This column accurately describes the current Republican Party and provides an excellent explanation of what drives the nasty, mean spirited , even evil people, yes evil people, both leading it and in it. Thank you Professor Reich for identifying and articulating this menace so clearly.
Why are the insurrectionists not being kept from taking office--like Taylor-Greene? There was a law suit in Georgia against her running, but I never heard the outcome. Clearly she ran.
Amendment 14, Section 3 says insurrectionist--or those who violate their oaths to the Constitution--should not ever occupy state or federal offices.
If this is not enforced, mayhem will ensue. We might see Trump as Speaker of the House, as some as some Republicans have suggested.
Robert: Thanks for your very creative and constructive energy! While I know that you far prefer to interact in person with students in large lecture halls at University of California, Berkeley, because that format allows you to engage in spirited dialogue rather than monologue, I just want to assure you that you, like Heather Cox Richardson, are doing a GREAT JOB using this format. THANKS!
Thank you, Professor. I am in total agreement with you about the current state of the parties today. Unfortunately, the Republicans are taking the low road, mocking Nancy's husband, denying the results when they don't win, and refusing to look for the best in people. I always appreciate your comments, now and in your classroom a few years ago. Please keep it up.
I blame the ‘main stream’ media like ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and National Public TV and radio for treating the Republican Party as if it is still a legitimate political party. It’s not and they need to be called out loudly and clearly. I live in TN. We had a fantastic candidate on the Democratic Party ticket running for Governor. Not only were there no debates, there was no TV coverage of his candidacy. Why didn’t the ‘main stream’ media insist on holding a debate? Why isn’t a critical election seen as news, and not simply an opportunity to charge for advertising? Until, and unless, elections are treated by the main stream media as important civic functions I fear the voters of this country will continue to be fooled into believing the Republican Party is legitimate.
What amazes me is that 2/3 of her voters voted for MTG. She hasn’t done anything positive for her constituents. Is she an example for their children? It is scary that she is so popular among her constituents.
“We are still on the brink.” Professor, Gratitude to you for helping us see the critical parts of the wins and losses of this and all election cycles. In the end, we will have to celebrate not just a W in the column, but enough changes in policy and behavior. A sociocultural shift from cruelty to compassion and social responsibility. Just as in Joseph McCarthy’s era and his extreme cruelty that not only ruined political careers, but lives, we are in that place now. The question that changed the course of history “The army hired Boston lawyer Joseph Welch to make its case …At June 9, 1954, McCarthy charged that one of Welch's attorneys had ties to a Communist organization. As an amazed television audience looked on, Welch responded with the immortal lines that ultimately ended McCarthy's career: "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness." When McCarthy tried to continue his attack, Welch angrily interrupted, "Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?". https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/investigations/mccarthy-hearings/have-you-no-sense-of-decency.htm. Decency. Let that sink into Repubs and all politicians.
As usual, your comments are to the point... but I wish I could share your optimism about the future for the USA (as you reported on the eve of the mid-term elections). I don't see that Progressives have much chance of becoming the dominant political force in America in the foreseeable future, absent fundamental legal reforms (e.g. financing of elections) which are simply unachievable, and a fundamental change in the composition of the Supreme Court, which could take a generation or more.... not to mention Constitutional changes that are also impossible.
Yes! to all you said. Kari Lake is a carbon copy of Russian Media Monitor's M. Simonyan and Kabeeva. Vile, cruel, debased of humanity. Not hard at all to see russian influence on our country, the trauma of generations of repressed russian peoples is well seeded among our shadows. If you follow comments on social media, maga disciples arguing for MTG or Jim Jordan to be house speaker, mtg reminds one of 'margaret thatcher'. Its 100% upside down when the state of Georgia's 'christian nation' votes for a violent lying CTE packing man over a Reverend- the epitome of christian values ! Those voters have as much cognitive impairment as he does, cult gaslight learned helplessness. The midterms marked the beginning of our rough road to a more balanced grounded soul of a nation. There is a way somehow, i was just hoping it could be done before its up to GenZ to pull it off later IF we can keep the critical thinkers in the lexicon.
This is such a generous post, Prof. Reich, so full of heart. Thank you especially for your insight on bullying and abuse as sources of the hatred spewing from the MAGA cult. I write this as someone who was bullied.
Let me suggest that another source may be a more subtle kind of bullying. People who grow up in very strict households, who are taught to obey, these folks also trend conservative. Fundamentalist religious households raise children in that atmosphere in keep all members of community in line and require allegiance to a literal reading of the Bible. This demand to obey easily degrades to spiritual bullying. I write this as someone who is a believer but with an open mind and a belief in love as fundamental. No wonder so many of these folks believe that they are patriots and anyone who doesn't think like them are traitors.
