An outrageous post

[Cyrano]

Some of you have been reading my endless posts over the past few months about the Republican Party. And for those of you who haven't, let me state my position. Today's Republicans are fascists. And they are perhaps among the most vicious fascists the world has seen.

The Most Vicious Fascists? What does that mean? For those of you a step ahead of me, I mean Nazis. You all saw them on TV in Charlottesville. "Jews will not replace us." That's what they chanted, and chanted, and chanted, as they carried their Tiki torches through the streets (with no authorities stopping them).

There's more than a good chance that the Republican Party will steal our government over the next two to three years. And that's because we can't pass a voting rights act to stop them from doing so.

Let's say that happens. Let's say that by 2025, Republicans are in charge of the entire federal government. And it really doesn't matter if the president is the orange prick, or not. If it's not him, it will be some other authoritarian, but one who is smarter.

So here's my point. And it's really ugly.

I personally believe that American fascism will be as diseased and deadly as German fascism was. I believe American fascism will match Nazi fascism. I believe our country can become as uncivilized as Germany was during the 1930s and 1940s.

If Republicans/fascists are in charge of everything, does anyone really believe there won't be "camps?" Camps for blacks, browns, Jews, Muslims and all "Others?" Is there anyone who really believes those German death camps could never again happen?

Yes, I'm talking about genocide. Look at the people wearing MAGA gear. Do you think they would object to death camps?

Look at the people waving Confederate flags. Do you really believe they would object to death camps?

Look at the people who carry their guns in full sight in public. Do you really believe they would object to death camps?

Let me say this as plainly as possible. A Republican/Fascist takeover of America will lead to death camps.

Some of you will think I'm nuts. Some will think I'm overreacting, some will think I'm smoking too much grass. Some will think the very idea is insane. And some of you will agree with me.

Here's the bottom line. We stop them now. We won't get another chance.

[Skittles]

1. this I am absolutely sure of

Trump would have had his critics executed if he could.....and a great percentage of his cult followers would be fine with that.

[lunatica]

5. The camps first started as political enemies camps

There’s been a lot of Hitler and Nazi documentaries on Netflix in the last few months, and they’re scary. There are too many similarities for any peace of mind if you’re paying attention.

[wnylib]

30. Key phrase being, "If you're paying attention."

Some people see the signs and deny the reality because they are afraid to face it. So they refuse to pay attention.

Some are too absorbed in the daily struggle to get by to notice. They don't realize that there is something to be paying attention to.

Some are better off, but too self-absorbed to notice or to care. They do not pay attention to something that they don't give a damn about.

Many - too many - are not even aware of how the Nazi camps and genocides developed in the early years. They only know about the end results and think that's too horrible to ever happen here. They have no clue about the steps that led to the camps and murders or about the building mindset that fueled the establishment of the camps and genocides. So they insist that people who try to warn us today of where we are headed are greatly exaggerating. They don't see what needs paying attention to.

Then there are some who see what is happening and where we are headed and they cheer it on. They DO pay attention because they want to be part of it.

[plimsoll]

48. They're also not aware that Hitler spoke fondly of our our treatment of Native Americans.

We like to forget our own behavior. We really shouldn't consider ourselves above genocide, conscious or unconscious.

Conservatives are particularly adept at playing the "you too" game, but that seems to be to avoid looking in the mirror.

[wnylib]

52. For sure. Nazis easily pointed out

our genocide of Native Americans, our history of slavery, and the suppression of the descendants of enslaved people to use in defense of themselves.

For many years I have said that it is dangerous to focus on one person and one nation as the epitomy of evil. When we do that, we project our own dark side onto others as a means of denying it in ourselves.

[Tommymac]

99. The Corporate MSM''s hands are bloody. 'BothSiderism' is a Goebel worthy propaganda.

Too many 1%'er families have roots in the 1930's Nazi movement.

They salivate over the possibilities of a 4th Reich.

But we realists who are raising the alarm will be called conspiracy theorists or worse by the same Mainstream Pundits and internet columnists who masquerade as responsible 'impartial' journalists and editors.

I am optimistic We The People will prevail in the long run...but at what human cost?

[wnylib]

104. I also believe that we will prevail

in the long run. As for the cost, I can't predict what it will be. I have my concerns about it.

One thing that disturbs me is how little opposition there was for the migrant detention camps. Some people in Congress expressed concern. There were some articles and people here posted about it. But where were the public demonstrations against camp conditions and the way that asylum seekers were treated? They should never have been imprisoned in the first place. People talked about the children in cages, but where were the demonstrations? There were a handful of small protests but we could and should have done better to oppose US concentration camps. It was too easy for too many people to say, "Well, they didn't come legally" without knowing what was really going on. Or worse, to accept the RW propaganda that they were drug dealers and criminals.

