Well-meaning people continue to urge folks on the political Left and Right to talk to each other, to listen to each other, and to come to the “middle.” This constant refrain drives me up the wall, because what I see are not “politics as usual” disputes, but a fundamental moral divide. The only “policy” being debated is the right of a lawless administration to send ICE goons (aka Trump’s Gestapo) into American cities to kidnap and brutalize citizens at will.
Even the terms “Left” and “Right” are inappropriate. The Republican Party once had a coherent, politically conservative agenda–free trade, limited government, respect for law and order, support for NATO… That party has vanished, substituting virulent racism and devotion to Trump for anything resembling a conservative philosophy–or any philosophy, for that matter.
The morphing of the Republican Party into an alternate reality cult has also remade the Democratic Party (most of which was never as “Left” as Republicans used to charge). Actual conservatives and moderates have departed the GOP in droves. Many–probably most–now count themselves Independent, but a not-insignificant number now identify as Democrats, turning Democrats into a nearly ungovernable ideological mix.
The GOP has become a neo-fascist cult; Democratic voters are those who oppose that cult.
When I read pious exhortations about “coming together” and “listening to each other” I want to scream that I have been listening– I’ve heard MAGA loud and clear, and I know there is no “middle ground.”
A recent, welcome essay in Lincoln Square made that point forcefully. As Stuart Stevens began,
In this time of national trauma, we hear many calls for an end to the divisions that are shredding the national fabric. It all sounds lovely. Who could argue that Americans need to do more to understand each other and reach a consensus?
Well, I could.
I don’t want to understand the guy in the Camp Auschwitz sweatshirt during the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
I don’t want to understand the Death Squad ICE agents who murder innocent citizens.
I don’t want to understand the twisted hatred of Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem.
I don’t want to understand the MAGA followers who say the 2020 election was stolen.
Stevens–one of the sane Americans who fled the GOP–draws a stark line between those who he says are “defending the legacy of the Greatest Generation and those who defile its sacrifice.” He points out that carrying the same country’s passport is an accident of birth, while values are a choice.
Too many Democrats still believe Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election when she said, “You could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables.” I don’t know how to break it to you guys, but that’s the sort of self-flagellating instinct that helped my Republican candidates win races they had no business winning.
The problem wasn’t that Hillary Clinton described MAGA as deplorable. The problem was that she stopped doing it. You win races by defining the other side in sweeping negative language. Races are about differences and choices. There’s nothing in the middle of the road but yellow lines and dead armadillos.
Stevens underlines that observation with a very simple question: Is this who you are?” He invokes the image of a ranting Stephen Miller “looking like he’s auditioning for Joseph Goebbels role as Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda” and suggests asking a normal American, a sane voter, “Is this who you want to be?”
We are taught that it is a positive character attribute to give another person the benefit of the doubt. That may work when debating converting the U.S. to the metric system, but it’s a Munich Accord-level of appeasement when dealing with the lunatics of MAGA. Those of us who view this moment as an existential threat to democracy should reject any assumption that the other side is acting in good faith. When a home invader has broken in your door, don’t act like he thinks he’s visiting a friend and has the wrong address. Do whatever it takes to get the bastard out of your house.
Legacy media “both-siding” to the contrary, Americans are not engaged in the sort of normal political debate that demands compromise and conciliation. MAGA folks understand that, while far too many of the rest of us don’t. We are facing a sustained, intentional assault on the very foundations of America’s identity.
That assault calls for resistance, not conciliation. There is no “middle ground” between liberal democracy and fascism.
Well said. One of my recent columns has drawn venom from some Trumpers. Who would have thought that the election of Barack Obama would turn over so many rocks from under which would crawl these toxic traitors to American values?
While I agree about not wasting your time on the protectors and apologists of child rapists, I disagree about the “existential threat of democracy.” That was destroyed a long time ago which has been covered up by the liberal elite and our faux media. I don’t even read any articles that waste their time trying to appeal to Americans that Trump is destroying our democracy. That’s just bullshit.
We have been well down the path of oligarchy for decades now. The mere fact that Trump is our POTUS at year 250 of this experiment is a perfect example that it failed. Even if the lame oppositional party wins every election through and including November’s, nothing will fundamentally change. Your rose colored glasses is just good ole fashion delusional thinking.
Both parties are genocidal mass murders and protectors of child molesters. The performative bullshit carried out by both parties and the media is all you need to stamp this show, DOA.
p.s. Karoline Leavitt actually shamed the press pool for asking about Trump’s racist post about the Obama’s and they just sat on their hands. At the same time, they wonder why Bezos laid off one-third of the dying WaPo.
