You can smell the fascism


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"Combining all of these facts, we have a fairly clear picture in play.

Trump was, indeed, perfectly honest during the campaign; he intends to do everything he said, and more. This should not be reassuring to you.

The regime’s main organizational goal right now is to transfer all effective power to a tight inner circle, eliminating any possible checks from either the Federal bureaucracy, Congress, or the Courts. Departments are being reorganized or purged to effect this.

The inner circle is actively probing the means by which they can seize unchallenged power; yesterday’s moves should be read as the first part of that.

The aims of crushing various groups — Muslims, Latinos, the black and trans communities, academics, the press — are very much primary aims of the regime, and are likely to be acted on with much greater speed than was earlier suspected. The secondary aim of personal enrichment is also very much in play, and clever people will find ways to play these two goals off each other."

Link.

Or is it not okay to talk about it?


Talk on IK. They can only lock and scrub.

Silver Crusade

Actually the political threads ban has been lifted more or less.


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Airports jammed from coast to coast, taxi driver strikes, largest wave of demonstrations this country has seen in years, Women's March was what? the biggest demonstration in this country for decades?

I'm not afraid of the smell of fascism; it's more exciting to be active now than it has ever been during my adult life.

Don't mourn, organize!

Vive le Galt!!!


~sighs~ Yes. It is potentially very scary.


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My hope tank was pretty much empty after the election, but seeing the efforts underway to resist is helping more than I expected.

Sovereign Court

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At some point I hope to see some republicans turn against the "inner circle" and appeal to better judgment. Though I'm not optimistic after watching nearly all the "never Trump" crowd fold up once they knew which way the wind was blowing.

For now, the courts at least seem to be checking the orders. The administration response has been "TFB" so we are heading for some turbulent times.


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We're definitely heading for turbulent times, but I'm with the Comrade, if it gets people into the streets in opposition we might see a bigger progressive reaction.

Putting the fascism in sharper context, there's a case to be made that this week was Bannon's first toe in the water at staging a coup. On the day of inauguration all the US ambassadors to other countries were fired. Then early in the week, a massive number of senior officials in the State Department were fired. Then at the end of the week the immigration/travel ban was implemented.

Those first two steps are important, because firing all those officials make it harder for anyone within the US government bureaucracy to challenge the ban. The State Department could have provided official support to travelers and influenced the DHS in it's implementation of the ban. Instead, the State Department is basically non-functioning and no one left has much authority to do anything. This puts Trump, Bannon, Prebus and Kushner essentially in direct control.

This week the Secretary of Energy (in charge of the nuclear arsenal) has been removed from the National Security Council. The Director of National Intelligence and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs have both been demoted to invite only positions. Meanwhile, Bannon has been given a permanent position on the council.

DHS enforcement personnel were ignoring court orders this weekend.

Sovereign Court

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Hiding behind precedent being set by democrats in the past has the stink of Rudi Ghouliani all over it. They even indicate the ban list was built on the advice of the previous administration. They don't even have the nerve to own this. The worst part is Trump and Ghouliani admitted what they have done.

"Trump told me to get the ban done; legally." -Guliani
"This isn't about religion folks" -Trump

I hope folks continue to take notice and organize, because the (alt)right isn't even hiding their tactics or justifying their positions anymore.

Shadow Lodge

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Why would they? They've already convinced their base not to listen to facts.


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I'm torn. On the one hand, I just want to convince my family to gtfo before he bans outgoing travel. On the other hand, I also really want to fight tooth and f*%&ing nail to make sure it never gets to that point, damn my safety, damn the consequences, because some people are either unwilling or unable to leave. And to show the world that Trump and his administration don't represent us.


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"The only thing that Evil needs to succeed is for Good people to do nothing."


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Indeed.


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The important thing is to stay outraged. Don't get complacent, and don't let up. Like others have said, don't let it get normalized.

Also, I think Bannon needs to be made a target of unabashed mockery.


Rather than the fascism model, I think we're looking more at the Rasputin model


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First they came for the muslims, and the people sai..

Whoa. They were ready for us. How did they know what we were going to do this time. can they see... the future?


I am already starting to get these vibes. Not exactly, but there are similarities.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

What happens when the Police defy the courts?


