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Donald Trump over the past several weeks has completed the transformation of the Republican Party into a caricature of an extremist right-wing political cult. The GOP has become a fetid swamp of lies, racism, authoritarianism, misogyny, and character assassination. It is truly a fascist Party, wedded to the language and tactics of the European fascist parties of the 1920s-40s. Republicans under Trump are waging a war against America’s basic moral and democratic values, the Constitution, the rule of law, God’s Ten Commandments, Jesus’ Golden Rule, and common human decency. If any writer of fiction had depicted such a monstrosity as the real Republican Party in a draft novel, his publisher would have quickly deposited it in the nearest trash can, as so overwrought as to be comical.

No in-depth analysis is necessary to understand the brutal reality of the Republican Party. The headlines alone tell the story, and the text of the articles flesh it out admirably. Here are some prime examples:

From the New York Times

"The strongest case against Trump may come from his own people"--those who served with him in the White House and members of his own party, who have seen him up close.

(Excerpts--the offices are those held under Trump)

"He will always put his own interests and gratifying his own ego ahead …” Bill Barr, U.S. Attorney General

"… undermined American democracy baselessly …” Thomas P. Bossert, Homeland Security Adviser

"A person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators...has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law.” John Kelly, 1. Secretary of Homeland Security 2. Chief of Staff

"...I think he's a terrible human being." Mick Mulvaney, held various posts, including acting Chief of Staff

"...renders coherent foreign policy almost unattainable.” John Bolton, National Security Advise

Full Story

Dick Cheney says he’s voting for Harris in November and Trump ‘can never be trusted with power again’
Details:
Dick Cheney Reveals His Reason for Endorsing Kamala Harris Over Donald Trump
Former Vice President Dick Cheney says he will vote for Harris
James Murdoch, Mark Cuban and dozens of other business leaders endorse Kamala Harris for president
More than 90 company executives, 100 law enforcement officials back Harris

 

The mainstream press are failing America

From “The Guardian” – By Rebecca Solnit

(Excerpts)

The media is still pursuing the appearance of fairness by treating true and false, normal and outrageous, as equally valid.

“The real reason corporate media won't cover Trump's attacks on democracy”

On August 26, 2024, the New York Times published an article on its editorial pages with the following headline: “Trump Can Win on Character.” Journalist D. Earl Stephens wrote his comment on the Times commentary:

“We need to talk about the abominable headline, and how we have come to the fatal point where The New York Times and our broken mainstream media” seem to show undue favoritism toward Trump.

Stephens says the article is an example of the Times “inability to spot the biggest news story of our lifetimes, and treat it with the heft it deserves.” The Times, he continues, is engaging in “journalistic malpractice, and is a very real danger to our country.”

 “The Times isn’t alone in its mishandling and disregard of the continuing attack on our country and its institutions that back it up. In fact, I can’t point to ONE so-called reputable news source in our ‘mainstream’ media that has appropriately sounded the alarms, and given this perpetually breaking news story the treatment it demands.”

“What news could possibly override monitoring the dangerous maneuvers of a sociopath, who is still free and on the loose after unleashing his rabid attack dogs to besiege our Capitol, stomp on law enforcement officials, seek out political leaders for harm and hanging, and prevent the certification of our vote, while doing nothing for three hours except root for the attack’s success?”

“Just what in the hell is being discussed in all these newsrooms while Trump bangs the drums of hate, follows the roadmap created for him in Project 2025, and backstopped by a radical, bought-off Supreme Court, bolstered by known election-deniers, promises retribution to anybody who dares get in his way?”

Stephens cites another headline that he finds repugnant: “Harris has the momentum. But Trump has the edge on what matters most.”

“If you feel comfortable with that headline,” says Stephens, “then the mainstream media have you right where they want you: accepting that running this kind of propagandist bilge is acceptable.”

“My only plausible guess for the mainstream media’s failure to cover the attack on our country, besides sheer and incomprehensible incompetence, is that they are hedging their bets…our media’s catastrophic failure to protect and inform us.”

(D. Earl Stephens is author of “Toxic Tales: A Caustic Collection of Donald J. Trump’s Very Important Letters” who finished up a 30-year career in journalism as the Managing Editor of Stars and Stripes.)

Veteran NBC News Host Stephanie Ruhle Joins in Castigating the Media’s Double Standard

In an appearance before the New York Economics Club on September 6, Trump was asked what specifically he would do to lower the cost of childcare. He launched into a completely meandering, nonsensical reply that barely even mentioned the subject at hand. He rambled about slapping foreign countries with tariffs and seemed to suggest that he could use the money collected from said tariffs to fund universal childcare.

After seeing this response, Ruhle on Morning Joe slammed members of the New York Economics Club for applauding to such a demonstrably incoherent answer. In a follow-up post, Ruhle challenged the media to accurately report that Trump's remarks made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

According to Rawstory, Ruhle stated “Calling Trump's remarks at the NY Economics Club incoherent gibberish is not a biased attack. It is a completely rational observation. He did not speak in coherent or complete sentences. And when he did, proposals like (tariffs - childcare) do not make sense."

