Fascism may be here

[Vrede too]

The Conservative Effort To Take Over A Nationally Ranked School System
A Virginia county's schools have faced tons of controversy — and right-wingers are convinced they can fix everything.

[Vrede too]

Moms For "Liberty" FAILED in Loudoun County, VA and other suburban districts. Yippie!

Moms For Liberty's School Board Takeover Attempts Fizzled Out On Election Day
The results from an election cycle widely viewed as a preview for 2024 are bad news for the group’s ultra-conservative agenda.

Moms for Liberty, the right-wing extremist group that aims to bring a conservative agenda to public education, set out to take over school boards across the country in Tuesday’s elections. But instead of installing like-minded candidates in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Iowa school districts, its attempt fell flat....

But while Moms for Liberty candidates in smaller and more rural districts were able to notch victories on Tuesday, they floundered in the suburbs.

(state-by-state run down of MFL's dismal showing)

... But Moms for Liberty’s poor performance in the polls may be a sign that the so-called conservative “war on woke” just isn’t a battle voters are interested in.

Just look at how the group fared in Loudoun County, Virginia, where MFL focused on a purple county that has become a national symbol of how the culture wars are infecting public education. The county’s schools have been mired in controversy since 2021 when a student allegedly committed sexual assault at two different high schools.

After conservatives falsely claimed that the alleged perpetrator was transgender, right-wing rhetoric began permeating the school district, leading to contentious school board meetings that were covered by right-wing news outlets — and giving the Virginia county national exposure.

In Tuesday’s school board election, all nine seats were up for grabs, and Moms for Liberty endorsed four candidates — but only one prevailed. Ultimately, liberals won a 6-3 majority on the county school board.

"Woke" wins.

Steve Martin Hilariously Looks On Bright Side After His Book Is Banned In Florida
The actor's "Shopgirl" is being pulled from library shelves, prompting a cheeky response.

stevemartinreally
So proud to have my book Shopgirl banned in Collier County, Florida! Now people who want to read it will have to buy a copy!

... Martin is in some prominent literary company. Collier County is also reportedly banning a number of books by Stephen King, in addition to works by Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, Alice Walker and Ernest Hemingway....

Collier County, Florida - Rick Scott's home, O Really's old home and MadCaw's new home - is solidly RepuQ, of course. Fascists.

[Vrede too]

Trump Team Responds to Hitler Accusations by Proving Accusers Right
Donald Trump’s rhetoric is becoming more dictatorial with each passing day.

... Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian at New York University, warned that Trump is following in Hitler and Mussolini’s footsteps.

“Calling people ‘vermin’ was used effectively by Hitler and Mussolini to dehumanize people and encourage their followers to engage in violence,” she explained to The Washington Post.

Brian Klaas, a political scientist, told MSNBC on Monday that Trump is “lifting not just rhetoric but actual plans from the authoritarian playbook.”

“I study the breakdown of democracy, and I don’t know how to say this more clearly: We are sleepwalking towards authoritarianism,” he said.

Maybe we aren't old enough. I hope the prisons have decent geriatric wards.

[Vrede too]

Zionist fascism:

Pro-Palestine Voices Face Threats, Harassment As Gaza Death Toll Grows
Activists, students and everyday people said they are being intimidated for their pro-Palestine activism.

Netanyahu Calls Palestinians ‘Collateral Damage’ As Israel Destroys Gaza
The Israeli prime minister also called the UN's accusation of war crimes "hogwash," despite now killing more than 11,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

'HonestReporting' Website Backtracks On Implication Palestinian Journalists Were Involved In Massacre
Israeli government officials compared the journalists to terrorists, but now the group behind the implication says it was just asking questions.

[Vrede too]

It's what fascist bigots do:

DeSantis spread false information while pushing trans health care ban and restrictions, a judge says

[Vrede too]

billy.pilgrim and perhaps the nation's tax dollars at work:

DeSantis sending Florida State Guard, National Guard members to Texas border
DeSantis said the guard members will be deployed based on Texas' needs as the state deals with a wave of illegal immigration

Florida will be sending up to 1,000 members of the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard to Texas to assist with the southern border, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday....