OTOH, it was encouraging to see the turnout for BLM protests.

[Tommymac]

105. A lot of us never knew they existed because the MSM ignored the issue.

But today we do have the Internet, as flawed as it is.

And so far progressives are making very very effective use of it to raise awareness of shit like this that went unnoticed in the past.

That is why Net Neutrality is such a vital issue, another one that is only noticed when it is threatened.

[wnylib]

107. The Internet and other media are a concern

if the fascists get control of government again. You can be sure that some sites will be monitored and others shut down completely. How will we, the opposition, get word out or stay in touch?

[Tommymac]

109. Never fear. The Dark Web is a whole different ball game.

No government controlled DNS.

It is in fact what the 'internet' was designed to be...an un-centralized communication system that cannot be easily brought down by either external or internal attack.

Of coarse, The Dark Web is demonized by those of authoritarian bent who are in positions of (current) power - it can be effectively used against them by those who care about Human Rights.

[wnylib]

112. I have zero knowledge of the dark web,

or who uses it or how they use it.

[Tommymac]

116. That is why I mentioned it.

Have no doubt, it will be there when needed, and the folks who know how to use it will be manning the barricades.

[olegramps]

92. The Federalist Society is a powerful fascist organization that is of one of the greatest threats.

This extensive organization is committed to transforming the presidency into a virtual dictatorship. They have succeeded in getting hundreds, yes hundreds, of lawyers nominated and approved for judgeships. This has been accomplished without any significant objections and actually resulted in Barr, who is an avowed supporter of this, actually becoming the Attorney General of the United States.

They dominate the courts and are the most significant threat that can allow them to actually transform the government without and real threat of opposing their steady passage of laws that will pave the way to their goal. The judicial system with is one of the three branches of government which was formed to provide a system of checks and balances has been quietly taken over by those whose objective is to destroy the basic system upon which the government of our nation was founded. Why has this been allowed to happen?

It is simple.

Civics training in our school systems has virtually disappeared. Not only has it disappeared, it is being actively replaced with the rewriting of history that is designed support white nationalism by suppressing knowledge of the overt racism that existed in the history of our country. It also downplays and suppresses the contribution of minorities and therefore provides an general recognition of only accomplishments by Whites. Many have pointed out that we are experiencing almost exactly the road the Germany took to the disastrous takeover of government by the fascist Nazis. This helps to understand why White Nationalists deny the Holocaust and the extermination of not only millions of Jews, but anyone who objected to the Nazi government's brutality.

I doubt that due to my age that I will be around to see how this plays out, but a present it appears to be less than hopeful that the tide toward a dictatorship will be stopped in time.

[Cyrano]

114. Yep, wingnut busy little bees working to destroy America

They've been at it for decades, yet, how many people know The Federalist Society even exists?

[yardwork]

2. I agree with you.

The Nazis learned about genocide and eugenics from us. That's the "critical race theory" that right-wingers are desperately trying to suppress. Our country was founded on slavery and genocide. Our economy was and is based on systemic, deliberate inequities designed to reward a few people at the expense of everybody else.

The ugliness you point out is baked into our system.

[luv2fly]

3. I don't know if you're right but I sure as hell hope not

I do wonder where the military falls if your scenario described above happens and all hell breaks loose. Do they fight for the Constitution or do they fight against it?

[wnylib]

33. Where individual members of the military

stand on fighting for or against the constitution depends on whether they are among the military, Guard, and police who are also menbers of the subversive militias.

[luv2fly]

41. So that would potentially mean soldier against soldier?

Also some defying orders? What a nightmare.

[ShazamIam]

4. I mostly agree with you, few realize the reason for clearing out the middle of the nation,

the destruction of all the small towns via the mergers and acquisitions era and the destruction of the farm based communities during the 80s boom/bust take away of the family farmers and the towns they supported, replaced with illegal immigrant workers who can't vote and work for monopolistic corporate agriculture.

That is to be the great American Gulag in their biggest dreams, few citizens, and mostly immigrant workers with no political power or path to citizenship.

[lunatica]

6. And don't forget the blind followers

who will do anything their leader tells them to. They’re front and center right now, just waiting for permission to do the purge.

[KS Toronado]

87. The blind followers are the MAGA crowd

Need to kill their movement before they kill America.

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. 1930s Germans were human beings. 2020s Americans are human beings.

This could absolutely happen.

Will it? I sure as hell hope not.

Could it? We'd be crazy to think it's impossible.

We need to do everything we can to make sure it doesn't.

[wnylib]

38. Totally agree about preventing it.

But we also must be prudent enough to plan for how to deal with it if it happens. Think ahead to how it could affect us in our daily lives. How it could be resisted and overthrown if it happens.

A scary thought is that in the 1930s there were democracies and their leaders who united against fascism. The US was a leader in that fight. With the US going fascist and fascism spreading to endanger other countries, who will unite to fight it and who will lead them?

