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babylonsister
babylonsister's Journal
babylonsister's Journal
October 1, 2022
2,000 public school students taken to traumatizing church event instead of promised college fair
Marissa Higgins
Daily Kos Staff
Friday September 30, 2022 · 11:52 AM EDT
Share this article
Though Republicans love to accuse LGBTQ+ folks and allies of “grooming” young people into being queer, the reality is that our society is so deeply ingrained in a cisgender, heterosexual world that most people don’t even consider aspects of life to be norms—they just see it as normal. Parents push cishet ideals onto kids—and even babies, if you think about gender reveal parties, for example—and thanks to a recent movement from far-right conservatives, want to make it even harder for young people to safely be “out” at school. It’s a mess.
In a truly dystopian turn along these lines, high schoolers from the East Baton Rouge School District in Louisiana signed up for a school-sanctioned college and career fair… only to be sent to a church, where they were subjected to transphobic and misogynistic rhetoric. According to The Advocate, students—who attend public schools, mind you—asked their parents to sign permission slips that allowed them to miss class in order to attend a career fair. Instead, they were subjected to hyper-conservative lectures and sermons at the Living Faith Christian Center as part of the church’s Day of Hope event.
You. might be thinking: Okay, that’s terrible, but how many kids could it have been? Fifty? One hundred? Friends: It was thousands.
Students were bussed to the event under the impression they’d get some free food and insight into life after high school. Instead, according to biology teacher Brittney Bryant, who attended the event, students were separated by their sex assigned at birth, and her only trans student was told they couldn’t go with the other boys.
Bryant wrote in a Facebook post that while boys did push-ups and games in one area (which Bryant says was actually outside and in “extreme heat”), girls listened to speakers encourage them to forgive their rapists. Bryant said some students were so upset, they ended up crying in the bathroom. Bryant alleges some students poured water over the heads of trans students without repercussions.
“God forbid I mention anything about sexual orientation, religion, or political agendas in my classroom,” she wrote in part on Facebook, adding if she did so, she’d be put on leave from her job.
Bryant also alleged in her Facebook post that students were incentivized to fill out voter registration forms in order to get free pizza.
One student who attended the event, Alexis Budyach, said an adult read a Bible verse on stage at the beginning of the event. This is inappropriate for a number of obvious reasons, but it’s especially important to note as it directly contradicts what the school district has said. The East Baton Rouge school district insists this wasn’t a religious event, and that any prayer was initiated by students and not planned ahead of time.
Lawyers are reportedly poised to bring a lawsuit over possible civil rights violations and emotional distress, as covered in this local news story from WBRZ.
Parent Bonnie Kersch, whose daughter attended the event, told the outlet her daughter didn’t realize it was going to be so religious. Kersch said her daughter felt she was “duped” into thinking it was a college and career fair, only to be “proselytized over and prayed over."
According to The Advocate, the Day of Hope event was in partnership with the school district and included more than $9,000 from the school district to cover busses for the 2,000 students and to produce the event.
2,000 public school students taken to traumatizing church event instead of promised college fair
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/30/2126162/-2-000-public-school-students-brought-to-traumatizing-church-event-instead-of-promised-college-fair2,000 public school students taken to traumatizing church event instead of promised college fair
Marissa Higgins
Daily Kos Staff
Friday September 30, 2022 · 11:52 AM EDT
Share this article
Though Republicans love to accuse LGBTQ+ folks and allies of “grooming” young people into being queer, the reality is that our society is so deeply ingrained in a cisgender, heterosexual world that most people don’t even consider aspects of life to be norms—they just see it as normal. Parents push cishet ideals onto kids—and even babies, if you think about gender reveal parties, for example—and thanks to a recent movement from far-right conservatives, want to make it even harder for young people to safely be “out” at school. It’s a mess.
In a truly dystopian turn along these lines, high schoolers from the East Baton Rouge School District in Louisiana signed up for a school-sanctioned college and career fair… only to be sent to a church, where they were subjected to transphobic and misogynistic rhetoric. According to The Advocate, students—who attend public schools, mind you—asked their parents to sign permission slips that allowed them to miss class in order to attend a career fair. Instead, they were subjected to hyper-conservative lectures and sermons at the Living Faith Christian Center as part of the church’s Day of Hope event.