The guard members will join the more than 90 officers from the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that are currently deployed to the border....

This can't be allowed to stand. It's time for Joltin' Joe to federalize the FL and TX (and other states) Guard. SCOTUS has already backed him up.

[Vrede too]

Aww, Fascist DerSantis has lost a core item of his White supremacist agenda:

Florida loses court bid to revive 'woke' workplace training ban

A U.S. appeals court on Monday held that a Florida law championed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis that banned mandatory workplace diversity training that promotes progressive concepts violates employers' constitutional free speech rights.

Fascist DerSantis and FL RepuQs detest freedom, especially free speech.

A three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower-court judge's ruling that blocked the law at the request of two small businesses and a consultant who conducts workplace training.

Fascist DerSantis and FL RepuQs detest small businesses.

The Stop the Wrong to Our Kids and Employees Act, or Stop WOKE Act, was signed into law in 2022 by DeSantis and states that employers cannot require workers to attend training that promotes eight specific concepts.

How much taxpayer money has been wasted on this stupidity?

... (U.S. Circuit Judge Britt) Grant's opinion was joined by U.S. Circuit Judges Andrew Brasher and Charles Wilson. Grant and Brasher are appointees of Republican former President Donald Trump, while Wilson was appointed by Democratic former President Bill Clinton....

Too fascist for MAGAt judges is pretty bad. GoConstitutionGo!


Comments:

From the same party constantly crying about Freedom of Speech.

You can’t make this up.

"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." - Isaac Asimov

The human brain is embedded in myth and is much more comfortable believing in fantasy and fiction than reality!

"It's much easier to Con someone than to convince them that they've been Conned!"

Ronny based his entire strategy on attacking "woke" ideology. This is not the beginning of the end for him, that already occurred when he showed so poorly in his Presidential run. I think in the next several months he will have more setbacks and become as unpopular in Florida as he is everywhere else.

If a private company wants to mandate training or procedures it really isn't any of the state's business. It is amazing how so-called conservatives are all in on using the power of the state to regulate behavior from the womb to the boardroom while at the same time ranting about freedom and decrying those Democratic "socialists." I guess a commissar telling a business owner what to do is the epitome of evil but it's fine and dandy if the orders come from a card-carrying conservative.

Florida taxpayers are left on the hook for legal fees incurred by the state prosecutors idiotic decision to attempt defending what is a profoundly and fundamentally un-American law….in America you don’t get to make laws that silence ideas you don’t agree with. But this is what conservative republicans have always been about, they’ve just become more aggressive and bold about the conformity they seek to impose on America. It’s was good to see the wisdom of this ruling was produced with a couple of Trump appointed judges in the mix, as astounding as that may be. If more conservative judges actually practiced some of what they preached it can occasionally produce positive results. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

How could a Harvard grad NOT know it would infringe on freedom of speech? They should be sanctioned for it.

'anti-woke' nonsense will ruin companies as they try to keep up with world markets.. Diversity and inclusion is a wonderful thing adopted by all major players in the world-wide economy. Back ward country folks who think that this is a bad thing are stuck in the 50s. That doesn't fly with the real world.

Good point.

Lots more at the link.

Same topic, I just like this headline more:

"First Amendment sin": Trump-appointed judge torches Florida's "Stop Woke" law
Banning speech on political topics is "bad," banning speech based on political viewpoints is "worse," court rules

[O Really]

Yet another example of a term usurped and re-defined by the moon-barking droolers - a job made easier because of a poor original choice of words. "Woke" as a term for enlightenment may have a history in the Black community, but it borders on cultural misappropriation when used by the rest of us. It's pretty easy to steal a term and give it a negative connotation when the majority wasn't using it to begin with. They did the same with the poorly chosen "political correctness" and "Black Lives Matter" (which would have been so much better in so many ways if they had used "Black Lives Matter Too")

Somebody needs to think of potential unintended consequences before they try to popularize a new term.

