America's descent into authoritarian fascism is made all the more alarming and demoralizing by the Democrats' total failure to rise to the moment:
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But what would "rising to the moment" look like? What can the opposition do without majorities in either house? Well, they could start by refusing to continue to fund ICE, a masked thug snatch/murder squad that roams our streets, killing with impunity:
House passes sprawling spending package as Democrats split over ICE funding
Moderate House Democrats teamed with Republicans to pass a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, overcoming a revolt over ICE.
NBC News (www.nbcnews.com)
That's table stakes. What would a *real* political response to fascism look like? Again, it wouldn't stop with banning masks for ICE goons, or requiring them to wear QR codes:
Dem Congressman Wants to Make ICE Agents Wear QR Codes
There's this analog device called a badge that has worked wonders for generations, maybe consider that too?
Gizmodo (gizmodo.com)
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Though it should be noted that ICE hates this idea, and that ICE agents wear masks because they fear consequences for their sadistic criminality:
This despite the fact that the (criminally culpable) Vice President has assured them that they have absolute impunity, no matter who they kill:
Do ICE agents have absolute immunity? No, experts say, but it’s not easy for a state to prosecute | CNN Politics
Vice President JD Vance’s claim Thursday that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis is “protected by absolute immunity” drew immediate pushback from experts who said the legal landscape around a potential prosecution is far more complicated.
CNN (edition.cnn.com)
The fact that ICE agents worry about consequences despite Vance's assurances suggests ways that Dems could "meet the moment."
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Though it should be noted that ICE hates this idea, and that ICE agents wear masks because they fear consequences for their sadistic criminality:
This despite the fact that the (criminally culpable) Vice President has assured them that they have absolute impunity, no matter who they kill:
Do ICE agents have absolute immunity? No, experts say, but it’s not easy for a state to prosecute | CNN Politics
Vice President JD Vance’s claim Thursday that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis is “protected by absolute immunity” drew immediate pushback from experts who said the legal landscape around a potential prosecution is far more complicated.
CNN (edition.cnn.com)
The fact that ICE agents worry about consequences despite Vance's assurances suggests ways that Dems could "meet the moment."
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I think Dems should start a Nuremberg Caucus, named for the Nazi war-crimes trials that followed from the defeat of German fascists and the death of their leader:
What would this caucus do? Well, it could have a public website where it assembled and organized the evidence for the trials that the Democrats could promise to bring after the Trump regime falls.
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I think Dems should start a Nuremberg Caucus, named for the Nazi war-crimes trials that followed from the defeat of German fascists and the death of their leader:
What would this caucus do? Well, it could have a public website where it assembled and organized the evidence for the trials that the Democrats could promise to bring after the Trump regime falls.
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Each fresh outrage, each statement, each video-clip - whether of Trump officials or of his shock-troops - could be neatly slotted in, given an exhibit number, and annotated with the criminal and civil violations captured in the evidence.
The caucus could publish dates these trials will be held on - following from Jan 20, 2029 - and even which courtrooms each official, high and low, will be tried in.
5/
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Each fresh outrage, each statement, each video-clip - whether of Trump officials or of his shock-troops - could be neatly slotted in, given an exhibit number, and annotated with the criminal and civil violations captured in the evidence.
The caucus could publish dates these trials will be held on - following from Jan 20, 2029 - and even which courtrooms each official, high and low, will be tried in.
5/
These dates could be changed as new crimes emerge, making sure the most egregious offenses are always at the top of the agenda. Each trial would have a witness list.
The Nuremberg Caucus could vow to repurpose ICE's $75b budget to pursue Trump's crimes, from corruption to civil rights violations to labor violations to environmental violations.
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I think Dems should start a Nuremberg Caucus, named for the Nazi war-crimes trials that followed from the defeat of German fascists and the death of their leader:
What would this caucus do? Well, it could have a public website where it assembled and organized the evidence for the trials that the Democrats could promise to bring after the Trump regime falls.
4/
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These dates could be changed as new crimes emerge, making sure the most egregious offenses are always at the top of the agenda. Each trial would have a witness list.
The Nuremberg Caucus could vow to repurpose ICE's $75b budget to pursue Trump's crimes, from corruption to civil rights violations to labor violations to environmental violations.