It will be up to us to prevent it, but if we fail to do that, it will be up to us to dislodge them ourselves. And to look out for each other in the process.

[Firestorm49]

8. One can only hope that their dwindling number of followers

is not enough to elect them. They have their radical base, but many have left the party or are remaining silent and perhaps not voting.

In any case, I agree with you. Now’s no time to sit back fat, dumb, and happy. Do whatever you can to keep representative democracy ( or whatever version we’re living under) in the news and on people’s minds.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Both sides write in their forums that they fear and expect death camps from the other side

Yes, fascism is a threat.

[Cyrano]

10. They're peddling propaganda. I'm talking reality.

And, to anyone who can think rationally, there is absolutely no equivalency here.

[wnylib]

40. I had an example of how true that is

when I was shopping yesterday. I overheard a man probably in his 80s talking to a woman about 40. It was apparent from what he said that they knew each other's families. He ranted about the "socialist lies" and what terrible things to expect if the liberal socialists and commies stay in power. The woman said that she knew that her father agreed with him and so did she. Then she excused herself to continue her shopping.

I have overheard some really absurd things just while out and about in stores. The craziest was how Biden will bring back slavery.

[Crunchy Frog]

61. One side has an actual basis for that fear.

[LiberalLoner]

11. I agree 100%

[A HERETIC I AM]

12. A German author noted a while back;

America is where Germany was in 1935, where 1/3rd of the population had been convinced to hate and worked toward the removal of another 1/3rd, while the remaining 1/3rd stood by and watched.

[DET]

13. Not That Farfetched

Could anyone in their wildest dreams have imagined thirty years ago that the atrocities of the Trump years could happen - and that the entire Republican Party would be fine with it? Could anyone have imagined just one year ago that the sitting President could attempt to assasinate his Vice President - and the Vice President would still support him? Nothing would surprise me at this point.

[DENVERPOPS]

15. They came within a hair

of installing a Corporate Fascist Tyranny.

[Hortensis]

84. I don't think a corporate fascist tyranny is possible. Why would

American businessmen give half a you-know-what about our devotion to the state, much less waste their resources monitoring their workers for proper thinking and enforcing loyalty? Anyway, if it were a true fascst state they'd be busy fighting for their own independence, and their own lives. Fascist states rule all, and their leader(s) rule the state, including business ex-leaders.

My guess is more Russia's model, or any of many other authoritarian states where the powers supporting an authoritarian government, and the government, don't care what people think and often mostly leave them to live and die as they will as long as they don't cause trouble and sufficient numbers are available to be used when needed.

Maybe they should, but my worries about my grandchildren don't include imaginings of them parading around schoolyards saluting the flag and chanting loyalty oaths, practice for the big municipal parades we'd all turn out for.

[Enoki33]

98. Agree with your Russian analogy. The

current Republican party is more interested in the money that flows from power, rather than the ideology. It's a matter of priorities. That does not preclude the real possibility of state sponsored genocidal policies.
This thread is of particular relevance to me as I'm a POC. Wish every every well thinking American wakes up before it is too late.

[Hortensis]

108. Sure. My husband's Jewish and we're both liberals surrounded

by many trump voters in a blood-red GA district, so we're not exactly feeling "white-privileged" either. We eat children's faces, after all.

From what I've read, all fascist governments have fed their supporters' hates by persecuting one or more groups, and there's plenty of hate here, so -- if a fascistic state took over -- that would be expected. But targets need to be small enough to make it easy and safe for them -- blood of the targets in the streets fine, no battles in the street that might spill their blood.

And notably, most often no mass genocide. Germany was a big exception in the west. Also, Germany's Jews were @1% of the population, making them an easy target for an almost insanely antisemitic dictator and his supporters. Our culture and demographic makeup are very different from what Germany's were, in MANY ways.

It's too easy, of course, to imagine scattered mob violence and a big upsurge in thug attacks. And definitely less sympathy and protection from the authorities than we have now...

[bucolic_frolic]

78. Yes. You could smell it with Reagan's righteousness, and Newt's Contract on America

They were posturing dominance. They had an agenda. Before the fascism of 2016, there was the friendly fascism of 1980.

"Friendly Fascism" is not my term, it was the title of a book by political scientist Bertram Gross (of CUNY I think, or one of the NYC universities). It was published in 1980.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_Fascism_(book)

[DENVERPOPS]

14. Yes

This is it. They won't make the same mistakes they made on Jan 6th !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

16. They were okay with babies in cages.

They were okay with Sandy Hook.

Nothing is beneath them.

[Auggie]

17. A large part of the West Coast is going to say no

I’m willing to believe a corporate type of fascism/authoritarianism on a state-by-state level and an explosion of for-profit private prisons (instead of camps). But California will not be such a state.

