The machinations of Trump’s Big Lie remind me of the Lost Cause of the Confederacy. The Lost Cause mythology trumpeted that the Civil War was heroic, just, and not contended over slavery. This Big Lie was sustained over generations to justify white domination and racism throughout the South.
The machinations of Trump’s Big Lie remind me of the Lost Cause of the Confederacy. The Lost Cause mythology trumpeted that the Civil War was heroic, just, and not contended over slavery. This Big Lie was sustained over generations to justify white domination and racism throughout the South.
Regional support for the Southern Big Lie was of a greater magnitude than the “26% of Americans [who] now believe the ‘2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump and Joe Biden is an illegitimate president.’” The southern Big Lie grievously wounded our country for generations. Unless we can shatter Trump’s Hitler-like Big Lie, our country will suffer grievously in coming years.
This is a must read from today's Washington Post by Kagan.
“Most Americans — and all but a handful of politicians — have refused to take this possibility seriously enough to try to prevent it. As has so often been the case in other countries where fascist leaders arise, their would-be opponents are paralyzed in confusion and amazement at this charismatic authoritarian. They have followed the standard model of appeasement, which always begins with underestimation.
Those recalcitrant Republican state officials who effectively saved the country from calamity by refusing to falsely declare fraud or to “find” more votes for Trump are being systematically removed or hounded from office. Republican legislatures are giving themselves greater control over the election certification process. As of this spring, Republicans have proposed or passed measures in at least 16 states that would shift certain election authorities from the purview of the governor, secretary of state or other executive-branch officers to the legislature. An Arizona bill flatly states that the legislature may “revoke the secretary of state’s issuance or certification of a presidential elector’s certificate of election” by a simple majority vote.”
“We weren’t there to steal things. We weren’t there to do damage. We were just there to overthrow the government.” January 6 insurrectionist.
Agree, Barbara. I read Kagan's long essay just before going to bed last night. It made for restless sleep. Among the many dire warnings we've read about the danger we face, including from HCR, Kagan's made a persuasive case: the demise of democracy is much further along than we are willing to accept.
Hi Michael, I also read Kagan's Opinion a bit before bedtime. Part of it, analyzing Trump nature and what about it has his followers hypnotized were very astute, however, I was not comfortable with Kagan's certitude about where the country is headed. There are reasons to consider that direction and factors against it. Of course, we are in a heap of trouble, which began, in my opinion, with the Reagan administration and onward. Kagan's tone was one of over-confident declaration, which I did not appreciate.
I agree. But he made me ponder the possibility that things could get real sooner than we think. I tend to believe that it won't ever get to full-blown civil strife across the country. Those who seek violence as a solution to their perceived grievances tend to be small in number and not exactly effective planners. Then again, it's prudent to consider worst-case scenarios.
Also, the monied right-wingers moving the chess pieces know that the various investigations are intensifying and the hammer could come down on Trump and his enablers sooner than we thought. Or if not the hammer, a wave of damning information from the House committee investigation. I see them getting desperate. Who knows what they might do?
We now have the beginnings of a paper trail outlining their planned coup attempt along with an acknowledgment that they knew the election wasn't stolen. And the committee is just getting started.
Now, I'm trying to keep in mind that your neck in a brace as I begin this reply. When following your list of possibilities, it is difficult to avoid using the analogy of watching a tennis match when facing the center of the court. We want this war to end peacefully with the democratic forces in much better command. In the most difficult situations, I function best when calm, which also includes listening and reading the best sources available. As citizens one of the most useful things we can do is contact the Democrats that seem the most wobbly and the Republicans with whom there is, perhaps, only the slimmest of chance to ask that they vote in favor of national voting rights legislation. Figuring out a few things we can and doing them is both productive and stress reducing. We cannot figure out the country's future at this time, and I think trying to do that is not good for your neck. Salud!
Good advice. Getting the top priority legislation is essential to our future. It would prove that our wounded system is resilient despite the relentless attacks. Doing so would be like releasing the valve on a pressure cooker.
The Gore V W. Bush still does. Wish they would have gone to this length to prove that election.But hey, they made Gore the Climate Guy that they don’t believe that’s happening now ?
