"... they [Republicans] are desperate. We need not fall for this charade."
I would suggest Republicans are more determined than desperate. They have taken two lessons from the Civil Rights movement. 1. The initial importance of uniting at the ballot box to take power. And 2. the later notion of "by any means necessary."* Of course this latter, while appropriating the left wing phrase, also perpetuates the right wing culture of physical violence. Initially adopted by the GOP first through their Southern Strategy pandering to the KKK and later by Republican embrace of militia movements (such as the Bundys) violently defying the Federal government. And as epitomized by Jan 6 and personified by Josh Hawley fist bumping insurrectionists on his way to employing congressional procedures to overturn the election results.
* 1. Voting was central to the early civil rights movement which embraced peaceful protest. When state forces responded with violence - perpetrated by state officials who also permitted violence by other racists - a majority of Americans joined in supporting civil rights protections for African Americans. And LBJ signed into law Federal protections.
2. "The English phrase [By Any Means Necessary] entered American civil rights culture through a speech given by Muslim minister Malcolm X at the Organization of Afro-American Unity's founding rally on 28 June 1964 in Manhattan, New York." In the speech, he made a disavowal of violence but was sufficiently ambiguous about how and when "initiating" violence was justified that the previously 'clean-cut' image strategically adopted by the early Southern civil rights organizers was replaced by the Che Guevara style 'berets and bandoliers' adopted with the ascent of relatively more privileged Northern raised organizers like Stokley Carmichael.
Today, this dichotomy can also be seen in the campus Gaza protests - split between peaceful and violent protestors.
I don't think Republicans are particularly desperate. Yes
their platform doesn't appeal to the majority, but they are close enough. Throw in that: they effectively have the entire Republican party and right wing apparatus all in for Trump; they will unite at the ballot box to take power; they have a myriad of voter suppression programs initiated since 2020; and they have a significant number of Americans - urged on by Stein, RFKJR et al - ready to elect Trump by treating voting as an individual exercise in personal expression. Republicans can already taste victory - and have Project 2025 ready to transform the entire Executive branch into the extension of an autocratic lunatic.
and to do so in the short amount of time remaining until the election, (while holding the voters hostage in the mean time,) just in case they lose.
David - they are desperate. We need not fall for this charade.
"... they [Republicans] are desperate. We need not fall for this charade."
I would suggest Republicans are more determined than desperate. They have taken two lessons from the Civil Rights movement. 1. The initial importance of uniting at the ballot box to take power. And 2. the later notion of "by any means necessary."* Of course this latter, while appropriating the left wing phrase, also perpetuates the right wing culture of physical violence. Initially adopted by the GOP first through their Southern Strategy pandering to the KKK and later by Republican embrace of militia movements (such as the Bundys) violently defying the Federal government. And as epitomized by Jan 6 and personified by Josh Hawley fist bumping insurrectionists on his way to employing congressional procedures to overturn the election results.
* 1. Voting was central to the early civil rights movement which embraced peaceful protest. When state forces responded with violence - perpetrated by state officials who also permitted violence by other racists - a majority of Americans joined in supporting civil rights protections for African Americans. And LBJ signed into law Federal protections.
2. "The English phrase [By Any Means Necessary] entered American civil rights culture through a speech given by Muslim minister Malcolm X at the Organization of Afro-American Unity's founding rally on 28 June 1964 in Manhattan, New York." In the speech, he made a disavowal of violence but was sufficiently ambiguous about how and when "initiating" violence was justified that the previously 'clean-cut' image strategically adopted by the early Southern civil rights organizers was replaced by the Che Guevara style 'berets and bandoliers' adopted with the ascent of relatively more privileged Northern raised organizers like Stokley Carmichael.
Today, this dichotomy can also be seen in the campus Gaza protests - split between peaceful and violent protestors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/By_any_means_necessary
Thank you for this, lin•
"...determined rather than desperate." I think you're chillingly accurate.
ThankYou Ally House. I know that you are among the good cadre here who realize how much work we have to do for a Democratic victory.
Realize - in understanding and in making real the work in your efforts.
determined and desperate! they have no policy that the majority want and will stop at nothing to get trump or snother lackey ( Haley) back in power
I don't think Republicans are particularly desperate. Yes
their platform doesn't appeal to the majority, but they are close enough. Throw in that: they effectively have the entire Republican party and right wing apparatus all in for Trump; they will unite at the ballot box to take power; they have a myriad of voter suppression programs initiated since 2020; and they have a significant number of Americans - urged on by Stein, RFKJR et al - ready to elect Trump by treating voting as an individual exercise in personal expression. Republicans can already taste victory - and have Project 2025 ready to transform the entire Executive branch into the extension of an autocratic lunatic.
Eyes open and brains engaged.