Obviously it’s not just legacy media ‘both-siding’ every issue. Stuart Stevens is right, it became a waste of energy a year ago to attempt discussion with self-important and smug MAGA who saw -and see – no threat.
Dictatorship is not a political party in the United States any more than the Monarchy is a political party in the UK.
We have been taken over from the inside by those who sold out to the billionaires who sat on the front row of Trump’s private inauguration to hear what they had bought and paid for. As Pogo said so long ago; “We have met the enemy and it is us!” A newspaper cartoon foretold our nation’s future and we laughed and ignored it. Who is laughing now?
Excellent explanation today.
We are in a bar fight for our democracy and there is no middle ground.
Vernon, let us all hope that the bar fight for democracy doesn’t move into the streets….. Wait a minute, it has up in Milwaukee, and that bar fight is just one liberal loading his gun away from being a civil war.
Anyone who still supports Trump at this point is long past my care or understanding.
Todd’s comment at 6:50 a.m. (and there will be more): “We have been well down the path of oligarchy for decades now. The mere fact that Trump is our POTUS at year 250 of this experiment is a perfect example that it failed.”
We have survived oligarchy before (think Bush I and Bush II) with their wars to increase their profits, we have survived our own Civil War (physically but not mentally) and attacks from enemy nations after we trained their pilots (paid for training) to fly the planes they skyjacked and flew into the Towers and the Pentagon and one taken back by brave Americans who died flying it into a field. We have survived 250 years by overcoming enemies who haven’t yet managed to put their “boots on the ground” in this country; will we surrender to those wearing custom made shoes and $5,000 suits and long red Trump ties because they have more money than thousands of working Americans earn together? The skyrocketing Stock Market is not proof of this nation being economically sound and “affordability” is no longer part of working Americans vocabulary but our reality day-to-day, contrary to Trump’s disbelief in the word “affordability”.
What other nation has lasted 250 years based on an “idea” created to protect and support its citizens and come through more successes than failures and still struggles with many of the same racist issues? If we are on the correct side of that yellow line, what are our professed billionaires doing to prevent victimized Americans and others seeking citizenship from becoming those dead Armadillos? MAGAs used their supported Second Amendment rule by being armed to control our streets till they decided their opposition are not allowed the same Second Amendment rights and protection and are now deeply involved in ending our First Amendment rights and protections which is the very foundation of this nation. Democrats speak loudly against the Trump billionaires; if we have our own billionaires and they don’t want to support the political party, why aren’t they helping the victims of the Dictatorship with food and medical care rather than leaving it to those brave enough to go through the ICE and Border Patrol troops to help their neighbors and strangers who need help?
Sheila’s end quotes: “We are facing a sustained, intentional assault on the very foundations of America’s identity.
That assault calls for resistance, not conciliation. There is no “middle ground” between liberal democracy and fascism.” Or middle ground between the Dictatorship billionaires and those who support democracy, Rule of Law and the Constitution.
OK, just a few days ago, I read in this blog about not stereotyping. I will agree that there is obviously a core of overtly racist operators in the MAGA cult. If the rest of the MAGA base knows this exists and goes along with it because it’s a means to an end, do they get lumped into that same pile? Yes, they are racist bigots.
But I also think there is a decent sized group that has right wing propaganda leak into their awareness without bothering to process the overt racism underlying it all. Eating lunch in a dive bar her in SW FL yesterday, the white guy at the table next to me was sitting with a hispanic woman casually explaining the outrageous government fraud in Minnesota. It absolutely sounded like something every decent American citizen should be upset over, right up until he mentioned the fake video that targeted Somalians at daycare centers. I’m pretty sure he never watched the video first hand, or never questioned the accuracy of the video or the motivations of the person that produced it. Maybe because he unquestionably sucked up the propaganda, he should be dumped into that “basket of deplorables”, but I suspect he wouldn’t have enough self awareness to not be outraged if he was. That last group, where propaganda, sans facts, leaks into their awareness, fairly or unfairly, is caught up in your stereotype so be careful when you use stereotypes.
