There can be no pretence that the events in Washington yesterday were in any way unpredictable. That Trump is a wannabe fascist has been clear for years. That he would not accept defeat at the ballot box has been equally clear for years. It has, to my mind, always been fair to suggest that a vote for Trump is enabling a fascist. Some people thought the use of the ‘F’ label was inappropriate. I felt otherwise. Today, I feel it’s use was justified.
As his presidency has progressed, it has become fair to suggest that his supporters were growing in culpability, enabling fascism, either knowingly or through dim witted ignorance. Over the last few months, it’s become fair to tell a Trump supporter that they are, at best, an apologist for fascism. Last night was Trump’s ‘Kristallnacht’. And any supporter of Trump this morning is a fascist. Not an enabler or an apologist.
There are no weasel words to escape this fact. There’s nothing that the Trump Cult Club, headed by the likes of Hannity, Carlson, the obviously deluded Scott Adams, Shapiro or Trump family members can say to mitigate this. Not without confirming that they too are fascists. If you are a Trump supporter, own what you are. Don’t be afraid. Practice your Nazi salute. There can no longer be a pretence as to what and who you are.
But the loss of pretence makes for a simpler world and provides an opportunity. A choice exists. To either permit the poison of Trump to continue to leech into American politics for years or decades to come. Or to cauterise the wound. To remove Trump from office, even at this late stage. For the senate to ban him from public office for life. I
t’s an opportunity to condemn fascism entirely, to make a statement as to what the USA stands for and to ensure the biggest stain of this sordid presidency rests on Trump himself, not American democracy. And no, I don’t think they’ll take the opportunity to do so either….
The Mexile 
I agree completely, no reservations what so ever, you nailed it.
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Its always been clear to me who Trump is. I just write what is obvious. It’s the other folk, who’d like people to support him, who need to utilise linguistic trickery to try and create an alternative reality that supporters can believe in.
But yesterday was the day we all got to see what’s behind the curtain. Of course, there will still be some folk who fawn over the man. The fascists.
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Incidentally, I’d say that his ‘concession’ today sounded to me like he’s doing what needs to be done to avoid the possibility of removal from office. It’ll likely be enough to achieve that. Unless….to be continued?
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Well said. Thank you for putting it so clearly.
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Thanks you, and thanks for commenting.
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I totally agree. A have a neighbor that after all this time still has a banner and yard signs for the “pendejo”. As far as I am concerned they are traitors to this country. I know that our President-elect speaks of unity, but he is a better man than I. I have no desire to ever have anything to do with them.
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Politics is an emotive issue. Always has been, always will be, but probably never more so than now. I’ve always taken the stand that there is a difference between voting for Trump and actively supporting the man and his presidency.
I’ve also found it interesting just how intertwined his support is with conspiracy theorists. I agree with the idea that it’s important to listen to and productively engage with those who hold opinions different to our own. But you just can’t do that in any rational way with a conspiracy theorist. And I’ve come to believe that fictional conspiracies are the bedrock of fascism.
I’ve let go a couple of friendships on account of Trump. Sad, but life goes on.
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Hello Steve, Cassie and I have been Oregonians for the past 15+ years. In July 2020 we moved to Cashmere WA. Since December 5 we are living in Barra till March 19. It would be to great meet. In 2001 December to Feb 2002 I sailed from Astoria, OR to Barra. I continued to the Galapagos and returned to Seattle in September 2003. My wife and I have moved Sway (sailboat) from Astoria to lower Puget Sound in Sept-Oct 2020. We are heading to Alaska, when the border opens and hope to do two seasons there. After that we will take Sway to the sea of Cortez as our winter condo. I purchased Sway in 1996 at San Carlos, MX, but I haven’t done any exploring of the SOC. We are hanging out east of Barra and it would be fun to meet. Allan
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Allan Warren– I think you may have meant to post on my blog, but you have posted on Gary’s. That is fine because he is an all right chap.
It would be good to meet you when you get down Barra way.
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I’m encouraged that your spell checker agreed that I’m all right and not alt-right. It’s a very 2020 thing, to find out what someone thinks of you through their spell checker snitching on them…!!
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Hahaha… very timely as well!
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