Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Conservative writer, Ross Douthat





Some of the commenters who come to P.E. think Democrats/liberals always "play the race card." Those who claim that are willfully blind to what is obvious to the rest of the country and the world:

Donald Trump is a demagogue who has incited violence, mayhem, and racism at his rallies countless times. (See the video below this post.) And he has influenced these mass murderers, intentionally or not.

To ignore or deny this obvious fact is to be complicit in the evil that has engulfed this country since Trump becamse president.

Trump's apologists somehow believe their fellow countrymen are in agreement with their reverence for this malicious demogogue. We are not. We've recognized the profoundly racially destructive ethos that has defined the Trump presidency from the moment he descended that escalator in 2015.

Trump is the embodiment of the modern GOP, and it is dangerously ugly.

DOUTHAT:

The president’s bigoted rhetoric is obviously part of this. Marianne Williamson put it best, in the last Democratic debate: There really is a dark psychic force generated by Trump’s political approach, which from its birther beginnings has consistently encouraged and fed on a fevered and paranoid form of right-wing politics, and dissolved quarantines around toxic and dehumanizing ideas. And the possibility that Trump’s zest for demonization can feed a demonic element in the wider culture is something the many religious people who voted for the president should be especially willing to consider. 

 But the connection between the president and the young men with guns extends beyond Trump’s race-baiting to encompass a more essential feature of his public self — which is not the rhetoric or ideology that he deploys, but the obvious moral vacuum, the profound spiritual black hole, that lies beneath his persona and career.


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33 comments:

Anonymous said...

YOU Leftist bastards seem to THRIVE on violence, misery, poverty, disease, tragedy failure, and deprivation. HORROR is meat and drink to the LEFT. That's why they do everything they can to FOMENT DISASTER.

Dave Miller said...

Let's not forget how this works...

Douthat, once he became critical of Pres Trump, ceased to be a conservative. If you are critical of Trump. it's a simple as that. You don't drink the Kool Aid, you're not conservative. So his approval ratings among conservatives stay high.

Interesting isn't it?

Shaw Kenawe said...


Anonymous above is the perfect example of a disturbed mind of a TrumpCultist who sees UP as DOWN, BAD as GOOD, etc. These folks are especially incensed when Trump is accused of inciting violence and racial hatred because they can't handle the truth, so they do what Trump does and blame the opposition for what the GOP and Trump incite. They cannot deal with the overwhelming evidence of Trump's chaotic and insidious rantings about race and violence, so they transfer it to others. SAD!

Dave Ross Douthat is a Conservative. Period. The people who dismiss him as no longer a conservative are the ones who've rejected conservative values and embraced a demagogue and a racist who they twist themselves into pretzels trying to justify his abhorrent rallies and Tweets. I'm shocked at how some of them, who I've respected for their intelligence and ability to expess their ideas, have become blinded to the destructive forces Trump has unleashed, all in service to "putting it to the libs." They actually believe Trump's divisive rhetoric and maniacal behavior is going to set things straight and shake up the political establishment. Otherwise intelligent folks have been sucked into a vortex of mayhem and reactionary violence.

I never thought I'd live to see fellow Americans embrace this sort of evil all for tax breaks for the billionaires and right wing judges.

They will regret it, although they will never admit it publicly. They are already pariahs among sane and decent people.

Ray Cranston said...

Nice try, Dave for trying to have a reasonable discussion over at AOW and pointing out that the massive rhetoric promoting racial hatred and violence comes from white supremacists and nationalist and the leader of this country. They use one or two examples of leftists inciters and refuse to see that tRump is the freaking POTUS who has an enormous platform to shut down talk of hatred and revenge on minorities. That guy SF is part of the problem the Repub. party has right now because he refuses to place responsibility where it belongs, and like tRump he engages in Bothsiderism. At this time in our country's history there is no Bothsidersim. The fault lies squarely on tRump and the GOP that continues to support this lying, cheating conman.

The Other Guy said...

