven by dopamine in the limbic survival brain, ironically the same module in our central nervous system that Our Mad King (wannabe) Donald so masterfully manipulates. Any thought we are able to recall is only retrievable due to its emotional value, including all rhetoric. So, Fascism takes over a nation first on an emotional level, as rage, and the symbols (words) we attach to it are only important in that they allow us to re-experience the emotion, and dopamine/adrenalin are very pleasurable and addicting. We have allowed ourselves to become a nation of dopamine addicts, our own internal cocaine, as we engage in one violent thought/behavior (including vicarious) after another. Our real problems are human overpopulation, climate collapse, and environmental destruction. All the rest are just the inevitable results.
Agreed. Both sides have their own Media, Money, News Conferences and Speeches. Both spin information in their favor and disfavor the other side. Meanwhile, "progressives" justify genocide, famine and escalation towards nuclear war to make their own judgment-addled imperialist cabal look right, although history proves they have consistenly been wrong, while blaming everything on the other side. As our institutions collapse whether it's under Democratic Party or Republican leadership, those garnering advantage from reinforcing the echo chamber conveniently ignore the horrors and hypocrisy of their own amoral leadership.
What happens if prevention isn't enough? It may be hard to organize once they start to implement their grand plans. While I hate that I have to think about the what ifs, I hope that it is being considered. I am willing to do what I have to do, but I won't be able to accomplish anything on my own.
Rachel Maddow was a guest with Chris Hayes last night and mentioned how institutions we don’t think about also are also fundamental for our democracy. Like state bar associations that are holding lawyers accountable. These institutions and associations provide a framework for a civil society. It’s not just the courts that regulate behavior.
What I find fascinating now is that Trump remains the figurehead of this authoritarian oligarchy, a white Christian Nationalist movement, but he no longer seems to be capable of leading the charge. He has become confused , desperate, and disorganized. He has spent almost $100 M on lawyers with much more to come. He is campaigning mostly to stay out of jail.
But he has the unwavering, uncritical support of Fox News and the rest of the right wing media. Even though Biden is raising more money, Trump has many hidden billionaires propping him up, probably including money from Russia and Saudi Arabia. The Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation are now on board with destroying the government from within or without. The Supreme Court is certain protecting him from prosecution, as well as protecting red gerrymandered districts. His handlers just let Trump out to give performances and stir up the crowd. He is getting much less effective, as he can only ramble though distorted versions of his top hits. He isn’t holding many rallies any more. His fans flock to them, but they often leave early — but that doesn’t mean they are deserting the movement. Trump’s MAGA movement has metastasized throughout the south and much of the midwest — the planation states are totally under control. We have to confront this by spreading the truth through every media we can. These are not normal times.
Thanks for the fascist playbook but also for the list of organizations and media to look to for truth and solutions, Thom.
You would have been proud of how the Dems packed a recent County Commission meeting where I live. Word went out that a Commissioner (who actually was at the Insurrection) had proposed to introduce school "choice", taking the county clerk off the ballot so they could appoint that person, and reforms of our election system. He tabled those proposals.
We know most of what he wants to do is illegal---trust me, the current ELECTED County Clerk told him so! However, Jefferson said it best: “Eternal Vigilance is the price of democracy.”
Let's all go OCCUPY some meetings.
I just saw Thom's TED Talk of eight years ago promoting the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would solve the Citizen's United catastrophe.
Hitler fooled the people by calling his party, the "National Socialist German Worker's Party" because socialism was very popular at the time. As we know, Hitler's party had nothing to do with socialism. Trump uses Hitler's rhetoric the same way, to fool the people.
Very few articles anywhere match the value of Hartman's today's piece. Americans victimized by daily assault by fascist advancement, alone in their homes, shades drawn, like a vast, unassembled army stirring in restless anxiety waiting for possible instruction, the battle plans for fighting the very real, growing daily threat of fascism are now delivered. Spelled out in detail, sources listed, cavalry buglers tooting for assembly given. The value here is tangible planning, concentrating on the weapon of mass communication, given force by assembly. By assembly. Find common voices and join. Read and re-read the nuggets of this piece. There is much more than mere pundit opinion here. Finally some real planning.
“Mere twelve years”—of brutality and murder. We need to fight back before that takes hold. They already have networks. We need to establish a Resistance.
Beautiful piece on this shared moment of darkness, Thom Hartmann. I think your inclusion of truly substantial positives really helps with morale - something we all need to keep up.
Question: Why did VoteVets not make the list of progressive organizations??
Threats of violence against people standing up for law and decency, and their families, is one of the primary tools of MAGA fascists. It seems the US should have a protest on election day, like Russia after the death of Navalny: go to vote at 12 o'clock and learn that you are not alone with being threatened.
