Red-baiting and DJT

[gounion]

Via Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ ... m-00102990

More than three decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, Donald Trump seems determined to resurrect red baiting as a political tactic. Calling his political opponents communists has become a regular feature of Trump’s attacks on the Biden administration, the Democratic Party, and the likes of George Soros.

Using this tactic, Trump hopes that a single word can discredit their political views. He wants his followers to fear what the people and institutions he calls communist will do to those who don’t share their world view — including to the former president himself.

Trump’s effort to brand his political opponents and those who now would hold him to account for his alleged criminal conduct as communists has been a through line of his rhetoric since he became a major political figure in 2015. In October of that year, he called Sen. Bernie Sanders, then a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, “a socialist-slash-communist ... He’s going to tax you people at 90 percent; he’s going to take everything!”

*snip*

Whatever his motivations, Trump’s kind of red baiting has a long lineage. It is right out of the playbook of authoritarians and tyrants from the early 20th century. It was instrumental in the rise of fascist leaders in mid-century Germany and Italy.

Like them, today’s strongmen and would-be strongmen like the former president need powerful “us” versus “them” narratives, and communism is a tried and true boogeyman. It works, as columnist John P. Baird has argued, “to narrow the spectrum of what it is possible to achieve politically. It has historically been used against all kinds of change agents.”

Trump’s revival of the Red Scare also draws on an American tradition that fueled the notorious Palmer Raids in 1919 and 1920, when the Justice Department arrested and deported anarchists, communists, and radical leftists. The raids, sparked by social unrest following the First World War, were the climax of that era’s own Red Scare.

Trump is surely channeling his mentor Roy Cohn. Cohn served as a prosecutor in the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were convicted of espionage, and was chief counsel to Republican Sen. Joseph McCarthy in the 1950 hearings that alleged that numerous communists and Soviet spies had infiltrated the United States federal government, universities and the film industry.

Seven decades after Cohn and McCarthy, the former president persists in trying to bring back the Red Scare even though, as the journalist Ed Kilgore notes, “There is not a single Democratic political figure in the United States who espouses anything resembling communism.”

Trump is “hallucinating” a communist threat where there is none and promoting what The Guardian columnist Richard Seymour labels “anti-communism without communism.” Seymour gets it right when he suggests that for a would-be authoritarian like Trump, communism signals a “single, treasonous, diabolical enemy.” “Rather like a racial stereotype,” Seymour wrote, “‘communism’ figuratively presents systemic crisis as … a demonic plot … Those labelled ‘communists’ are thus blamed not just for the reforms they demand, but for all the crises that call for reform.”

By conjuring such demonic forces, Trump amplifies his anti-democratic claim that, as he put it in his post-indictment speech, “I am the only one that can save this nation.”

Wow, "commie commie commie" Who on this board does that sound like?

[JoeMemphis]

Via Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ ... m-00102990



Wow, "commie commie commie" Who on this board does that sound like?

Sounds just like the folks who run around screaming facists, facists, facists or any number of names liberals call conservatives.

[Motor City]

You ain't done nothing if you ain't been called a red
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIu29su9Xr8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Tk9QxvZHo

[ZoWie]

I don't call all conservatives fascists.

I call testosterone cases who march around with torches chanting, "The ovens will be hotter next time," fascists.

And there seem to be a lot of those right now.

[gounion]

Sounds just like the folks who run around screaming facists, facists, facists or any number of names liberals call conservatives.

So, who is doing that on this board? Anyone on this thread calling conservatives fascists?

[gounion]

So, who is doing that on this board? Anyone on this thread calling conservatives fascists?

Still waiting for an answer, Joe.

And waiting for our board red-baiter to comment.

[Glennfs]

Still waiting for an answer, Joe.

And waiting for our board red-baiter to comment.

Every liberal except professor x

[ZoWie]

Oh come on, you know that I'm more inclined to call them propagandized reactionaries, or the gooey slimy residue of dialectical materialism.

