General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI was watching a documentary about the rise of the Third Reich yesterday that was made in 1973.
One sentence that made my blood run cold was "Hitler vowed to make Germany great again." GACK! But for the fact that Traitor Tot is so lazy, evil, vile, incompetent, and utterly transparent, this could turn out much, much worse. For all of the damage that he is doing and has done, I think there are enough decent Americans like us here on DU who will rise up and resist if the shit really hits the fan. At least I know I will.
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RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)all you have to do is look at what you're doing now.
No offense but I have to confess I'm alarmed by your wait and see attitude. YOU CANNOT count on his incompetence. He's got plenty of helpers who aren't quite so incompetent.
Further, he's inches away from a lock on the Americans' ability to resist. He's packing the courts with rightwing ideologues, and if he gets that SCOTUS pick and even more of them, we're done.
Even more: if Republicans don't start standing up to him, so much more damage can be done it's incalculable.
AND finally, the 2018 election. I am very fearful about nothing (almost nothing) being done. All Russia has to do is figure out (or get told) which key races matter -- esp. in the Senate -- and that's potentially over for us too.
It's not enough to wait and see if and when other Americans "rise up." We've got to rise up NOW. I'm not physically able to do much more at this point than pellet my MoC with faxes (and sometimes phone calls):
Call 24/7: 202-224-3121
Free Faxes (can incl up to 3 pages attached) to Senators: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php
Free Faxes (ditto) to Congress: https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php
TEXT your faxes: Text RESIST to 50409
Write your MoC - DEMOCRACY.IO https://democracy.io/#/
Soon I think I'll try to find at least one campaign to do some phone calling for.
AND, I continue to try to raise awareness and push for paper ballots:
ICYMI -- BOMBSHELL - ATTN Naysayers who think elections can't be stolen via machines -
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210885412
and also this post: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=10893190
jodymarie aimee
(3,975 posts)and our state will never be the same...not in my lifetime.. one million % agree with you. We are calling folks who have been purged to get them back on the voting rolls...at HQ every day...Random, we got a lot of "watchers' in America I am afraid. Let Russia turn off our electricity and heat and banks and they will notice REAL fast.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)I've watched what's been going on in WI for a while - utterly horrified.
Michigan too.
hedda_foil
(16,368 posts)The billionaire Republican Rauner was elected in 2016 thanks to an overwhelming ad budget that allowed him to present himself as a centrist almost-Democrat. In fact, he had freely admitted -- though almost no-one noticed or understood -- that his role model was Scott Walker.
The Dems held onto both houses with a veto proof majority that refused to pass Rauner's Kochist budget for three years, and finally maneuvered him into a compromise that kept the schools open. It's led to a complete financial shambles and an almost junk-grade credit rating, but it's VERY unlikely Rauner will win re-election this year.
The Democratic candidate, J.B. Pritzger is another billionaire, like Rauner, who has been willing to pay for wall to wall TV ads for the past full year. Whether he'll turn out to be a con in Dem clothing remains a possibility imho, but I seem to be alone in that opinion. If he is really committed to Democratic principles, Illinois' course can be corrected.
What concerns me even more is that the Trumpist/Russipublicans will steal this election at the state level. Illinois is the state most affected by 2016 Russian hacking even though they don't seem to have used their advantage here yet. But 2018 is the year each state elects the politicians who will conduct the 2020 redistricting. So even true blue Illinois may not remain safe.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)His sister was one of President Obama's early supporters, when his 2008 campaign was still just a dream. I don't you have to worry about the wolf is sheep's clothing with Jay.
h2ebits
(632 posts)I am mostly a lurker on DU but I read this long article (review of book) and it hit home. We need to look at the long game that is and has been going on in our country for some time. Trump is the chief of marketing--propaganda is the real word but it has been softened into the term "marketing" for some time. He looks the fool for constantly changing his mind but the actual strategy is to test trial balloons of what we will tolerate. Push back HARD on all of his crap is needed and needed now.
