The stench of fascism

[kpete]

The stench of fascism

Sandy Levinson

(The New York Times reports that Glenn Beck, in his closing speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference described "progressivism" as a cancer, "the disease in America." Let there be no doubt that this is nothing more than the stench of fascism, which relies on treating one's political opponents as what Carl Schmitt, the great (I use that word advisedly) Weimar political theorist (who ended up supporting Hitler's takeover in 1933), termed "enemies" who were viewed ultimately as subhuman (as "cancers" are), ulutimately fit to be eradicated "by any means necessary. Forget Newt Gingrich, who also spoke, and who, by contemporary standards, is almost a reasonable elder statesman of the GOP, actually willing to work, on occasion, with Hillary Clinton. The voice of way too much of contemporary "conservatism" (the scare quotes are also deliberate, because it is an insult to "conservatives" to say that they are necessarily fascists, is fascistic.

Beck and his ilk feel free to call on Democrats to denounce anyone who strays from a quite narrow "political correctness." Jessie Jackson is still being criticized, after his many apologies, for his "hymietown" remark of 1984. God help us if Barack Obama were ever discovered to have written a term paper at Occidental in which he argued that there might be something to be said for "socialism." But Republicans say nothing. They are truly "useful idiots," who are counting on their ability to rein in Glenn Beck (and Sarah Palin) before they destroy the country. It is past time for Republicans to be called on whether or not they tolerate millions of their fellow citizens being called "cancers" and "diseases." We are indeed in a true moment of cultural and political warfare, in which Glenn Beck has made very clear that he has no regard whatsoever for the most basic notions of civility (which begin by granting the possibility that one's opponents simply disagree rather than are "cancers" to be ripped out of the body politic).

What "Beckism" presages is more terrorist violence like that conducted in Austin, Texas, where a demented citizen flew into an IRS building and killed a true American "hero" a/k/a known as a public servant who had dedicated his life to tax collection. One might remember that Justice Holmes called taxes "the price we pay for civilization." Part of our move toward fascism is to view as "heroes" only those who carry guns and are prepared to risk their lives while preparing to inflict fatal violence on others. We must recognize that all public servants are, in their own ways, "heroes." The Republican Party for the past generation has systematically viewed all public servants, save for the military, as chumps, who if they had any real talent, would be working in the private sector (perhaps in Goldman Sachs, etc.). I truly fear for our country.

more:
http://balkin.blogspot.com/2010/02/stench-of-fascism.html

[Atticus]

1. Mark my words: those who think these people can be dealt with by "reasoning with them"

had better practice picking up teeth and self-application of tourniquets.

[cliffordu]

5. ...And learning that you should roll someone over on top of their sucking chest

wound to allow the blood to drain rather than drown the victim.

And learn to defend yourself.

[Atticus]

7. Watch your six. nt

[Echo In Light]

13. Sometimes a tolerant society must oppose the intolerant who seek to close it down/privatize, etc

[anonymous171]

2. I wish we would use the same rhetoric against them. nt

[SlingBlade]

3. Stinky Beck again.

"Glenn Beck, in his closing speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference described "progressivism" as a cancer, "the disease in America."

Well, At least he didn't call 'em F'ing Retards, But I truly fear for our country as well.
Mainly because the spine is missing from the left to go after fascist little dreebs like
Beck and his buddies from the Bush administration who no doubt will not only be back, But
judging from history, Back with a vengeance.

I mean com'on, Yoo gave Bush legal authority to not only Torture, But to massacre entire villages of
dissenters. Just because Bush and Co. didn't carry out the second part doesn't mean they wont next time.

And there WILL be a next time thanks to spinelessness and cowardliness if not out right Treason.

[tom_paine]

4. Read the comments section - the Orwellian Madness the teabaggers display is off the charts

It's truly unreal, the upside-downism and as larger numbers of people gravitate towards it, the Penultimate and Final Solution phases become ever clearer.

