Welcome to America

Lou is trying to make the argument that one nanosecond prior to Biden's inauguration, Trump waved his magic wand and magically declassified a trove of classified information prior to stealing it.

Yes I understand that Lou believes that former President Trump is above the law and had the power to steal documents from we the people. If President Biden did what Trump did I think we know how Lou would react The political justifications for Trump or DeSantis that I hear almost every day is shockingly destructive to our Democracy. Biden is right about the maga trump people. Biden's mistake is that he did not include desantis and the others. They are destructive to our Democracy. If Crist beats DeSantis I can assure you that desantis will say Crist cheated and on and on. We will have to fight for Democracy...

Mark Jacobs: Let's compare the rise of Hitler and the rise of MAGA​

Mark Jacobs: Let's compare the rise of Hitler and the rise of MAGA​

Unrolled thread (go here to see images of the book exerpts)
Thread by @MarkJacob16 on Thread Reader App

With all the arguments over whether MAGA Republicans are fascists, I reread William Shirer’s “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” to see how much the rise of Hitler and the rise of MAGA smell similar.
Conclusion: They do. This thread lists 10 ways. Please take a look.
Image

1. A big lie about treachery is used to foment resentment.
Nazis: We didn’t really lose World War I. It was a “stab in the back” by Jews and other "November criminals."
MAGA: We didn’t really lose the 2020 election. It was a “steal” by politicians and Blacks in big cities.
Image

2. There’s an obsession with purity of the culture.
Nazis: “Racial mixture” was a threat to Aryan culture, Hitler wrote.
MAGA: “Great replacement theory” says immigrants threaten white culture.
Image

3. Chaos is something to be exploited, not addressed.
Nazis: Economic distress is a great political opportunity.
MAGA: Economic distress is a great political opportunity.
Image

4. The super-rich bankroll the right-wing seizure of power.
Nazis: Thanks to I.G. Farben, Deutsche Bank, Thyssen, Krupp, etc.
MAGA: Thanks to the Mercers, Uihleins, DeVos, Thiel, etc.
Image

5. Some people think the fascist threat is overblown.
Nazis: While Hitler posed a major threat, some said he "ceased to be a political danger.” (2 weeks later, he was chancellor.)
MAGA: While Trump poses a major threat, many people think it’s “just politics,” no worries.
Image

6. There’s a cult of personality.
Nazis: The German army made a pledge of loyalty to Hitler personally.
MAGA: Trump’s supporters bill him as “the most moral president” in U.S. history.
Image

7. Christianity is used to legitimize the movement.
Nazis: “The party stands for positive Christianity.”
MAGA: Trump is described as the “Chosen One” protecting American Christianity.
Image

8. Books are the enemy.
Nazis: Any book that “acts subversively on our future” must be burned.
MAGA: “I think we should throw those books in a fire,” says a Virginia school board member.
Image

9. An independent news media is the enemy.
Nazis: Any newspaper that “offends the honor and dignity of Germany” must be banned.
MAGA: The press is the “enemy of the people.”
Image

10. Educators are pressured to be politically compliant.
Nazis: Teachers took an oath to “be loyal and obedient to Adolf Hitler.”
MAGA: Florida’s DeSantis accuses teachers of “indoctrination” and pressures them to avoid references to America’s racist history and LGBTQ people.
Image

I'm not saying that MAGA will end up as horrifically as Nazism. I am saying that America 2022 feels too much like Germany 1932, and I don't want to take the risk of watching MAGA cultism play out. We have to stop it now.
• • •

He didn't call those people out specifically, at least not yet. I think most people in their respective states know to whom he was referring. I think the speech was a success, and maybe it's time to come back and deliver a good knockout blow. It would be good for everyone to look beyond their own state see the importance of non-local races to the future of our country. People should be encouraged to donate to those campaigns if they have the means. A lot of states are trying to put in place a mechanism to overturn the electoral vote in 2024 if necessary. A lot of people don't realize this, and I think Biden should come back and make this clear.

