missing from the conversation is the thirst that a large swath of the american population has for violence and bloodshed ... there is -- on average -- more than one mass shooting per day in the usa ... i also think that seeing the devastation from wars all across the world have desensitized us to the atrocities of war and of violence as a whole ...
we often hear elected officials say : "this is not who we are" (as a nation), when the truth that we fail to realize is : actually, this very much IS who we are as a nation ... the outside world sees this clearly ... it is up to us to change this sad reality ...
the threats of violence, particularly from the dictator, are both very real and blatantly obvious ... what we do not always see, or point out, is the large amount of americans who actually want to carry out violence to completely destruct our american democracy ... we all saw that on full display on 6 january 2021 ... how he was not immediately arrested that day and was held accountable for what he did and was responsible for on that day and in the immediate aftermath of it is reprehensibly preposterous ...
Outside of January 6th and those Board meetings cited his other calls for violence fell flat. Yes, I have suggested that a police presence should be at polling locations or on standy, just in case. However, this is a deranged candidate in legal and financial peril whose base is dwindling by the day. I don't underestimate the threat but considering the headwinds he is facing he should be preparing not for an insurrection but incarceration, instead.
Presidents (and sociopathic ex-presidents) are not monarchs and should not be treated as such. They serve at the discretion and will of we the people. If anything, they should be held to a higher standard of propriety and the law. These violence-promoting speeches and posts are intolerable.
Do not be disheartened. Trump's end is coming. Prior to 2006, Trump's good connections in the Democratic Party ensured he could pursue his life as an unsavory clown and sexual predator unimpeded by any major constraints. That changed with the "birther conspiracy" and Trump's embrace of it. From that time on he has been a marked man. New York State (run by Democrats) has investigated his financial affairs and Trump has been found guilty of fraud. His wild claims about E Jean Carroll have left him with a $90+ million hole in his finances. He values only wealth. That is now being taken from him. As his incitements and desperation grow people will desert him. He may be the Republican "standard bearer" but he will never be elected President again.
I am still waiting for any federal or state court to hold Trump accountable for any of his many crimes. He continues to appeal every judgment and even the US Sup Ct is going to hear his case asserting that a president is immune from prosecution for any crime. Give me a break! Our legal system is broken and people with money or power can just run out the clock.
The threats should be taken seriously, and for what they are--using all of the tools of evil, dehumanizing the opposition, minimizing the consequences, palliative comparisons, diffusion of responsibility, blaming victims of violence, under the color of a just cause. Curious that one cause is usually more morally just than the other, whether for war or political cause. This isn't beholden to a particular political party-more often a person and a set of ideologies; technology is used to further confuse and divide, AI and deepfakes will further be used confuse the average voter, and voter suppression has been occurring overtly and covertly by discouraging opposition voters that your vote doesn't count, is fraudulent. We shouldn't be surprised, but most definitely alarmed and aware. Voltaire said it well, those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
Precisely, Robert. Trump's general speech (and speeches) is unintelligible. Thus, when he spews his high-impact clipped phrases and words—particularly violent ones—there is no "context" other than the words themselves. He knows exactly what he is doing with them. By throwing them out almost randomly, he dodges accountability. But they mean what they mean. He knows his followers will take them verbatim. He should and must be held accountable for them. Incitement to violence and riot. Book him!
He reaches people who want to go back to "the good old days" where they didn't matter any more than they do now, but they don't remember that. People who weren't listening in class to how the government is structured, don't understand democracy, believe only one team can win, theirs, and who believe patriotism is waving the flag, airplane flyover at football games, and shouting USA USA. Could it be, our national problem is we've lost teaching and practicing good sportsmanship?
Any American citizen who advocates violence as vehemently as our defeated ex President would be escorted by the FBI to jail, charged without bond and promptly tried. They would not be tolerated because they constitute a clear and present danger!
Well considered argument Bobby. We here in your hometown are proud of our first son and your energetic defense of American values and bending the moral arc of the universe back where MLK rightly knew where it belongs - towards justice.
Homeland Security Act allows the Biden Administration to lock him up now…but they still choose not to use it….What’s worse is the world knows Donald Trump can be purchased for the $500+ million to cover his New York fine. What terrorists are pulling money to buy him off?