To me, the only question at this point is whether the American Corporatists will lose control as the German Industrialists did?

Progressiveism = fascism. You can't get much crazier and historicaly ignorant/propagandized as THAT!

They can't see it, they won't see it even if they could. Off the charts. Simply off the charts.

Problem is, with all the Corporate M$M and the rest playing right into the Dominant Narrative, by being long-ago neutralized, bullied & intimidated by the Right which grows evermore virulent and lunatic, just like Germany late 1920s-1930s.

How can you argue against someone who believes up is down (or progressiveism is historically or economically identical to fascism)? You can't. Might as well try to argue with a Nazi about Jews.

It's moving faster now. Getting closer.

[MadMaddie]

10. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when

<snip>
To me, the only question at this point is whether the American Corporatists will lose control as the German Industrialists did?
<snip>


I think they all ready have.......Austin is just the beginning.

[jody]

6. People forget the following"

Benito Mussolini said "Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of State and corporate power."

Adolf Hitler said "We stand for the maintenance of private property... We shall protect free enterprise as the most expedient, or rather the sole possible economic order."

[L0oniX]

15. ...---...

[mmonk]

16. +1

[Odin2005]

8. NadinB was right, we are gonna have a civil war in this country.

:scared:

[Dan]

11. nope,

don't think so....rather I suspect that we will end up doing the Chamberlain thing...appeasement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlain

[tom_paine]

12. Yeah, as much of a "Civil War" as the Jews put up against the Nazis.

I wish it wasn't so, and there is still a small possibility that it won't be.

But, as in 1933 Germany, the American Corporatists have put all their wealth and hopes on the same thing the German Industrialists did, in order to achieve the same goasl, to mold and shape a society to their goal of unquestioning obedience and malleable subjects detatched from realy by propaganda.

The sad truth is, they have succeeded brilliantly on almnost every front.

No matter what the facts are, no matter how demonstrable, our loudest shout is but a whisper in the cacophonous maelstrom that is the modern Corporate Media/RW Lie Machine Fusion that passes as our version of Nazi Gleichschaltung.

I watch it and stand amazed. I guess I feel a bit more for those few 1933 Germans who saw it all and yet were powerless to stop it. We're supposed to hate them, bu increasingly it becomes blear WE ARE THEM.

Anywy, the dynamics in this country are that of a "kinder and gentler" Weimar. And while THIS time around the more brutal and barbaric aspects of Nazism will be bypassed because it would be bad PR and bad marketing, I somehow suspect that the descent to that or something like that is inevitable in the end, once society's inner demons are for so long and so powerfully released by 4 deacdes of Bushiganda.

[olegramps]

14. America's concentration camps will be the Hoovervilles of the 30's

It never ceases to amaze me that people can be so deeply propagandized to the extent that they cooperate in their own destruction. I suppose that the situation will have to become desperate before the working class realize that they have been taken for a ride. I have watched a strong unionized working class delude themselves into believing that they are members of the wealthy elitists while the have cooperated in their own economic destruction. I can't help from shaking my head when Democrats are congratulating themselves on reigning in credit card abuse by banksters while allowing the banks to raise their interest rates to 23% usury levels. What a sham! The same thing is happening in the health care industry as they raise their rates to exorbitant levels in view of minor restrictions that they see forthcoming. Yes, minor because by the time an legislation is actually passed the average citizen will have been sold down the river without a paddle. Take the so called reform of denying coverage for existing conditions for example. The insurers have said fine, but have gotten increased premiums for insuring these cases. Sounds great until you read the fine print. Admit it, we have been sold out.

[indepat]

9. Let me be frank and call those of the hate ilk a cancer festering on the heart, mind and soul of the

Republic. :P

[mmonk]

17. Why does the link from the original story

that says "The New York Times reports" go to something about "The Supreme Court Renewal Act of 2009"?

[Unvanguard]

18. I love Sanford Levinson and I read Balkinization every day. This is a wonderful post. n/t