[Vrede too]

Yet another example of a term usurped and re-defined by the moon-barking droolers - a job made easier because of a poor original choice of words. "Woke" as a term for enlightenment may have a history in the Black community, but it borders on cultural misappropriation when used by the rest of us. It's pretty easy to steal a term and give it a negative connotation when the majority wasn't using it to begin with. They did the same with the poorly chosen "political correctness" and "Black Lives Matter" (which would have been so much better in so many ways if they had used "Black Lives Matter Too")

Somebody needs to think of potential unintended consequences before they try to popularize a new term.

"Black Lives Matter, Too" was always the OBVIOUS implication and "political correctness" was a self-deprecating joke.

I'm defeated by the notion of predicting what whiny stupidity the moon-barking droolers will come up with next, but I'm certain that they will always find something. The exact opposite of "social justice warrior" is "anti-social injustice coward", but they invented the former phrase and then made it sound unsavory. For example, I'm offended by your animosity towards Selene worshiping,
spittle-challenged canines. I thought lefties were more "tolerant" than that.

[O Really]

It's not bad when the canines do it

[Vrede too]

Did Trump go to church on Easter Sunday?

Spoiler:

No, hateful tweets and golfing instead.

... Eight years later, Mr Trump is “calling himself God,” former MSNBC host Chris Matthews said on the network on Monday.

“Donald Trump is saying I am the shepherd. I’m him. I’m God. It’s astounding to me that he can talk like this. It’s blasphemy,” he said.

“I don’t know if the Democrats have really thought through this campaign and what they’re up against. This guy’s calling himself God. If he can get away with that, then it is truly a cult,” he added.

[Vrede too]

DerSantis hates America, and is really fascist and really really dumb.

DeSantis tussles with Satanic Temple after signing school chaplain bill: ‘He just invited’ us

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed a bill on Thursday that would allow volunteer chaplains in Florida schools, although one religion may not be able to use the new law.

The legislation creates a statewide program in which school districts and charter schools can allow volunteer chaplains on school campuses to provide counseling to children. The Satanic Temple, however, may not be able to volunteer as other religions are allowed to.

"We're not playing those games in Florida," DeSantis said when asked about that transpiring. "[Satanism] is not a religion. That is not qualifying to be able to participate in this."

Throwing taxpayer money away on yet another LOSER lawsuit

The Satanic Temple disagreed with the governor’s statement.

"Despite DeSantis's contempt for religious liberty, the Constitution guarantees our equal treatment under the law, and DeSantis is not at liberty to amend the Constitution by fiat, at whim," said Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple. "He just invited Satanic chaplains into public schools, whether he likes it or not."

Yep.

The disagreement could result in a First Amendment fight in the Sunshine State. Florida Satanic Temple members previously said they would utilize the legislation if passed. DeSantis's claims about the Satanic Temple, however, appear to stand in direct contrast to those of the bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Erin Grall.

"I think that as soon as we get in the middle of defining what is religion and what is not, and whether or not someone can be available and be on a list, we start to run [into] constitutional problems,” Grall said before the legislation passed. The Satanic Temple is recognized as a tax-exempt church by the IRS.

Hero Republican Constitution defender

... Some Florida lawmakers argued that religious figures do not belong in public and charter schools.

“The minute that you try to put your religion upon other people, that’s when it becomes a problem. And as a member of a minority religion, I feel it every day. And it makes me so uncomfortable,” Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky said. “To me, religion is something you choose to do with your family after school.”

[Vrede too]

Opinion
Trump Considers Biggest Fascist Possible for Attorney General Pick

America's worst AG, Ken Paxton (TX)

[GoCubsGo]

Opinion
Trump Considers Biggest Fascist Possible for Attorney General Pick

America's worst AG, Ken Paxton (TX)

The Senate could flip also.

If trump actually wins, we are so fucked. Maybe, just maybe there will be a couple of sane Republicans left to prevent the fascism.

[Vrede too]

Opinion
Trump Considers Biggest Fascist Possible for Attorney General Pick

America's worst AG, Ken Paxton (TX)

The Senate could flip also.