floridas stand your ground,er,bigotry. and other such state laws. blue states,stand your ground. sanctuary cities. where any neighbor stands for the other,no skin color involved,together. the tea party was not the unfolding this hate,it way back before the KKK. the white dude didnt like freedom for his slaves,and got pissy when America got sick and tired of people being ran over by the southern rich. small minds that wanted America for,its own,use.generations down they still preach thier BS that were the only Americans. christians,nope, facists. whoever fought in the land war against facists seen the devastation. we didnt forget,the gens who deny it happened are lets face it,mental cases. blue collar in your face words that discribe how we feel. mental cases. steve miller,neom,bannon,lutnick,bush,the whole mentalscape of,the rich. if were mental cases, so be it, ill help some one up before ill hold a hand out for a facists. living in NoDak right now is hiding like ice doesnt exist. and now some here are taking view,but holding back. they who know me ask me whats next. get ahold of this bud, the fbi just asked all AGs for a meeting before midterm elections.ya better watch and teach this now all..
Common dreams.org
Steven Prager:
it beyond crazy,fbi summons state election officials to secretive meeting after trump threat to nationalize midterms.
words from AG Nevada Cisco Aguilar..
JoAnn, The Sherman Anti-trust act was the first big salvo in the war against oligarchs. We as a nation have been aware of this problem for a long time. The Citizens United ruling may be an unrepairable breach, but only time will tell.
AZ Sen Rubin Gallego says,,grind America to a halt. if trump screws with midterms.
ive had the same issue in trucking. but the trucking industry is lame and trumped to death. i however came with a plan. first,find a rep who can stand down the present media and have a fist full of words ready. we have issues to,like being driven into poverty and lose of buisnesses by bad buisness prectices the rich cheaping us and cut throats….’idea” take the Baltimore/DC beltway. clog it up and stop at 0730 am mondays. have your media ready. and dump on everyone.
natl security be damn. we have a natl security issue..its called trumpism..
Todd.. Once again you are part of the problem, preaching that elections are irrelevant. I wonder what future you see for us if everyone agreed with you and nobody voted? That is what Trump, Steven Miller and their buddies are trying to achieve. It seems to be your goal, too.
Poor delusional Sharon! Only FDR approached a political solution but he still stopped short of flattening the oligarchy. JFK wanted to flatten the Deep State, but they killed him first. If you didn’t learn from Obama’s failures, than you will never learn. Keep staring at MS Now. 🙂
As for JoAnn’s question: There are a handful of “countries” much, much, older than the USA (Spain, Portugal, Sweden). We are considered the new kids on the block. However, “empires” last around 250 years before their utter collapse. The Anglo-Zionist Empire is 250 years old and by the looks of it, we have fallen into the same trap.
AMEN. My best friend said long ago you cant reach across the aisle to Nazis. I am done “trying to understand” bad people. I dont want to understand them. Their evil agenda must be defeated. Thats all I can focus on anymore and surround myself with decent human beings that give me strength to continue fighting this.
jacksmith is practically unintelligible with his lack of capitalization and punctuation, but once in a while a coherent thought emerges. Today he suggested that the resistance needs to be ready to declare, and execute, a general strike if Trump attempts to interfere with the elections. He suggested everybody get on the expressways on a particular day, hog all lanes, and at a particular time just stop. Just like the Yellow Jackets in France, or the truckers in Canada who blocked the Windsor bridge in Detroit.
It comes down to: My billionaire oligarchs are better than your billionaire oligarchs! If that’s the real battle, the MAGATS have a lot more than our side, but most of their oligarchs don’t actually believe in the cult leader.. It’s just the money and power they care about. When Orange Jesus (OJ) really loses it and decides he doesn’t care about the NYSE as much as he does about the adulation he expects, I think they’ll cut and run.
It’s going to require a lot of work to even take us back to pre OJ times. The MAGATS not only have more oligarchs and money, they also have more guns. Be prepared to be asked to give it all, like Goode and Pretti did in Minneapolis.
I do understand the racists and the sociopaths, even the evangelicals. They are all driven by fear and/or delusions of superiority and entitlement. For most it is a way to blame others for bad choices, a way to project failures and grievance, even those that are justified and out of their control onto “others” instead of those truly responsible. Evangelicals want to have easy answers, just right or wrong, no gray areas.
In order for those folks to feel safe and secure, they cannot convince by reason or example, so they use force. Force comes in lots of dressings. Whether it is in the local or state or federal legislative chambers or in workplaces, schools or churches, the rules are changing to suit the enforcers.
A general strike may be useful in some places where the populations are smaller and more homogeneous. We are a huge population of extreme diversity. I don’t know if a general strike in WY or ND would be as impactful as one in NY or VA, just by sheer weight of numbers.