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BigNorseWolf wrote:

First they came for the muslims, and the people sai..

Whoa. They were ready for us. How did they know what we were going to do this time. can they see... the future?

It's almost as if they teach about something frighteningly similar that happened in history class.

Liberty's Edge

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The political discussion ban was lifted?

Probably because there isn't anything notew...

Hmmm. No, no... I don't think that's it. :]

The most surreal thing is how ridiculously obvious the lies are;

'Barrack Obama got >90% of the vote in Washington DC and was inaugurated on a clear day when most people had off work.

Donald Trump got <5% of the vote in Washington DC and was inaugurated on a rainy Friday.

Of course, more people showed up for Obama's inauguration. You'd have to be completely divorced from reality to expect anything different... and yet here we are, with studies finding that Trump voters shown side by side pictures of the two inauguration crowds will actually point to the Trump crowd when asked which picture shows more people. They actively embrace the lie.

Now we have Trump crowing about how smooth and professional the rollout of his immigration order has been... while here in the real world it has caused chaos and confusion around the globe.

I have been saying it for a couple decades now, but I'm sure I'll be doing so constantly the next four years... the biggest problem facing the US, and the planet, is the growing disconnect from reality of the 'conservative' movement. The further they drift in to Nonsense World, the more time they devote to solving problems that do not exist while ignoring (or actively blocking action on) those that do.

We can only hope that Trump's (ridiculously inflated) 36% approval rating continues to head South and the Democrats can retake the Senate in two years... assuming we can make it through two years of this insanity.

P.S. I keep remembering that Iraqi information minister... the guy who during the final days of the Iraq war was boasting to reporters about how the American dogs were being driven from the country... while US tanks rolled in to Baghdad behind him.

That guy was more believable than the stuff coming out of the White House now.


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Pan wrote:

At some point I hope to see some republicans turn against the "inner circle" and appeal to better judgment. Though I'm not optimistic after watching nearly all the "never Trump" crowd fold up once they knew which way the wind was blowing.

For now, the courts at least seem to be checking the orders. The administration response has been "TFB" so we are heading for some turbulent times.

McCain and Graham have already been leaning away from the White House on Russia, and the travel ban seems be also be working in getting Republicans to actually more vocally speak out against the president. The GOP also has a general sense confusion within their ranks regarding exactly how to deal with and interpret the president...mixed signals on healthcare and pushing an infrastructure plan that they don't give a damn about in influencing the rank and file.

Right now Trump has his base and that is it. Once his policies start impacting that base expect Republican support to completely evaporate and for them to throw him under the bus. Hopefully this happens sooner than later.


CBDunkerson wrote:

The political discussion ban was lifted?

Probably because there isn't anything notew...

Hmmm. No, no... I don't think that's it. :]

The most surreal thing is how ridiculously obvious the lies are;

'Barrack Obama got >90% of the vote in Washington DC and was inaugurated on a clear day when most people had off work.

Donald Trump got <5% of the vote in Washington DC and was inaugurated on a rainy Friday.

Of course, more people showed up for Obama's inauguration. You'd have to be completely divorced from reality to expect anything different... and yet here we are, with studies finding that Trump voters shown side by side pictures of the two inauguration crowds will actually point to the Trump crowd when asked which picture shows more people. They actively embrace the lie.

Now we have Trump crowing about how smooth and professional the rollout of his immigration order has been... while here in the real world it has caused chaos and confusion around the globe.

I have been saying it for a couple decades now, but I'm sure I'll be doing so constantly the next four years... the biggest problem facing the US, and the planet, is the growing disconnect from reality of the 'conservative' movement. The further they drift in to Nonsense World, the more time they devote to solving problems that do not exist while ignoring (or actively blocking action on) those that do.

We can only hope that Trump's (ridiculously inflated) 36% approval rating continues to head South and the Democrats can retake the Senate in two years... assuming we can make it through two years of this insanity.

P.S. I keep remembering that Iraqi information minister... the guy who during the final days of the Iraq war was boasting to reporters about how the American dogs were being driven from the country... while US tanks rolled in to Baghdad behind him.

That guy was more believable than the stuff coming out of the White House now.