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It could announce its intent to fully fund the FTC and DoJ Antitrust Division to scrutinize all mergers approved under Trump, and put corporations on notice that they should expect lengthy, probing inquiries into any mergers they undertake between now and the fall of Trumpism. Who knows, perhaps shareholders will demand that management hold off on mergers in anticipation of this lookback scrutiny, and if not, perhaps they will sue executives after the FTC and DoJ go to work.
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It could announce its intent to fully fund the FTC and DoJ Antitrust Division to scrutinize all mergers approved under Trump, and put corporations on notice that they should expect lengthy, probing inquiries into any mergers they undertake between now and the fall of Trumpism. Who knows, perhaps shareholders will demand that management hold off on mergers in anticipation of this lookback scrutiny, and if not, perhaps they will sue executives after the FTC and DoJ go to work.
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While they're at it, the Nuremberg Caucus could publish a plan to hire thousands of *IRS* agents (paid for by taxing billionaires and zeroing out ICE's budget) who will focus exclusively on the ultra-wealthy and especially any supernormal wealth gains coinciding with the second Trump presidency.
Money talks. ICE agents are signing up with the promise of $50k hiring bonuses and $60k in student debt cancellation. That's peanuts.
8/
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While they're at it, the Nuremberg Caucus could publish a plan to hire thousands of *IRS* agents (paid for by taxing billionaires and zeroing out ICE's budget) who will focus exclusively on the ultra-wealthy and especially any supernormal wealth gains coinciding with the second Trump presidency.
Money talks. ICE agents are signing up with the promise of $50k hiring bonuses and $60k in student debt cancellation. That's peanuts.
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The Nuremberg Caucus could announce a Crimestoppers program with $1m bounties for any ICE officer who a) is themselves innocent of human rights violations, and; b) provides evidence leading to the conviction of another ICE officer for committing human rights violations. That would certainly improve morale for (some) ICE officers.
Critics of this plan will say that this will force Trump officials to try to steal the next election in order to avoid consequences for their actions.
9/
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These dates could be changed as new crimes emerge, making sure the most egregious offenses are always at the top of the agenda. Each trial would have a witness list.
The Nuremberg Caucus could vow to repurpose ICE's $75b budget to pursue Trump's crimes, from corruption to civil rights violations to labor violations to environmental violations.
6/
@pluralistic love it.
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The Nuremberg Caucus could announce a Crimestoppers program with $1m bounties for any ICE officer who a) is themselves innocent of human rights violations, and; b) provides evidence leading to the conviction of another ICE officer for committing human rights violations. That would certainly improve morale for (some) ICE officers.
Critics of this plan will say that this will force Trump officials to try to steal the next election in order to avoid consequences for their actions.
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This is certainly true: confidence in a "peaceful transfer of power" is the bedrock of any fair election.
But this bunch have already *repeatedly* signaled that they intend to steal the midterms and the next general election:
Top Senate Republican rejects Trump’s shocking election plan: ‘I think that’s a constitutional issue’
Senate Majority Leader John Thune broke with the president after Trump called for the GOP to take over elections and nationalize the voting process ahead of midterms.
nj (www.nj.com)
ICE agents are straight up telling people that ICE is on the streets to arrest people in Dem-leaning states ("The more people that you lose in Minnesota, you then lose a voting right to stay blue"):
Federal Agent in Coon Rapids: 'The more people that you lose in Minnesota, you then lose a voting right to stay blue.' - UNICORN RIOT
A masked federal agent in a convenience store parking lot in the northern Twin Cities suburb of Coon Rapids told legal observers that Minnesota's status as a blue state is linked with the removal of residents.
UNICORN RIOT (unicornriot.ninja)
10/
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This is certainly true: confidence in a "peaceful transfer of power" is the bedrock of any fair election.
But this bunch have already *repeatedly* signaled that they intend to steal the midterms and the next general election:
Top Senate Republican rejects Trump’s shocking election plan: ‘I think that’s a constitutional issue’
Senate Majority Leader John Thune broke with the president after Trump called for the GOP to take over elections and nationalize the voting process ahead of midterms.
nj (www.nj.com)
ICE agents are straight up telling people that ICE is on the streets to arrest people in Dem-leaning states ("The more people that you lose in Minnesota, you then lose a voting right to stay blue"):
Federal Agent in Coon Rapids: 'The more people that you lose in Minnesota, you then lose a voting right to stay blue.' - UNICORN RIOT
A masked federal agent in a convenience store parking lot in the northern Twin Cities suburb of Coon Rapids told legal observers that Minnesota's status as a blue state is linked with the removal of residents.