This correlation with fundamentalist religiosity is one of the findings of retired Prof. Bob Altemeyer in The Authoritarians. Prof. Altemeyer also has co-authored with John Dean of Watergate fame. For anyone seeking his book, buy it directly from the publisher very inexpensively, or is offered for a free download here. https://www.evcforum.net/DataDropsite/TheAuthoritarians.pdf (Bob Altemeyer generously offers free downloads from his site, but last time I looked some of those files were not working.)
To fight back against the "America First" MAGA movement, we need to be aware of their precinct strategy that's relentlessly pushed by Stephen Bannon. That strategy is to fill all vacancies in local party politics and government so that you are in charge of mobilizing people in your community, you decide what is taught in schools, you can legally challenge voters, etc. This is CNN's article on Bannon's efforts. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2022/07/politics/steve-bannon-us-democracy/
Bannon directs people to a primer that you can buy cheaply as a Kindle download. It's Taking Back Your Government: The Neighborhood Precinct Committeeman Strategy, by Daniel Schultz. We need to read this to see what is coming at us. It misrepresents what Democrats stand for and presents a creed of (self) righteous conservatism and activism. That creed is well-fitted for fundamentalists and for people who haven't fully matured emotionally and practice all-or-nothing thinking (my way or the highway). Only a mature mind can hold two or more incompatible ideas in mind while mulling them through.
What's the needed response of people who love democracy and who want citizens to solve our real-work problems together? We must also be active at the precinct and local level, knock on doors, meet our neighbors, do deep canvassing to find out what people want and need and update our voter information. And, we must confront right-wing votes with our votes.
For the mid-terms, we were mostly successful in our local area and are hoping for success in our congressional district, which may flip from red to blue. The votes are still being counted. We also just sent $100 to Senator Warnock's campaign. Republicans work hard. Let's match that and then some.
Professor, As with nearly every other country, we’re not impervious to a fatal weakening of our civic institutions or to a Presidency eager, and under the right circumstances, able to consolidate power, wherein the rule of law could be subjugated to an individual. Still, for the past 24 hours, I increasingly have sensed the import of building on the outcomes of the 22 midterm election that, in my view, include a renewed definition of ourselves as citizens—something closer to the nation of active stakeholders that leaders like Thomas Jefferson had in mind.
Quoting a fellow subscriber albeit from an entirely different context, “We can’t take our foot off the gas pedal on this one.”
Was Hitler a bully? Of course. But one would not stop at calling him that,. He was a degenerate, insane, hate filled mass murderer. Everything Trump is, or
aspires to be. Have you listened to a Trump rally lately? (I follow David Pakman on You Tube, who streams Trump rallies with appropriate voice over of commentary). Trump spends a considerable amount of time openly fawning over authoritarian dictators of the world who can kill people on command. "King" Xi of China, (Trump says he called him by the title during their meetings), who holds a one hour trial and executes drug dealers. Kim, of North Korea, who executes his own family members. "I like him," says Trump. "We fell in love." And of course Putin, who sIngle handedly started the war in Ukraine displacing 40 million people, and killing tens of thousands. Q Anon believers think that Trump will return to power in a blaze of glory, executing their enemies on live TV. One can only assume this would include, in their fevered minds, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden. Let's not diminish what we are facing here. A lunatic, with millions of deranged followers. Even if only one in 1,000 is willing to take up arms for him you have 75000 lunatics wreaking havoc on the US. How many did it take for the 9/11 attack? I really hesitate to post this, because I dont want to sound extreme, or alarmist, but this is not "something that couldn't happen here." Remember January 6th? It has happened here. And there are thousands, who, with Trump as their leader, want to overthrow our government completely. This is why I believe it is so imperative to prove that our DOJ is applying the rule of law equally to all citizens by immediately arresting Trump and throwing the book at him. It may appear from the outcome of the midterms that the country is ready to move on from Trump, and to a certain extent, that may be true. But one should not underestimate the fervor of Trump himself, or his lunatic followers. We are still on the brink. And DeSantis, and the more rational and intelligent leaders of the slow moving coup, want to achieve the overthrow of our government no less than Trump. Here endeth the lesson, and my rant for the day. Act, Garland and DOJ.
This column accurately describes the current Republican Party and provides an excellent explanation of what drives the nasty, mean spirited , even evil people, yes evil people, both leading it and in it. Thank you Professor Reich for identifying and articulating this menace so clearly.
