Discussion: The Spread of Fascism/Theocracy/Authoritarianism

[DA_Champion]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/shooting-after-slovak-government-meeting-tasr-agency-reports-2024-05-15/

Fascism is on the rise in Europe.

 

[squeekness]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/shooting-after-slovak-government-meeting-tasr-agency-reports-2024-05-15/

Fascism is on the rise in Europe.

Seems like it's on the rise everywhere.

 

[blueharvest]

Yes, That’s Right: American Fascism

Why waste time debating the extent of Trump’s fascism when we ought to be fighting it instead?

newrepublic.com

And here's the article without a paywall:

https://archive.md/UASzZ

 

[blueharvest]

The problem(s) with Sen. J.D. Vance’s praise for Hungary’s Orbán

J.D. Vance sees Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as someone who has “made some smart decisions ... that we could learn from in the United States.”

www.msnbc.com

 

[DA_Champion]

The fact that Western elites are now relying on threatening assassinations is very much an indicator of imperial weakness.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

EU Commissioner denies he threatened Georgia’s prime minister

Olivér Várhelyi says his words about Slovakian PM Robert Fico were taken out of context, after the Georgian Dream leader claimed it was part of a sinister consipiracy.

www.politico.eu

In a statement published later Thursday night, Neighborhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi said his words had been “not just fully taken out of context but was also presented to the public in a way which could give rise to a complete misinterpretation of the originally intended aim of my phone call.”

He reiterated the EU’s call for the foreign agent bill to be dropped, and said he had been trying to warn Kobakhidze “not to enflame further the already fragile situation by adopting this law which could lead to further polarisation and to possible uncontrolled situations on the streets of Tbilisi.”

Kobakhidze also linked the May 15 shooting of the Slovak leader — in which a 71-year old suspect has confessed to having acted alone — to the intelligence services of a country “closely linked to the Global War Party.” The phrase, which references a shadowy cabal supposedly responsible for dragging Ukraine into conflict with Russia, echoes Kremlin propaganda and has been used several times by politicians from the governing Georgian Dream party in recent weeks.

Tina Bokuchava, leader of the largest opposition party in Georgia’s parliament, the United National Movement, blasted the prime minister for “promoting dubious conspiracy theories at every turn.”

“The protests of recent weeks make it clear that the Georgian public desperately desires a future at the heart of Europe. These wild allegations will do little to further those ambitions.”

 

[DA_Champion]

EU Commissioner denies he threatened Georgia’s prime minister

Olivér Várhelyi says his words about Slovakian PM Robert Fico were taken out of context, after the Georgian Dream leader claimed it was part of a sinister consipiracy.

www.politico.eu

Commissioner Varhelyi actually acknowledged it, though he claims to be speaking in code.

Being fully aware of the very strong pro-EU sentiment of the Georgian society, during my phone conversation I felt the need to call the attention of the Prime Minister on the importance not to enflame further the already fragile situation by adopting this law which could lead to further polarisation and to possible uncontrolled situations on the streets of Tbilisi. In this regard, the latest tragic event in Slovakia was made as an example and as a reference to where such high level of polarisation can lead in a society even in Europe.

Press corner

Highlights, press releases and speeches

ec.europa.eu

 

[blueharvest]

At least 66 members of far-right group in rural Oregon standing for office

Revealed: anti-government People’s Rights Network, founded by Ammon Bundy, appearing to follow ‘entryism’ strategy

www.theguardian.com

 

[DA_Champion]

On uniparty talking points, though these politicians are technically in two different parties, they're using identical talking points, provided to them by a single external source.

 

[DA_Champion]

The indispensable Caitlin Johnstone points out that if Americans can't vote against genocide, then they don't have a genuine democracy.

If You Can't Even Elect A Candidate Who'll End A Genocide, How Real Is Your "Democracy"?

Listen to a reading of this article (reading by Tim Foley): The Biden administration has reportedly approved of an Israeli assault on Rafah, the last slightly safe city in the Gaza Strip, and is openly preparing to work with Congress to punish the International Criminal Court for seeking arrest...

www.caitlinjohnst.one

 

[squeekness]

But Trump would only allow that genocide to continue so that argument doesn't have much merit.

 

[DA_Champion]

But Trump would only allow that genocide to continue so that argument doesn't have much merit.

That's the argument though, that Trump and Biden and Kennedy are indistinguishable on the issue of Gaza, so American voters don't get a choice.

 

[squeekness]

That's the argument though, that Trump and Biden and Kennedy are indistinguishable on the issue of Gaza, so American voters don't get a choice.

That I can see, i thought they were saying a vote for Biden was a vote for genocide, but yeah, on that one topic alone, there is no choice. However a vote against Biden seems to me a vote against democracy because of the extreme positions of the other two candidates.

 

[DA_Champion]

They may not send you to jail for having the wrong political views, but they do something worse -- they take away your university degree.

13 Harvard University students who participated in pro-Palestinian encampment will not get degrees

Thirteen Harvard University students who participated in the pro-Palestinian protest encampment on campus will not receive degrees at commencement Thursday.

www.cbsnews.com

The other aspect of this is that it's further proof that Universities aren't about the students, they're about the donors.

 

[squeekness]

They may not send you to jail for having the wrong political views, but they do something worse -- they take away your university degree.

13 Harvard University students who participated in pro-Palestinian encampment will not get degrees

Thirteen Harvard University students who participated in the pro-Palestinian protest encampment on campus will not receive degrees at commencement Thursday.

www.cbsnews.com

The other aspect of this is that it's further proof that Universities aren't about the students, they're about the donors.

Yeah, if you've earned the degree they shouldn't have the right to take it away because of your political views.

 

[blueharvest]

Opinion | Denial about Donald Trump has reached a new low

Authoritarians have often told us what they are going to do, but people have rarely believed them.

www.msnbc.com

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

New study finds one-third of Congress is now iffy on democracy

If your doctor diagnoses you with cancer, and then in the next breath tells you it’s nothing to worry about because eventually the cancer will get tired of making new cells and decide to leave on ...

www.dailykos.com

https://x.com/i/web/status/1794738106022981941

.

 

[blueharvest]

What is Project 2025 and what does it have to do with a second Trump term?

Conservatives have created a guide for how Trump and allies could dismantle the US government if he wins the election

www.theguardian.com

 

[squeekness]

What is Project 2025 and what does it have to do with a second Trump term?

Conservatives have created a guide for how Trump and allies could dismantle the US government if he wins the election

www.theguardian.com

The stuff of nightmares.