[wnylib]

53. NY would be divided between fascists

in rural regions and anti fascists in urban areas.

[ashredux]

18. RE: Your Post...Yes, and we have Nukes. God help use

[hadEnuf]

29. I would think that nukes would be the first target of some of these fascist traitors.

We worry endlessly about the threat of foreign terrorists getting a nuke or a dirty bomb, but what about the threat of that happening within? I know our nukes are well protected but so was the anthrax that was weaponized in 2001.

[wnylib]

55. Not nukes because they would

destroy what the fascists want to rule and make life too miserable for the fascists themselves.

[hadEnuf]

69. It would be the threat of them not the use of them.

It's power, power, power with them. It's the only thing they understand.

[wnylib]

95. We've been down the brinksmanship road

with nukes before between the Soviets and the US.

[marie999]

19. They would need the military and there would probably a civil war with military on both sides.

[MissMillie]

20. I honestly can't what I think about this

but, I would like to add that as the far right continues to kill itself off by refusing to get vaccinated, your scenario will be harder for them to pull off.

[JudyM]

81. We need to see the mortality numbers in swing states. An analysis of this would be illuminating.

[mrsadm]

21. This can only happen if the armed forces support the dictator

Throughout history this has been true.

Remember what General Mark Milley recently did? He did not really support anything Trump wanted to do that would create chaos or war. To me this is a clue that the Joint Chiefs of Staff may not join the takeover.

[Celerity]

28. The problem becomes when RW fascists at the top of the 6 branches start (or do now) to outnumber

the ones who are and will remain in fidelity with their loyalty oaths to the Constitution.

If you are talking about a 2 to 1 ratio in the fascists' favour out of the top 50, 60 generals and admirals in the overall command structure, they could just remove/assassinate a Milley or any other loyalist type.

I am certain that top generals who are fascists by nature have been gaming this out for years. It is a terrifying situation to even contemplate.

[Justice matters.]

51. Traitor Flynn was a General, never forget. n/t

[Silent3]

22. Another possibility, and potentially just as ugly, is the break-up of the United States

I suspect some of the bluest of the blue states simply would not go along with a Republican takeover of the federal government.

Of course, even the bluest state has plenty of Republicans living in it, and vice versa. All of the misplaced people wouldn't simply peacefully relocate to the kinds of states that best suite them. And I don't know if a fascist Republican federal government would happily say farewell to blue states, or try to militarily keep them in the fold to preserve the revenue they're worth (which is a lot more than the red states collectively).

Then, of course, is the devastating impact on the national and world economy caused by such a break-up, even if it were somehow relatively peaceful, and the military and terror threat we'd face from foreign powers while in such a weakened transitional state.

[SunSeeker]

23. Well, if they're fine with 700,000 Americans dying of covid, they're capable of anything.

They're sick MoFos.

[brooklynite]

24. You're entitled to your opinion. I'm entitled to disregard it.

As I disregard most hyperbolic "we're doomed!" predictions.

[LakeArenal]

71. Yes..."Reality" is just an opinion.

[CrackityJones75]

73. How is making claims about a potential future reality?

[LakeArenal]

91. Did you read this whole thread?

Author of thread says:
10. They're peddling propaganda. I'm talking reality.

[llashram]

25. you are right

I totally agree. Dangerous times for our system of governing...

[smirkymonkey]

26. I absolutely agree with you.

Last edited Tue Oct 19, 2021, 05:31 AM - Edit history (1)

If they completely take over, and there is nothing stopping them, they will be as evil, ruthless and brutal as the Nazis ever were. These people are filled with hate and fear and will stop at nothing to rid the country of those whom they beleive are blocking their path to white, christian, right-wing nationalism.

[onetexan]

75. +1 -K&R

[I_UndergroundPanther]

27. Being disabled

and transgender, non binary have mental illness, diabetic and totally leftist,anti authoritarian to my core.

On days I feel vulnerable I run through my head what kinds of contingency plans will I have to make to survive if the fascists win and start hunting people like me down to toss me in a camp or to kill me.

If they kill hud I will become homeless,if they kill ssi,and medicaid I will have no income and no way to get the medications to manage my blood sugar. In other words I would most certainly die no matter what happens.

However if America goes fascist I will take out as many nazi mother fuckers that I can before I go.

[wnylib]

58. There is some safety in numbers.

Maintain a network of friends and acquaintances to stick together in mutual aid.

[Ilsa]

83. I was thinking of the disabled as well. And how much

scarier it would be to be LGBTQ, binary, etc.

We must not allow any one group to be targeted singularly.

[multigraincracker]

31. Russia and the USA become the AXIS and

Western Europe come together, along with the our own rebel underground, along with China to defeat them in the end.
Could happen. We will see.

[Justice matters.]