You. might be thinking: Okay, that’s terrible, but how many kids could it have been? Fifty? One hundred? Friends: It was thousands.
Students were bussed to the event under the impression they’d get some free food and insight into life after high school. Instead, according to biology teacher Brittney Bryant, who attended the event, students were separated by their sex assigned at birth, and her only trans student was told they couldn’t go with the other boys.
Bryant wrote in a Facebook post that while boys did push-ups and games in one area (which Bryant says was actually outside and in “extreme heat”), girls listened to speakers encourage them to forgive their rapists. Bryant said some students were so upset, they ended up crying in the bathroom. Bryant alleges some students poured water over the heads of trans students without repercussions.
“God forbid I mention anything about sexual orientation, religion, or political agendas in my classroom,” she wrote in part on Facebook, adding if she did so, she’d be put on leave from her job.
Bryant also alleged in her Facebook post that students were incentivized to fill out voter registration forms in order to get free pizza.
“I learned that the children were told in order to receive a “meal ticket” they were told to complete a voter registration,” she wrote in part. “When I went to confront the unethical situation running councilman Darryl Hurst was the one handing out voter registration to the long line of students hoping to get fed pizza at the end of the event. Later was told the pizza was provided by another non profit and it was an “incentive”.” She went on to call this “propaganda” and said some students were actually under 18 years old.
One student who attended the event, Alexis Budyach, said an adult read a Bible verse on stage at the beginning of the event. This is inappropriate for a number of obvious reasons, but it’s especially important to note as it directly contradicts what the school district has said. The East Baton Rouge school district insists this wasn’t a religious event, and that any prayer was initiated by students and not planned ahead of time.
Lawyers are reportedly poised to bring a lawsuit over possible civil rights violations and emotional distress, as covered in this local news story from WBRZ.
Parent Bonnie Kersch, whose daughter attended the event, told the outlet her daughter didn’t realize it was going to be so religious. Kersch said her daughter felt she was “duped” into thinking it was a college and career fair, only to be “proselytized over and prayed over."
According to The Advocate, the Day of Hope event was in partnership with the school district and included more than $9,000 from the school district to cover busses for the 2,000 students and to produce the event.
September 29, 2022
66 degrees in Melbourne in September!
I have been through hurricanes in TX and here, and I seem to recall steamy days following a hurricane. I am flummoxed at this temp! Not complaining, just confused. 
September 26, 2022
Chuck Todd Shirks His Duty Again
The Meet The Press host discussed a possible impeachment of President Biden if Republicans take the House, but didn't ask what he did illegally to warrant such a vote.
By John Amato — September 25, 2022
On Meet the Press, host Chuck Todd asked Rep. Nancy Mace if President Biden would be impeached if Republicans retake the House, but he never asked for an explanation as to what criminal behavior would warrant such a drastic measure.
Todd's response of "wow" should have been followed up asking actual substantive questions about impeachment, but it was not.
snip//
There is no credible case to be made against President Biden for impeachment. Disagreeing with one party's legislation or Executive orders is not cause for impeachment, as any competent human being or transhumanoid cyborg would know.
Since Trump was so unethical, immoral, and criminal, he was rightly impeached twice. His recent behavior of hoarding top secret and classified documents at his Florida residence is just reason 6,783.040 of why he's unfit to hold any public office.
MAGA is looking for playback, plain and simple.
Update (Frances Langum): Never forget Nancy Mace is the congresswoman who allegedly vandalized her own house and then fundraised off of the incident.
Chuck Todd Shirks His Duty Again
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/09/chuck-todd-shirks-his-duty-againChuck Todd Shirks His Duty Again
The Meet The Press host discussed a possible impeachment of President Biden if Republicans take the House, but didn't ask what he did illegally to warrant such a vote.
By John Amato — September 25, 2022
On Meet the Press, host Chuck Todd asked Rep. Nancy Mace if President Biden would be impeached if Republicans retake the House, but he never asked for an explanation as to what criminal behavior would warrant such a drastic measure.
TODD: Do you expect an impeachment vote against President Biden if Republicans take over the House?
REP. NANCY MACE: I believe there's a lot of pressure on Republicans to have that vote, to put that legislation forward, and to have that vote. I think that is something that some folks are considering.