[gounion]

Every liberal except professor x

PROVE IT MOTHERFUCKER.

‘Cause you’re a lying sack of shit.

[JoeMemphis]

So, who is doing that on this board? Anyone on this thread calling conservatives fascists?

Well I didn’t say it was people on this board now did I. But since you brought it up. I was called a facist recently. I’ve been called a racist, confederate, homophobe, transphobe, totalitarian, supporter of sedition and traitors, etc, etc, etc. If you are truly that curious then you claim to have all kinds of computer skills. Search on any of those terms on this board.

While you are at it. When those terms were used to reference a board member, let us know how many times you objected. After all by your standard, if you don’t object you support. Silence is acceptance by your standard right?

[gounion]

Well I didn’t say it was people on this board now did I. But since you brought it up. I was called a facist recently. I’ve been called a racist, confederate, homophobe, transphobe, totalitarian, supporter of sedition and traitors, etc, etc, etc. If you are truly that curious then you claim to have all kinds of computer skills. Search on any of those terms on this board.

While you are at it. When those terms were used to reference a board member, let us know how many times you objected. After all by your standard, if you don’t object you support. Silence is acceptance by your standard right?

When YOU start policing YOUR side, and calling out YOUR folks, like Glenn, come back.

Because you sure don't have a fucking problem with HIM questioning our patriotism, or calling us communists.

[JoeMemphis]

When YOU start policing YOUR side, and calling out YOUR folks, like Glenn, come back.

Because you sure don't have a fucking problem with HIM questioning our patriotism, or calling us communists.

I wasn’t the one bitching about the name calling. Let’s see who started this thread? Seems you should be taking your own advice.

[gounion]

I wasn’t the one bitching about the name calling. Let’s see who started this thread? Seems you should be taking your own advice.

Again, you want the double standard. If you don't want to call out your own folks, don't make the demand of us. We won't play your stupid game.

[gounion]

This is where the GOP is going. The elected North Carolina Lt. Governor (who is running for Governor) is a big fan of folks like Hitler and Stalin: https://www.rawstory.com/start-reading- ... 662231195/

North Carolina Republican Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, a far-right Christian nationalist who is running to be the state’s next governor, defended the writings of a slew of authoritarian dictators at the recent Moms for Liberty convention.

“And here’s the thing,” Robinson told the radical, anti-LGBTQ “parental rights” organization that appears on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s list of extremist anti-government groups.

“Whether you’re talking about Adolf Hitler. Whether you’re talking about Chairman Mao. Whether you’re talking about Stalin. Whether you’re talking about Pol Pot. Whether you’re talking about Castro in Cuba, or whether you’re talking about a dozen other despots all around the globe, it is time for us to get back and start reading some of those quotes.”

The New Republic suggested, “Robinson thinks that dictators such as Hitler and Mao are being taken out of context, and their work is worth reconsidering,” while noting, “It is unclear how one could decontextualize a dictator.”

Jezebel’s Caitlin Cruz notes Robinson was “speaking to the crowd gathered for Moms for Liberty’s ‘Blessings of the Liberty Breakfast’ event on Sunday,” and wrote: “I cannot stress enough how this Nazi referencing took place on a Sunday morning at what was essentially a prayer breakfast with a Rabbi present.”

Robinson’s remarks come after a Moms for Liberty chapter was forced to apologize for including a quote from Adolf Hitler at the top of their newsletter. The apology came only after they defended including the remarks from the genocidal mass murderer responsible for the slaughter of millions of people, especially Jews.

The Moms for Liberty five-day convention in Philadelphia, which included speeches from Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and other GOP presidential hopefuls, was highly protested.

Robinson refused calls to resign two years ago after he essentially called LGBTQ people “filth,” and defended his remarks by saying, “Yes, I called it ‘filth.'”

“And if you don’t like it that I called it ‘filth,’ come see me and I’ll explain it to you,” Robinson said, referring to “transgenderism” and “homosexuality.”

