October 8, 2018
It is no exaggeration to say, as Charles Blow has, that we are in the midst of a Cold Civil War. On one side, we have people who happily put brown children in cages, re-hire cops who have murdered innocent Black children in cold blood and privilege the rights of rapists over survivors. They bond with their leader by delighting in cruelty to those of us they disdain as beneath them. If you think that this is a new phenomenon in American life, I have some lynching postcards to show you (Source: “Cruelty Is The Point,” by Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 10/3/18).
John Cornyn gleefully shared a picture of his celebratory champagne with the hashtag #BeersforBrett. Mitch McConnell denigrated the protestors as a “mob,” yet said that the anger over Kavanaugh would “blow over.” Even more infuriating, the fight over Kavanaugh is said to have energized Republicans and diminished the Democratic advantage going into the midterms. In the absence of polling, we don’t know whether that is true or simply spin eagerly consumed by Beltway pundits who crave a horse race narrative over substantive political analysis.
While Republicans were gloating and Susan Collins was taking her victory lap on the Sunday shows as a reward for her willingness to sell out survivors on behalf of a geriatric, racist patriarchy, Trump was busily ratcheting up the demonization, widening the scope of “enemies of the state.” In a classic case of projection, Trump has begun characterizing the Democrats as the party of crime, saying that they are “too extreme and too dangerous” to govern,(Source: “Trump attacks Dems as ‘too dangerous’ to govern in plea for GOP midterm support,” by Brett Samuels, TheHill.com, 10/7/18). Make no mistake, Trump is openly inciting violence against anyone with a “D” next to their name.
The peril of this moment cannot be overstated. The political press, cosseted by privilege and blinded by the need to shoehorn ever more alarming facts into their shopworn “both sides” framing, are failing to note the danger right in front of us. The current president and leader of the Republican Party, who has already demonstrated vicious animus towards women, religious and racial minorities and LGBT people, is telling his supporters that anyone who supports a multi-racial democracy where women have equal rights is their “enemy.” This is not a polite policy disagreement, but a naked incitement to violently resist the Democratic victories they suspect are coming. As journalist David Neiwert detailed in this Twitter thread, there are a frightening number of people armed and ready to take up the charge.
The purpose in highlighting this alarming reality is NOT to paralyze us with fear, but to ensure that we go into this midterm election with our eyes wide open. Right now, it’s a Cold War. At any moment, it could be a hot one.
#VOTE
#Makesureyoureregistered!
#Swingleft
Chilling. Very chilling.
Yes it is, but we need to face facts and prepare accordingly