Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEric Alterman on Holding Trump Enablers Accountable
https://billmoyers.com/story/hold-all-trump-allies-accountable/Eric Alterman on Holding Trump Enablers Accountable
BY Eric Alterman | January 8, 2021
Ive been forced to write about Donald Trump an awful lot during the past five years and the problem I always face when writing in a limited space, like this one, is which of his countless horrific qualities to focus on. The same thing happens when I need to address the consequences of the policies of his administration. There are so many terrible ones, so many victims and so many enablers. I always found myself asking, Who deserves a thousand words today?
Not today. I dont dispute the genuine horror, outrage and sadness genuinely patriotic people feel at seeing the desecration of one of the most potent symbols of American democracy. I share those feelings. But another part of me is glad about it. Finally, Trumpism has clarified itself. Its not about economic insecurity. Its not about globalization. Its not about being forgotten, disdained by elites, or fear of the future. Its just about hatred: hatred of anyone and anything who is not a white, Christian, right-wing, American-born American. Any other attempt to defend or explain Trumps appeal is a lie and a dangerous one at that because its a lie that perpetuates all the other lies that have allowed him and his minions to conduct a rampage against America and all that it stands for; the same rampage that finally found its physical manifestation in the insurrectional riot we saw on Wednesday.
snip//
The obvious question for which there is just as obviously no clear answer yet is, Are we too far gone to save ourselves? As posed by the punditocracy, it takes some form of, How much of the Republican Party will remain in thrall to this guy that we now all suddenly discovered is a dangerous lunatic? This question is always followed by references to rhetorical flamethrowers, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley and the total of 179 lawmakers who, even after what they saw on Wednesday, still refused to recognize the rightful president-elect of the United States. (This is coupled with a running count of which rats are jumping from their sinking ship. ) But the Congressional Republican Party is just the head of an extremely pugnacious and poisonous snake. The reptilian structure it grows out of has strangled so many of institutions that make democracy possible and infected so many of the people who shape and influence it, one has a hard time imagining where we will find the resources to nurse the body politic back even to a semblance of good health.
One thing is for certain, however: we have no choice but to try. There is no moving on or looking to the future without first facing the truth. And that means legally holding responsible everyone who helped to create the criminal syndicate that took over our government and morally, everyone who supported it. They were not just playing politics, this time around. They were toying with treason. And thats just how they need to be treated if we are to restore a semblance of functional democracy to our system and personal honor to our politics.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 915 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (13)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Eric Alterman on Holding Trump Enablers Accountable (Original Post)
babylonsister
Jan 2021
OP
If so, he should start with the Nation's false equivalencies between Trump and Clinton.
FreepFryer
Jan 2021
#2
That's why i mentioned the Nation. The late Stephen Cohen's apologia was beyond the pale.
FreepFryer
Jan 2021
#5
wendyb-NC
(3,328 posts)1. Absolutely right
FreepFryer
(7,077 posts)2. If so, he should start with the Nation's false equivalencies between Trump and Clinton.
Alterman and that crew have been way too pro Putin to start lecturing now imho.
If the article started w their own failings and enabling acts (no pun intended) I might feel differently.
babylonsister
(171,079 posts)3. Alterman works for The Nation iirc;
I never knew he was pro-Putin.
FreepFryer
(7,077 posts)5. That's why i mentioned the Nation. The late Stephen Cohen's apologia was beyond the pale.
agingdem
(7,852 posts)4. Trump took overt in-your-face hate out of the shadows
and into the White House where he and his enablers normalized and legitimized it..and that's why his venomous seditious followers love him...he hates who they hate...blacks, hispanics, gays, Jews, Muslims, asians, native Americans..and they can harass, maim and kill with impunity...