“It’s time for us to stop letting these children be abused in schools, and it’s not going to happen til the people of God stand up and demand different, same ones that established those schools to begin with,” he added.

Robinson has declared America is a “Christian nation,” while proclaiming the First Amendment is supposed to protect him from criticism as he expresses his “deeply held religious values that are guaranteed to me by the Constitution.” He has declared, “the Christian patriots of this nation will own this nation and rule this nation,” and once appeared to “jokingly” threaten any IRS agents who might come to his home: “Would you like to see some of my ammo, revenuer man?”

He has also said straight relationships are “superior” to gay relationships, and said even “cow manure” is better. He has called being transgender “demonic.”

A former Human Rights Campaign press secretary, Charlotte Clymer, responded to Robinson’s latest remarks defending authoritarian despots’ works by observing: “We have reached the point where Republican elected officials are pushing for bans on LGBTQ books but encouraging all to read books by Hitler, Stalin, and Mao.”

Does anyone on the right denounce this man and distance themselves from him? I've looked, and can't find any Republicans denouncing him. Of course not, he's black and they need all the blacks they can get so they can pretend not to be the anti-black party.

But since Trump there's nothing a Republican can say that's over the top for them. It's all acceptable, even the Nazi salute.

And of course, our three conservatives won't denounce him either.

[JoeMemphis]

Again, you want the double standard. If you don't want to call out your own folks, don't make the demand of us. We won't play your stupid game.

You asked a stupid question. You asked it twice as a matter of fact. You specifically asked me to call out people on this board. Just the other day you falsely accused me of telling people how to post and then proceeded to make a big fucking deal of telling me I had no such authority to do so. Evidently you are the only “net nanny” allowed around here.

So while I won’t tell you how to post, I will give you some advice so you don’t embarrass yourself again. Don’t ask stupid fucking questions if you are going to bitch about the answers. And second, make up your fucking mind. Don’t tell me I have no right to tell other people how to post and then turn around and demand that I tell other people how to post. You just look stupid when you contradict yourself in such ways. You do it a lot. You should work on it in all your free time.

[gounion]

You asked a stupid question. You asked it twice as a matter of fact. You specifically asked me to call out people on this board. Just the other day you falsely accused me of telling people how to post and then proceeded to make a big fucking deal of telling me I had no such authority to do so. Evidently you are the only “net nanny” allowed around here.

So while I won’t tell you how to post, I will give you some advice so you don’t embarrass yourself again. Don’t ask stupid fucking questions if you are going to bitch about the answers. And second, make up your fucking mind. Don’t tell me I have no right to tell other people how to post and then turn around and demand that I tell other people how to post. You just look stupid when you contradict yourself in such ways. You do it a lot. You should work on it in all your free time.

Not a stupid fucking question. This is YOUR problem, NOT mine. We've got a member that is a red-baiter. Now, you may approve, but that's on you. I was pointing out that Donald Trump, who you SAY you don't support, has really made red-baiting cool again among conservatives like you.

Of course, you won't call out Donald Trump either, or even say you don't approve, because you don't specifically say anything bad about him, beyond "I don't support him". Once when I asked you what you didn't like about Trump, all you could talk about is what he was like BEFORE becoming President.

I mean, you won't even say a word about him taking classified national security documents, beyond "We'll see what the jury says".

[gounion]

Sounds just like the folks who run around screaming facists, facists, facists or any number of names liberals call conservatives.

Still waiting for an answer. Waiting for you to name names.

Looks to me like you can't.

[JoeMemphis]

Not a stupid fucking question. This is YOUR problem, NOT mine. We've got a member that is a red-baiter. Now, you may approve, but that's on you. I was pointing out that Donald Trump, who you SAY you don't support, has really made red-baiting cool again among conservatives like you.

Of course, you won't call out Donald Trump either, or even say you don't approve, because you don't specifically say anything bad about him, beyond "I don't support him". Once when I asked you what you didn't like about Trump, all you could talk about is what he was like BEFORE becoming President.