In the meantime, on an individual level, unless you have extreme wealth, there is not much you can do to change the rules except lead by example. Protest peacefully, contribute financially if you can, register to vote no matter the obstacles put in place, help others to do the same and then vote.
Bothsidesism is just another deflection for not taking responsibility for the present state of things. Instead of fingerpointing, do something about it now.
RESIST.
Last week a farmer from the poorest county in Maine wrote a galvanizing opinion piece about where the “center” in American politics is. NOT in between right and left, constantly pulled right. It’s the Constitution and rule of law. She argues passionately that the right has jumped right off the map and must be fought without compromise by all who support the absolute Center. Some quotes are below, along with a hyperlink. I found it so galvanizing I wish it would be spread nationally.
“The gulf that has developed today is not about polarization. The left and right are not migrating further apart. The right has launched off the edge of the chart into violent authoritarianism. There is no corresponding leftward lurch toward social revolution.
The overwhelming and growing public reaction, these thousands and millions of protesters flooding the phones and taking to the streets to demand that the law and the Constitution be followed — we are the center.
The center is not supposed to be negotiated ever rightward into fascist dictatorship. The center is supposed to be uncompromisingly anchored in the Constitution and the rule of law as a line of absolute principle.
Millions of dead-center Americans are as awake, as alert, as active as they have been in a generation. We are demanding the absolute center of political ideologies and the bare minimum of responsible governance — the restoration of constitutional democracy.
So join us. But understand this about the center. It is not the place for compromise.”
https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pressherald.com%2F2026%2F01%2F29%2Fstop-calling-it-polarization-opinion%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cshekenne%40iu.edu%7Cfcecb8e8320f4305746608de66628479%7C1113be34aed14d00ab4bcdd02510be91%7C1%7C0%7C639060770481216648%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=MGD%2F3XlQp7nRJ4WOzcDi49jNNfegeupy3%2B39iVX3cUs%3D&reserved=0.
Again, so well said Sheila, defining the terms of what’s going on is a big part of the battle. If trump and Maga are allowed to continue to disallow US Constitution and laws for themselves the future horizon looks so dystopian and bleak for most. The majority doesn’t want that.
I’m tired of the constant lies and attempts to rewrite history for the sake of promoting an exclusive privileged ruling class. The trump regime’s disrespect for the American people is obvious, palpable and demonstrated every day in their cruel, violent and scapegoating authoritarianism. At this point Americans that defend him are on his side and will have to live with what they are enabling. On the other hand, Americans who appreciate US Constitution, Bill of Rights and rule of law are keeping tabs on all law breaking and grift and they will need to face justice. US is morphing to more citizens speaking out and protesting against what we don’t want and gaining power to work on more fair and equitable ways of governing. We certainly need Congress to make enforceable laws where the weak links are, so this kind of illegal power grab doesn’t happen again.
BTW I like the way that jack smith writes and benefit from his insights from the road. His writing is down to earth, descriptive and breaking thru to get his point across, That’s America at its best.
Todd. Once again you attack me without making any attempt to answer my question. And, as I’ve told you before, I don’t watch MSNBC aka, MS Now. You might at least read and give some thought to what I write before labeling me delusional.
Anyone still supporting Trump, and/or his agenda, at this point in time, is not someone with whom a sane person can enter into any kind of fruitful dialogue.
Yes, any people are not aware of the propaganda they are fed by the right wing media, Faux news, and the NY Post, included, big time.
But, then, they must be something akin to brain dead, and it’s hard to have said fruitful dialogue with them, as well.
It is sad that the point of today’s blog is so accurate.
Todd – I have to agree with Sharon here. You diagnose a problem, but the question is – What, if anything, can be done? What is next for the country, a descent to an autocracy lead by the Trump family, with oligarchs pulling the strings?
Sheila – Well said (and quoted) as usual. I have long questioned the “middle ground” between ICE thugs killing as many people as they want and my desire for them to kill nobody. Kill half as many people as they want?
I have also, for the same reason, hated the term “polarization” in regards to the political parties. The “AOC wing” of the Democratic Party is just following New Deal 2.0 and Great Society ideas; the Republican Party has moved far beyond its most conservative wing into pure Nazism.
Unlike Todd, I believe there is some hope here. [Call me naive, if you like, Todd.
] The US has had a democratic system, however imperfect, for a quarter of a millennium, unlike Germany or Hungary. My only fear is that the overly large tent of the current Democratic Party will fail to agree to make the necessary changes to our system to prevent another atrocity like that of Supreme Leader Trump.