That SF fella calls the left "totalitarians" while ignoring his president's attack on the free press, calling it the "enemy of the people," and his prohibiting anything about climate change to be included in any reports. Those are a direct assault on the 1st Amendment but people like SF concern themselves only with leftist sins against the 2nd amendment while ignoring the damage Trump and his fascists are doing. It's called rank hypocrisy and its why they're all a bunch of WATBs and losers.

Tyrone Slothrop said...

I can remember Eric Holder saying “WHEN THEY ARE DOWN WE KICK THEM!” But I guess the media didn’t consider that incitement or hate speech. All the democrats from Hillary Klintoon to Mad Maxine Waters have said much worse than President Trump has ever said. Obama was one of the worst at inciting hatred and division.As for Holder, I knew the Country was in for a lot of trouble when he refused to indict those New Black Panthers after they were caught on video threatening voters on Election Day 2008. But, why should I be surprised. He's also a radical revolutionary leftist. A perfect choice for Obama's AG position.
It was part of his plan, along with his boss Soros. And he did it all with a Hollywood smile and a $2000.00 suit. Obama was/and still is a Marxist with evil intent. A Very, Very slick liar and a fraud.

Anonymous said...

You called this one, Shaw, a long time ago, but it's something that shakes people up when the thing you're warning about engages in violence, we assume "mindless violence", but it isnt. It's targeted at persons of color, women, and others the white domestic terrorists hate. I'm certain we will see more of this the closer we get to 2020.....what is the law regarding inciting to riot?...that will probably be next, if Trump rallies are any guideline....

Infidel753 said...

The reason so many conservatives have sold out their principles to embrace Trump is that he represents their last hope of clinging to power. Conservatives (the thinking ones, not the MAGA-hat knuckle-draggers) can see demographic change and cultural change as well as we can. They know what direction things are going. A "normal" Republican like Jeb or Rubio would probably have lost to Hillary, and that would have been the end of that. Trump won, through a freak combination of circumstances. His regime is giving the right wing a last chance to cement what amounts to minority rule through vote suppression, packing the courts with wingnuts, terrorizing Hispanics into hiding, etc. Once he's gone, the Republicans as a national party are probably finished forever. Even the tax cut was a last looting spree by the 1% who know they may not get another such chance. That's why conservatives are clinging to Trump in spite of everything. He's all they've got. It's all about power.

Anonymous said...


The lefty’s have very conveniently forgot that under Obama’s watch there were 24 mass shootings

Les Carpenter said...

If accepting Trump as a "normall" human being and supporting his presidency is considered reasonable and a smart thing to do I'll wear the label stupid gladly and with a certain pride.

Trump is the embodiment of EVIL.

Dave Miller said...

Ray... that crowd has made a decision to abstain from any reason that might include criticism of DJT. I wasn't accusatory at all, in fact I basically just asked a pointed question. The type that got me booted from the Mother Ship.

The fact that it took even CI, a strong libertarian, 4 responses to say yes, it was a possibility that DJT influenced the El Paso killer, shows where that crowd is.

They have no solutions to mass killings. And they are unable to think critically about it because doing so would lead to answers they will not like.

Why do basically identical European/White people groups around the world not have these same mass shootings on the same per capita scale? Why do similar people, such as Canada, not have them? If the reason is mental illness, are conservatives ready and willing to pay for the costs to save lives? Or are they, as one person at AOW said, willing to essentially write the deaths off because "freedom is costly?"

The only difference between the great majority of White US citizens in the US who perpetrate these crimes and White European folks elsewhere who don't is access to guns.

A very inconvenient truth.

Anonymous said...

RAY CRANSTON IS CORRECT.
AOW HAS BECOME THE NEW WHOSE YOUR DADDY

Shaw Kenawe said...

Tyrone Slothrop, what you're willfully ignoring is the fact that it is TRUMP, the POTUS, who's been inciting violence. He's not the A.G. or one of 535 members of Congress, HE'S THE FREAKIN' LEADER OF THE COUNTRY, and it is HE who's been inciting violence, racial hatreds, and divisiveness through his Tweets and partisan rallies.

That you don't understand this simple fact is just another example of how blind TrumpCultists are. You and they are irredeemable and as such, there's no convincing you and the rest of them of the damage Trump is doing to our democracy. You. Are. Part. Of. The. Problem.