While I think Trump absolutely believes he has a larger crowd size, I am pretty sure Bannon and co encouraged him to make a big fuss, since it creates a giant controversy and provides smoke screen for executive acts that actually matter.

I know Hillary referenced him being a puppet for Putin, but the last few days have made it obvious to me that Bannon is the actual puppet master.


CBDunkerson wrote:

The political discussion ban was lifted?

Probably because there isn't anything notew...

Hmmm. No, no... I don't think that's it. :]

The most surreal thing is how ridiculously obvious the lies are;

'Barrack Obama got >90% of the vote in Washington DC and was inaugurated on a clear day when most people had off work.

Donald Trump got <5% of the vote in Washington DC and was inaugurated on a rainy Friday.

Of course, more people showed up for Obama's inauguration. You'd have to be completely divorced from reality to expect anything different... and yet here we are, with studies finding that Trump voters shown side by side pictures of the two inauguration crowds will actually point to the Trump crowd when asked which picture shows more people. They actively embrace the lie.

Now we have Trump crowing about how smooth and professional the rollout of his immigration order has been... while here in the real world it has caused chaos and confusion around the globe.

I have been saying it for a couple decades now, but I'm sure I'll be doing so constantly the next four years... the biggest problem facing the US, and the planet, is the growing disconnect from reality of the 'conservative' movement. The further they drift in to Nonsense World, the more time they devote to solving problems that do not exist while ignoring (or actively blocking action on) those that do.

We can only hope that Trump's (ridiculously inflated) 36% approval rating continues to head South and the Democrats can retake the Senate in two years... assuming we can make it through two years of this insanity.

P.S. I keep remembering that Iraqi information minister... the guy who during the final days of the Iraq war was boasting to reporters about how the American dogs were being driven from the country... while US tanks rolled in to Baghdad behind him.

That guy was more believable than the stuff coming out of the White House now.

Obama also won the popular vote and had much higher popularity and approval ratings - not just in DC.

You're right about the biggest problem, but it's worth remembering that they actually are working on "problems" that do exist, just not the ones they say they're working on. Things that are problems for them.

Liberty's Edge

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Yeah, it's starting to get downright frightening ...

When I was a kid, I just could not understand how someone like Hitler could come to power. There's just no way a nation of people could be that blindly naive to let it happen, I thought ...

Now, the reality we find ourselves in makes it pretty clear just how such a thing can happen.

Sad, terrifying times, to be sure ...

Liberty's Edge

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We must remember that we are not alone. Hopefully, Paizo will do something in response to this good act by Wizards of the Coast.

Wizards of the Coast is having a Magic: The Gathering card auction to benefit the ACLU. The auction will continue until 8 PM Pacific on Tuesday.

As for myself, I am going to do something tonight in Northwest Indiana. My rabbi sent the following out on Facebook last night.

Quote:
Tomorrow evening clergy and lay leaders of the Islamic Center of Highland IN will gather at Munster Town Hall at 6 PM for a vigil of solidarity and unity for peace and justice in light of the recent travel ban. We invite you to bring a candle or flashlight as we bring light against darkness. We ask you to bring signs that celebrate our mission of solidarity and unity. Then we ask that you act by contacting elected officials to let them know that we gathered in solidarity and in peace. This is our message and our eternal hope for our country.

I am the grandchild of immigrants. My maternal grandfather left an unjust Russian Empire, where he was forced to hide as a child from Cossacks after throwing coal at a horse.

I fear that the Trump administration is sparking a Constitutional crisis. I chose not to be afraid. I believe that if we do not stand up for the rights of others, that Pastor Niemoller's warning can come to pass. We should also remember these words from Benjamin Franklin:

Quote:
We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.


I believe your echo chamber is making many of you rather deaf to quite a lot....

Shadow Lodge

Making?


CBDunkerson wrote:

P.S. I keep remembering that Iraqi information minister... the guy who during the final days of the Iraq war was boasting to reporters about how the American dogs were being driven from the country... while US tanks rolled in to Baghdad behind him.

That guy was more believable than the stuff coming out of the White House now.

Good old Baghdad Bob. I wonder what he's up to these days...