CHUCK TODD: Wow.
REP. NANCY MACE: I believe there's a lot of pressure on Republicans to have that vote, to put that legislation forward, and to have that vote. I think that is something that some folks are considering.
CHUCK TODD: Wow.
Todd's response of "wow" should have been followed up asking actual substantive questions about impeachment, but it was not.
snip//
There is no credible case to be made against President Biden for impeachment. Disagreeing with one party's legislation or Executive orders is not cause for impeachment, as any competent human being or transhumanoid cyborg would know.
Since Trump was so unethical, immoral, and criminal, he was rightly impeached twice. His recent behavior of hoarding top secret and classified documents at his Florida residence is just reason 6,783.040 of why he's unfit to hold any public office.
MAGA is looking for playback, plain and simple.
Update (Frances Langum): Never forget Nancy Mace is the congresswoman who allegedly vandalized her own house and then fundraised off of the incident.
September 25, 2022
The Rude Pundit
Proudly lowering the level of political discourse
9/24/2022
The Gnawing Anxiety That Trump Will Get Away With All of It
I can't get past something when it comes to the multiple crimes of Donald Trump, who really was president (something I still can't fucking believe happened - I mean, I know it happened. I'm not denying the existence of facts, like Trump and his braindead legions do. I'm just always gonna be like "Fuck us that we let that happen"
. And it's really simple, one of those elegant confluences of circumstance that should have complete clarity. It's this:
The law is intensely clear: With a few exceptions that need to be approved, the records of a presidential administration belong to the nation, not the president. All of it, classified, unclassified, and declassified, go to the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, an office set up to take care of those records that are, again, by law, the nation's. There's no wiggle room on this. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals made it crystal-fuckin'-clear in its decision this week in favor of the Justice Department when it comes to the hundred or so documents found by the FBI at Trump's shitty fake castle, Mar-a-lago. "They are ‘owned by, produced by or for, or . . . under the control of the United States Government,'" it wrote.
And this is what bugs the shit out of me. I get that rich people are treated differently when it comes to legal matters. I get that presidents are treated with kid gloves for some goddamn reason. But Trump and the people around him took those documents that don't belong to him. Then NARA gave them the benefit of the doubt (or pretended to) and said, "Hey, you took these documents that by law don't belong to you. Please give them back." Then, not only did they not give them all back, they lied and said they did, which means they fucking well knew they had shit that didn't belong to them. Under the most generous of definitions, that's theft. They fucking robbed the country.
So I cannot wrap my brain around the idea that Trump and everyone involved in keeping the documents were not immediately arrested when the FBI fucking caught them with stolen fucking property. As just about everyone sane who has commented on this, from across the political spectrum, has said, if anyone else had been caught hiding government documents, let alone super-duper Top Secret Classified documents, the FBI would have sealed them in concrete until trial.
snip//
Yeah, fucking enjoy Trump's shitty week. Enjoy the shitty weeks to come. But we're not playing a fair game here. Or that dull orange motherfucker would be sitting in a cell, awaiting trial.
The Rude Pundit: The Gnawing Anxiety That Trump Will Get Away With All of It
https://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-gnawing-anxiety-that-trump-will-get.htmlThe Rude Pundit
Proudly lowering the level of political discourse
9/24/2022
The Gnawing Anxiety That Trump Will Get Away With All of It
I can't get past something when it comes to the multiple crimes of Donald Trump, who really was president (something I still can't fucking believe happened - I mean, I know it happened. I'm not denying the existence of facts, like Trump and his braindead legions do. I'm just always gonna be like "Fuck us that we let that happen"
. And it's really simple, one of those elegant confluences of circumstance that should have complete clarity. It's this:
The law is intensely clear: With a few exceptions that need to be approved, the records of a presidential administration belong to the nation, not the president. All of it, classified, unclassified, and declassified, go to the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, an office set up to take care of those records that are, again, by law, the nation's. There's no wiggle room on this. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals made it crystal-fuckin'-clear in its decision this week in favor of the Justice Department when it comes to the hundred or so documents found by the FBI at Trump's shitty fake castle, Mar-a-lago. "They are ‘owned by, produced by or for, or . . . under the control of the United States Government,'" it wrote.
