The Many Faces of US Politics...

[seafoid]

 This is a huge theme.  The way the 1% are degrading politics


https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/11/the-prospect-of-a-roy-moore-victory-should-make-your-stomach-churn-with-fear

What is happening to the Republicans under Trump is a process whereby the base radicalises the establishment, and the establishment then feels empowered to begin dismantling aspects of democracy. Moore has stated that the last time the US was great was "at the time when families were united – even though we had slavery" – although not the families of black people, which were, of course, torn apart.

However, the historical parallels are more recent. In his study of the rise of Nazism and the fall of the Weimar republic, the leftwing German historian Hans Mommsen identified three destabilisers defying the textbook explanation that "Nazis were evil and the German bourgeoisie naive".

The first was the rise of conservative paramilitary combat leagues, numbering at least 400,000 before the Nazi brownshirts took off. Although their aim was always declared to be keeping order, the combat leagues created a paralysis in the official policing structures that the Nazis exploited in their march to power. The second was the corruption of the judiciary. In a series of court cases, most notably when they upheld the libellous charge that the moderate socialist leader Friedrich Ebert had committed treason, the German courts eviscerated the republican constitution on which Weimar democracy had been based. The third destabiliser was the resort to rule by decree under conservative chancellors after 1930, sidelining the elected parliament – again with the approval of the courts.
Following this process through the collapse of Weimar democracy, the Nazi years in power and the Holocaust, Mommsen dubbed it "cumulative radicalisation". Far from exhibiting naivety, the German business class became increasingly complicit in hollowing out parliamentary democracy, always under the pressure of a radical, plebeian, racist voting base.
 
is hard to look at the US today without seeing the cumulative radicalisation of the right: there are militias – not just of the classic gun-toting variety, but regimented groups of younger, more urbanised men, mobilised via internet message boardsdevoted to violent misogyny and racism, such as the Proud Boys. There are figures such as Moore prepared to defy the constitution, and a network of more than 200 law enforcers in the "constitutional sheriffs" movement – which claims that an elected local sheriff should be able to overrule federal law.

And now we have the beginnings of rule by diktat, not only in the frequent presidential decrees and arbitrary sackings of officials by the White House, but in Congress itself. The Republicans sprang a massive and detailed amendment to the tax bill just a few hours before it was due to be voted on. Trump's Treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, has offered scant analysis of the effects on debt or distribution arising from the new tax bill and deleted a study from the Treasury website that was implicitly critical. The normal processes of democracy are being short-circuited.

victory for Moore on Tuesday will up the tempo of rightwing radicalisation. Nobody needs to say that a new secession by the south, as his backers want, is impossible, or that a US run by local sheriffs in defiance of the federal courts is a neofascist fantasy. These are signifiers for a more practical programme of tolerance for racist policing, limits on abortion rights and the shrinkage of the state.



'Maybe Putin is right': Roy Moore remark on same-sex marriage resurfaces

 

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There is not a single major company in the US whose material interest aligns with the political programme of Moore, not even Koch Industries, which has bankrolled the Tea Party movement, nor Rupert Murdoch's Fox Corporation, which has boosted the rightwing agenda. In most global corporations, the language Moore and his supporters use could not even be uttered in the restrooms, let alone the boardroom.

[whitey]

Moore represents Alabama....nowhere else.

Of course the Democrats will try and attach Moore to every single Republican that holds elected office

They tried it with Trump and it didnt work

(Republicans would do the same if the shoe was on the other foot)

FFS Elizabeth Warren cut the ribbon and gave a glowing speech about Ted Kennedy when they opened his museum in Boston last year......Ted fvckin Kennedy........if she starts the phony war on women $hit she should be taken out at the knees

[Eamonnca1]

They'd be losing their minds regardless of whether it was Mitt Romneys "binders" or John Kasichs "housewives leaving their kitchens". 30 years of rank hypocrisy and double standards is coming back to haunt the Democrats and they can go fvck themselves as far as I'm concerned

And BTW, read the totality of what I wrote on the matter.....I also said Roy Moore should be thrown out of the Senate if he gets elected

I challenge you to condemn Moore and renounce him. No whataboutery, just a straight denunciation will do.

Do it, Whitey. Do it.

[Gmac]

They'd be losing their minds regardless of whether it was Mitt Romneys "binders" or John Kasichs "housewives leaving their kitchens". 30 years of rank hypocrisy and double standards is coming back to haunt the Democrats and they can go fvck themselves as far as I'm concerned

And BTW, read the totality of what I wrote on the matter.....I also said Roy Moore should be thrown out of the Senate if he gets elected

He's OK now... his wife was very clear that their Attorney is a Jew so they can't be racist!

as I read that article the courts refuse to implement the travel ban
The sanctuary cities won't enforce federal law and and the state dept say they are not doing anything to move embassy or any dept offices to Jerusalem so it's a total load of shite.
Unfortunately for most on here who hate trump and the USA the country is booming right now whoever is responsible for it , and the longer I live here the more I find the country does well and thrives despite of politicians not thanks to them.