Atavar wrote:
I believe your echo chamber is making many of you rather deaf to quite a lot....

Oh, I'm well aware that there are a lot of people believing what he says and supporting his actions.

I'm also aware that there have been huge protests and that his support and approval are far below recent president this early in their term.


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If this is not a clarion call to action, a desperate plea for all who love liberty, freedom, and the rule of just law to let their voices be heard, to do what is ethical and right regardless of the rhetoric of a corrupt system...

I do not know what is.

But look around at major cities all over American, if the new POTUS and his minions think that they can extinguish the Torch of Lady Liberty...

They are sorely mistaken.

Liberty's Edge

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Well, as things stand today, we have judicial orders being ignored by members of the executive branch. This should not be acceptable in this country. Can someone who feels that this is not an issue kindly explain why it is not a legitimate concern for those who believe in democracy and the rule of law.

I am curious why there were no limits on travel to the U.S. from countries whose nationals participated in the 9/11 attacks, leading to the deaths of thousands of Americans. Or from Pakistan, where there are also terrorism problems.

Liberty's Edge

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Atavar wrote:
I believe your echo chamber is making many of you rather deaf to quite a lot....

The term 'echo chamber' in this context is usually used to describe an environment without dissenting voices.

You are dissenting.

Ergo...


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William Ronald wrote:
Well, as things stand today, we have judicial orders being ignored by members of the executive branch.

By a man who hung a portrait of Andrew Jackson in the Oval Office.


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

By limiting and eliminating those who would seek moderation, those who are extreme in their views can enter the country.

By allowing those of more extreme views in the country, when they perform acts against the country, it reinforces the perception that there are only extreme perspectives, and no moderate ones.

This in turn polarizes a population and leverages it against those of extreme views.

This has been done by individuals of power since the dawn of time.

The hope is that those who are rational will prevail, over time.


Smells like spraytan

Liberty's Edge

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William Ronald wrote:
Can someone who feels that this is not an issue kindly explain why it is not a legitimate concern for those who believe in democracy and the rule of law.

My understanding is that the lie de jure is that no one is being 'detained' and thus there is no reason to get a lawyer involved for the people who are being politely handcuffed, locked into small rooms, threateningly questioned, and pressured to sign away their green cards... which should not in any way be confused with 'detention'.

Quote:
I am curious why there were no limits on travel to the U.S. from countries whose nationals participated in the 9/11 attacks, leading to the deaths of thousands of Americans.

Donald Trump has business interests in those countries. He doesn't in the seven under the ban.

Incidentally, there have been a grand total of zero deaths on US soil due to terrorists from the seven countries impacted. Zero. Statistically, an 'anti-terrorist' ban on travel by Christians from Idaho would make more sense.


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Spraytan liquid is the only thing holding Emperor Orange together, like Humpty Dumpty's shell...

same general good sense between the two as well, or so it strikes me...but I digress

(seems I am as grumpy ATM as my avatar implies)

@ CBDunkerson, the fact that your statistical math example is terribly true makes me a sad panda, but you frame concretely an important fact, one not to be overlooked.


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I wish some of you lived in my area so we could go protest together. Then again, most of the activists I've spoken to here are huge wimps who see blocking roads as "too radical".

Atavar wrote:
I believe your echo chamber is making many of you rather deaf to quite a lot....
TOZ wrote:
Making?

Well, I haven't heard anyone dispute that reality is reality yet, so yes, I think I am indeed not on the Youtube Comments section.

Remember to pace yourselves, guys. Trump's threatening to burn us out by setting the meter from 0 to 60 right out the gate.


Kobold Cleaver wrote:
most of the activists I've spoken to here are huge wimps who see blocking roads as "too radical".

If they're still saying that after the Muslim ban, you need new activists to talk to. Get in touch with your local Black Lives Matter group and become an activist ally with them


"Well, it's okay, but you need to get city approval first."


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Lord Fyre wrote:
What happens when the Police defy the courts?

Your not going to like it, but the truth is - YOU pay for them to do it. When I was arrested before the 2004 RNC held in NYC, a judge ruled that we had to be charged and or released within 24 hours. The police did not comply with that order and that week, something like 1,700 people were arrested and many held well more then 24 hours. Most people were charged with very minor violations like disorderly conduct, or parading without a permit. I was also charged with Obstruction of Government Administration, so I don't think the 24 hour rule applied to me.