And this is what bugs the shit out of me. I get that rich people are treated differently when it comes to legal matters. I get that presidents are treated with kid gloves for some goddamn reason. But Trump and the people around him took those documents that don't belong to him. Then NARA gave them the benefit of the doubt (or pretended to) and said, "Hey, you took these documents that by law don't belong to you. Please give them back." Then, not only did they not give them all back, they lied and said they did, which means they fucking well knew they had shit that didn't belong to them. Under the most generous of definitions, that's theft. They fucking robbed the country.
So I cannot wrap my brain around the idea that Trump and everyone involved in keeping the documents were not immediately arrested when the FBI fucking caught them with stolen fucking property. As just about everyone sane who has commented on this, from across the political spectrum, has said, if anyone else had been caught hiding government documents, let alone super-duper Top Secret Classified documents, the FBI would have sealed them in concrete until trial.
snip//
Yeah, fucking enjoy Trump's shitty week. Enjoy the shitty weeks to come. But we're not playing a fair game here. Or that dull orange motherfucker would be sitting in a cell, awaiting trial.
September 25, 2022
Terminally Ill Tot Wanted To 'See Monsters' For Early Halloween. Over 1000 Costumed Folks Showed Up.
Tevye
Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)
Saturday September 24, 2022 · 6:33 PM EDT
For those traveling through the Crown Point community of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada last Wednesday were probably confused.
Over a thousand people dressed up in their Halloween spookiness having a parade, a bash and a ball.
Two weeks previous, Nick and Kira Hurdakis were told by their doctors that their 5- years- old son Alexandros had only a few weeks, possibly months to live.
Alex has suffered from brain tumors since he was 11- months- old.
He has been going through experimental treatments since, and they kept the lesions at bay, racking up great debt in the process.
But now the treatments are no longer effective.
The tumor is back, and at such a stage, as to be inoperable and incurable.
His parents, wanting to make his remaining time as enjoyable and meaningful as possible asked him if there was anywhere he wanted to go, anything he wanted to do, anybody he wanted to see.
He wanted to visit a famous haunted house attraction in nearby Niagara Falls, but their doctors informed them that he was now to sick to go.
Family friend Paula Tzouanakis Anderson shared the sad information on the Crown Point Community Facebook Page, expressing her wish to have an early Halloween due to the circumstances.
“Time is limited so we just wanted to make him happy and bring Halloween to him.”
Everything was arranged—from closing down Argyle Street and getting the help of Hamilton police and firefighters to arranging volunteer face painters, popcorn and cotton candy vendors, and a dozen sports cars decked out in Halloween decorations—in little over two days.
Two days!
They expected maybe three hundred people, which in itself is impressive.
Over 1000 members of the community showed up, many in full gear.
Nick and Kira carried Alex through witches, zombies, mummies and the like.
Many of the dogs were likewise in costume.
Local sport mascots showed up.
The police came by so Alex could play with the siren and the local Fire Department came in their firetruck.
Said Paula, “So many individuals came together to make this night great. I started crying. It was just amazing. Alex was waving to every single person in the crowd. He knew it was for him.
You could see the love in his eyes.”
For Nick and Cara, words can’t adequately describe their gratitude and awe of their community.
Like a giant universal hand helping lift them up in this time of shock and sadness and grief.
alex-s-father-nick-helping-him-sit-beside-his-favourite-costume-rubble-from-paw-patrol.jpg
more...
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/24/2125044/-Terminally-Ill-Tot-Wanted-To-See-Monsters-For-Early-Halloween-Over-1000-Costumed-Folks-Showed-Up
Terminally Ill Tot Wanted To 'See Monsters' For Early Halloween. Over 1000 Costumed Folks Showed Up.
Terminally Ill Tot Wanted To 'See Monsters' For Early Halloween. Over 1000 Costumed Folks Showed Up.
Tevye
Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)
Saturday September 24, 2022 · 6:33 PM EDT
For those traveling through the Crown Point community of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada last Wednesday were probably confused.
Over a thousand people dressed up in their Halloween spookiness having a parade, a bash and a ball.
Two weeks previous, Nick and Kira Hurdakis were told by their doctors that their 5- years- old son Alexandros had only a few weeks, possibly months to live.
Alex has suffered from brain tumors since he was 11- months- old.
