Let's tell the truth about the Republican Party: It's the real enemy of the people

[marmar]

Let's tell the truth about the Republican Party: It's the real enemy of the people
Coverage of the second impeachment was still driven by media myths about "normal" Republicans. They don't exist

By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
FEBRUARY 19, 2021 11:00AM


(Salon) Donald Trump has an amazing instinctive gift for survival. Despite his many failures in business, politics, government and his personal life, Trump has rarely if even been held accountable. In that sense he remains a "winner," as well as the figurehead of a political movement that will not disappear from American life anytime soon.

Last Saturday, Donald Trump was officially acquitted at the conclusion of his second impeachment trial, this time for committing insurrection and encouraging his followers to participate in a lethal attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Why? Simply put, congressional Republicans largely agree with Trump, and are beholden to him. They also fear his followers. With this most recent vote to acquit Trump for his obvious crimes, the Republican Party has become a de facto terrorist organization that embraces the use of political violence by members of the white right against Democrats, liberals, progressives and any other group or individual deemed to be the enemy.

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In these and other ways, the Republican Party and the broader right-wing movement have shown the American people and the world that they are anti-democratic, anti-majoritarian, fascist and authoritarian. They are enemies of multiracial democracy and pluralism, and committed to winning power and holding it by any means necessary and at any cost. Yet too many among the American news media, the Democratic Party and the public at large remain in denial.

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Another narrative holds that "history is watching" and that impeaching Trump a second time set an important precedent. But Republicans and Trump supporters do not care about the "truth" or the abstract judgment of history. Their commandments are victory and power by any means. Today's American right wing understands that history is a malleable thing, which in many ways is written by the victors.

As with other fascists and authoritarians, today's Republican Party lives in a type of eternal present. They may speak of "tradition" and a return to some idyllic, fictive past of "greatness" and "glory," but those are just linguistic devices deployed to achieve victory by destroying existing societal institutions and norms. As for precedent? That assumes a future America where there is a substantive commitment to real democracy and the rule of law. Given the enduring power of Trumpism and other right-wing fake populist movements, such an assumption is very much in doubt. ..............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2021/02/19/lets-tell-the-truth-about-the-republican-party-its-the-real-enemy-of-the-people/

[ancianita]

1. 77% of America did not vote GOP, and so we 77% will act accordingly.

The 81 million of us who represent the 77% will keep democracy safe by any means necessary. We can do 3-4 Big Things at once, and keeping the 72 million might-makes-righters at bay is one of them.