54. I don't think China would side with anyone.

Xi Jinping has his own personal agenda.

[multigraincracker]

57. We stayed out of WWII

until Japan bomb Pearl Harbor.

[wnylib]

59. Agree. China would overtly stay out,

but covertly support the disarray. Our downfall would mean their rise as the world's leading power.

[Justice matters.]

64. They're developing supersonic cruise missiles, as does Russia.

Russia even tests launching them from "quiet" nuclear subs...

China doesn't, yet, but a world war would signal the end of life on the surface of this planet.

[wnylib]

67. Surely all parties realize that it would be the end.

[Justice matters.]

121. But just one "accidental" spark (or "glitch") in any of these different "systems" could lead to...

massive retaliations, like throwing a burning lamp in a fireworks hangar...

Play with fire, get burned by fire.

[hadEnuf]

32. If not camps, then what else would these fascist animals have in mind?

I doubt they'd be beating their guns into plowshares.

Either way, they intend to harm or eliminate a lot of people. Nothing remotely good will come from them.

You are correct. They need to be STOPPED NOW. Nothing less than that.

[CanonRay]

34. I don't think you're nuts

I think you're absolutely correct

[BlueJac]

35. Spot on, on all topics....

This is it folks, either we stop them now, or we'll lose our country for sure! Stand United against this poisonous mob of traitors!

[calimary]

36. I do not think you are nuts OR that you are overreacting. Might your middle name be Cassandra?

I'm afraid your warnings will just be poo-poo'ed by most. "Meh, can't happen." Or as I used to get from a woman I knew who was a Republican but still somehow considered herself pro-choice. "S'not gonna happen" she said. "S'not gonna happen." I kept thinking - MY ASS it's not gonna happen - they're warming up in the bullpen to do it, RIGHT NOW. And as far as the protection of Roe v Wade, I fear the worst IS gonna happen.

And I fear our Democrats are just out there happily smelling the roses and thinking "s'not gonna happen" while the enemy plots, plans, strategizes, and acts. And one day our Dems will wake up and realize they're actually being herded onto a train to - well - I shudder to think.

I think in THIS day and age, with trump trumpeting all over everywhere with his every breath, it not only could happen, but it may be ABOUT TO happen.

And Democrats are just REALLY good at being complacent - until it's too late. And they wake up after it's too late and think they should probably "do something" about it but give up easy and try to find someplace to lick their wounds in peace.

Sometimes it's HELL to be a Democrat. Our side won't fight. Our side won't fight like there's no tomorrow. Our side won't scheme and strategize and even get nasty and fight dirty. But seems to me, that's what our side needs to do. Because that's how the war is being fought now. The bad guys have made sure of that.

Our side insists on bringing feather dusters to gun fights. And for the life of me I don't understand why.

[wnylib]

62. I disagree that our Dem leaders are being complacent.

Biden, Pelosi, Schumer, AOC, both Clintons, both Obamas, the Schiffs, Warren, Sanders, and many more are fully aware of the dangers to democracy. I have no doubt that they are working behind the scenes to preserve democracy here. We might not be privy to all that they are doing, but that does not mean that they are not fully aware of what is going on or are not doing anything.

We need to stay united and determined and not give in to being discouraged or to divisions among ouselves.

[calimary]

68. I hope you're right!

Frankly, though, I'm in a mood today of being rather sick and tired of hearing our reps saying "I'm hopeful that..."

"Hopeful that" WHAT??? That the GOP will suddenly stop being sneaky and conniving and scheming and pouring money into sabotaging our democracy - from the school board level right on up to as high as they can go, in a fucking Washington Monument-size hard-on for more power? I'd wager THEY are "hopeful that" they're positioning themselves and lining up all the elements to take back Congress next year and the White House in 2024.

[wnylib]

97. I get it. I am plenty pissed off and worried

about what's happening. I get days when I think that it's hopeless. But deep down I do not believe that it is hopeless. The fight for democracy might get very ugly. I fear that there will be times when it looks like we have lost the battle completely, a time when the fascists have enough people in power that we will have to fight hard in many ways, on many fronts, to dislodge them from government and make them such pariahs that they will run and hide. But I do believe that, no matter how bad it gets, we will win in the end.

[Jakes Progress]

101. Not complacent. But maybe ineffectual.

I thought Rick Wilson's views about this were interesting.

He said Democrats were bringing a copy of Proust to a knife fight.

I think the world of al the politicians you mentioned, but the older ones (my age or so) keep thinking we can make it 1982 again - that Biden and turtle will go have a beer together and things will be all hunky dory again.

Ain't gonna happen. We have to be meaner and trickier. I don't like it, but I like the alternative less.

[Grasswire2]

102. Have you noticed Dem strategy re: every RW outrage & crime in recent decades?

Here is the strategy.