UNICORN RIOT (unicornriot.ninja)
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The only path to fair elections - and saving America - lies through mobilizing and energizing hundreds of millions of Americans. They are ready. They are *begging* for leadership. They want an electoral *choice*, something better than a return to the pre-Trump status quo. If you want giant crowds at every polling place, rising up against ICE and DHS voter-suppression, then you have to promise people that their vote will *mean* something.
11/
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The only path to fair elections - and saving America - lies through mobilizing and energizing hundreds of millions of Americans. They are ready. They are *begging* for leadership. They want an electoral *choice*, something better than a return to the pre-Trump status quo. If you want giant crowds at every polling place, rising up against ICE and DHS voter-suppression, then you have to promise people that their vote will *mean* something.
11/
Dems have to pick a side. That means being against anyone who is for fascism - including other Dems. The Nuremberg Caucus should denounce the disgusting child abuse perpetrated by the Trump regime:
The Kids Trump Sent to ICE’s Dilley Detention Center
ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next.
ProPublica (www.propublica.org)
But they should also denounce Democrats who vote to fund that abuse:
Senate Democrat explains why chamber will fail to avert another partial shutdown
John Fetterman opposed his party’s efforts to force Republicans to extend Obamacare subsidies over a shutdown vote last year
The Independent (www.independent.co.uk)
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Dems have to pick a side. That means being against anyone who is for fascism - including other Dems. The Nuremberg Caucus should denounce the disgusting child abuse perpetrated by the Trump regime:
The Kids Trump Sent to ICE’s Dilley Detention Center
ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next.
ProPublica (www.propublica.org)
But they should also denounce Democrats who vote to fund that abuse:
Senate Democrat explains why chamber will fail to avert another partial shutdown
John Fetterman opposed his party’s efforts to force Republicans to extend Obamacare subsidies over a shutdown vote last year
The Independent (www.independent.co.uk)
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The people of Minneapolis (and elsewhere) have repeatedly proven that we outnumber fascists by a huge margin. Dems need to stop demoralizing their base by doing nothing and start demonstrating that they understand the urgency of this crisis.
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The people of Minneapolis (and elsewhere) have repeatedly proven that we outnumber fascists by a huge margin. Dems need to stop demoralizing their base by doing nothing and start demonstrating that they understand the urgency of this crisis.
13/
Image:
Gage Skidmore
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2025_-_Stephen_Miller_(cropped).jpgCC BY-SA 3.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.eneof/
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The people of Minneapolis (and elsewhere) have repeatedly proven that we outnumber fascists by a huge margin. Dems need to stop demoralizing their base by doing nothing and start demonstrating that they understand the urgency of this crisis.
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@pluralistic they need to demonstrate they represent the people (who pay taxes) and not the billionaires (who avoid paying taxes & even get government contracts & bailouts) destroying the entire planet & all life on earth for profit, shits, & giggles.
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America's descent into authoritarian fascism is made all the more alarming and demoralizing by the Democrats' total failure to rise to the moment:
- YouTube
Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.
(www.youtube.com)
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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
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@pluralistic I love your line, Optimized for Netscape navigator
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America's descent into authoritarian fascism is made all the more alarming and demoralizing by the Democrats' total failure to rise to the moment:
- YouTube
Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.
(www.youtube.com)
--
If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
1/
When I get time, I want to read this criticism.
Saved for later... -
America's descent into authoritarian fascism is made all the more alarming and demoralizing by the Democrats' total failure to rise to the moment:
- YouTube
Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.
(www.youtube.com)
--
If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
1/
@pluralistic It's astonishing how most of them are missing in action. It makes very little sense...
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@pluralistic It's astonishing how most of them are missing in action. It makes very little sense...
@pa27 @pluralistic it actually explains how the current one got into power: “look the politicians in place aren’t working for you”.
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America's descent into authoritarian fascism is made all the more alarming and demoralizing by the Democrats' total failure to rise to the moment:
- YouTube
Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.
(www.youtube.com)
--
If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
1/
@pluralistic When accused of running a democracy in name only, Dr. Julius Nyerere quipped:
“The US is also a one-party state. But with typical American extravagance, they have two of them.”
Both parties work for the Epstein Class, who give them the money they need to manufacture consent at the ballot box.
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