I urge you to read the article I have posted here and feel free to pass it along to everyone you know.
https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/meet-the-economist-behind-the-one-percents-stealth-takeover-of-america#
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)The site looks interesting, also.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)You should post more often. I would highly recommend the posted link.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)Terrible article. I'd actually read about this guy before, but --- the whole subject definitely needs more exposure.
h2ebits
(632 posts)Yes, the whole subject definitely needs more exposure--a lot more exposure.
Starfury
(812 posts)That was a real eye-opener. Bookmarking it to reread later...
Lonestarblue
(9,880 posts)I contact my members of congress regularly. Im sure that theyre tired of hearing from me, and I do not get as many emails as I once did thanking me for my comments and assuring me that they were working 100% to improve the lives of all Americans, yada, yada, yadaall my members of congress are Republicans so I mostly feel as though Im just talking in the wind. Ill continue to be an annoyance, though. My next contact will be an email to Ted Cruz summarizing known Russian contacts by the Trump campaign and Trumps exxagerated favortism for Putin. I have some questions for Mr. Cruz after I mention that I am a Texas voter who will be casting a vote in November.
1. Given Muellers indictments of Russian operatives to date and overwhelming evidence from multiple sources, U.S. and foreign, and Trumps behaviors that benefit Russia rather than the U.S. (alienation of allies, efforts to destroy NATO, refusal to call Putin out over Crimea and Ukraine, refusal to criticize Putin while at the same time publicly attacking allies like Angela Merkel), what will you do and by when to protect the United States from Russian influence over the president (toothless resolutions are useless)?
2. If Muellers final report proves that Trump and his campaign staff are guilty of conspiring with the Russians during the 2016 election, will you pledge to support hearings and impeachment? If not, why?
3. Given the traditional Republican support for free trade and the importance of global trade to the health of our economy, what are you doing to address Trumps unwinnable trade war with China, the EU, Mexico, and Canada? The Constitution clearly gives Congress the power to regulate commerce and thus tariffs. Will you commit to introducing and helping pass a bill in Congress before the November election to take back control of levying tariffs? If not, why not?
Every Republican running for reelection needs to be asked questions like this, including why they refuse to make a commitment to protect NATO and our allies as well as the health of our economy. Yes, we can all predict their answers, but at least questions like this put them on notice that voting public expects that will do something instead of just shrugging their shoulders.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Congress members do pay attention to the volume of phone calls/emails, for or against an issue.
The only problem is that those Repubs who are not running again have little reason to change their minds.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)I may borrow them.
Lonestarblue
(9,880 posts)calimary
(80,699 posts)Today alone. It's Saturday. I go over to the home of one of the co-chairs of our Indivisible group, and we write up the next Call to Action email for the coming week. I already have notes from a couple of the state campaigns about neighborhood canvassing that's scheduled for NEXT weekend. Gonna add it to the events in the second half of the C.T.A. email. There are "Resist Trump Tuedays" alternating between Senators Ron Wyden's and Jeff Merkley's offices in Portland, and those are detailed, too. I'm in that little committee in our Indivisible group, and it's my regular weekend activity now.
I do other stuff, too. But that's one on the schedule every weekend, without fail. Only takes a couple of hours and the company and conversation (and sometimes the random snacks, too) are terrific!
I've recommended the Indivisible movement here before. I'll do it again. ANY TIME, I'll do it again.
- You gather with other activists and interested and INFORMED citizens of like mind - who also happen to give a damn(!);
- you learn more and become better informed yourself; you extend your own circle of friends and activists - because most of these folks are also connected to other Democratic/liberal/progressive groups in the area and in the state;
- you find out about other efforts, campaigns, precinct walking and doorbell-ringing, phone-banking, protest rallies and marches that all have their arms wide open to welcome you and plug you in;
- you meet your reps or their deputies and go on the record, taking your issues and priorities directly to them face-to-face;
- sometimes you meet new people who are running for local/state/national office and you can talk to them, find out about their priorities, and hand-deliver YOUR priorities personally and directly;
- and best of all, you're not just sitting home getting depressed about how shitty things are now, as a Russian satellite country whose so-called "president" just handed you over to a proven and documented longtime hostile foreign power.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)A major reason for Republican success is that they organized at the precinct level, without fail, all year round, not just at election time.