The question Trump should be asked every single day

By Colbert I. King

If I didn’t know better, I might conclude that the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, in which rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol to prevent the certification of the 2020 presidential election, was merely the act of exuberant “patriots” voicing their displeasure with Joe Biden’s victory — and that Donald Trump had nothing to do with it.

What else to think, based on the media’s treatment of the twice-impeached former president and felon and his campaign to return to the White House?

Trump is being covered by the press as if Jan. 6 were old news.

Here we are, back to horse-race journalism and breathless pursuit of polls and other campaign nuggets designed to keep audiences glued to our websites, networks and newspapers — with little attention paid to the character, records of service and moral fitness of candidates who seek the highest offices in the land.

And here, in 2024, we have Trump campaigning in full misogyny, with lewd references to Harris, without being pressed for answers about behavior that unleashed the worst assault on the seat of the federal government since the War of 1812.

Meanwhile, (Trump shows his contempt for the rule of law) by having his New Jersey golf club host a fundraiser for families of the defendants charged in the attack on the Capitol. Felons — dubbed “patriots” by Trump — whose sentences he has promised to commute if he’s returned to the White House.

The nation needs to know in advance whether, this time around, Donald Trump is committed to accepting the 2024 results. He should be asked that whenever he shows his face in public.

Every. Single. Time.

This isn’t La La Land. We, the media and the public, need answers.

Summary:

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger finalized Georgia’s presidential ballot Thursday, overruling the recommendations of an administrative law judge by including Socialist candidate Claudia De la Cruz and independent Cornell West alongside Democrat Kamala Harris, Republican Donald Trump, Libertarian Chase Oliver and the Green Party’s Jill Stein.

READ MORE

 

The Republican-controlled State Election Board recently adopted Trump-inspired rules design to subvert the will of the majority in elections. The new rules enhanced the power of local election board members to call for an investigation of the conduct of elections. A challenge from a single Board member could delay formal certification of the returns and send the electoral system into chaos. Republicans hope to exploit the chaos to skew the vote in favor of Republicans.

From the AJC:

Democrats sue to block Georgia rules that they warn will block finalization of election results

Excerpts:

FULL STORY

OPINION: What happened to ‘election integrity’ for State Election Board?

 

AJC: Trump lackeys on election board face backlash for changing rules on certifying election rules

The Georgia State Election Board last month adopted Trump=inspired rules designed to subvert official election returns. The new rules enhanced the power of local election board members to call for an investigation of the conduct of local elections. A challenge from a single board members could delay certification, and multiple challenges over trivial matters could easily send the electoral system into chaos.

Excerpts from the AJC report:

At a recent rally in Atlanta, Trump lauded the trio, calling them “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency and victory.”

FULL STORY

The AJC reports:

FULL STORY

Republican gatherings routinely are enveloped in a great deal of religiosity, but this year’s Republican National Convention reached new highs in depicting the GOP as an instrument to upholding the Christian way of life. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were frequently invoked.

To many Americans, this was a startling display of pure hypocrisy. A plethora of words spoken by Donald Trump in the last nine years, and many of his deeds, are flagrantly at odds with the core message of the Judeo-Christian ethos, as expressed in the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ. And America’s religious leaders, far from fighting back against this perversion of the Christian message, have remained passive and non-caring as Trump rips the Christian ethos to pieces just about every time he opens his mouth.

In the face of their indifference, I reached the logical conclusion that many of our so-called religious leaders see no contradiction between Trump’s words and the teachings of Jesus. I drafted words that seem to reflect outlook and mentality.  Under the rubric of my organization “IndieDems,” I sent the text to Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopalian pastors and to a Catholic Archbishop.

Now I have a new list of prominent Republicans avidly asserting that supporting Trump is a means of implementing the Christian gospel on earth. The online media source RawStory (https://www.rawstory.com/raw-investigates/donald-trump-religion-faith/ ) published a comprehensive overview of the politicians and clerics who invoked the religious refrain in their speeches to the Republican National Convention. One of them was Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who said about the attempted assassination of Trump: “If you didn't believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now. Thank God almighty that we live in a country that still believes in the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and Alpha and the Omega.”

I present below my interpretation of how the brand of Christianity practiced by Republicans and clerics like Sen. Scott views the words and deeds of Donald Trump

Sen. Scott sees no violation of Christian principles posed by Trump’s calling his political opponents “vermin”—a term frequently used by Adolf Hitler.

Sen. Scott sees no violation of Christian principles posed by Trump’s saying that migrants are “animals” who are “poisoning” the country.

Sen. Scott sees no undermining of Chrisian principles when an adult human being stands up in public and mocks a handicapped person.

Sen. Scott sees no threat to Christian principles when Trump calls the persons who served time for their criminal acts during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol “hostages” and “unbelievable patriots” and says he would consider blanket pardons for some of those charged.

Sen. Scott apparently sees no connection between Jesus’ teachings and the rule of law, a basic American value that upholds the values that Jesus espoused.