Hé should be charged for incitement to violence.
missing from the conversation is the thirst that a large swath of the american population has for violence and bloodshed ... there is -- on average -- more than one mass shooting per day in the usa ... i also think that seeing the devastation from wars all across the world have desensitized us to the atrocities of war and of violence as a whole ...
we often hear elected officials say : "this is not who we are" (as a nation), when the truth that we fail to realize is : actually, this very much IS who we are as a nation ... the outside world sees this clearly ... it is up to us to change this sad reality ...
the threats of violence, particularly from the dictator, are both very real and blatantly obvious ... what we do not always see, or point out, is the large amount of americans who actually want to carry out violence to completely destruct our american democracy ... we all saw that on full display on 6 january 2021 ... how he was not immediately arrested that day and was held accountable for what he did and was responsible for on that day and in the immediate aftermath of it is reprehensibly preposterous ...
Outside of January 6th and those Board meetings cited his other calls for violence fell flat. Yes, I have suggested that a police presence should be at polling locations or on standy, just in case. However, this is a deranged candidate in legal and financial peril whose base is dwindling by the day. I don't underestimate the threat but considering the headwinds he is facing he should be preparing not for an insurrection but incarceration, instead.
Presidents (and sociopathic ex-presidents) are not monarchs and should not be treated as such. They serve at the discretion and will of we the people. If anything, they should be held to a higher standard of propriety and the law. These violence-promoting speeches and posts are intolerable.
Trump has been exploiting our legal system for decades, including an attempted insurrection and he is still free to continue to incite violence.
Had McConnell and other feckless republicans impeached him, our country could have moved on , in some ways, but here we are, again.
Our legal system, is made to enforce the law against the average American, not a lawyered-up mob boss, which is exactly what Trump is.
Trump is like a bacterial or viral agent which this country seems incapable of defending itself against
As such, I doubt if Trump will ever see a day in jail, no matter how great a danger he poses to this country.
The historical parallels with1930s Germany is staring us right in the face.
Do not be disheartened. Trump's end is coming. Prior to 2006, Trump's good connections in the Democratic Party ensured he could pursue his life as an unsavory clown and sexual predator unimpeded by any major constraints. That changed with the "birther conspiracy" and Trump's embrace of it. From that time on he has been a marked man. New York State (run by Democrats) has investigated his financial affairs and Trump has been found guilty of fraud. His wild claims about E Jean Carroll have left him with a $90+ million hole in his finances. He values only wealth. That is now being taken from him. As his incitements and desperation grow people will desert him. He may be the Republican "standard bearer" but he will never be elected President again.
I am still waiting for any federal or state court to hold Trump accountable for any of his many crimes. He continues to appeal every judgment and even the US Sup Ct is going to hear his case asserting that a president is immune from prosecution for any crime. Give me a break! Our legal system is broken and people with money or power can just run out the clock.
The threats should be taken seriously, and for what they are--using all of the tools of evil, dehumanizing the opposition, minimizing the consequences, palliative comparisons, diffusion of responsibility, blaming victims of violence, under the color of a just cause. Curious that one cause is usually more morally just than the other, whether for war or political cause. This isn't beholden to a particular political party-more often a person and a set of ideologies; technology is used to further confuse and divide, AI and deepfakes will further be used confuse the average voter, and voter suppression has been occurring overtly and covertly by discouraging opposition voters that your vote doesn't count, is fraudulent. We shouldn't be surprised, but most definitely alarmed and aware. Voltaire said it well, those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
Divider and Thief vs a real President who works for all Americans!
Precisely, Robert. Trump's general speech (and speeches) is unintelligible. Thus, when he spews his high-impact clipped phrases and words—particularly violent ones—there is no "context" other than the words themselves. He knows exactly what he is doing with them. By throwing them out almost randomly, he dodges accountability. But they mean what they mean. He knows his followers will take them verbatim. He should and must be held accountable for them. Incitement to violence and riot. Book him!
He reaches people who want to go back to "the good old days" where they didn't matter any more than they do now, but they don't remember that. People who weren't listening in class to how the government is structured, don't understand democracy, believe only one team can win, theirs, and who believe patriotism is waving the flag, airplane flyover at football games, and shouting USA USA. Could it be, our national problem is we've lost teaching and practicing good sportsmanship?
How can he say that he didn't escalate the violence on Jan 6th when he is doing it now?
Spot On Professor Reich!
Any American citizen who advocates violence as vehemently as our defeated ex President would be escorted by the FBI to jail, charged without bond and promptly tried. They would not be tolerated because they constitute a clear and present danger!
Well considered argument Bobby. We here in your hometown are proud of our first son and your energetic defense of American values and bending the moral arc of the universe back where MLK rightly knew where it belongs - towards justice.
Homeland Security Act allows the Biden Administration to lock him up now…but they still choose not to use it….What’s worse is the world knows Donald Trump can be purchased for the $500+ million to cover his New York fine. What terrorists are pulling money to buy him off?