Plus of course at their many state level groups.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)I recommend it frequently too.
Indivisible.org
Everyone should find their local group -- every single Congressional district has at least one group. Most (all?) have Facebook groups.
dubyadiprecession
(5,620 posts)Hitler was angered at European nations for implementing of the versailles treaty for peace at The end of world war 1. When he came to power, he broke the treaty after coming to power and shortly after invaded Poland with the help of the Russians.
keithbvadu2
(36,367 posts)Hitler actually served in the military (no bone spurs) and there has not been made mention of him gaining personal wealth from his office.
Personal power - definitely.
BannonsLiver
(16,162 posts)Drumpf is an unhealthy 71.
keithbvadu2
(36,367 posts)vlyons
(10,252 posts)The causes and conditions are very very complicated, going all the way back to the rise of nationalism in Europe, a middle class, a corrupt and weak nobility, industrialism, and the labor movement. Germany was a developed country that was completely exhausted by WWI and its aftermath of tariffs and war reparations. It had a long and rich culture of art, literature, music, and philosophy. But what essentially went wrong is that there was super-hyper inflation, no jobs, a world-wide depression, and people were hungry and homeless. The capitalist industrialists early supported the Nazis, thinking that they could control Hitler. And of course, too many of regular people fell for the demagoguery and racist rhetoric. The parallels to what is happening in our country is scarey. And we'd better damn well do something about it.
olegramps
(8,200 posts)Aristotle also concluded from his extensive study of governments that a functioning democracy is dependent of a thriving middle class and is well informed of the issues. Both of which have been under attack by the Republican Party dating from Reagan. Our situation is no where as dire as was Germany's, but it does have some of the same elements that have been seized by Trump such a employment and immigration. His solutions are delusional. He is just another in a long line of demagogues that capitalize on the ignorance of the under educated and ill and misinformed who are easy prey for propaganda scapegoating minorities for every problem they can't actually provide with a solution.
I see where Pompeo is calling for a massive religious conference. Just another example of warping themselves in the flag and carrying a cross. What is ludicrous is that he attack President Obama calling him a Muslim and Communist. He obviously equated being a Muslim with someone to shunned adding Communist to what he considered slander. He is an avowed racist just like the man he serves.
I feel that it is imperative that the Democrats win a majority in at least the House or the Senate and hopefully both. If we fail the consequences may prove to be catastrophic. Michael Moore correctly predicted that Trump would win and is predicting that he believes that Trump will be reelected. He hopes not and so do those on this board. Hopefully the latest fiasco's will be enough to convince people that their future is in serious jeopardy and they will soundly defeat the Republicans. I am convinced that the Republican Party has moved so far into the fascist camp that it must be destroyed or undergo a massive rejuvenation.
vlyons
(10,252 posts)Pompeo calling Obama a Muslim and a Communist is just stupid and illogical.
calimary
(80,699 posts)It may be a typo - and you may have meant "wrapping themselves..." BUT DON'T CHANGE IT! It actually works. It's a good descriptive verb that really kinda spells out the bottom-line here. They and their understanding of current events are indeed WARPED AS ALL HELL.
It's PERFECT as is, olegramps! It's even better and far more accurate like it is!
TeamPooka
(24,156 posts)YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)empedocles
(15,751 posts)from the top of the pecking order all the way to the bottom
SemiHalfling
(53 posts)Uncanny similarities. The Russian influence campaign has probably gone on much longer than just this one election, this is likely a culmination of a decades long strategy. Trump is essentially using news and policy to Blitzkrieg our democratic system and paralyze our leaders.
Cosmocat
(14,543 posts)It was conservatism, the GOP. 45 just took the whip from the Republican Party. Russians just started tapping in the last several years.
gordianot
(15,226 posts)Russian goals have not changed that much from the time of the Czars through Communism. American Democracy may be headed for the trash heap. Anyone who has the power to incinerate the planet is NOT a regional power.
Toorich
(391 posts)... by certain emoluments. At one point his face was put on the Reich postage stamps and he received a royalty on every stamp sold.