Saving democracy comes from action and resistance. For example the citizens in the very first democracy in Athens were rallied to resist the approaching Persian fleet with a single word: “victory!”
The Athenian army vastly outnumbered at the battle of marathon overcame the odds and won. But the war wasn’t over and the remaining Persian fleet was sailing to lightly defended Athens. Pheillipides out ran the Persian fleet in the first marathon run of 26.5 miles and delivered the one word citizens want to hear.
Nike, the Greek word for victory and running shoe company, has a longer slogan: “Just do it.” Get out and vote. March if you can’t run. Democracy is worth standing up and resisting tyranny.
The Trump Bible is certainly in line with using so-called faith for perverted ends. (Jefferson edited his book but that was a different thing.) Fortunately it seems some Christians are not happy with his having added the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the “God Bless the USA” song to this edition. They know that this is a nation of laws, not a country run under the false cover of religion.
You can find me over with the sick and tired of Trump and wish he would shut up and go away crowd.
This was really great. I think illuminating the dangers AND providing oxygen in the form of hope is the winning combination and gets people paralyzed in fear/desperation to move and work. Please use this as the blueprint: the dangers are real, but here is the opportunity. Even someone as active as me (in real life, not online) needs to hear it to keep working. It’s really important.
Looking up the difference between “defined” fascism and “defined” communism, one might think they are very different forms of “governance,” But when one looks at the autocracies that have developed around our planet, ostensibly under one or the other of those philosophies, one would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. {We have not seen an ACTUAL national government under actual communism since — I submit, ever.
Other than some Kibbutzim, it just does not happen. In little communities maybe, but not on a large scale. }
CONSIDER: Autocracies and oligarchies and rigidly structured societies with a small cadre of elites at the top; industries and commerce tightly aligned with governmental power {with finance and privilege aggregating toward that power elite}; the great masses toiling to keep the wheels turning, occasionally “voting” on elections that don’t really matter; and usually one person with all-but-total authority to call the shots {until enough people get upset with him - usually a ‘him’ - and maybe they shoot him}.
Is that a description of Fascism? Is it a description of a so-called-Communist country you can think of?
Autocracy and Oligarchy {the new Aristocracy …} are all of a piece.
The word Fascism has strong emotional impact. I agree that it’s important for us to recognize that it is on the rise.
Vladimir Putin is not supposedly a “fascist,” but he might as well be. XI is not as absolute as Vlad, but maybe Mao was ..
I think we need to understand autocracy, as well.
We have successfully demonized Fascists and Nazis, but scratch any autocrat, ANY dictator, and there’s a Nazi underneath.
Trump loves Victor Orban AND Vladimir Putin. He’d trade places with either of them.
There you go …
If we think there’s no difference between Joe and Don, think about this.
Yeah, the Dems tend to listen to big money more than we want, but right now OUR VOTES DO MATTER, and we are choosing between a democracy that’s got issues, but IS a democracy …
Or Autocracy. Oligarchy, The new Aristocracy.
Our President as a Dictator on Day One.
It really does matter.
Rhetoric does not direct human behavior, emotion does, particularly those triggered by survival threat(s). Interesting that even the brilliant investigative journalism of our dear Thom is emotion driven--anger is the great motivator, driven by dopamine in the limbic survival brain, ironically the same module in our central nervous system that Our Mad King (wannabe) Donald so masterfully manipulates. Any thought we are able to recall is only retrievable due to its emotional value, including all rhetoric. So, Fascism takes over a nation first on an emotional level, as rage, and the symbols (words) we attach to it are only important in that they allow us to re-experience the emotion, and dopamine/adrenalin are very pleasurable and addicting. We have allowed ourselves to become a nation of dopamine addicts, our own internal cocaine, as we engage in one violent thought/behavior (including vicarious) after another. Our real problems are human overpopulation, climate collapse, and environmental destruction. All the rest are just the inevitable results.
Agreed. Both sides have their own Media, Money, News Conferences and Speeches. Both spin information in their favor and disfavor the other side. Meanwhile, "progressives" justify genocide, famine and escalation towards nuclear war to make their own judgment-addled imperialist cabal look right, although history proves they have consistenly been wrong, while blaming everything on the other side. As our institutions collapse whether it's under Democratic Party or Republican leadership, those garnering advantage from reinforcing the echo chamber conveniently ignore the horrors and hypocrisy of their own amoral leadership.
What happens if prevention isn't enough? It may be hard to organize once they start to implement their grand plans. While I hate that I have to think about the what ifs, I hope that it is being considered. I am willing to do what I have to do, but I won't be able to accomplish anything on my own.