He has been going through experimental treatments since, and they kept the lesions at bay, racking up great debt in the process.
But now the treatments are no longer effective.
The tumor is back, and at such a stage, as to be inoperable and incurable.
“With heavy heart we would like to inform everyone for an update on our warrior,” read a post from the families GoFundMe page, which was set-up when first diagnosed to help with experimental treatments.
“Today we had a visit from Alex’s doctors. They will be surprised if Alex be with us next week.”
“Today we had a visit from Alex’s doctors. They will be surprised if Alex be with us next week.”
A GoFundMe page, gofundme, created on Alex’s behalf has raised more than $41,000 and details the family’s journey since Alex’s diagnosis at 11 months. While parents Nick and Kira are struggling to keep up with Alex’s medical needs, “their bills are piling up,” the site reads. Between hospital bills, parking fees, hotel stays for early morning appointments, and all the days off it takes to attend to Alex’s needs, the family struggles.
In the latest update to the site, released a week before the Halloween parade, Tzouanakis told Anderson doctors would be “surprised” if Alex made it through the week. A shunt that takes pressure off his brain is keeping him alive, she said, and doctors told the family they don’t expect him to last more than two months.
In the latest update to the site, released a week before the Halloween parade, Tzouanakis told Anderson doctors would be “surprised” if Alex made it through the week. A shunt that takes pressure off his brain is keeping him alive, she said, and doctors told the family they don’t expect him to last more than two months.
His parents, wanting to make his remaining time as enjoyable and meaningful as possible asked him if there was anywhere he wanted to go, anything he wanted to do, anybody he wanted to see.
“Halloween.
I want to see monsters.”
I want to see monsters.”
He wanted to visit a famous haunted house attraction in nearby Niagara Falls, but their doctors informed them that he was now to sick to go.
Family friend Paula Tzouanakis Anderson shared the sad information on the Crown Point Community Facebook Page, expressing her wish to have an early Halloween due to the circumstances.
“Time is limited so we just wanted to make him happy and bring Halloween to him.”
Everything was arranged—from closing down Argyle Street and getting the help of Hamilton police and firefighters to arranging volunteer face painters, popcorn and cotton candy vendors, and a dozen sports cars decked out in Halloween decorations—in little over two days.
Two days!
They expected maybe three hundred people, which in itself is impressive.
Over 1000 members of the community showed up, many in full gear.
Nick and Kira carried Alex through witches, zombies, mummies and the like.
Many of the dogs were likewise in costume.
Local sport mascots showed up.
The police came by so Alex could play with the siren and the local Fire Department came in their firetruck.
Said Paula, “So many individuals came together to make this night great. I started crying. It was just amazing. Alex was waving to every single person in the crowd. He knew it was for him.
You could see the love in his eyes.”
For Nick and Cara, words can’t adequately describe their gratitude and awe of their community.
Like a giant universal hand helping lift them up in this time of shock and sadness and grief.
alex-s-father-nick-helping-him-sit-beside-his-favourite-costume-rubble-from-paw-patrol.jpg
more...
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/24/2125044/-Terminally-Ill-Tot-Wanted-To-See-Monsters-For-Early-Halloween-Over-1000-Costumed-Folks-Showed-Up
September 23, 2022
Guv DeSatan is going to trial.
liberaldad2
Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)
Friday September 23, 2022 · 2:37 PM EDT
Share this article
You may recall that last month, FL Gov Ron DeSantis used his presumed power as Florida’s Chief Executive to remove from office Andrew Warren as Hillsborough County state attorney and install his conservative buddy Susan Lopez.
Warren was duly elected to the county prosecutor office in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, but DeSantis decided that his views were too liberal for Florida and removed him from office. Lopez has already reversed several of Warren’s liberal policies.
Well, guess what? Warren sued DeSantis and now DeSantis is going to have to defend his actions in court.
This is not the first time DeSantis has removed elected Florida officials for being too liberal. He recently removed 4 members of a Broward County School Board for enforcing a mask mandate. In 2019 he also removed the Broward County Sheriff for “neglect of duty.” You will of course be shocked to learn that all his firings have been Democrats.
DeSantis will have to testify in the trial. Lordy, break out the popcorn.
