Worried about the Rise of Fascism in America? Relax
Most Americans are horrified about the direction their country has taken, and, in particular, how closely this trajectory resembles the onset of fascism, with its leader’s vehemently discrediting the media, delegitimizing government institutions, and brazen lying, so loudly and so often. What most of these horrified people are overlooking, however, is how fantastically improbable it is that the forces of evil will prevail.
This isn’t a banana republic; this is (or fairly recently was) the greatest country on Earth.
Ask yourself a few questions:
What does Mueller know that we don’t? Answer: At least two things: a) what he got in return from Flynn’s pleading guilty to lying to the FBI, and b) what he got from Papadoupolos in exchange for his guilt plea in lying to federal officials about his contacts with Russian nationals. Of course, there are dozens of other signs he has more, e.g., Rick Gates’ indication that he may be changing his not-guilty plea. The list goes on.
If the White House weren’t desperate, why would Trump have asked us to take seriously this ridiculous deal with the Nunes memo?
How few Americans will ultimately believe that the entire U.S. intelligence and law enforcement apparatus is corrupt and that Trump and his staff are the only ones telling the truth? We’re obviously not very bright, but there is a limit to our ignorance and naivety.
If something major hasn’t occurred before next November, what happens when the GOP takes a shellacking in the midterms and losses its majority in Congress? Currently, this seems extremely probable, and will likely to become more so, as more Americans lose their taste for congressional cowards who won’t stand up against Trump. Answer: They’re going to barbecue the president, especially given that the evidence of obstruction can only grow stronger between now and then (not to mention collusion, or, my favorite, money laundering).
Note that none of this has anything to do with Americans’ changing their political viewpoints. We can go right on thinking that poor people don’t deserve healthcare, that policemen can shoot unarmed black men, that men should control women’s reproductive systems, that Latino criminals are flooding across our borders, that the U.S. is well-regarded abroad, that we’re at war with Islam, that trickle-down economics is a valid theory, that coal is beautiful, that God favors Republicans, that torture is good policy, or that climate change is a hoax. It doesn’t matter. Trump is toast, regardless of how ignorant and cruel we remain.
That said, we Americans have plenty to worry about (i.e., the implications of the end of the American Empire), but Trump himself is soon to be a distant, if unpleasant, memory.
Craig,
Let’s see if I’ve got you right.
Basically, what you are saying is American intelligence and Law enforcement organizations have never lied, covered up or acted corruptly ? All those leftist allegations for the last 50 years were untrue ?
WTF !? Is your obsessive hatred for the President so great that you would now assume the President must be guilty of some heinous offense because Robert Mueller must know more than he’s telling ?
A memo which may (or may not) contain damaging information suggesting corrupt or improper political interference by US government agents should be suppressed simply because the information may assist in producing a fairer investigative process ?
Personally, I don’t believe the Nunes memo has any great significance, it certainly doesn’t vindicate anyone. It does reinforce the impression of an out of control inquiry (like Lewinsky) that contains a lot of political heat and smoke, but in the end is of little importance.
Did the Democrats including the candidate involve themselves in some pretty grubby politics with some pretty grubby people ? Well that’s been established beyond doubt. but so what ? It’s hardly new, and fairly minor.
Did the Republican’s and Trump campaign people contain individuals with dubious backgrounds ‘ You bet ! But again, so what ?
Did Russians, or even Russian government agencies involve themselves in a fairly inept campaign to influence US domestic politics ? There’s enough evidence to suggest they did. If so. it’s hardly new or shocking. After all,for at least 100 years the US has been interfering in the domestic affairs of other nations, friend and foe alike !
It’s important Robert Mueller conducts this inquiry expediently. No American, even the most rabid anti-Trump supporter should want the nation to go through the process Ken Starr inflicted again.
It’s an unnecessary distraction. The longer it drags on the more bitter and divisive the politics will become, while the original issues seem to have got lost. President Trump is entitled to feel aggrieved and defend himself when he believes unfairly attacked, but it’s unhelpful.
In this atmosphere it’s become impossible for the President to admit some of those involved in his campaign had issues which if they had been known at the time. should have disqualified their involvement.
The Democrats have now dropped all pretense of being impartial seekers of truth, and are determined to fight back to minimize the impact of their own grubby behavior during the campaign.
For the America’s sake, it’s time both sides put aside all the heated rhetoric and self advantage, simplify the issues, get the inquiry back on track, quickly produce a finding and resolution, and get on with governing the country.
The vast majority American people have already made up their minds. Few believe the President involved himself in a Russian conspiracy directly, although some in his campaign probably took help from any quarter including Russians. Even fewer American’s in their hearts believe “Russian’ involvement was a real issue.
Most American’s are very suspicious of the CIA and FBI. (with good reason).
Most American’s believe Hilary Clinton would authorize grubby, immoral and even corrupt political action to further her ambition.
The best result, and the most desirable for the American people is for Congress to take a bi-partisan approach, draw a line under the whole mess, reprimand all parties, draw up a better, clearer code of conduct with more protections and safeguards against foreign interference in domestic elections from any nation, and move on.
You’re right that the U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies have done, and continue to do, some terrible things, and I find myself in weird position in rooting for them. However, a crime is a crime; it doesn’t have a political affiliation, nor does it matter the political affiliation of the person or persons who uncovered it.
From what I understand of the FBI is that they’re apolitical; in fact, that they *hate* politics; their only interest is enforcing the law.
Craig,
” FBI is apolitical” ” their only interest is enforcing the law “.
You may be right in the case of many individual agents, but for at least 40 years the FBI blackmailed Presidents, legislators etc. The FBI acted against political parties, student organizations, civil rights groups, lawyers, religious groups, women’s groups even the harassment of Martin Luther King Jr. and covert operations to destabilize the feminist movement.
The FBI is often compromised by it’s dual role as both a law enforcement and domestic intelligence agency. It’s in the “intelligence” role where political involvement becomes inevitable.
James Comey strikes me as more of a self important prig than a political activist.
I think much of the FBI’s unfortunate history can be traced to one excruciatingly conflicted individual – J. Edgar Hoover (though Nixon surely left lots of grimy fingerprints).
The bureau is still under the U.S. Department of Justice (in the Executive branch). It also reports to both the Attorney General (Jefferson Sessions) and the Director of National Intelligence (Dan Coates).
It’s interesting to note that the org chart is still headed by Trump, who appointed both Sessions and Coates, and who holds direct authority over the bureau as head of the Executive branch.
Interesting theory about Hoover. The entire zeitgeist was more repressive, and there were were far fewer dissidents. Now there are more than 200K groups working for social and environmental justice, very few (if any) of which support the current POTUS.
Craig,
Interesting, and often misused term, “social justice”. While many “social justice” movement are sincere and certainly have noble aspirations, others( including many advocates and adherents) remind of the old Buffalo Springfield lyrics,
“Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side….
It’s also true that any number of fanatics, tyrants, demagogues and totalitarians have preached “social justice” ! Ah, but for whom ?
“social justice” is often very partisan and used to excuse a great deal of injustice.
Just a thought…
I smell ad hominem, again.