Tag: Neo-Nazi

My Hand in an Electric Socket

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My Hand in an Electric Socket

Don't let the events of the day deter you from the work of democracy.

My Hand in an Electric Socket

By D. S. Mitchell

 

4,000 Days

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve had my hand stuck in an electric light socket for the last 4,000 plus days. Those four thousand days roughly translating into the ten years since Donald Trump descended the golden escalator at Trump Tower amidst the cheers of a paid-to-show-crowd, and announced his run for the presidency of the United States. Of course it wasn’t Trump’s first run; he had gone after the presidency in 1999 as a Reform Party candidate, but this time he was going to run as a Republican.

Shame on Them

Trump’s escalator announcement came on June 16th, 2015. Since that day, Donald Trump’s lies, misogyny, xenophobia, isolationism, conspiratorial theories, Putin love, and bombastic rhetoric have altered our national political discussion and, quite honestly, that of the world. We as a nation had  consciously been working toward kindness and civility in our speech to one another; since Trump’s emergence as a big voice for roughly 30% of the country, tough talk and gun waving, have emerged as acceptable. The acceptance of the minorities “right” to use violence when they are unhappy with the results of an election is terrifying. This is not a good thing and is unacceptable in a democracy. Death threats and mafioso tactics now define how things get done in the Republican Party.

Done With George

Unpredictability, narcissism, and other despotic traits are things our Founding Fathers rejected. The American Revolution began on April 19, 1775. The next year the colonies jointly declared independence from the tyrannical, tax collecting, King George the Third. Trump says he’s ready to be a dictator on day one. Well, Donald the majority of Americans reject such bullshit. Maybe you and Tucker Carlson should buy a place in Victor Orban’s Hungary and settle down over there. 

Down Memory Lane

In case you’ve forgotten, Trump like any entertainer worth his salt, managed to excite, incite, and agitate us all, everyday of the year, for four explosive years. Although seemingly impossible, the Trump administration grew more chaotic with each passing day. Diplomacy via Twitter, threats of U.S. military intervention in domestic affairs, promised “target practice” at the border, and bleach injections for those who wanted to give it a try. I was so glad to see quiet, “normal” Joe Biden, take over the reins of government from Trump; but I’m still unsure if there will ever again be such a thing as normalcy.

We Have the Numbers

An overwhelming number of Americans support a progressive agenda. Progressives want to put a stop to big money dominating elections, they want to cut drug prices, and seriously address the dangers of climate change. By large numbers Americans favor stronger gun laws, national health insurance (Obamacare), transgender rights, same sex marriage, and access to abortion. Sometimes it seems as though the Trump side is smarter, better funded, more united, and more determined, than we progressives, but I don’t believe that’s true. When I say an overwhelming number of Americans support progressivism I am talking about 75% of the population and growing. Powerful well-funded minorities are threatening our democracy and we must stand up to them. It is not okay that a minority is able to impose its will on the entire nation.

Sucking up all the Oxygen

It’s Friday February 16, 2024. Aside from the tragic news of Alexei Navalny’s death in a Russian prison camp, the news focus for today has mostly centered on the many trials of Donald Trump.  It looks like Trump has just been hit with over $453,000,000 in fines for a civil fraud case brought against the Trump Organization by New York Attorney General, Letitia James. Furthermore, Trump and his two sons, Erik and Don Jr will be unable to conduct real estate in New York for at least two years. Between the civil fraud case, and the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, it looks like Donald Trump will be required to pay over half a billion dollars in fines and damages in just these two cases. Yikes, that ought to take a bite out of his “billionaire” status.

The End Result

It will probably take fully a generation to measure the damage Trump  and Trumpism has done to America; but that is a job for the historians, not humble writers. A lot depends on whether Trump can get his ass re-elected. If Trump succeeds in winning the presidency in 2024, America will go down the same road as Brazil, Russia, China, Hungary, and Venezuela. If however, the United States can resist the lure of neo-fascism we have a chance to recover from Trump’s terrible vision for the country, but it will take time to heal. It will take working together, participating in collective action.

Indefinable and Immeasurable

The effect of Trump and MAGAism, is probably, at least as yet, unmeasurable.  The effect Donald Trump has had on the American body politic has been horrifying and terrifying. For the sake of the country, I hope the love affair with Trump and MAGAism is about over. Hopefully, we don’t have to wait until he’s dead.