And that will come back to haunt all of you.

Shaw Kenawe said...

To Anonymous @6:43, 8/6/2019

You're another TrumpCultists who is too blind to understand that what you wrote is bullshit.

The majority of Americans get it. Please try educating yourself so that you'd understand why your comment is unintelligent.

Thanks.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Dave "The only difference between the great majority of White US citizens in the US who perpetrate these crimes and White European folks elsewhere who don't is access to guns.

A very inconvenient truth."

Yes, of course you're correct. Unlimited access to weapons of mass destruction by anyone who can legally AND illegally get them is the problem. Those you mention do not want to hear that because it threatens their narrative of "freedom."

Correct me if I don't have the exact numbers, but I heard that the weapon used in Daytona shot down 20 people in 9 seconds. Is that near the correct number? You can't do that with a knife (I've had people actually argue that knives cause many deaths as well -- a b.s. argument).

There's no reason for any civilian to own an Ak-47 or AR-15, and I don't care if I get the wrong name of the wrong weapon. We had a ban on them when Clinton was in office and mass shootings diminished. Bush, Jr., let the ban lapse, and mass shootings increased by many percentage points.

It's really not that difficult: The saturation of weapons of mass destruction throughout this country causes massacres.

Must we Americans continue to suffer these massacres so that a minority of Americans can go to a shooting range and fire off dozens of rounds for fun? NO! My safety and those of my fellow Americans is more important thant their need for playing soldier.

I heard this morning on the news that a motorcycle backfired on a street in New York City, and the people scattered in terror, thinking it was gunfire. Same thing happend in another city when a piece of metal fell in the street and mad a noise like gunfire. The people ran for shelter and safety.

Thanks to the cowards in the Republican (and the few in the Democratic) Party, we've become a Somalia.

Let freedom shoot!!!

Shaw Kenawe said...

Infidel753: "That's why conservatives are clinging to Trump in spite of everything. He's all they've got. It's all about power."

The current GOP and its TrumpCultists think the country is with them. It is not. America is being governed (if one wants to call it that) by the tyranny of the minority. Mitch McConnell needs to be thrown out of office on his rotten testudinous ass! He and Trump have turned the government into a swamp of cronyism, incompetence, liars, and bullies.

The people of Daytona are showing up with protesting signs; the people of El Paso don't want him. Trump knows nothing about governing or being a decent human being.

Shaw Kenawe said...

RN, you and other real conservatives/libertarians left Trump a long time ago. I'm shocked to see your one-time fellow blogger (you know who I mean) excuse and justify Trump's incompetence and mendacity, just to stick it to the libs. No wonder those folks like Trump, he's as childish and selfish as they are.

Ray Cranston said...

Dave, RN, and Anon,

Instead of looking at facts videos of tRump ranting during his hate rallies, and his racist tweets, they blame Democrats for instigating these massacrss. Yep. You heard that right.
Here's what they're saying to each other so they won't let the truth bleed through:

I’ve also suspected many of these mass shootings were managed from the left. Crazy? Or are we awake to what the DAMNocrats (They damn everyone else and don’t see the massive redwood in their own eye, huh?)

Those folks need massive psycological therapy but maybe its too late. Some mental defects are not curable.

And here's the kicker to prove their insanity:

I still think God selected Trump for this time in history. I can’t think on any other person who could take the guff and keep on trucking.

Remember. These people vote. I'm surprised too because from reading how they think, I'm surprised they can even sit up.

Doctor Tomato said...

Re Slothrop and Anon @6:43, Can a person be reported for being an ignoramus trumptwit?
Asking for a friend..

Clearwater, Florida said...


Trump photo-op in El Paso and Dayton = him looking sad. Talking a lot about himself. Blaming immigrants. Maybe tossing a few boxes of Kleenex to the mourners

Anonymous said...

America - just another shithole country.

Allowing mass killings and hoping "thoughts and prayers" are enough. Well, actually not just thoughts and prayers -- yesterday I saw on the news that the latest thing for back to school are bullet proof backpacks. I kid you not. Seriously, how sick is this country that this even has to be thought about?