Guv DeSatan is going to trial.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/23/2124831/-Guv-DeSatan-is-going-to-trialGuv DeSatan is going to trial.
liberaldad2
Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)
Friday September 23, 2022 · 2:37 PM EDT
Share this article
You may recall that last month, FL Gov Ron DeSantis used his presumed power as Florida’s Chief Executive to remove from office Andrew Warren as Hillsborough County state attorney and install his conservative buddy Susan Lopez.
Andrew Warren, a Democrat, was removed as Hillsborough county state attorney on 4 August after saying he would not enforce the abortion ban or prosecute providers of gender transition treatment for young people.
Warren was duly elected to the county prosecutor office in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, but DeSantis decided that his views were too liberal for Florida and removed him from office. Lopez has already reversed several of Warren’s liberal policies.
Well, guess what? Warren sued DeSantis and now DeSantis is going to have to defend his actions in court.
At a hearing in Tallahassee on Monday, Judge Robert Hinkle denied motions from DeSantis to dismiss Warren’s lawsuit, and another by Warren seeking an immediate return to office, instead requesting their differences be settled at a trial in the coming weeks.
This is not the first time DeSantis has removed elected Florida officials for being too liberal. He recently removed 4 members of a Broward County School Board for enforcing a mask mandate. In 2019 he also removed the Broward County Sheriff for “neglect of duty.” You will of course be shocked to learn that all his firings have been Democrats.
DeSantis will have to testify in the trial. Lordy, break out the popcorn.
September 23, 2022
Douglas Wood
THE GREAT MUCKY MUCK
https://www.facebook.com/wood.douglasDouglas Wood
THE GREAT MUCKY MUCK had a powerful brain.
It lurked right there under his wispy orange mane.
He used it for thinking his powerful thoughts.
How to steal miillions, how not to get caught.
He could think up the rain, he could think up the sun,
The could think up a Big Mac on a sesame bun.
He could think up the wind, he could think up the weather,
He could move hurricanes with the brush of a feather.
He could surely bend spoons, he could fly to the moon,
He could make it be May, he could make it be June.
He could think up a billion from just fifty bucks,
What a deal, what a guy, what a great stroke of luck!
He could make up a lie, and make it be true,
He could do many things you or I could not do.
And all just by thinking and using his mind,
What a wonderful thing, how incredibly fine!
And most special of all he could take secret docs,
Put them into his closet in a dirty sock box,
And declassify them, “I De-classify You!”
This was something amazing—something brand new.
And all with his brain, with his powerful mind,
One thing is for certain. It’s one of a kind.
Thank God.
It lurked right there under his wispy orange mane.
He used it for thinking his powerful thoughts.
How to steal miillions, how not to get caught.
He could think up the rain, he could think up the sun,
The could think up a Big Mac on a sesame bun.
He could think up the wind, he could think up the weather,
He could move hurricanes with the brush of a feather.
He could surely bend spoons, he could fly to the moon,
He could make it be May, he could make it be June.
He could think up a billion from just fifty bucks,
What a deal, what a guy, what a great stroke of luck!
He could make up a lie, and make it be true,
He could do many things you or I could not do.
And all just by thinking and using his mind,
What a wonderful thing, how incredibly fine!
And most special of all he could take secret docs,
Put them into his closet in a dirty sock box,
And declassify them, “I De-classify You!”
This was something amazing—something brand new.
And all with his brain, with his powerful mind,
One thing is for certain. It’s one of a kind.
Thank God.
September 23, 2022
5 hours ago
Donald Trump and the Birth of QMaga: The Storm Is Coming
And the GOP is just fine with this madness.
David Corn
snip//
In retrospect, the melding of MAGAism with QAnon—and toss in a helping of Christian nationalism—seemed inevitable. The QAnon conspiracy theory holds that the world is controlled by a cabal of satanic, baby-eating, sex-trafficking pedophiles—which includes, of course, top Democrats, assorted elites, Hollywood celebrities, and the Pope—and that Trump is engaged in titanic combat behind the scenes to crush this evil power and save humanity (and lots of babies). Under assorted variants of this nuttery, Trump is being aided by John F. Kennedy Jr. (who did not die in a 1999 plane crash), and he will be restored to power in a final cataclysmic battle that involves mass arrests of Lucifer’s allies (lock ‘em up in Gitmo!) and televised executions. Trump fully embraced the QAnon insanity last week, and this means that the Republican Party now supports a man who advances a dangerous derangement that exceeds his Big Lie about the 2020 election and that further delegitimizes American democracy and debases political discourse. And this party has a good shot at gaining control of Congress in seven weeks.
