As always, please feel welcome and encouraged to share pix of the fuzzy, feathered, or scaled members of your family in comments.
Daily Dose of Cute
As always, please feel welcome and encouraged to share pix of the fuzzy, feathered, or scaled members of your family in comments.
On Recognizing Everyday Authoritarianism
[content note: Holocaust]
I've been thinking lately about bystanders to atrocity.
Would most Americans who are not explicitly targeted for oppression and violence know, for instance, if we were living through a time comparable to the Holocaust? Undoubtedly, the particulars would differ and so, wouldn't many people make distinctions that would gaslight the present-day horrors inflicted on others? (Don't many people already do this, with respect to state-sanctioned violence today?)
These questions are partly why I'm finding the endless calls for liberals to empathize with Trump voters, but so rarely the reverse, so vile right now. Where is the pressure on Trump voters - particularly angry, violent white men - to understand literally anyone else in society?
It's like a new spin on the sardonic feminist joke: Women, LGBT people, immigrants, and people of color are scared that white men will rape and/or kill us and face no punishment from the state. White men are scared that someone will make them go to a sensitivity training.
Consider also: People quote Godwin's Law whenever someone on the Internet makes a Hitler analogy. It's Internet lore that once someone makes such a comparison the conversation is effectively pointless beyond repair, with the person making the comparison having "lost." But, what if the use of Godwin's Law itself gives cover to a regime that, little by little, becomes like Hitler's and then, later, the history books tragically explain, "See, there was this maxim people liked to cite a lot...."?
Tom Pepinsky considers the (in)ability (or is it unwillingness?) to recognize authoritarian rule:
"The mental image that most American harbor of what actual authoritarianism looks like is fantastical and cartoonish. This vision of authoritarian rule has jackbooted thugs, all-powerful elites acting with impunity, poverty and desperate hardship for everyone else, strict controls on political expression and mobilization, and a dictator who spends his time ordering the murder or disappearance of his opponents using an effective and wholly compliant security apparatus. This image of authoritarianism comes from the popular media (dictators in movies are never constrained by anything but open insurrection), from American mythmaking about the Founding (and the Second World War and the Cold War), and from a kind of 'imaginary othering' in which the opposite of democracy is the absence of everything that characterizes the one democracy that one knows.In a spirit of hopefulness, I actually do see many people sending regular warnings messages on Twitter, blogs, and in some media sources about the incoming Trump administration. We must continue documenting, resisting, and speaking out.
....
The fantasy of authoritarianism distracts Americans from the mundane ways in which the mechanisms of political competition and checks and balances can erode. Democracy has not survived because the alternatives are acutely horrible, and if it ends, it will not end in a bang. It is more likely that democracy ends, with a whimper, when the case for supporting it—the case, that is, for everyday democracy—is no longer compelling."
(h/t for the Pepinsky link: Lawyers, Guns, and Money).
Some Shareblue Reading from the Weekend
Tommy Christopher: Trump statement on intelligence briefing proves his own ego is more important than our democracy.
Me: Democrats' Protecting Our Democracy Act gains support of more than 170 House members.
Tommy Christopher: Trump is embarrassingly incoherent on plan to pay for Mexico border wall.
Dianna E. Anderson: Florida AG Pam Bondi in talks with Trump for White House job after pay-to-play scandal.
Me: President Obama: "Vladimir Putin is not on our team."
Me: Senate Republicans scheming to protect Trump nominees from ethics scrutiny.
Alison R. Parker: Republicans' chaotic quest to destroy Obamacare is a disaster in the making.
Me: Elizabeth Warren strongly condemns Senate GOP for abetting Trump transition ethics crisis.
Me: Graham to fellow Republicans "gleeful" over Russian hacking: "You're not a patriot."
This Is Very Scary
[Content Note: White supremacy.]
Anne Applebaum in the Washington Post: "An existential moment for the Euro-American alliance."
