fascism – R&R – Reachout and Rebuild

When Fascism Comes to America…

David Posnett — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 19:23:31 +0000

In response to articles in the Southampton Press:

“My opponent was attacking me [with those comments], trying to kick me out of office because of comparisons to Trump and Adolf Hitler, and that’s absolutely insane,” Mr. Zeldin said.

Mr. Gershon: “I talked about what’s going on and my fears,” he said. “I see creeping authoritarianism in Trump and Zeldin policies: taking babies away from mothers, siding with dictators against our intelligence agencies and allies, siding with insurance companies looking to take away health care and coverage for people with pre-exisiting conditions, calling the press the enemy of the people. Lee Zeldin has never criticized Trump for any of it.”

James Ewing writes:

The Holocaust Museum in Washington lists 14 warning signs of Fascism:

1) Powerful and continuing nationalism:

“The nation-state remains the best vehicle for the life intended by God…I will always put America first…I am your voice…I alone can fix it.” —DJ Trump.

2) Disdain for Human rights: Trump quits the UN Human Rights Council. ”Ignore due process…Torture works.”

3) Enemies as a unifying cause: “…build the wall…They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists, taking our money. They’re killing us.”

4) Military Supremacy: “I want a Parade…I too have a Nuclear Button…much bigger and more powerful…and my Button works!”

5)Rampant sexism: “I just start kissing, I don’t even wait, when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.”

6) Controlled mass media: “What you‘re seeing and what you‘re reading is not what’s happening…FAKE NEWS is the enemy…it may involve putting reporters in jail, a couple days, and they are ready to talk.”

7) National security obsession: ”Islam hates us…They’re trying to take over our children…We’ll build the wall, folks…zero tolerance….Don’t even worry about it. Go to sleep. Go home, go to sleep.”

8) Religion and government intertwined: “Trump has the Cyrus anointing to navigate in chaos [making America great again through an] imperfect human agent.”—Lance Wallnau, evangelical author and leader.

9) Corporate power protected: Companies are taking tax cuts, promoting deregulation, and anti-labor laws. Climate-change science deniers and industry insiders are now in key regulatory posts to ensure economic growth at all costs,

10) Labor power suppressed: The Trump administration has weakened health, safety, and consumer protections, cut funding for the National Labor Relations Board, blocked “right-to-work” laws, collective bargaining, family medical leave, and civil rights protections.

11) Disdain for intellectuals & the arts: Trump cuts funding for: DOE’s Office of Science, The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, NASA, NOAA, NIH, NEH, CPB, NPR and PBS. The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities have all resigned.

12) Obsession with crime & punishment: “…punch him in the face…lock her up…They should be forced to suffer…fast trials, death penalty…beheading…society will rot away until capital punishment is used more commonly.”

13) Cronyism & corruption: “…on my team…I’m going to surround myself only with the best and most serious people.”

14) Fraudulent elections: “Its a hoax.”

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

—George Santayana.

DJT and Zeldin (R) or Perry Gershon (D) in New York’s Congressional race? Your choice.

This Woman Had The Perfect Response When ICE Boarded Her Greyhound Bus

David Posnett — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 22:21:14 +0000

Tiana Smalls

By Yvette Montoya June 13, 2018, as published in Hiplatina.com

When Tiana Smalls (pictured above) boarded a Greyhound Bus in Bakersfield California headed to Las Vegas, she found herself in a situation that is reminiscent of Nazi, Germany. She recounts her experience in a Facebook post that has now gone viral:

Tiana decided to act when she could have just minded her business and continued her trip. But no, what happened was bold and brave:

Realizing that the people most likely to be targeted by ICE are Latinos, Smalls got on Google Translate so she could read her message in Spanish to make sure everyone knew what their rights were. She even went as far as reassuring the terrified woman next to her, that she wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

When ICE boarded the bus, Smalls was loud, stood her ground and made sure the agents, the driver, and everyone on the bus knew, that what ICE was doing, was illegal.

Small’s “filthy mouth” saved lives. She stuck up for what was right and for those who were most vulnerable. And she reminds everyone that injustice exists because of fear and silence and that using your voice to defend those in danger is the only way to combat the racism and blatant xenophobia sweeping the United States.

But what I really want to know is why Greyhound is allowing paying customers to be arrested simply for existing?

Yvette Montoya

There are many comments all over Facebook on this story. Here is one that needs to be answered (spelling errors corrected):

What Uri Xeno misses, is the intent and motivation behind Trump’s minions. Uri is correct in stating that other countries might well enforce their laws against people that overstay their visas or break immigration laws. However,

1) other countries do not have a stated policy to hunt down their own citizens who might stand accused of having obtained citizenship by illegal means, i.e. operation Janus, and ending birthright citizenship.

2) other countries don’t declare that people from “shithole” countries are not welcome.

3) other countries don’t leave entire segments of their own citizenry (Puerto Ricans) in limbo regarding their rights.