[whitey]

They'd be losing their minds regardless of whether it was Mitt Romneys "binders" or John Kasichs "housewives leaving their kitchens". 30 years of rank hypocrisy and double standards is coming back to haunt the Democrats and they can go fvck themselves as far as I'm concerned

And BTW, read the totality of what I wrote on the matter.....I also said Roy Moore should be thrown out of the Senate if he gets elected

I challenge you to condemn Moore and renounce him. No whataboutery, just a straight denunciation will do.

Do it, Whitey. Do it.

I condemn and renounce him

(I already said  on this thread that he should have been thrown off the ballot and that should he win he should be removed from the Senate)

Now do I still think the Democrats are hypocrites of the highest order for all of a sudden (after 30 years) being offended by sexual mis-steps by an elected official....bet your life I do.

BTW the exit polls in AL showed that for only 1/10 voters were the allegations the most important issue, while 1/3 said the allegations didnt factor at all in their decision

[Eamonnca1]

Did you miss the part where I said "no whataboutery"?

[stew]

For his next trick he'll probably say he'd like to have seen Jimmy Saville becoming Tory leader just to p1ss off "liberals."

On a day when the conservatives of Alabama are going out to vote for an alleged paedophile, these people still have the audacity to use the word "liberal" as if it's a term of abuse. They are beyond satire.

Dont you get it? The right are every bit as disgusted with liberals as you are conservatives!

[whitey]

Did you miss the part where I said "no whataboutery"?

There was none.  I addressed two completely separate topics in my post

[Puckoon]

For his next trick he'll probably say he'd like to have seen Jimmy Saville becoming Tory leader just to p1ss off "liberals."

On a day when the conservatives of Alabama are going out to vote for an alleged paedophile, these people still have the audacity to use the word "liberal" as if it's a term of abuse. They are beyond satire.

If you want your argument to carry weight, given the completely bullshit state of all of our media - you'd be better served not claiming Roy Moore was allegedly a Paedophile.  As far as I can tell his accusers, while being young, and being preyed on - were not so young as to classify him such. It would be so refreshing to have some people actually tell it as it is. Unfortunately many democratic, and people who in my opinion lean to the side of "good", can't stop regurgitating the very bullshit that we've called the republican folks on. How about letting the facts speak for themselves?

[Syferus]

For his next trick he'll probably say he'd like to have seen Jimmy Saville becoming Tory leader just to p1ss off "liberals."

On a day when the conservatives of Alabama are going out to vote for an alleged paedophile, these people still have the audacity to use the word "liberal" as if it's a term of abuse. They are beyond satire.

If you want your argument to carry weight, given the completely bullshit state of all of our media - you'd be better served not claiming Roy Moore was allegedly a Paedophile.  As far as I can tell his accusers, while being young, and being preyed on - were not so young as to classify him such. It would be so refreshing to have some people actually tell it as it is. Unfortunately many democratic, and people who in my opinion lean to the side of "good", can't stop regurgitating the very bullshit that we've called the republican folks on. How about letting the facts speak for themselves?

One of the victims was 14 years old ffs!! Not a paedophile my fúcking arse.

I don't know how you could write that with a clear conscience. Incredible.

[theskull1]

I know how he could write it

He read the detail on the definition of the word. Thats what the literature says ffs.
Sexual predator? Appears to be
Child abuser? Looks like it
Evil sc**bag? Indeed
Paedophile? Not by the definition of the term

[Syferus]

I know how he could write it

He read the detail on the definition of the word. Thats what the literature says ffs.
Sexual predator? Appears to be
Child abuser? Looks like it
Evil sc**bag? Indeed
Paedophile? Not by the definition of the term

If you and Puckoon are actually trying to conduct a semantic debate around the fact that in your eyes a 14 year old girl isn't a child I really can do little but shake my head.

Concentrate on the important part.

[Jell 0 Biafra]

Nobody needs to say that a new secession by the south, as his backers want, is impossible,

Oh please, Jesus, yes.  Let them have their abortion-and blue-state funding-free theocracy, and let the rest of us have a functioning democracy.

[Puckoon]

You've enough people pulling your britches down on this board, Syferus - so I'll try and highlight the salient points of my post. Feel free to google salient.

We're awash with errors in the quality of news and facts, at best. At worst - we are surrounded by those who seek to squeeze any additional smidgen of a point which will turn the tide of popular opinion. This is called spin, and is responsible for the reprehensible state of political news and opinion as we are now forced to know it.

Roy Moore is a predator, abuser of young, inexperienced girls. He is also not fit for office, nor any public held position. He is abominable.

He is not, however - a paedophile (that has currently been alleged). He may well be. So may anyone. Given that fact, any assertions about him from liberal/democratic folks would be best served in fact, given the absolute spin merchants peddling their trade on Fox News.

Now, take your fake indignation and relentless energy - and put it where it belongs. Make your bed so your mammy doesn't yell at you in the morning.

[J70]

Not looking good for Moore...