I mean, you won't even say a word about him taking classified national security documents, beyond "We'll see what the jury says".

I’ve said often times that both sides, republicans and democrats, need to cool the heated rhetoric. “Both” sides would include folks like Trump, Schumer, Maxine Waters, etc, etc, etc.

[JoeMemphis]

Still waiting for an answer. Waiting for you to name names.

Looks to me like you can't.

You would have to have you head totally up your ass for the last year or so to ask that question. By you, I do mean specifically you. I’m not going to call out other board members just to please you. If you are so fucking curious, then do a simple search on keywords on the board search engine. You claim to know how to use that tool.

[gounion]

You would have to have you head totally up your ass for the last year or so to ask that question. By you, I do mean specifically you. I’m not going to call out other board members just to please you. If you are so fucking curious, then do a simple search on keywords on the board search engine. You claim to know how to use that tool.

You said it happens all the time. It doesn't.

I know. I certainly haven't ever called you a fascist or questioned your love of our country.

The best word to describe you is 'idiot'.

[gounion]

I’ve said often times that both sides, republicans and democrats, need to cool the heated rhetoric. “Both” sides would include folks like Trump, Schumer, Maxine Waters, etc, etc, etc.

I told you that you couldn't bring yourself to actually directly say anything bad about Trump. Instead you turn to "bothsiderism".

Sorry, but there's NO ONE on the left in office or in the mainstream that is the equivalent of Donald Trump. Maxine Waters and Chuck Shumer are good, decent people that work hard for the betterment of our nation. They are not equal to Donald Trump in any way.

But you won't admit that, since you support him.

[JoeMemphis]

I told you that you couldn't bring yourself to actually directly say anything bad about Trump. Instead you turn to "bothsiderism".

Sorry, but there's NO ONE on the left in office or in the mainstream that is the equivalent of Donald Trump. Maxine Waters and Chuck Shumer are good, decent people that work hard for the betterment of our nation. They are not equal to Donald Trump in any way.

But you won't admit that, since you support him.

I have said things about Trump before and you ignored them. So saying them again to please you is another useless waste of time. You won’t remember it tomorrow.

As for Schumer, Waters or anyone else, when is it okay to use that kind of heated rhetoric. So it heated rhetoric is “okay” if GoU likes you? Is that the standard? That’s a laughable standard. It’s a useless meaningless standard.

[gounion]

I have said things about Trump before and you ignored them. So saying them again to please you is another useless waste of time. You won’t remember it tomorrow.

You could give us a link to what you said. Go ahead.

As for Schumer, Waters or anyone else, when is it okay to use that kind of heated rhetoric. So it heated rhetoric is “okay” if GoU likes you? Is that the standard? That’s a laughable standard. It’s a useless meaningless standard.

There is no equivalence to the rhetoric from the left. For instance, today Donald Trump said this:

"Has Deranged Jack Smith, the crazy, Trump hating Special Prosecutor, been seen in the area of the COCAINE? He looks like a crackhead to me!"

So show us the equivalent from Chuck Shumer or Maxine Waters. Quit pretending both sides are the same.

And you won't even denounce THIS statement!

[Glennfs]

You said it happens all the time. It doesn't.

I know. I certainly haven't ever called you a fascist or questioned your love of our country.

The best word to describe you is 'idiot'.

What is saying Republicans want to take African Americans back to the 30s?
What is saying that Republicans want to kill or enslave people like you?
Those are two off the top if my head

[JoeMemphis]

You could give us a link to what you said. Go ahead.

There is no equivalence to the rhetoric from the left. For instance, today Donald Trump said this:

So show us the equivalent from Chuck Shumer or Maxine Waters. Quit pretending both sides are the same.

And you won't even denounce THIS statement!

As Inhave said on many an occasion, I do not give two shits about Trump or what he has to say. As I have said before, I have no more respect for him than I have for you. That is the greatest denuncification I give give. Can’t go any lower than that.

How’s that work for you? Since you keep asking. Insisting. There you go.