Sen. Scott sees no violation of Christian principles in Trump’s extensive track record that establish his racism. Specifically:

 Scott sees no violation of Christian principles in Trump’s leadership of the racist birther movement against former President Barack Obama

Sen. Scott does not believe that these words and deeds establish Trump as a racist who lives a life contrary to the teachings of Jesus, and who is unfit to hold public office in the United States.

Sen. Scott saw no violation of Jesus’ teachings, or of the Commandment against bearing false witness, when Trump, in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, made up a Big Lie that two Black election workers in Georgia had attempted to illegally manipulate the counting of ballots in the 2020 election.

Sen. Scott saw no violation of Christian principles when Trump and his lawyer, Rudolf Giuliani, gave media interviews to publicize the lie about the election workers.

Sen. Scott saw no violation of Christian principles when Trump—in a telephone conversation with the GA Secretary of State, trying to get him to prevent Georgia's electoral vote going to Biden—made the totally false allegation that one of the women was a “professional vote-scammer and hustler.”

Sen. Scott’s Christian empathy was not aroused when Trump’s false accusations subjected the poll workers to vicious threats and harassment, including people banging on their doors, forcing them to flee their homes, and turning their lives into a living hell. Sen. Scott slept soundly every night.

Sen. Scott sees no violation of Christian principles in the fact that Trump kept the vile lie about Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss going for three years, until a trial exonerated the two, and the jury ordered Giuliani to pay almost $150 million in damages.

Sen. Scott unreservedly rejects any idea that Trump’s gross mistreatment and flagrant character assassination of two innocent Christians are so alien to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and to the Ten Commandments, that Trump showed himself not only unfit to be president, he showed he is unfit to be called a Christian.

 Sen. Scott sees no violation of Christian principles in the fact that in the mid-1990s, Trump sexually assaulted a woman named E. Jean Carroll, a crime two separate juries of ordinary Americans subsequently decided had happened.

(IndieDems note: For the details about the Carroll case see the original letter. Summary: Carroll at one point filed a lawsuit seeking damages for the alleged assault itself and for acts of defamation by Trump.  On May 9, 2023, a federal jury in New York found Trump liable for defamation and sexual abuse and awarded Carroll a total of $5 million in damages. Trump immediately proceeded to show what a warped, twisted, and depraved soul he really is by resuming his public insults and defamation. Carroll launched a new lawsuit. On Jan. 262024, the second jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million to Carroll).

Sen. Scott saw no violations of the teachings of Jesus Christ in any of Trump’s serial acts of assault, libel and slander of an innocent human being.

Sen. Scott sees no violation of Christian principles in Trump over and over again expressing his fulsome praise for democracy-hating, murderous thugs Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jung Un, Chinese President Xi, and Hungarian strongman Orban, all of whom who have repudiated America’s basic moral and democratic values.

Sen. Scott remained silent when Trump called the Iranian proxy Hezbollah, one of the world’s worst terrorist organizations, "very smart."

Sen. Scott sees no violation of Christian principle in Trump’s suggestion that General Mark Milley, the highly respected former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, deserved execution.

Sen. Scott saw no violation of Christian principles, or of the Commandment against lying, when Trump in 2022 took to social media to call for the termination of the Constitution in order to overturn the 2020 election and “reinstate” him to power. He based his deranged demands on his own false allegations that the 2020 election had been stolen from him.

Sen. Scott saw no violation of Christian principles, or the Commandment against lying, when Trump, in an interview published on March 18, 2024, said “Jews who support Democrats hate Israel and their religion.” Sen. Scott maintained his silence after Trump’s campaign repeated his incendiary charge, declaring that “Trump is right,” and that the Democratic Party “has turned into a full-blown anti-Israel, antisemitic, pro-terrorist cabal.”

(IndieDems comment: Remarkably, very few people who call themselves Christians have criticized these beyond-outrageous remarks by the man they want to make President of the United States. Their tolerance for warped, twisted, and depraved filth from Trump is bottomless. We ask again: where is there one iota of the teachings of Jesus Christ in these words?)

Sen. Scott sees no violation of Christian principles in Trump’s repeated remarks about U.S. service members and veterans, including calling soldiers “losers” and “suckers,” and refusing to visit their graves on a visit to Europe. (For details, see IndieDems’ original letter).

Sen. Scott sees no violation of Christian principles in Trump’s demeaning of the military service of John McCain, delivered in force during his 2016 presidential campaign. Sen. Scott remained silent about Trump’s actions following McCain’s death: after the U.S. flag flying over the White House was lowered, Trump ordered it to be restored to full height even while McCain’s memorial services were still underway.

IndieDems: Final Words

Polls show an astonishing number of Americans who call themselves Christians who believe Donald Trump is God’s chosen man to save America. A prominent political observer has, in our view, summed it up concisely and eloquently:

“The result is a religious movement steeped in fanaticism but stripped of virtue. The Christian virtues touted in the New Testament — ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control’ — have been replaced in MAGA Christianity by the very vileness the same passage warned against, including ‘hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions’ and ‘factions.’ ”

 My question to you, Sen. Scott: Based on your Christian principles, do you agree or disagree with that conclusion?

(Signed)-Tom Barksdale

 

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