4) other countries don’t appoint racists to positions in government which empower ICE and other agencies and enact racist policies (Carl Higbie, Ayo Kimathi, Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Jeff Sessions, John Kelley, Thomas Homan, Sheriff Arpaio,etc). This was clear from the onset of the Trump presidency.

5) other countries don’t appoint ambassadors to raise hell with our staunchest allies.

6) other countries do not systematically turn down those that seek asylum because where they came from, they were in danger of their lives.

7) other countries don’t separate mothers from their children when they are apprehended at the border, which has rightfully spawned massive protests,

8) and most other countries don’t have an avowed racist as their president

Those are fascist tactics as Dr. Ruth explained to Dr. Kissinger! And our country will suffer the consequences. The historical record will not be kind.

In regard to our own US history, we just saw a new play “FELLOW TRAVELERS.” It is set during Hollywood’s notorious Blacklist. FELLOW TRAVELERS examines the relationship between legendary theater artists Arthur Miller and Elia Kazan and their close connection to Marilyn Monroe.

As per the patch.com it is a story of one of Hollywood’s darkest hours…, when American entertainment professionals and intellectuals were interrogated and denied employment opportunities because they were suspected of having Communist ties, or simply because they refused to cooperate with the McCarthyism witch-hunt. During this poisonous political time “Fellow Travelers” was the derogatory term used for people who were suspected of having any kind of Communist affiliation.

I also highly recommend “Red Hollywood”, a movie that

mainly features clips of films made by “Communist” writers, directors, and actors in Hollywood, many of whom were targets of secret government investigations and were blacklisted—barred from working in the studios in the wake of the hearings held, in 1947 and 1951, by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAAC). Read more here.

What stands out is the creeping nature of persecution:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller

Uri Xeno beware! They may come after you!

United Against Hate Rally

David Posnett — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 20:45:01 +0000

Submitted by Amy Turner:

The #unitedagainsthate rally took place on 7/28/17 across from the entrance to the Suffolk County Community College, Brentwood campus. Unfortunately we never saw Trump’s arrival, but that didn’t dampen the crowd’s spirits. I heard a crowd size estimate of 400, but it could have been larger. Thankfully, the protestors were incredibly diverse in age, race, ethnicity, issue of concern, and hometown, etc. The LGBTQ community had a large presence (motivated no doubt by the trans ban), as did a national group, refusefascism.org, whose members (mostly young people of color at this rally) are dedicated to “driving out the Trump/Pence regime.” The crowd also included a Latino group fighting to keep the temporary worker visa and members of most of CD-1’s anti-Zeldin groups. Pro-Trump protestors numbered from 20 to 90 tops. I must say it was gratifying to chant back at them: “Lock him up!” Of course, the highlight came after the rally, on MSNBC, as Zeldin struggled through an interview with Chris Hayes about Trump’s speech, advocating roughing up of suspects by police and referring to Long Island as “blood-stained killing fields.”.

If you haven’t seen it, you should check it out to remind yourself of Zeldin’s incompetence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N-J6vbQvRk

And this article has a transcript of the most embarrassing LZ pronouncments. http://ijr.com/the-response/2017/07/934190-republican-congressman-invites-tourists-come-enjoy-blood-stained-killing-fields/

The New Fascism

David Posnett — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 16:05:54 +0000

By Steven A. Ludsin, East Hampton, N.Y.

Letter Published in The Boston Globe

LETTERS – June 10, 2017

Politics has always been a contact sport, but the Trump administration has purposely broken rules and norms. I like to believe that a fascist party could not be elected to power, but now I reluctantly realize it could happen in America.

Respect for the Constitution could save us, but the turbulence is wrenching. Winston Churchill lamented the unteachability of mankind and the endless repetition of history. He also suggested we should act when it would be simple and effective. That time is now.

Fascist Regime in the Making?

David Posnett — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 00:43:20 +0000

Several reports from today describe how US citizen Khizr Khan is essentially threatened with losing travel privileges. Khizr Khan is an American citizen born in Pakistan and a muslim. He is the father of an American soldier killed in Iraq and well known to the American public for his brave stand at the Dem convention.

He has canceled a speaking engagement in Toronto after being notified that his U.S. travel privileges were under review. It is unclear which U.S. agency ordered the review or who told him of the change in his travel privileges.

Khan had planned to speak at a luncheon in Toronto in a discussion about President Trump’s administration, according to Ramsay Talks, a Toronto-based speaker series.

The organization said in the same statement that Khan, a U.S. citizen for over 30 years, was notified Sunday evening that his travel privileges were being reviewed.

“Mr. Khan will not be traveling to Toronto on March 7th to speak about tolerance, understanding, unity and the rule of law,” said Ramsay Talks.

Travel restrictions on German jews were a hallmark of Nazi policy leading up to WWII.