For years, Trump had played footsie with QAnon, claiming he didn’t know much about it but praising its adherents’ supposed patriotism, their opposition to pedophilia and, naturally, their cultish love of him. Offered the chance to denounce this perverse craziness, he bobbed and weaved, sending the signal to QAnoners—who are always looking for signals—that they did indeed possess the hidden truth. With nods and winks, he validated their paranoia and detachment from reality, as QAnon conspiracism led to numerous acts of violence.
snip//
No more. He went full QAnon the other day when he posted online a photoshopped image of him wearing a Q pin. To make the message clear, this picture proclaimed, “The Storm Is Coming”—a QAnon catchphrase referring to that ultimate showdown between Trump and the evildoers. And it contained the abbreviation for the QAnon slogan, “where we go one, we go all.”
snip//
A few weeks ago, President Joe Biden excoriated MAGA extremism and election denialism as “semi-fascism” and warned the nation of the threat they pose. Republicans and conservatives turned snowflakes and cried foul. Since then, the danger has grown. As every pundit will tell you, the Republicans remain poised to win the House in the November elections and possibly the Senate. That will place in power a party that accepts and supports QMaga (and that backs as its leader a man who now excuses political violence). Without more media attention and more warnings from Biden and the Democrats, QMaga will spread into the halls of Congress not by mob violence but by the ballot box. A storm is indeed coming.
David Corn: Donald Trump and the Birth of QMaga: The Storm Is Coming
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/09/donald-trump-and-the-birth-of-qmaga-the-storm-is-coming/5 hours ago
Donald Trump and the Birth of QMaga: The Storm Is Coming
And the GOP is just fine with this madness.
David Corn
snip//
In retrospect, the melding of MAGAism with QAnon—and toss in a helping of Christian nationalism—seemed inevitable. The QAnon conspiracy theory holds that the world is controlled by a cabal of satanic, baby-eating, sex-trafficking pedophiles—which includes, of course, top Democrats, assorted elites, Hollywood celebrities, and the Pope—and that Trump is engaged in titanic combat behind the scenes to crush this evil power and save humanity (and lots of babies). Under assorted variants of this nuttery, Trump is being aided by John F. Kennedy Jr. (who did not die in a 1999 plane crash), and he will be restored to power in a final cataclysmic battle that involves mass arrests of Lucifer’s allies (lock ‘em up in Gitmo!) and televised executions. Trump fully embraced the QAnon insanity last week, and this means that the Republican Party now supports a man who advances a dangerous derangement that exceeds his Big Lie about the 2020 election and that further delegitimizes American democracy and debases political discourse. And this party has a good shot at gaining control of Congress in seven weeks.
For years, Trump had played footsie with QAnon, claiming he didn’t know much about it but praising its adherents’ supposed patriotism, their opposition to pedophilia and, naturally, their cultish love of him. Offered the chance to denounce this perverse craziness, he bobbed and weaved, sending the signal to QAnoners—who are always looking for signals—that they did indeed possess the hidden truth. With nods and winks, he validated their paranoia and detachment from reality, as QAnon conspiracism led to numerous acts of violence.
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No more. He went full QAnon the other day when he posted online a photoshopped image of him wearing a Q pin. To make the message clear, this picture proclaimed, “The Storm Is Coming”—a QAnon catchphrase referring to that ultimate showdown between Trump and the evildoers. And it contained the abbreviation for the QAnon slogan, “where we go one, we go all.”
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A few weeks ago, President Joe Biden excoriated MAGA extremism and election denialism as “semi-fascism” and warned the nation of the threat they pose. Republicans and conservatives turned snowflakes and cried foul. Since then, the danger has grown. As every pundit will tell you, the Republicans remain poised to win the House in the November elections and possibly the Senate. That will place in power a party that accepts and supports QMaga (and that backs as its leader a man who now excuses political violence). Without more media attention and more warnings from Biden and the Democrats, QMaga will spread into the halls of Congress not by mob violence but by the ballot box. A storm is indeed coming.
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