I strongly encourage you to read the whole thing, but I want to highlight this passage:
In the past few weeks, some of America's oldest and closest allies in Europe have begun to fear that Trump's White House may not just neglect them, which has happened often enough in the past, but actually seek to undermine them and their institutions. The link between Trump, his senior counselor and chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon and Breitbart News, the website Bannon was running until he went to work for Trump, is what worries them most. Flush from its success in the United States, Breitbart now seeks to monetize anti-immigration and racist sentiment in Europe, too, promoting it, selling it and using it to elect populist politicians who are just as skeptical of NATO as Trump, and who will do their best to destroy the European Union as well.This is a very big deal. The website that was, up until a few months ago, being run by Donald Trump's policy director is engaged in the destabilization of two key U.S. allies: France and Germany.
First up are Germany and France, where Breitbart has announced, in advance of imminent German and French elections, that it intends to open new German- and French-language websites. The worldview of these future sites can be predicted: Breitbart has produced gushing coverage of the National Front, the radical right-wing French political party that is openly funded by Russian money and that advocates, among other things, the end of NATO and a French withdrawal from the European Union.
Fuck. Just fuck.
The Virtual Pub Is Open
[Explanations: lol your fat. pathetic anger bread. hey your gay.]
Belly up to the bar,
and be in this space together.
Here We Come
David Brock, the founder of Shareblue, was interviewed by Vanity Fair, and it is SO GREAT. I was already fired up about being part of this project, and now I am even more excited!
It's really an antidote to Breitbart on the left. In other words, Breitbart is just the analogy. We're not going to do what they do. We're going to be an antidote to what they do. Or they could say we're going to be a Breitbart for the left, but we're going to use facts.The point is: We ain't afraid to throw punches. And we're coming for you, Mr. Trump.
The Audacity of Hope
First Lady Michelle Obama gave her final address as the nation's first lady today, and, during her remarks, she spoke about the power of hope.
"We can be whatever we dream" - Michelle Obama says in emotional final speech as First Lady pic.twitter.com/FDAQeSSCT1
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 6, 2017
And when you encounter obstacles — because I guarantee you, you will; and many of you already have — when you are struggling, and you start thinking about giving up, I want you to remember something that my husband and I have talked about since we first started this journey nearly a decade ago, something that has carried us through every moment in this White House and every moment of our lives, and that is the power of hope — the belief that something better is always possible if you're willing to work for it and fight for it.This, of course, is aspirational. There is no guarantee of something better just through sheer will and tenacity. But that's not what she's saying. She's saying that hope must, especially in times of despair, underwrite the hard work and indubitability that progress requires.
It is our fundamental belief in the power of hope that has allowed us to rise above the voices of doubt and division, of anger and fear, that we have faced in our own lives and in the life of this country. Our hope that, if we work hard enough and believe in ourselves, then we can be whatever we dream, regardless of the limitations that others may place on us. The hope that, when people see us for who we truly are, maybe, just maybe, they, too, will be inspired to rise to their best possible selves.
Hope is what keeps demoralization at bay. And, in this moment, that is a very important message indeed.
It is certainly one I need to hear.
Thank you, FLOTUS.
Shooting at Fort Lauderdale Airport
[Content Note: Shooting; possible injuries and death.]
There has been a shooting at the Fort Lauderdale Airport, and early reports from the sheriff's office are that multiple people have been injured and/or killed.
The shooter is reportedly in custody.
Right now, there are no additional details. There will, of course, be loads of speculation and misinformation in the early reports. Please use this thread for judicious information-sharing, and, as always, let's keep it an image-free thread. Thank you.
My thoughts go out to everyone who was at the airport, just passing through, and to the entire community.
Daily Dose of Cute
As always, please feel welcome and encouraged to share pix of the fuzzy, feathered, or scaled members of your family in comments.
Wrong Again, Trump
President-elect Donald J. Trump said in an interview Friday morning that the storm surrounding Russian hacking during the presidential campaign is a political witch hunt being carried out by his adversaries, who he said were embarrassed by their loss to him in the election last year.He still can't tell the difference between "sour grapes" and patriotism to this nation, which is far bigger than any single election. And that is very, very worrying indeed.