While this story needs to be confirmed, and the details understood, the intent to sow fear and confusion is quite clear. And the signs of a fascist regime in the making are equally clear.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-khan-idUSKBN16D2MI?utm_source=applenews

http://www.salon.com/2017/03/06/khizr-khan-gold-star-muslim-american-father-says-his-freedom-to-travel-abroad-is-under-review/?source=newsletter

The Trump/Bannon plan

David Posnett — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 20:54:50 +0000

Two seminal pieces were just published in the NYT. (1) A factual description of today’s growing and aggressive ICE. (2) An annotated and explained version of Bannon’s CPAC presentation.

These stories should be an eye opener for everyone.

Trump’s transition is far from chaotic. In fact, Executive Orders have been issued that address each and every one of Bannon’s priorities:

1) National security and sovereignty: the wall, the travel ban, revised immigration rules, pipeline, deregulation to strengthen big business; disruption of all trade agreements; legalizing the Church’s involvement in politics; nomination of a young, brilliant candidate for SCOTUS, who believes strongly in the Church’s role at the centre of national identity and law.

2) Deconstruction of the state: appointment of heads of each department that have long argued that their new departments should be defanged and in some cases eliminated; leaving some 2000+ positions vacant to allow heads of departments (Secretaries) room to eliminate positions and shrink the Federal Government.

3) Reinforcement of the power of the White House: a co-opted Congress; relentless campaign to delegitimize and sideline the free press as the sole remaining opposition of note; dissemination of propaganda “alternative facts” to justify their most outlandish policy measures and decisions; appointment of generals to key positions (National Security Adviser, Head of Homeland Security, Head of ICE, Defense Secretary) thus increasing ties between the military and the White House; strengthening of the role and expansion of ICE, border patrols, internal memos alluding to the option of deploying the reserves to patrol the streets and enforce new laws against migrants and foreigners; laying the foundations for a massive expansion of largely outdated and unnecessary military hardware that nevertheless are symbols of strength against the marauding hordes that are waiting to swoop on this weak and hitherto fore, defenseless country.

We do indeed have the seeds of a fascist state already in place.

This makes a lot of the wooly discussion of the Democrats vaguely tangential. We need to keep the eye on the ball if one is to nip this in the bud. We now need to be highly focused and disciplined. We need to prioritize.

It certainly does not bode well for an independent Congress. And whether SCOTUS will remain an independent branch of government remains to be seen. However, if one puts the above argument to the Republicans, some will see the light.

One way that Congress can reclaim their independence, and their constitutional role, is to investigate the Russian connection to the Trump campaign. Where there is smoke, look for the fire. One needs to collect evidence regarding violations of the emoluments clause. One needs to examine those tax returns. These are tools for Congress to fight back and save their very existence. Hitler dissolved the Reichstag (equivalent to the Congress) only 3 months after coming into power claiming emergency powers.

Our congressman in New York’s CD-1 is Lee Zeldin, and he is a jew. He is young, but I am sure he has some grasp of history. Keep reminding him that he can stand up to fascism and if he does, he will go down in the history books as having saved America. These times demand brave men and women.

Fascist regime or not?

David Posnett — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 06:28:49 +0000

Interesting comparison of present day America with Germany in the 1930s. Format is an interview with Isabel Virginia Hull, professor of history at Cornell University and one of the foremost scholars on modern Germany. Full article here:

http://gothamist.com/2017/02/06/trump_bannon_german_history.php

Some quotes:

Steve Bannon, is the closest thing to a genuine fascist that I’ve seen ever in American government—and the removal in the National Security Council of the military leaders. That’s extraordinary and unprecedented.

Bannon is not a security expert. He’s not an expert in government at all. That’s one thing. The second thing is the fact that the Trump Administration didn’t engage in a transition. They were uninterested in both the documents prepared by the Obama administration and in meeting with the heads of the various divisions of government. The third thing is the purge of the senior-most officials in the State Department. The fourth thing is the order banning Muslims—and that’s what it is—the manner in which that happened, the process, which is to say a small group of advisers with no government experience keeping it secret and then launching it. That’s also unprecedented.

… these people want to remove the normal functioning of government and to replace the adepts at government—the people with experience and knowledge—with toadies who will do whatever they tell them to do.

…I have a very high bar to call somebody that and my bar is a pretty well-formed ideology, a really fanatical attachment to it, and a rigidity in not modifying it. I don’t think Trump fits that bill. I think Steve Bannon might fit that bill. And the question then is: Who’s running the government? Is it Steve Bannon or is it Donald Trump? And Donald Trump’s inability to keep his mind on anything for more than 15 seconds would suggest that he’s a character much more like Kaiser Wilhelm II than Adolf Hitler. These are the thoughts that a German historian has….

Kudos to Senators McCain & Graham

David Posnett — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 01:44:40 +0000

I rarely agree with any Republican but these guys have shown guts and backbone by telling Trump the truth. Must read:

http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/1/statement-by-senators-mccain-graham-on-executive-order-on-immigration

Makes me have faith in humanity. @LeeZeldin, do you have the guts to do likewise? Or are you still Trump’s puppet?