"Israel is supposed to be the leading example of democracy in the Middle East, but the country has moved forward with some wildly anti-democratic behavior. Not only did the Benjamin Netanyahu-led country over the weekend ban Al Jazeera from broadcasting for 45 days, but its authorities confiscated the Qatari-funded outlet's broadcast equipment, shut down its offices, and blocked its website in the country —"
In his own words, #Trump is promising to rule as a #dictator on ‘day one,’ use the #military against the American people, punish those who stand against him, condone violence done on his behalf, and put his own sick desire for revenge and retribution ahead of America's best interests. Trump is a danger to the #Constitution and a threat to our #democracy.
@GottaLaff great piece! This really brings the point home:
“Takeover: Hitler’s Final Rise to Power”—historian Timothy W. Ryback.
“It explains how German leaders – including some in the media -- thought they could use #hitler as a means to get power for themselves & were willing to look past his obvious deficiencies to get where they wanted. In tolerating & using Hitler as a means to an end, they helped create the monstrous #dictator responsible for millions of deaths.” #MAGApropaganda#gop
Ruth Ben-Ghiat on why Trump needs his cheering crowds:
"Early on, Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels discovered that Adolf Hitler was a wooden speaker in a studio environment and required the energy and adulation of crowds to shine. Hitler's speeches thereafter were recorded at rallies and other public occasions, his performances enhanced by the feedback of his fans."
Inside his twisted and cruel mind, Putin is actually happy this happened. Don't need a PHD to figure that out.
He can use it to brainwash more of his people.
Timothy Snyder, who lived in eastern Europe after communism fell and saw the effects of strongman rule at close hand, warns the many Americans who love to fantasize about a strongman dictator:
"Strongman rule is a fantasy. Essential to it is the idea that a strongman will be your strongman."
People argue against excluding #Trump from the election because he needs to be defeated at the ballot box.
Trump‘s response:
lWhile discussing the U.S. economy and its auto industry, Mr. Trump promised to place tariffs on cars manufactured abroad if he won in November.
„Now, if I don’t get elected, (…) it’s going to be a blood bath for the country” and “I don’t think you’re going to have another election, or certainly not an election that’s meaningful.” https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/16/us/politics/trump-speech-ohio.html?unlocked_article_code=1.dU0.uZ3U.qDlXMjHWM9mI&smid=url-share
I'm not following the point. For months we have been told by the #NYT and other #media sources (#CNN#MSNBC etc.) that if #Trump is reelected he will be #dictator and it will be the end of #democracy.
Mark Francois talks about Neville Chamberlain "denuding the British forces of funding until it was too late."
This is wrong. Even while Chamberlain was signing the Munich Agreement in 1938, he was agreeing to a huge increase in spending to increase Britain’s armament in preparation for war.
Today in Labor History March 12, 1967: Suharto took power from Sukarno in Indonesia. He ruled Indonesia as an authoritarian, kleptocratic dictator for 31 years, and is widely considered one of the most brutal and corrupt dictators of the 20th century. During that time, he amassed a fortune worth $38 billion. Suharto rose to power under Sukarno during the 1965-1966 genocide. During that ostensibly anti-Communist purge, Suharto’s troops murdered 1-3 million communists, labor activists, peasants and ethnic minorities. During that genocide, he received support military and economic from both the U.S. and the U.K. In 1974, the Suharto regime, with approval of U.S. president Gerald Ford, invaded East Timor, killing over 200,000 Timorese. Another 75,000-200,000 died from starvation and disease. The current Indonesian government is considering awarding him the posthumous honor of National Hero.
“…[#Trump] likes the dictators so much is that’s who he is” Kelly said “Every incoming president is shocked that they actually have so little #power w/o going to #Congress, which is a good thing. It’s Civics101, #SeparationOfPowers, 3 equal branches….But in his case, he was shocked that he didn’t have #dictator-type powers to send US forces places or move money around in the budget & he looked at #Putin, #Xi & that nutcase in NorthKorea as people who were like him in terms of being a tough guy”
“There’s nobody that’s better, smarter or a better leader than Viktor Orban. He’s fantastic…He’s a non-controversial figure because he says, ‘This is the way it’s going to be,’ and that’s the end of it. Right? He’s the boss. No, he’s a great leader.”
Noting that "Trump embraced an authoritarian the day after Biden fiercely defended democracy," David Rothkopf points out that the "2024 campaign began this week with a frightening distinction between the president’s promise to fight for fundamental American values and the ex-president’s villain worship."
As Trump met with Orbán and heaped praise on him….