Mr. Trump spoke to The New York Times by telephone three hours before he was set to be briefed by the nation's top intelligence and law enforcement officials about the Russian hacking of American political institutions. In the conversation, he repeatedly criticized the intense focus on Russia.
...Mr. Trump, who has consistently expressed doubts about the evidence of Russian hacking during the election, did so again on Friday. Asked why he thought there was so much attention being given to the Russian cyberattacks, the president-elect said the motivation was political.
"They got beaten very badly in the election. I won more counties in the election than Ronald Reagan," Mr. Trump said during an eight-minute telephone conversation. "They are very embarrassed about it. To some extent, it's a witch hunt. They just focus on this."
Relatedly (by Tommy Christopher and me): Kellyanne Conway provokes laughter with her refusal to even say the word "Russia."
Lots of Reading!
Here are the latest pieces from Shareblue, in case you missed any of 'em!
Me: Movement grows to keep Trump off 2020 ballot unless he releases his tax returns.
Dianna E. Anderson: Women's March on Washington set to be largest inauguration demonstration ever.
Matthew Chapman: While Trump and Pence go after Obamacare, Obama and the Dems fight to save it.
Tommy Christopher: Progressive group launches huge ad campaign to oppose Trump's Treasury nominee.
Dianna E. Anderson: State legislatures brashly moving forward on anti-LGBT agenda under Trump.
Me: Gaslighter-in-chief Trump claims to be "big fan" of intelligence community.
Tommy Christopher: Trump breaks promise to reveal secret intel on Russian hacking by Wednesday.
Me: Senator Tim Kaine goes in on Trump and his "unusual, suspicious" allegiance with Putin.
Tommy Christopher: Trump tanks Toyota stock by $1.2 billion in 5 minutes with a single tweet.
Leah McElrath: Senate Committee takes aim at Trump and his war on intelligence.
Matthew Chapman: House GOP appallingly votes to conceal cost of Obamacare repeal to taxpayers.
Alison R. Parker: Senator Kamala Harris's first act in office is to protect DREAMers from Trump's deportation forces.
Tommy Christopher: Republicans just gave themselves the power to cut federal employee salaries — to one dollar.
Dianna E. Anderson: Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder joins California in the fight against Trump.
Me: Yes, We Can: In a moving video, people recall meaningful moments of Obama's presidency.
Ginger McKnight-Chavers: Senator Jeff Sessions' attempted civil rights makeover merely reveals more ugliness.
Unreal
Trump started out his day by:
— Dusty (@DustinGiebel) January 6, 2017
-Calling his Inauguration a "Show"
And Insulting:
-Mexico
-Democrats
-and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Happy Friday pic.twitter.com/1awBzDgLHq
Today, Trump is receiving an important intel briefing on Russia's interference in the US election—and he's tweeting about The Apprentice. pic.twitter.com/SrYZ6h3vHe
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 6, 2017
Question of the Day
Suggested by Shaker Heather T: "If I were to ask your very kindest friend to describe you, what would they say to me?"
I Am Already Exhausted and They're Barely Getting Started
BREAKING: @SpeakerRyan announced plans to “defund” Planned Parenthood in budget that repeals the #ACA: https://t.co/puykpeQeUv #IStandWithPP
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) January 5, 2017
“Defunding” Planned Parenthood is a misnomer. Their true intent is to block millions of people who rely on Medicaid from PP health centers.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) January 5, 2017
The Party of Zero Patriots
.@SpeakerRyan: Russia "clearly tried 2 meddle in political system" bt Trump comments r bc "Dems r trying 2 delegitimize Trump victory"
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) January 5, 2017
If Russia meddled in election, THAT delegitimizes his victory, @SpeakerRyan, not the people trying to address it. https://t.co/QKLriMgLS1
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 5, 2017
Quote of the Day
"Why does President-elect Trump again and again and again take it upon himself to be Vladimir Putin's defense lawyer, rather than listening to and respecting the intelligence professionals of the United States?"—Senator Tim Kaine, going all in on Trump today, during an interview on CNN's New Day.