"Look forward, not back."

For decades, now.

Always hoping to out-run the fallout and the implications of tyranny.

[wnylib]

106. I opposed the "look forward" attitude back when

Nixon resigned. We needed to air all the authoritarian trends and deal with it then. But once he was out of ofgice and pardoned, it was dropped.

We needed a public airing and discussion after Vietnam, with facts about how and why we got there in the first place (under Ike, not JFK) and the corporate role in why we stayed so long, but we let too many stories develip around it, unchallenged.

But, with a few notable exceptions, I don't think Dem pols these days are content to just "look forward." Too much is at stake to do that and they know it. An attack on the US Capitol in an attempted coup cannot be overlooked.

[calimary]

124. All it gets us is running around in circles and wringing our hands

about the “urgent” need to “be nice.”

[Crunchy Frog]

66. Thank you for expressing my own feelings.

I'm not brave enough to post something like that on here.

[Jon King]

37. Biden can not leave office in 2024.

It is that simple. There will be Repug legislatures who mess with the electors, there will be Repug secretaries of state who break rules. 2024 will be a mess.

Biden can not concede. If we end up with a constitutional crisis and 2 people claiming victory, so be it. If Trump or his lackey gets into the Presidency, it is all over.

Biden must claim victory and we hope the Generals decide to stand with him.

[Joinfortmill]

47. Agree. Biden will need to run again.

Don't get me wrong, I like Kamala, but she isn't Joe. If it isn't Joe, it will need to be another icon.

[CrackityJones75]

72. So even if he loses we should do what they attempted?

WTF?

[RKP5637]

39. I have no doubt this could happen in the US! These are very dangerous times. I still think

a fair number of Americans still have no idea WTF is going on.

[DanieRains]

42. Republicans Are A Disease

The sign on the back of my van.

Since 2009.

[Cobalt Violet]

43. Genocide has already happened here and can happen again.

I have no problem believing they'll be as bad as Nazis.

[raptor_rider]

44. So...

Put them in camps first and nuke them all??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[rdking647]

45. this is why I own guns

a lot of them,safely stored with ammo

[calimary]

50. This is why I often wonder if we should move to Canada.

I’m just in a discouraged mood today.

[USALiberal]

65. Lol! Ok

[Joinfortmill]

46. Totally agree. If you're nuts, I'm right there with you.

[alwaysinasnit]

49. Pastor Martin Niemoller quote...

Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation1:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

[Red Mountain]

56. We should stop them now....much easier

but who is going to herd up all those folks? Who is going to watch their backs while they do it?

Why would I stand by idly?

I won't.

[moondust]

60. You answered my question

from two days ago:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=15956249

Saturday morning I woke up on your wave length.

[RVN VET71]

63. I can't add anything that hasn't already been said about this.

I have taken to regarding the former Republican Party as the Fascist Republican Party, period. I’m dropping AT&T because it is openly fascist.

But the battle against these new Nazi knock-offs still seems procedural. Still seems a matter of waiting for the next election -- and, actually, that might well solve the problem by voting in enough Democrats (talking Federal government here) to give Biden a full and comfortable Democratic House and Senate majority. If, that is, the votes are aloud to stand. But even there, the Fascists’ game is to claim cheating and fraud regardless the outcome, so even an overwhelming victory in both the Senate and House may not be enough. SCOTUS is fascist-dominant, after all and, therefore, not likely to deny their movement its ascendancy.

Sad times. A miracle is something that defies the laws of probability and science -- and that is what we need come 2022 and 2024. And we’re also going to need a no nonsense Democratic regime to root out the beasts whether they be elected officials or murderous militia “men”. Because the beasts will rise up, the beasts will kill and maim and try to make January 6th look like a peaceful protest. If that happens, we will need a government that takes harsh action. There can be no placating the bastards, no kid gloves, no second chances given by “compassionate” courts. I’m not talking about camps for the insurrectionists. That idea is repugnant. But stiff prison sentences, even executions (if the crime warrants it) will be necessary. If we have our miracle, in other words, we have to be ready to use it to crush the Trump movement, eradicate it.

Ask yourself: what actions might have crushed the Nazi movement before it gathered strength and prestige? Those are the actions we have to be prepared to take. (Sadly, I just don’t know if the Democrats have the stomach for it.)

[Mister Ed]

70. In the end, I'm hopeful that our diverse population might save us.

We have far more "Others" in our population than Nazi Germany had. The sheer number of various "Others" might be too much for the Fascists to take on.

Still, I agree with you: We stop them now.

[ShazzieB]

74. I have a question.

Leaving aside everything else for now, I want to know what this means:

"Here's the bottom line. We stop them now. We won't get another chance."

Exactly what do you think we should do? Say I agree that we need to stop them, just how do you propose that we do that? What action(s) would you like to see us take to make that happen?