If trump actually wins, we are so fucked. Maybe, just maybe there will be a couple of sane Republicans left to prevent the fascism.

They're not bashful about what they intend to do.

Awful New Info About Trump and “Reich” Video Shows Deep MAGA Sickness
Yes, the campaign took down the “Unified Reich” video. Meanwhile, Trump and his allies are aggressively seeding the discourse with fascistic language that’s much, much worse.

... The video promoted by Trump’s feed contained the words “unifying Reich,” which were a tad too explicitly evocative of Nazism, requiring his disavowal. But the bigger story is unmistakable: Trump and his allies are testing how far they can push forward with a dizzying barrage of propaganda tropes and policy threats that are at least as perniciously “fasc-ish” as that video, and often far more so. And if Trump can get elected in spite of all that, they will likely claim a mandate for full-blown authoritarian rule.

[GoCubsGo]

... The video promoted by Trump’s feed contained the words “unifying Reich,” which were a tad too explicitly evocative of Nazism, requiring his disavowal. But the bigger story is unmistakable: Trump and his allies are testing how far they can push forward with a dizzying barrage of propaganda tropes and policy threats that are at least as perniciously “fasc-ish” as that video, and often far more so. And if Trump can get elected in spite of all that, they will likely claim a mandate for full-blown authoritarian rule.

Confirmation bias on what I've been thinking.

The polls have shown Donald Trump with an edge for eight straight months, but there’s one big flashing warning sign suggesting that his advantage might not be quite as stable as it looks.

That warning sign: His narrow lead is built on gains among voters who aren’t paying close attention to politics, who don’t follow traditional news and who don’t regularly vote.

[Vrede too]

Confirmation bias on what I've been thinking.

The polls have shown Donald Trump with an edge for eight straight months, but there’s one big flashing warning sign suggesting that his advantage might not be quite as stable as it looks.

That warning sign: His narrow lead is built on gains among voters who aren’t paying close attention to politics, who don’t follow traditional news and who don’t regularly vote.

I would still bet on Joe, but I have overestimated the intelligence and patriotism of the American electorate in the past

[GoCubsGo]

I would still bet on Joe, but I have overestimated the intelligence and patriotism of the American electorate in the past

viewtopic.php?p=198944#p198944

[Vrede too]

I would still bet on Joe, but I have overestimated the intelligence and patriotism of the American electorate in the past

viewtopic.php?p=198944#p198944

The Resistance to a New Trump Administration Has Already Started

Opponents of Donald Trump are drafting potential lawsuits in case he is elected in November and carries out mass deportations, as he has vowed. One group has hired a new auditor to withstand any attempt by a second Trump administration to unleash the IRS on it. Democratic-run state governments are even stockpiling abortion medication.

A sprawling network of Democratic officials, progressive activists, watchdog groups and ex-Republicans has been taking extraordinary steps to prepare for a potential second Trump presidency, drawn together by the fear that Trump’s return to power would pose a grave threat not just to their agenda but to American democracy itself.

Good on the people thinking and planning ahead.

... If Trump returns to power, he is openly planning to impose radical changes — many with authoritarian overtones. Those plans include using the Justice Department to take revenge on his adversaries; sending federal troops into Democratic cities; carrying out mass deportations; building huge camps to hold immigrant detainees; making it easier to fire civil servants and replace them with loyalists; and expanding and centralizing executive power.

Ian Bassin, the executive director of Protect Democracy, said the planning for how to resist such an agenda should not be seen as an ordinary policy dispute, but as an effort to defend fundamental aspects of American self-government “from an aspiring autocrat.”

“He is no normal candidate, this is no normal election, and these are no normal preparations for merely coming out on the wrong side of a national referendum on policy choices,” Bassin said....

They vote.

We're doomed.

Would it be outrageous to prepare for armed resistance?

Paraphrasing O Really: It would be good to be older.

[Vrede too]

Large numbers of Americans want a strong, rough, anti-democratic leader




Crap Fascism may not fully be here, but plenty of fascists are.