Anyway, almost everyone's charges were dropped (including mine), and there was the largest protest related class action settlement in history, that wrapped up over ten years after the incident.

So if that incident is any indication, the police will face absolutely no consequences, (the police brass will get highly paid jobs in the private sector), your tax dollars will pay for any lawsuits, and like mayor Bloomberg, Trump will have the law changed so he can buy himself a third term in office. Finally, the next mayor will knuckle under to the police unions and praise what a great history they have dealing with protests! Also, my senators, Chuck Schumer and some lady named Hillary Clinton, did nothing.

With that said, the feeling of knowing that there were lawyers working to get us out was one of the few hopeful things in an otherwise absolutely awful experience of being in jail. Lawyers get a bad rap sometimes, but they really helped me, and supporting their efforts is REALLY appreciated by those being detained!


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Kobold Cleaver wrote:
"Well, it's okay, but you need to get city approval first."

I Don't Think So.

Introduce yourself to the BLM group and ask how your lilywhite ass can be of most use to them

Trial Balloon For A Coup

State Department Purge


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CrystalSeas wrote:


Introduce yourself to the BLM group and ask how your lilywhite ass can be of most use to them

Hmmm, I always assumed that Cleavers' ass was kind of pink and scaley but I guess I could be wrong...

Be careful if you actually are blocking traffic. Despite the moto of "We are NOT blocking traffic, we are traffic!" Critical Mass always faced a large public relations hurdle because there seems to be nothing more American and holy then unimpeded driving, even in a city infamous for traffic jams. People get fuming mad in their cars in the best of circumstances, so be really, really careful if you step in front of their cars! One of the charges against me in the tale above was disorderly conduct for blocking traffic, and parading without a permit.

Finally, if you do block traffic, DON'T BLOCK ANY VEHICLE WITH RED OR BLUE LIGHTS! That is to say, don't block any police, fire or ambulance vehicles under any circumstances. If any of those vehicles approaches, even police who are clearly not in an emergency, YOU MUST LET THEM THROUGH IMMEDIATELY! Also, if you do block traffic, don't antagonize drivers. Be kind to them, smile and speak politely no matter what they do short of physical confrontation.

EDIT: West Houston Street hit-and-run accident involving Foxy Brown I actually have video of this incident, as it happened nearby, the night I was arrested. In the video, she gets into the drivers seat, and just plows through a few people standing in front of her car.


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I'm not sure we have a local BLM group, though there are sometimes pro-BLM protests. Might be because I live in Corvallis, Oregon, one of the whitest "liberal" cities in the US.


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Kobold Cleaver wrote:
I'm not sure we have a local BLM group, though there are sometimes pro-BLM protests. Might be because I live in Corvallis, Oregon, one of the whitest "liberal" cities in the US.

Here you go

Corvallis BLM Resources

If nothing else, go talk to the folks at that church


"He has demonstrated that he intends to govern by executive orders that will replace the laws passed by the people’s representatives."

Eliot Cohen

Eliot Cohen from theantlantic.com


How did we get here?

I'm with Bill on this one*

It's not like Trump hid his motives. You know.. Twitter, every comment he made at every debate, and so forth.

* NSFW


CrystalSeas wrote:
Kobold Cleaver wrote:
most of the activists I've spoken to here are huge wimps who see blocking roads as "too radical".
If they're still saying that after the Muslim ban, you need new activists to talk to. Get in touch with your local Black Lives Matter group and become an activist ally with them

Please don't.

The Danger of the “Black Lives Matter” Movement

SBG#1

SBG#2


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Ah yes, Hillsdale College. I'm familiar with them

Hillsdale College

Their take on Syrian refugees

Hillsdale College views on Syrian refugees


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Quark Blast wrote:

How did we get here?

I'm with Bill on this one*

It's not like Trump hid his motives. You know.. Twitter, every comment he made at every debate, and so forth.

* NSFW

Of all the reasons why Trump won and Hillary didn't, this would probably not even make it into the top ten....

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