If DeSantis loses that will be interesting if he cries fraud. How could that happen in a state where he brags so much about election security? I think Arizona is going to be a hoot. When Keri Lake loses, she is going to blow her stack. She was crying fraud in the primary against a Republican opponent, even though she won.

Trump is a POS and everything he touches turns to s**t.

At this point it is crystal clear, anyone who will support him in any way, give him money or vote for him or cheer for him is a PO

I wish everything was that easy but you need to get out more and talk to people. Even though my emotions want to agree with you my brain says it is better to treat people the way you want to be treated. In other words when you call someone a name which then causes them to call you a name the net result is anger and hatred. I believe the maga people are dead wrong about trump. I believe the maga people are destructive to our democracy. I have friends and family and business associates who are maga people. If I call them names to make myself feel superior then I am no better than they are. It solves nothing and actually makes everything worse. This is just the truth of human moral behavior. It takes one to know one in other words. That said I understand we all have emotions that complicates behavior. I have hope that there is a better way to communicate. If not then I believe that we need to really get behind our political choices and campaign for them with a more positive tone. Even when it is not your style

Did anyone see Das Furhrer’s speech tonight? Holy smokes!!!!

Did anyone see Das Furhrer’s speech tonight? Holy smokes!!!!

The reason we have maga people is because we have allowed it. Bad people and bad behavior needs to be called out. Whether it is in middle school, a county commission meeting, church, or the white house. A spade is a spade and doesnt need to be given a voice in a decent society.

I disagree. The reason we have maga people is because of fear. When you call another person indecent does it make you feel better about yourself? Humans have potential for decency. Including you and me However our negative emotions and biases can create bad behaviors. Including you and me. It is just the truth. You and I are not decent people just because of our politics or any one thing. It is very hard to get control of our negative emotions but when we do we are better humans. If you want to find blame because of all this division and justification of trump then look into the mirror. We make everything worse when we call out others for bad behaviors and then justify our own bad behaviors. Listen I realize that people have to be held accountable for their actions BUT that includes you and me!

Obama won an Emmy today. He also has two Grammys and a Nobel Peace Prize.

trump has been caught with thousands of stolen government documents.

Be like Obama.

I voted for Obama and like the man a lot. No drama Obama seems like a long time ago. That said I did not like everything he did. Two cargo planes of cash went to Iran. I could list other things I did not agree with but that is not my point. My point is that there will never be a perfect human being that represents all of our values. Obama came pretty close but not perfect. Most any of us would win a grammy and Nobel Peace Price versus trump I understand it feels good to compare the behaviors of trump and Obama but our President is Joe Biden and he deserves our support.

I am accountable. Trump and his kind are not. They will lie, cheat and steal to get what they want. You are twisting yourself in knots trying to justify behavior that is outside of human decency. Just stop.
A spade is a spade no matter how many times you call it something else.

I am capable of simultaneously admiring the accomplishments of many individuals.

You are making my point and don't even know it. I am not trying to justify anyone's bad behavior. I am only trying to point out that we all have decency and bad behavior even the maga trump people. Whether you like it or not it is true. The fact you can't see that is the reason we have helped to create the fear of cultural change and those that fear that change. I have let my negative emotions make those same mistakes and told people I love that they are flat wrong and destructive with their support of trump. I have gone as far as telling them that it is inhuman to believe that trump is a savior for mankind. After seeing their reaction I realized that I am making the same mistake of feeling morally superior...

I voted for Obama and like the man a lot. No drama Obama seems like a long time ago. That said I did not like everything he did. Two cargo planes of cash went to Iran. I could list other things I did not agree with but that is not my point. My point is that there will never be a perfect human being that represents all of our values. Obama came pretty close but not perfect. Most any of us would win a grammy and Nobel Peace Price versus trump I understand it feels good to compare the behaviors of trump and Obama but our President is Joe Biden and he deserves our support.

I know you like to debate. But no one is buying that maga is anything but damaged people at this point. Just stop.