Lining Up the Right Wing Firing Squad
What we’re seeing in American politics is not rational. Fueled by misinformation and fired up by charlatans whose goal is chaos, the right wing response to losing –whether it’s in court or elections– is all about reprisal these days.
It’s normal to be disappointed when things don’t go your way. In democracy, disappointment can be turned into victory by focusing on informing and organizing.
Peel back the layers of the American right wing’s authoritarian agenda, the only thing that really counts is power. And if elections won’t do it, then cheat. A liberal won in a crucial race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court yesterday; she may never take a seat because a Republican super majority in the legislature wants to impeach her.
That’s why the Grand Old Party has its arms wrapped around a charlatan and blowhard. The guy has no ideas except me, me, me, and I’m a victim.
Despite all the media chatter about a porn star payoff, the crime that got the former president indicted was an ongoing scheme financing the suppression of news that might hurt his candidacy. In other words, cheating voters about their understanding of the candidate. Stormy Daniels was just one instance of this scheme in action.
Since Trump & Company don’t have the law or (probably the) evidence on their side in all the potential prosecutions, their plan is to attack the individuals and institutions responsible for delivering justice. It’s a win-win. Even if they lose at trial, public confidence in those institutions will be eroded to the point where future bad deeds will be glossed over.
Here’s a two minute summary of the Dear Leader’s pity party speech at Mar a Lago on Tuesday evening, sans the sound of his voice:
Here in California, this notion is expressed in more subtle ways. You’d think, for instance, that Supervisor Nathan Fletcher’s scandal and impending resignation would have his political opponents working hard to get a replacement more sympathetic to their interests.
And, yes, I agree that May 15 as a final day at the job seems a bit much, but given that Fletcher’s not voting on policy and his colleagues have yet to chart a course for replacing him, it seems like all the fuss is not useful beyond being performative for aspiring ideologues. .
What’s really going on here is an attempt to kill policy decisions associated with the outgoing supervisor. His very bad behavior had nothing to do with the actions of his fellow supervisors in supporting mental health programs, making local government more transparent, and cleaning the sludge out of the bureaucracy.
If Nathan Fletcher had anything to do with it, the thinking goes, it must be bad. That’s why the pack of flat earthers against the County’s COVID public health measures showed up for an encore performance at this week’s supervisors meeting.
Remember the guy below? On Tuesday he said he was speaking on behalf of the people of San Diego. I don’t remember voting for him.
Never mind that their views and values were represented by a candidate for Fletcher’s seat in the last election who lost bigtime at the ballot box. They were screeching and complaining on Tuesday as if their ideas were supported by the public.
KKKUSI, as expected, is leading the charge with a “scandal story” about Fletcher’s county-supplied security. The story doesn’t mention the torrent of death threats on social media directed at the Supervisor, nor does it mention that somebody torched his house.
Money Quote: “… Fletcher’s security detail came at his request, as he felt unsafe around the very people he was elected to represent.”
It’s almost as if KUSI’s management wanted Fletcher dead.
Oh, yeah, revenge politics.
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Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez is in the running for the top administrative role in San Diego County. According to freelancer Steve Horn, who seems to favor stories trashing Democrats, Chavez is Fletcher’s choice. That’s odd, because I seem to remember being told a member of the Supe’s staff was angling for the position, but whatever.
He shared an 2022 opinion article by a Vietnamese activist denying that he’d accused Chavez (then running for Mayor of San Jose) of being a communist and saying her agenda was to keep Asians off the city council.
In reality this was about a right wing opponent (he won) in the mayoral contest using a shadow group to disrupt appearances by Chavez. (The activist denies this) In other words, typical Republican bullshit.
Her legal response to these disruptions was a letter from an attorney to the activist. And, once again in typical GOP form, he went crying to the media about being bullied. This sort of response gets used so often there must be a full chapter in the MAGA book of questionable tactics.
As a former San Jose councilmember and head of the South Bay Labor Council, Chavez has championed progressive politics in Santa Clara County since the 1990s. That’s her real sin.
My intention in highlighting these events is to make you aware that, while it’s the right thing to do to condemn Nathan Fletcher’s behaviors, don’t amplify those whose real intention involves undoing the great changes that have occurred in county government over the past few years.
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Something to keep on your radar. The “No Labels Group” is being supported by billionaires as a back door way to re-elect Trump.
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Finally, a relevant quote from Aaron Rupar at Public Notice:
Trump is important. But that importance is less about him as an individual than it is about the authoritarian movement that elevated him, and which he has supercharged. Trump promised to use the power of the state to crush dissent and target marginalized people. The GOP voted for him because that’s exactly what they want from a leader. Now that Trump is a private citizen, the GOP is pressing on with the business of fascism on the state level. That’s a story that needs to be told. But you can’t tell it if your camera is on the tarmac, watching Trump’s plane.
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