The machinations of Trump’s Big Lie remind me of the Lost Cause of the Confederacy. The Lost Cause mythology trumpeted that the Civil War was heroic, just, and not contended over slavery. This Big Lie was sustained over generations to justify white domination and racism throughout the South.
Regional support for the Southern Big Lie was of a greater magnitude than the “26% of Americans [who] now believe the ‘2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump and Joe Biden is an illegitimate president.’” The southern Big Lie grievously wounded our country for generations. Unless we can shatter Trump’s Hitler-like Big Lie, our country will suffer grievously in coming years.
This is a must read from today's Washington Post by Kagan.
“Most Americans — and all but a handful of politicians — have refused to take this possibility seriously enough to try to prevent it. As has so often been the case in other countries where fascist leaders arise, their would-be opponents are paralyzed in confusion and amazement at this charismatic authoritarian. They have followed the standard model of appeasement, which always begins with underestimation.
Those recalcitrant Republican state officials who effectively saved the country from calamity by refusing to falsely declare fraud or to “find” more votes for Trump are being systematically removed or hounded from office. Republican legislatures are giving themselves greater control over the election certification process. As of this spring, Republicans have proposed or passed measures in at least 16 states that would shift certain election authorities from the purview of the governor, secretary of state or other executive-branch officers to the legislature. An Arizona bill flatly states that the legislature may “revoke the secretary of state’s issuance or certification of a presidential elector’s certificate of election” by a simple majority vote.”
“We weren’t there to steal things. We weren’t there to do damage. We were just there to overthrow the government.” January 6 insurrectionist.
Robert Kagan, Washington Post, September 24, 2021
Agree, Barbara. I read Kagan's long essay just before going to bed last night. It made for restless sleep. Among the many dire warnings we've read about the danger we face, including from HCR, Kagan's made a persuasive case: the demise of democracy is much further along than we are willing to accept.
Hi Michael, I also read Kagan's Opinion a bit before bedtime. Part of it, analyzing Trump nature and what about it has his followers hypnotized were very astute, however, I was not comfortable with Kagan's certitude about where the country is headed. There are reasons to consider that direction and factors against it. Of course, we are in a heap of trouble, which began, in my opinion, with the Reagan administration and onward. Kagan's tone was one of over-confident declaration, which I did not appreciate.
I agree. But he made me ponder the possibility that things could get real sooner than we think. I tend to believe that it won't ever get to full-blown civil strife across the country. Those who seek violence as a solution to their perceived grievances tend to be small in number and not exactly effective planners. Then again, it's prudent to consider worst-case scenarios.
Also, the monied right-wingers moving the chess pieces know that the various investigations are intensifying and the hammer could come down on Trump and his enablers sooner than we thought. Or if not the hammer, a wave of damning information from the House committee investigation. I see them getting desperate. Who knows what they might do?
We now have the beginnings of a paper trail outlining their planned coup attempt along with an acknowledgment that they knew the election wasn't stolen. And the committee is just getting started.
Now, I'm trying to keep in mind that your neck in a brace as I begin this reply. When following your list of possibilities, it is difficult to avoid using the analogy of watching a tennis match when facing the center of the court. We want this war to end peacefully with the democratic forces in much better command. In the most difficult situations, I function best when calm, which also includes listening and reading the best sources available. As citizens one of the most useful things we can do is contact the Democrats that seem the most wobbly and the Republicans with whom there is, perhaps, only the slimmest of chance to ask that they vote in favor of national voting rights legislation. Figuring out a few things we can and doing them is both productive and stress reducing. We cannot figure out the country's future at this time, and I think trying to do that is not good for your neck. Salud!
Good advice. Getting the top priority legislation is essential to our future. It would prove that our wounded system is resilient despite the relentless attacks. Doing so would be like releasing the valve on a pressure cooker.
Ah, perfect, Michael, and I'm hungry.
Agreed Michael. This is what keeps me up at night as well.
The "Lost Cause of the Confederacy" is alive and well today in its Republiqan cohort.
Excellent point. That lie still reverberates.
The Gore V W. Bush still does. Wish they would have gone to this length to prove that election.But hey, they made Gore the Climate Guy that they don’t believe that’s happening now ?
Agree, wholeheartedly!!
Sad but it feels true. At least it resonates with me.