Gorka Joins Bannon Back At Breitbart

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Gorka Joins Bannon Back At Breitbart

D. S. Mitchell

Sebastian Gorka, one of the most bizarre choices, for a presidential advisor in memory, has been cut loose, a week after his mentor, Steve Bannon resigned. Gorka came with Steve Bannon from Breitbart News and according to reports will be rejoining the alt-right puppet master back at his former job.

Gorka and the White House tell different stories about the events surrounding his departure as Counter-Terrorism Advisor.  Gorka submitted his resignation letter via the Federalist and that outlet published the document.  Furthermore, Gorka issued a statement complaining about Trump’s Afghanistan speech on Monday. Most particularly irritating to Gorka was the omission by Trump of the term “radical Islamic terrorism.”

The phrase, used constantly by Trump, during the 2016 presidential campaign, has been condemned by military and religious scholars and policy makers.  This omission is a very big deal with Gorka and Bannon. Gorka promotes the belief that there are no social or economic factors encouraging radicalization, but is rather a “flaw” in the religion that allows it to be manipulated and directed against the west.  Essentially, Gorka believes “Islamic terrorism is essentially ideologically motivated and rooted in a totalitarian religious mindset, where violence is an integral part of the Islamic faith.”

In Gorka’s formal statement, about his resignation he cited “the forces that do not support ‘Make America Great Again’ are ascendant in the White House.  The forces in the Administration have been internally countered, systematically countered, systematically removed or undermined in recent months.”

The White House declared that Gorka had been fired.  The truth is probably somewhere between to two separate claims. Whichever story is true about his leaving his White House job, it is known that Gorka will be back at Breitbart on Monday.

Gorka was born in the UK in 1970 to Hungarian immigrant parents.  He has a long list of “credentials” and “degrees” many of which are considered circumspect by colleagues and scholars.  Gorka is widely disdained my most of his counterparts.  He has been described as a “fringe” character.  His views have been roundly criticized.

Gorka’s views on Islam and radicalization–as well as his identifying with the Order of Vitrez, or supporting the European Union banned anti-Roma, and anti-Semitic Hungarian Guard have caused most of the controversy. The drumbeat for dismissal came almost immediately after Gorka wore the Order of Vitrez medal to the Trump inauguration.

The sight of that medal sent the anti-fascist and most liberals into attack mode.  The Medal, may, or may not represent Nazi sympathies. Sebastian Gorka has been accused of ties to Nazi sympathizing organizations, in the United States and Europe. I have seen no proof of that, however that seems to be one of the major reason for the mounting hatred on the Progressive side of the controversy against Gorka.

Gorka has authored several books, including, ‘Defeating Jihad: The Winnable War.”

Well, I certainly won’t miss this controversial character and I don’t think the average American, neither knows he was there or cares that he is gone. Most progressives are jumping up and down and cheering at the news.  I don’t know much about the man, but his alignment with the alt-right is enough for me to support his removal.

On Sunday, August 27, 2017, Sebastian Gorka threatened the “left” with a “big surprise.” I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I say, “Bring it on.”

I presume that Gorka was not taking on the large community of the Progressive left, but was rather taking on the “leftist influence” in the White House, specifically John Kelly, Gary Cohn and Dina Powell.

“Hasta la vista, baby,” is my final comment on Sebastian Gorka.

Topics of Calamity Politics analysis and commentary focuses primarily on U.S. political scene. So, please join me as I look at the good, the bad, the planned and the unplanned, daily.  It’s just my opinion, but I hope my thoughts and feelings connect with a segment of readers.

Join the Resistance

Dar

A Neighbor’s Nazi Experience

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A Neighbor’s Nazi Experience

D. S. Mitchell

Martin Hartman, a tall slender man, his thinning white brushed back leans against his cane for support. There is a sadness in his eyes and a soberness in his demeanor. You can tell he has a story, and he wants to tell it.

He was born in Holland in 1924. He looks to the ground, before looking back into the reporters eyes. His family had owned a prosperous construction business, until the Depression he tells us. His family like many others had suffered during those economically depressed times, but by 1940, things he explains slowly as memories cloud his 93-year-old face, the economy “had begun to turn around”.

The turnaround was slow, but things had been looking up.  Within just a few days his life, and the life of friends and family were inexorably changed forever.

“I was 16. It was May 10, 1940. We heard bombing and saw planes. It was the German invasion, and the blitz was over in three days.” The squashing of Holland’s defenses was quick, but far from painless.

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