That was hardly the only terrific thing he said. Frankly, the entire clip below is amazing, as he hits every single point I want to hear from Democrats in this moment. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Senator Kaine.
Tim Kaine: "If [Trump] went to his intelligence briefings, maybe he'd have a different conclusion" on Russian hacks. https://t.co/QZEZj8E2tN
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 5, 2017
TIM KAINE: Well, I'm shocked. When he is quoting Julian Assange, who is wanted for sexual assault crimes in Sweden, as some kind of authority on this, that makes me really scratch my head. So, here are three things: I'm on two committees — Armed Services and Foreign Relations — where we receive significant classified information about this.
I can't go into that information, but I can say this: Those intelligence professionals, who I respect, have reached a unanimous conclusion that Russia engaged in cyberattacks on the presidential election with the goal of influencing it in favor of the election of Donald Trump. They have reached that conclusion.
And they are people that I respect. And so, when I see the tweets that President-elect Trump sends out: One, he is demeaning the professionalism and the careers of some very, very sharp people; and second, I note that he doesn't go to his intelligence briefings most days. I do go to my intelligence briefings, and I know what the evidence is. If he went to his intelligence briefings, maybe he'd have a different conclusion about this.
But the thing, Alisyn, that makes me very, very concerned — and I talked about this during the campaign — why does President-elect Trump again and again and again take it upon himself to be Vladimir Putin's defense lawyer, rather than listening to and respecting the intelligence professionals of the United States?
ALISYN CAMEROTA: Well, I mean, Senator, he would say that he wants to reset; he wants a new relationship with Vladimir Putin; he thinks that somehow our two countries can be allies in the fight against ISIS.
KAINE: Well, I think we could be allies in the fight against ISIS, but does that mean you trash American intelligence professionals? They're playing an important role in the fight against ISIS.
There is something very unusual, indeed even sort of suspicious, about the degree to which he casually kicks aside the intelligence community when he won't even go to the briefings — and again and again takes the Assange-Vladimir Putin line on this important question.
Any President of the United States should want to protect American electoral systems from invasion or attack by a foreign government — and President-elect Trump should want to do that, too.
Daily Dose of Cute
As always, please feel welcome and encouraged to share pix of the fuzzy, feathered, or scaled members of your family in comments.
Rage Seethe Boil
[Content Note: White supremacy; eliminationist violence.]
Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who murdered nine people at Charleston's Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, was found guilty last month and now awaits his sentencing. Reporting on a hearing yesterday, this was the New York Times' headline: "Dylann Roof, Addressing Court, Offers No Apology or Explanation for Massacre."
Within the article, there is this:
Any prospects for mercy by the jury had perhaps already been drained by the prosecution's disclosure, in its opening statement, of a white supremacist manifesto written by Mr. Roof in the Charleston County jail sometime in the six weeks after his arrest.I have not shed a tear for the innocent people I killed. ...I have shed a tear of self-pity for myself.
"I would like to make it crystal clear I do not regret what I did," he wrote in his distinctive scrawl. "I am not sorry. I have not shed a tear for the innocent people I killed."
Mr. Roof, who was then 21, continued: "I do feel sorry for the innocent white children forced to live in this sick country and I do feel sorry for the innocent white people that are killed daily at the hands of the lower race. I have shed a tear of self-pity for myself. I feel pity that I had to do what I did in the first place. I feel pity that I had to give up my life because of a situation that should never have existed."
While the Times' headline is technically correct in that Roof offered no explanation while addressing the court, the excerpt entered from his manifesto is, in fact, an explanation—whether the Times wants to construe it thus or not.
Shedding no tears for his victims while shedding a tear of self-pity is as perfect and terrible an explanation of violent white supremacy as I've ever heard.
[Commenting Note: Though the referenced hearing concerned itself in part with Roof's mental competency, discussion of his mental health is not on-topic for this thread. Or any other thread in this space.]