Why are the insurrectionists not being kept from taking office--like Taylor-Greene? There was a law suit in Georgia against her running, but I never heard the outcome. Clearly she ran.
Amendment 14, Section 3 says insurrectionist--or those who violate their oaths to the Constitution--should not ever occupy state or federal offices.
If this is not enforced, mayhem will ensue. We might see Trump as Speaker of the House, as some as some Republicans have suggested.
Or, perhaps Taylor Greene?
Robert: Thanks for your very creative and constructive energy! While I know that you far prefer to interact in person with students in large lecture halls at University of California, Berkeley, because that format allows you to engage in spirited dialogue rather than monologue, I just want to assure you that you, like Heather Cox Richardson, are doing a GREAT JOB using this format. THANKS!
Speaking of mush for brains, Don, jr, let’s talk about Herschel Walker. 🙄
Thank you, Professor. I am in total agreement with you about the current state of the parties today. Unfortunately, the Republicans are taking the low road, mocking Nancy's husband, denying the results when they don't win, and refusing to look for the best in people. I always appreciate your comments, now and in your classroom a few years ago. Please keep it up.
Bless the Tim Ryans and John Fettermans of this country. I doubt I could have been anywhere near as gracious were I in their positions.
I blame the ‘main stream’ media like ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and National Public TV and radio for treating the Republican Party as if it is still a legitimate political party. It’s not and they need to be called out loudly and clearly. I live in TN. We had a fantastic candidate on the Democratic Party ticket running for Governor. Not only were there no debates, there was no TV coverage of his candidacy. Why didn’t the ‘main stream’ media insist on holding a debate? Why isn’t a critical election seen as news, and not simply an opportunity to charge for advertising? Until, and unless, elections are treated by the main stream media as important civic functions I fear the voters of this country will continue to be fooled into believing the Republican Party is legitimate.
People like Lake and Biggs will continue to remind us that the U.S. is still a deeply troubled place. We must persevere.
What amazes me is that 2/3 of her voters voted for MTG. She hasn’t done anything positive for her constituents. Is she an example for their children? It is scary that she is so popular among her constituents.
Jerry
“We are still on the brink.” Professor, Gratitude to you for helping us see the critical parts of the wins and losses of this and all election cycles. In the end, we will have to celebrate not just a W in the column, but enough changes in policy and behavior. A sociocultural shift from cruelty to compassion and social responsibility. Just as in Joseph McCarthy’s era and his extreme cruelty that not only ruined political careers, but lives, we are in that place now. The question that changed the course of history “The army hired Boston lawyer Joseph Welch to make its case …At June 9, 1954, McCarthy charged that one of Welch's attorneys had ties to a Communist organization. As an amazed television audience looked on, Welch responded with the immortal lines that ultimately ended McCarthy's career: "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness." When McCarthy tried to continue his attack, Welch angrily interrupted, "Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?". https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/investigations/mccarthy-hearings/have-you-no-sense-of-decency.htm. Decency. Let that sink into Repubs and all politicians.
As usual, your comments are to the point... but I wish I could share your optimism about the future for the USA (as you reported on the eve of the mid-term elections). I don't see that Progressives have much chance of becoming the dominant political force in America in the foreseeable future, absent fundamental legal reforms (e.g. financing of elections) which are simply unachievable, and a fundamental change in the composition of the Supreme Court, which could take a generation or more.... not to mention Constitutional changes that are also impossible.
Yes! to all you said. Kari Lake is a carbon copy of Russian Media Monitor's M. Simonyan and Kabeeva. Vile, cruel, debased of humanity. Not hard at all to see russian influence on our country, the trauma of generations of repressed russian peoples is well seeded among our shadows. If you follow comments on social media, maga disciples arguing for MTG or Jim Jordan to be house speaker, mtg reminds one of 'margaret thatcher'. Its 100% upside down when the state of Georgia's 'christian nation' votes for a violent lying CTE packing man over a Reverend- the epitome of christian values ! Those voters have as much cognitive impairment as he does, cult gaslight learned helplessness. The midterms marked the beginning of our rough road to a more balanced grounded soul of a nation. There is a way somehow, i was just hoping it could be done before its up to GenZ to pull it off later IF we can keep the critical thinkers in the lexicon.
This is such a generous post, Prof. Reich, so full of heart. Thank you especially for your insight on bullying and abuse as sources of the hatred spewing from the MAGA cult. I write this as someone who was bullied.
