In which reliable Republican Beltway stalactite Michael Gerson rolls over and freaks out after catching a glimpse of the monster he's been laying with (in the Biblio-political sense) his entire adult life.
“This is a reality that I have resisted naming. The 45th president and a significant portion of his supporters have embraced American fascism.” https://t.co/CzGaoQ1uKd
— Michael Gerson (@MJGerson) February 1, 2021
FYI, before reading this article. I'm playing a little five-finger-exercise writing game with myself. A game I play when I'm bored with how much sanctimonious, overpaid Conservative stupid there is in the world.
First, consider that the Republican Party's stank is wired into Gerson's political DNA.
Second, consider that Gerson is pathetically unwilling to recognizing the true faces of own tribe when they take their masks off and leer at him with blood on their teeth.
Third, consider that Gerson is pathologically incapable of acknowledging even for a second that the hated, hated Left has been right about the Right along. Because, to misquote one of Trumps two favorite Corinthians, if the Left was right and the GOP has been this way all along, then Gerson's preaching is in vain, and his faith also is in vain.
Recognizing how catastrophically wrong all along (and how right his nemeses had been right) would destroy Gerson, spiritually, psychologically and professionally. And since there is no way he's going to risk that, he is left with only the narrowest and more tortured aperture through which to squeeze out this column.
Trumpism is American fascism
Donald Trump’s promise of American strength has involved the betrayal of American identity.
One of the most important strands of our founding ideology is civic republicanism.What type of citizen has Trump — and his supportive partisan media — produced?
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) still holds her job in Congress because she is representative of ascendant MAGA radicalism. Those who reflect her overt racism, her unhinged conspiracy thinking and her endorsement of violence against public figures are now treated as a serious political constituency within the Republican Party.
Those who supported the overt racism and unhinged conspiracy thinking of Birtherism and the endorsement of "Second Amendment solutions" to politicians who stood in their way were called Republicans, Mr. Gerson. Republicans.
Call this civic barbarism.
Instead of promoting the values of responsible citizenship, Trump and his media enablers are elevating and blessing the very worst among us.
How can anyone view the trashing of our founding tradition as evidence of patriotism?
If you're inclined to take Michael Gerson seriously, drink something cold, lie down, and read this.https://t.co/jKKzSmVO7O
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) June 11, 2019
But the influence of his treacherous ideology is still being spread by unprincipled people seeking influence and profit.
The task of marginalization will also be more difficult if those on the left try to lump all conservatives into Trump’s camp — arguing that fascism is somehow the natural destination of Barry Goldwater’s nomination or Ronald Reagan’s presidency. This is utter rubbish. I was involved, for example, in the running ideological conflict between Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.), whom I worked for, and Pat Buchanan, who previewed Trumpism. Kemp was the more authentically conservative voice. And there is a massive moral gap between the politics of George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, John McCain and Mitt Romney on one side, and Trump’s civic barbarism.
3 comments:
Republicans are in luck! If we're wrong about them, there's a difference between Republicanism and Trumpism, and they're desperate to prove it, they have a perfect opportunity at the impeachment trial. A clear-cut chance like that doesn't come along all that often. (If you don't count every day of the four years of the Trump presidency, that is ...)
Gerson "thought he was a man but he was a muffin"-"no crys is heard in the night as a result of him stuffin'- Frank Zappa
Yes, this gives muffins a bad name, but hey what are we gonna do?
Republican's archeologists make a rediscovery of the lost QANON scrolls lost during the Civil War in Alabama.
And The 11th commandment of Ronaldous maximous Reaganus renaptizes the blasphemy out of them.
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