July 4, 2024
If you haven’t noticed, the slow-motion coup to take over America and turn it into a quasi-religious authoritarian state is underway. The latest is the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025”. There’s a lot being said about it, but the gist is a comprehensive (990+ pages) edict of orders to suspend rights, suppress dissent and jail dissenters; issue a “Christian” dogma for family structure (i.e., white/male/female/evangelical format), with mechanisms for economic sanction, suppression and intimidation of those who don’t comply; installation of loyalists and courtiers in all avenues of government (including the military), removal of any environmental protection of air, water and land, removal and abandonment of social networks (Social Security) and permanent installation of a one-party state without recourse or respect to the will of the people. Think Orban (Hungary) at best, think Putin at worst; they set the methods to emulate (Trump just met with Orban, who then just met with Putin).
And the Supreme Court says the President is immune from a poorly-defined “official and unofficial acts” definition. Was screwing Stormy Daniels an official act? Will hauling off migrants, gays or dissenters to camps be “unofficial?”
I hope you’re getting the picture. Conservatives, now emboldened with a brainwashed cult that embraces authoritarianism and dehumanization, a leader that has no morals or respect for social norms, dignity, or even civility and encourages his followers to follow suit, are launching their effort for a permanent one-party state, as envisioned by Karl Rove twenty or so years ago. This time the ‘end game’ infers violence – and permission to act it out. I have this sinking feeling we’re back in 1968, only maybe worse.
Look in the mirror of America: A Supreme Court that has become corrupt both ideologically and personally; taking “gifts”, espousing anti-government ideals and awarding control of the executive branch without checks, all the while allowing for the control of the decisions of individual personal lives, especially women.
The spokesman for the Heritage Foundation calling it a “second American revolution” and infers “if the left doesn’t fight it”. Well, revolutions have responders; the messsage from most Americanswill be “screw with our freedom and we’ll screw with you.”
Edit: (and as of today, July 13), the shots fired at the Trump rally today will be parlayed into some sort of spin, that politicians all “condemn” political violence, while working the bellows of hate, then act surprised when it happens. The media is complicit, they are hand-in-hand with creating this monster.
So you better be ready for a fight – and more than Facebook memes and keyboard bitching. These guys represent the end of the American democracy and freedoms as we know it. and January 6 is a telling clue that they’re not interest in your vote, or you, or your family – they want control, right down to the Trump “farm team” at the local level – go after them, too. Even with it’s flaws, republics and liberal democracies are the best hope our founding fathers gave us to govern ourselves – and as Ben Franklin said, “It’s a republic – if you can keep it.”
It’s gonna get ugly very quickly unless we put these authoritarians in their place.- the dustbin – and everybody sobers up about the direction of our country.
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I was honored to have been the featured artist again on the AAEC website June 9, however, there is a glitch with the website so I am unable to upload any new content until they get it fixed. I have some on paper in abeyance, and they may appear on my FB page.. AAEC website and support them. www.editorialcartoonists.com
Below is some recent rolling blog history. Be well and chin up!
April 22: Happy First Trial Day (and btw, Earth Day)! Trump goes to court for the “hush money” paid to porn star Stormy Daniels (and another tryst). The charges are typical Trump, money seems to be his soul (presuming he has one) and I presume he thinks is everyone else’s. I feel for Stormy, she “took one for the team” in diddling probably one of the most physically unappealing individuals to come along. I’m surprised the “hush” isn’t the other way around. A list of other trials is forthcoming, the tinpot wannabee dictator inexplicably has a brainwashed following thinks he’s some kind of martyr. (And, evangelicals, probably over Jesus’ objection, are comparing him to their savior).
January 17: Three drown while crossing the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass; the Texas Department of Public Safety blocks the Border Patrol from saving them. Later, they said, “that’s ok, they were dead already anyway.” Gov. Abbott says in a right-wing talk radio show, “we’d shoot them, but we’d be charged with murder.” Duh. Problem is, the white Texas Republicans think they’re so much closer to God than darker-skinned people, they completely lose perspective of compassion, dignity and thrive on dehumanization. It’s a fundamental trait of Trumpism.
January 15: Escambia School District in Florida bans dictionaries and encyclopedias from their shelves; while they claim they are “under review” there’s no timeline for their return. How the hell do kids in Florida read and write? (Hint: maybe that’s the plan, Trump said he loves the “uneducated.” (A follow-up: while visiting Grand Turk, my wife and I met a woman and her husband who were both educators in the aforementioned school district. A homespun take is that she was from Washington State initially and had moved there. I asked about the “book bans”; she said they have straightened that issue out. I hope so, fascists, populists and conservatives (which can be used interchangeably more and more) would just as soon keep you angry as well as stupid.
January 10: Stanley Cup confusion, Taylor Swift football draw, as an attempt to add a little humor (especially since I’m cooped up due to the weather).
January 6 is the anniversary of the attack on our democracy.
I can remember walking with my wife at a park when I heard of the events unfolding.
I was unspeakably angry, ready to deck any Republican I saw – if I could only find one.
I still am angry, and will be til the end of my days. I understand anger is not healthy, but I will channel it int he best, most helpful ways I can.
This was a dress rehearsal for authoritarians who would love to enrich themselves, have poisoned our relationships with each other and say to hell with your freedom. As Liz Cheney said, “There are no bystanders in this fight.” If you want to be ruled by them, then go on about your business.
If you don’t, better get ready for a fight, because they’re not stopping until they rule, unchecked. And never forget January 6 – it’s just the rehearsal.
Thanks for tuning in.