Let me suggest that another source may be a more subtle kind of bullying. People who grow up in very strict households, who are taught to obey, these folks also trend conservative. Fundamentalist religious households raise children in that atmosphere in keep all members of community in line and require allegiance to a literal reading of the Bible. This demand to obey easily degrades to spiritual bullying. I write this as someone who is a believer but with an open mind and a belief in love as fundamental. No wonder so many of these folks believe that they are patriots and anyone who doesn't think like them are traitors.
This correlation with fundamentalist religiosity is one of the findings of retired Prof. Bob Altemeyer in The Authoritarians. Prof. Altemeyer also has co-authored with John Dean of Watergate fame. For anyone seeking his book, buy it directly from the publisher very inexpensively, or is offered for a free download here. https://www.evcforum.net/DataDropsite/TheAuthoritarians.pdf (Bob Altemeyer generously offers free downloads from his site, but last time I looked some of those files were not working.)
To fight back against the "America First" MAGA movement, we need to be aware of their precinct strategy that's relentlessly pushed by Stephen Bannon. That strategy is to fill all vacancies in local party politics and government so that you are in charge of mobilizing people in your community, you decide what is taught in schools, you can legally challenge voters, etc. This is CNN's article on Bannon's efforts. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2022/07/politics/steve-bannon-us-democracy/
Bannon directs people to a primer that you can buy cheaply as a Kindle download. It's Taking Back Your Government: The Neighborhood Precinct Committeeman Strategy, by Daniel Schultz. We need to read this to see what is coming at us. It misrepresents what Democrats stand for and presents a creed of (self) righteous conservatism and activism. That creed is well-fitted for fundamentalists and for people who haven't fully matured emotionally and practice all-or-nothing thinking (my way or the highway). Only a mature mind can hold two or more incompatible ideas in mind while mulling them through.
What's the needed response of people who love democracy and who want citizens to solve our real-work problems together? We must also be active at the precinct and local level, knock on doors, meet our neighbors, do deep canvassing to find out what people want and need and update our voter information. And, we must confront right-wing votes with our votes.
For the mid-terms, we were mostly successful in our local area and are hoping for success in our congressional district, which may flip from red to blue. The votes are still being counted. We also just sent $100 to Senator Warnock's campaign. Republicans work hard. Let's match that and then some.
Professor, As with nearly every other country, we’re not impervious to a fatal weakening of our civic institutions or to a Presidency eager, and under the right circumstances, able to consolidate power, wherein the rule of law could be subjugated to an individual. Still, for the past 24 hours, I increasingly have sensed the import of building on the outcomes of the 22 midterm election that, in my view, include a renewed definition of ourselves as citizens—something closer to the nation of active stakeholders that leaders like Thomas Jefferson had in mind.
Quoting a fellow subscriber albeit from an entirely different context, “We can’t take our foot off the gas pedal on this one.”
“I think you can bring down totalitarian governments faster by using ridicule than you can with invective.”
— Mel Brooks, on The Producers/Springtime for Hitler
Was Hitler a bully? Of course. But one would not stop at calling him that,. He was a degenerate, insane, hate filled mass murderer. Everything Trump is, or
aspires to be. Have you listened to a Trump rally lately? (I follow David Pakman on You Tube, who streams Trump rallies with appropriate voice over of commentary). Trump spends a considerable amount of time openly fawning over authoritarian dictators of the world who can kill people on command. "King" Xi of China, (Trump says he called him by the title during their meetings), who holds a one hour trial and executes drug dealers. Kim, of North Korea, who executes his own family members. "I like him," says Trump. "We fell in love." And of course Putin, who sIngle handedly started the war in Ukraine displacing 40 million people, and killing tens of thousands. Q Anon believers think that Trump will return to power in a blaze of glory, executing their enemies on live TV. One can only assume this would include, in their fevered minds, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden. Let's not diminish what we are facing here. A lunatic, with millions of deranged followers. Even if only one in 1,000 is willing to take up arms for him you have 75000 lunatics wreaking havoc on the US. How many did it take for the 9/11 attack? I really hesitate to post this, because I dont want to sound extreme, or alarmist, but this is not "something that couldn't happen here." Remember January 6th? It has happened here. And there are thousands, who, with Trump as their leader, want to overthrow our government completely. This is why I believe it is so imperative to prove that our DOJ is applying the rule of law equally to all citizens by immediately arresting Trump and throwing the book at him. It may appear from the outcome of the midterms that the country is ready to move on from Trump, and to a certain extent, that may be true. But one should not underestimate the fervor of Trump himself, or his lunatic followers. We are still on the brink. And DeSantis, and the more rational and intelligent leaders of the slow moving coup, want to achieve the overthrow of our government no less than Trump. Here endeth the lesson, and my rant for the day. Act, Garland and DOJ.