I would really like to know. "We stop them now" is a broad statement that can be interpreted in many different ways, some (but not all) of which I might well agree with. Exactly what do you have in mind?

[Cyrano]

94. Here's one idea

The filibuster has to go so that the corrupt election laws in red states can't stand.

Regarding Manchin and Sinema standing in the way, it's time for the Democratic leadership to get down in the mud. Everyone has things they would never want made public and Manchin and Sinema are no exceptions. Dig up the dirt and blackmail them with it. Go after their spouses and children if necessary.

I know that sounds brutal, but there's nothing on the line here except our Constitution, our democracy and all our freedoms. And if we lose all that, what about everyone's spouses and children?

[Roy Rolling]

76. War is Hell

Where it leads, nobody knows. Regardless, the inmates have taken over the asylum for Republicans.

They welcomed deplorables, now deplorables have taken over the entire party. Once a party of tony, upper crust businesspeople, Republicans are now a gang of knuckle-dragging, flag-waving morons using guns to get what they can’t get peacefully in a competitive free market economy. As if they even know what a free market economy is.

And, as usual, the email lady was right.

[bucolic_frolic]

77. Amidst the war and overt holocaust atrocities of WWII

the political and economic aspects of Nazism was lost. It was about plunder, passing wealth to the powerful through theft or exploitation. War and regime and political and even economic change is always about resources. Somebody wants it. That's why they angled for change.

[LymphocyteLover]

79. Yes, agreed. THEY always talk about the left putting THEM in camps and killing them with vaccines

It's projection, because that is what they would do.

Still, I fell like American is too big and diverse to truly descend into Nazi-style fascism with massive concentration camps. More liberal places, cities, would certainly become bastions of anti-fascism. There could be breakaway regions.

[The Jungle 1]

80. Take some time to watch police body cam video.

You can watch them endlessly and it is addictive but it shows the fascism.
The fascism invading our policing is disgusting and needs to be brought into the light of day.

[JudyM]

82. Important post. IMO the most important thing we can do is start excelling at messaging.

We are not cutting through their blaring nonsense, and it’s essential.

[Grasswire2]

103. that's a huge, problem, yes.,

Adam Schiff has upped his messaging in the last week or so.

But generally, Dem messaging is very poorly crafted and delivered weakly.

[JudyM]

111. Caught him on Colbert last night.

He wasn’t mincing words. We are fortunate to have him.

[lark]

85. Sadly for the state of my anxieties, I totally agree with you.

I also think one of the Democratic senators is being paid to ensure Dems don't accomplish anything that could keep them in power so I am afraid of the future.

[Calista241]

86. Doom and gloom. Death camps? People here like to over-react and freak out.

It's always the most important election ever, winning an election is always the most important thing ever, and our political adversaries are always the most dangerous, compelling, slimy, and evil political adversaries there ever were.

People look at Trump, and call him an evil, racist, politician that has no place in our society. But what did he actually accomplish? He lowered taxes, nominated a few judges and that's basically it. Everything else he did is being systematically undone by the Biden admin, and soon Trump's tax cuts will be a thing of the past as well.

Death camps? Really? Every single Trump voter knows that they're completely out of power right now, and if one person can put one group in a death camp, another person can put another group in a death camp. And what are you advocating for? Should we preemptively start death camps to stop them from starting death camps?

Jewish death camps? Donald Trump had a daughter convert to Judaism, and a son-in-law that was straight up born a Jew. His biggest and only real international supporter was the State of Israel, a Jewish state. Why would he put Jews in death camps?

German death camps in WW2 only worked because nobody really knew about them, and the government controlled the media so they wouldn't find out about them. In the US in the 2020's, we have this thing called the internet, and everyone in the country has a phone with a camera on it. People would find out about it.

This kind of freak out is what hurts Dems in the eyes of independents or any other non-left wing Dem. What you're saying is just flat out ridiculous, and 90% of the country will think it's flat out ridiculous. You won't convert a single vote or convince a single un-aligned voter with this kind of fantastical argument.

[Act_of_Reparation]

88. Oh bullshit.

The Germans didn't know about the death camps, eh?

They saw Jews rounded up from the their cities and loaded onto trains sent barreling out into the hinterlands. Where did they think they were going? Fucking Disney World?

[live love laugh]

100. What "hurts Dems" is people who profess to know what hurts Dems. nt

[JudyM]

113. You might want to read what Germans and others are saying about what's happening here.

What else would you need to see to believe it is happening here?

One of my neighbors, a level-headed doctor who was imprisoned as a boy in a Japanese detention camp in the Dutch East Indies, has been asserting unequivocally that fascism is actively developing here. He is known for being understated, not at all given to hyperbole.

