Escalating rhetoric from Trump and his supporters

[highplainsdem]

The first point, because it's the most recent, is Trump calling the media the "real" enemy of the people in a tweet this morning. He's called them "the enemy of the people" a number of times in the past, but I don't recall his throwing the word "real" in like that before today.

The second point I want to make is the obvious escalation on the right of charges that Democrats and their allies, the media, are threatening (or at the very least hoping for) violence against Trump.

The latest such example is Matt Drudge's response this morning to the brilliant New Yorker cover showing Trump flat on his face at the foot of the Trump Tower escalator:

Link to tweet

The Left’s continued fetish for Trump’s physical harm/death is stunning...

Last night Tucker Carlson was haranguing Eric Swalwell (who should stop wasting his time appearing on Fox so their hosts can talk over him) and suggesting that because treason is a capital offense and Swalwell has used the word treason to describe what Trump is doing, Swalwell is in effect hoping to get Trump killed.

Swalwell did his best to have a rational discussion with Carlson of what Trump is doing, but Carlson talked over him constantly, and it was clear that Swalwell was allowed on the show only to give Carlson another target while he suggests the president's opponents are in effect threatening violence.

We've been hearing stories and conspiracy theories for a while now suggesting that "the left" is threatening a violent coup. But this kind of rhetoric is now coming from the top Trump propagandists in RW media.

This is of course a threat to Democrats, the media, and free speech.

[oberliner]

1. Trump accused Democrats of treason for not clapping hard enough for him at the State of the Union

[dalton99a]

2. Cockroaches are afraid of sunlight

Traitors are afraid of being exposed

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

3. 'You Lie!" During President Obamas first State of the Union (?) Speech

Appalling behavior. Now they want to threaten and scare us into not protesting. The gun toters want to walk around like creeps and frighten normal people. Guess what...they have to shoot a WHOLE crowd. It's the price we pay to wrestle freedom back. We've allowed them way too much leeway w the gun thing. It's not gun ownership anymore...it's gun terrorism.
Maxine Waters protest this weekend. Vast crowds of people...100 punks w guns acting like Blackwater in Iraq. (All w the latest fashions from the local used military garb store.)
The police have to arrest any of them once the first shot is fired.
PS...Democrats get weapons permits too, and we hunt. Probably are better shots bc we only need one to kill a deer or pheasant etc. (Not a spray.). We hate to use them, but we ARE the good guys w the gun, and we will stop you if you lose your mind. Disgusting to even have to say that. But, we won't be bullied anymore. Posse up. know the laws. Take a stand when your time comes. Not threatening anyone. Just saying to the trolls who read this shit but never get an account.
Some Veterans and soldiers today are Democrats too. Lest ye forget.

[Different Drummer]

12. "It's not gun ownership anymore...it's gun terrorism."

Good point and an important distinction.

[ck4829]

4. The right is getting antsy... It's also why I'm not anti-gun, just no reason for personal armories

I'm also not anti-gun for me, something I've already exercised.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

7. Right there w you.

Avid sportsperson here.

[GoCubsGo]

5. More projection from the Right.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. If anybody is calling for harm to Trump

they are nuts and kooks and fringe-dwellers and should be denounced and/or prosecuted if they pose a threat to him. However, they are certainly NOT representative of "The Left" and/or the Democratic Party. Of course, it's really a straw man argument intended to shut down any and all criticism of Trump.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

8. No ones calling for that. See Tucker carlson last night.

Believe it or not, people can have a gun for protection and also use it to fill a freezer of meat. Remember how you feel when these thugs are running in packs in protests of peaceful people. The 2nd Amendment has been bastardized and the right threatens death all the time. Lynchings during Obama. 2nd Amendment remedies under dt. These people threaten all the time. It's not us. I reserve the right to use harsh language back however, if it makes even one of them leave their guns at home. Where they belong.

[highplainsdem]

9. As you said, this is a straw man argument from the right intended to shut down all criticism.

[beachbum bob]

10. The right wing understands they lose elections when democrats vote so

their underlying message has always been to resort to violence. We are hearing how they are setting the stage. The battle for America come November 2018 will have blood spilled. This constant disparaging of law and law enforcement and demeaning free speech and free press is almost out of Hitler's playbook.

[bdamomma]

11. tRump and his ilk like Fox

are conducting a very dangerous game of continuing to feed into peoples' fears and there will be bloodshed if they keep this propaganda going.

[Bayard]

13. This is their new watch word

Violence. Violent Left. Violent Liberals.

I'm wondering when they're going to start throwing journalists in jail, claiming they are promoting violence and treason.

IMPEACH!

[Initech]

15. Yup it's all about projection.

They think we're all Antifa and groups that beat up the Proud Boys and III%ers. But we're not, so they just lump us all in. Meanwhile there are *HUNDREDS* of stories of Trump fans calling the cops on black people and threatening to murder us, and doxxing, and using Nazi imagery and language, and all the other shit we've been through since this wretched administration has taken over. Really it's the violent lunatic right wing that we need to worry about.

[Initech]

14. They're looking for excuses to jail the opposition.

And that is fucking scary.