I keep waiting for the tangerine turd to put his mug on our stamps.
gordianot
(15,226 posts)[link:https://m.
|hedda_foil
(16,368 posts)mopinko
(69,806 posts)i inherited a stamp collection from that era. there were a bunch of what they call "hitler heads". no idea what the value of the stamps was at the time, but they seemed to be a very small denomination. i thought that odd.
now i know why. thanks.
appalachiablue
(41,053 posts)his lousy 1920s book that newlywed couples and other good Germans were required to have. A profit seeker early on..
UTUSN
(70,496 posts)(I'm talking "successful" in terms of advertising, not in agreement with their ideological content.)
yortsed snacilbuper
(7,939 posts)every time I watch a hitler documentary I always think how much he and trump are alike.
Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)Or a complete idiot.
And he loved animals and art.
yortsed snacilbuper
(7,939 posts)not how they lived their lives.
Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)He has the facial expressions and mannerisms down to a T.
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/the-scary-parallels-between-trump-and-mussolini/
yortsed snacilbuper
(7,939 posts)and the german people would follow hitler anywhere and swear allegiance to him, just like trump followers.
hedda_foil
(16,368 posts)I'm preparing a class on the lead up to the Holocaust and have been searching for one like you describe.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
catbyte
(34,170 posts)My dad fought in WWII, so I'm somewhat of a WWII buff. I believe it's only available only on DVD & Blu-ray. It's the finest documentary of WWII I've ever seen. Here's a link to Amazon:
https://smile.amazon.com/World-at-War-Laurence-Olivier/dp/B0002F6AH0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1532216346&sr=8-1&keywords=the+world+at+war+dvd+box+set
There are a few good documentaries on YouTube also:
Hitler and the Decisions for the Final Solution: Christopher Browning (lecture)
The Rise of the Third Reich
The Fall of the Third Reich
Adolf Hitler's rise to power to the fall of Berlin Hitler in Colour
&t=146s
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich Part 1 (William L. Shirer)
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich Part 2
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich Part 3
And, of, course, if you've never seen it, the greatest propaganda film ever made:
Leni Riefenstahl: Triumph of the Will (1935)
I hope that gets you started. Good luck!
hedda_foil
(16,368 posts)catbyte
(34,170 posts)Conference and it's very well done. Here's an abominable copy from YouTube, but if you have access to HBO On Demand, I suggest you watch it there or buy or rent a decent copy of it.
Here's a chilling clip from it:
Please PM me if I can be of further help.
hedda_foil
(16,368 posts)I don't have HBO but may be able to get a better copy through the college. I've been promising myself to do this class for almost two years. You've helped enormously.
blue-wave
(4,317 posts)oasis
(49,151 posts)Turbineguy
(37,212 posts)said it, it made sense.
But he sure didn't do it.
Mendocino
(7,430 posts)Face it, fascism is alive and well in this country.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)63 million Americans voted for a vile racist buffoon. Imagine what could happen if a smooth talking, competent looking evil bastard ran? That person would have a base of 63 million voters who have learned NOTHING and are still filled with hate.
TryLogic
(1,721 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)But I think that out of stupidity, he won't disengage from Trump soon enough. Trump lick Putin's butt, guess who licks Trump's.
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)G = Greed
O = Over
P = People
TryLogic
(1,721 posts)riverbendviewgal
(4,251 posts)Is Putin's covert army ready to keep Trump in power? Many are in the military, law enforcement . They have lots of weapons and are trained.
He put lots of money into Republicans and the NRA.
not fooled
(5,791 posts)Hitler's Circle of Evil, a 10-part documentary/recreation showing the roles played by the people surrounding him.
Chilling parallels to the current dysfunctional WH:
McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)Russia stabs us in the back, it can say it was putting down another Nazi Germany. However, there are basic cultural and economic difference between Germany then and the United States now. If we ever get fascism, it will be much more like Italian fascism under Mussolini.
BTW, do not understand why the Neo-Nazis and Aryan Nationalists in this country have such a hard on for Putin and Russia. Russia does not love the American Nazi Party. Russia is using the American Nazi Party. Russia loves its own nationalists--and they are Russian nationalists, not Nazis. The only thing they have in common is they are both sort of pasty faced.