Possumlady

Shaw Kenawe said...

Clearwater, Trump is devoid of all human epathy. He's showing up at those two devastated cities because he has to. If he cared, he would have demanded gun reform legislation. Neither he nor the Goopers give a damn about dead Americans. They love their guns more than they love their fellow Americans.

Possumlady Agreed. America has certainly become a "shithole" since Trump became its POTUS.

Ray Cranston said...

Barack Obama never told people at his rallies to "beat the crap" out of protesters. Barack Obama never told police it was okay to rough up suspects in custody. Barack Obama never laughed at a joke about shooting migrants at one of his rallies. Barack Obama never egged on the crowd to "send back" congresswomen of color or white at his rallies. Barack Obama never attacked American cities for being "rat and rodent infested " and not livable.

There's a lot more. But you get the picture.


Some people refuse to see evil when it tells you who he is, and Trump has shown us who and what he is.

There's no bothsiderism here. Only Trampanzees can't see it.

Finger Latkes Region said...

So never thought I would see this in my lifetime...other countries are warning against visiting the United States because it’s too dangerous, are you feeling great yet

Shaw Kenawe said...


Here's the GOP's president telling Beto O'Rourke to "be quiet." Never, never, never be quiet against this divisive liar, cheat, and conman:

TRUMP: "Beto (phony name to indicate Hispanic heritage) O’Rourke, who is embarrassed by my last visit to the Great State of Texas, where I trounced him, and is now even more embarrassed by polling at 1% in the Democrat Primary, should respect the victims & law enforcement — & be quiet!"

Trump has no sense of dignity or human decency.

Anonymous said...

President Obama sang Amazing Grace in a church after a similar tragedy. trump may as well be biting heads off of bats for all the healing and solace he and Pence offer.

Shaw Kenawe said...

TRUMP'S JOB APPROVAL AS OF JULY 28: 42%

Never let his cultists forget that Trump is THE MOST DISLIKED PRESIDENT AMERICA HAS HAD SINCE THE END OF WWII.

Donald trump has never been able to pass 50% approval. Ever. Even after he was inaugurated. And he's now sitting at the bottom of 40 per cent! Remind his cultists that they are a distinct minority supporting a man who a MAJORITY of Americans dislike and who want to kick out of the Oval Office.

Let them have their little sockpuppet blogs pretending trump is a savior of some sort. He's not.

Trump is a hated and mocked international figure and a large majority of Americans can't stand the nincompoop.

Remind them of this fact every day.

Ray Cranston said...

42%? That high? Who are the misfits and dead enders who still support this greasy rodent?

You Know Who said...

Shaw, the Trumpers are fantasizing about you being raped again:

-FJAugust 7, 2019 at 12:41 PM
30-50 feral hogs broke into pShaw's back yard yesterday. Had it not be for the quick stopping power of her AR-15, she might have gotten raped by them!


Shaw Kenawe said...

YKW, yeah. No surprise. Those Trumpistas always attack women they're afraid of with fantasies of violence and rape. But Minus FJ fantasizing about me being raped by feral hogs? That's pretty deranged, innit?

Minus FJ is usually tucked into his bed at the nursing home by this time of day. Apparently he escaped from the nurses' watch and got into someone's laptop. I hope the nurses find him soon, put his diaper back on him, and tuck his feeble little ass back in his crib.

Silver Fiddle Faddle said...



Demonic Democrats have been been fomenting a hysterical panic ever since President Trump beat them like bongo drums in 2016.

The diaper rash tantrums grew old a long time ago. Grow up.

Louise said...


Here’s another flashback for you that I’d bet you forgot.

Obama promised in his farewell speech "the smoothest possible transition" for Trump, and that he is the duly, and truly elected president.
Send it back to your Dictator Shaw!

Shaw Kenawe said...

Liz "Talbon" or is it "Talbot?" That was said before America found out that the Russians helped President Porn Star Shagger get elected.

Tump never hit 50% approval by the American people. A majority of the American people detest him and everything he represents. SAD,