It’s no doubt comforting to say it isn’t, or couldn’t happen here, but the psychological drive to have that comfort can also impel us to downplay what we are seeing. Why do so many people think the need for masks and vaccines is being overplayed? Are they all just stupid? Not IMO… there are psychological forces at work that impel them to think it’s all a freak out.

[Act_of_Reparation]

117. I know I tout this book a lot...

...but Robert O. Paxton's Anatomy of Fascism spends a great deal of time discussing German attitudes towards the Nazis in the lead-up to their seizing power. This "things aren't so bad/it'll never happen/it's all blown out of proportion" attitude was pervasive.

I'm not saying we spend our days cowering in fear, but to discount the threat is just nuts.

[JudyM]

118. We've let it slide too long. Just this week, TX GOPs essentially stole minorities'

2 newly-earned House seats. https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142815040

Seriously, there seems to be some new assault on democracy every.day.

[lagomorph777]

89. This truly is our last chance.

We knock SineManchin into line and pass voting rights, infrastructure, and BBB, or we are in serious danger.

[Texin]

90. I don't think you're nuts, Cyrano.

I think it's a real possibility. These people want to increase the number of Caucasians in general, and they'd blithely go along with internment/slave labor/death camps if it ensured their permanent control of power and influence. They have more than proven they are shameless fucksticks and they are in thrall to an orange huckster and/or Q.

Your last sentence, though: How do you propose we "stop them" now?

[Cyrano]

96. see post #94 above

[world wide wally]

93. One thing i am quite sure of is that in 3 or 4 years, we will look back on these days and think,

"We should have done something back then before things got so out of hand."
I suggest we start with aggressive prosecution of the insurrectionists and their ringleaders (ie. Trump and his cronies)..

[TrogL]

110. They're already here. "Gay conversion" anyone?

[LiberalLovinLug]

115. Someone tell these two self-absorbed ditzes

[czarjak]

120. Plant needs pruning!

[Lotus54]

119. [b]I understand your deep alarm and utmost concern.

We see it with our own eyes right in front of us, visibly more flagrant during the past eight years.

1.)McConnel's absolute obsession with hiring conservative judges to do their GOP bidding.
2. The current GOP Super Majority in the Supreme Court.
3.) GOP's alarming gerrymandering of counties of each State.
4.)The current Laws are being passed on numerous States to curtail our voting rights.
5.) The undying devotion of Trump's cults
6.)The GOP Congress who cower and submit to Trump's lunatic and obsessive rule.
7.) The cadres of billionaire Elites, the dark money pouring like water out of a faucet to GOP's bankroll.
8.) The citizens' anger and discontent towards the government
9.) And of course, the Propaganda news media that caters to conspiracy theories, gaslighting, and lies.

Our country is ripe for the taking of an authoritarian regime.

It is happening all over the planet. The United States is currently in a parallel course with Hungary and Poland.

Excerpt from Anne Applebaum's book Twilight of Democracy. (please check her credential)

This form of soft dictatorship does not require mass violence to stay in power. Instead, it relies upon a cadre of elites to run the bureaucracy, the state media, the courts, and, in some places, state companies. These modern-day clercs understand their role, which is to defend the leaders, however dishonest their statements, however great their corruption, and however disastrous their impact on ordinary people and institutions. In exchange, they know that they will be rewarded and advanced. Close associates of the party leader can become very wealthy, receiving lucrative contracts or seats on state company boards without having to compete for them. Others can count on government salaries as well as protection from accusations of corruption or incompetence. However badly they perform, they will not lose their jobs.

Applebaum, Anne. Twilight of Democracy (p. 25). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

The citizens need to WAKE-UP!!

[Scalded Nun]

122. I take exception with only 1 point in your post...

They will not be as bad as the Nazis. They will be worse...much worse. And they will have over 1/3 of the country behind them, willing to aid in the committing of whatever (and I do mean whatever) acts they are told to commit. Then, slowly but surely, another 1/3 will slide over to their side and become just as wicked and evil as the original followers. The remaining 1/3 should then be easy to eradicate. I reflect of some of the stories my mother and grandmother told me. Told what it was like by my mother (young teen forced to work in a chemical plant and died after fighting numerous cancers for many decades) and how it got to be that way by my grandmother. So much rings true to those stories.

Do not count on any 'inherent' goodness from any current GOPers. The fact that they are still GOPers tells you everything you need to know about them.

[Cyrano]

123. Too many believe "It can't happen here." Well, look at Texas.

Too few see that we are already well down the path to hell. And too few care, or aren't paying attention, or just don't "get it."

The stories of your family, Scalded Nun, give you insights, and instincts, that far too many can't grasp.

Too few doubt the cruelty that mean-spirited fascists are capable of. Take a look at Texas which is on the leading edge of the Republican/Fascist assault on America. It's impossible to look at what's going on there and still say "It can't happen here." And Texas is just getting started.