Julie Brown
➨ As someone who has been in three countries during a civil war, I don't say this lightly. There is no way Biden's team should give Trump another 90-minute infomercial for a civil war. 

There is no political gain for Biden. Trump will never abide by rules. Biden is not going to change the mind of anyone who watched that shitshow tonight and didn't conclude Trump is a dangerous man. There should not be any more debates. It is not about whether Trump will look strong or Biden will look weak. It is about the message Trump is sending to people in this country who are itching for armed conflict. No network should be giving him that platform again. 

 
In the coming weeks, Trump is going to send his Gestapo into Democratic cities to hunt undocumented immigrants. Erik Prince is going to send his shadow army into Democratic cities to threaten protestors. They are going to ignite a fire and bait protestors into conflict. The last thing this country needs is more Trump infomercials to throw gasoline on a fire. 

Nobody should pretend that we are living in normal times by going through normal election debates or rituals. People need to understand that getting back to normal is going to be a herculean task. They should not feel comfortable. They should not believe Trump is going to go quietly into the night if he loses. They should not even pretend that counting all the ballots will end this nightmare. It will only be the beginning of a new phase and people need to start preparing for that.

That does not mean everyone needs to go buy barbed wire or guns. It means that thoughtful discussions should already be taking place about organizing mass actions whether they are national strikes or mass sustained protests. That means you must prepare yourself to go to the street and refuse to leave if Trump attempts to steal an election.

What was on display tonight was a totally unhinged, trapped animal who knows he must keep the White House or go to jail. He is like every other fanatic without guardrails that you have learned about in history class. He will not go quietly. His cult will not go quietly. They will only go when people get off the couch and refuse to let them take over the public square and destroy our democratic institutions. This is not Democrat or Republican any longer. This is a fight for the survival of democracy.

Tonight, was not only a national disgrace, it was a national security disaster as well. America's enemies will double down on their plots against this country. Russia will fuck with our politics to the point we don't even know who we are any longer. They will continue to sow division on social media and other platforms. They will continue to pay rightwing militias and wannabe militias to stir up trouble. Russia will further radicalize people in this country with an endless stream of disinformation and lies. While we are distracted at home, they will act abroad. Our allies will continue to question what kind of country this has become. Our alliances will continue to weaken as our allies’ trust in our institutions is diminished by the day. We have one main security blanket left and that is us; the majority of the American people.

There is no secret sauce to fix this. There is no military or police agency to call upon to save us. There are fewer and fewer courts to work with for justice. Trump has packed the judiciary with unqualified judges and fanatics as he bragged about tonight. He will continue to triumphantly boast as he drives every independent prosecutor out of government. He will gloat as each institution dissolves into a shell of itself. We live in a country right now where the rule of law is being dismantled and replaced by the cult of personality. 

Americans have lived too long with the myths of exceptionalism. We are not exceptional. We are like every other country in the world that has faced a dangerous insurgency. We are not special or God's special project. It is time Americans faced up to this. Go vote. Get everyone you know to vote. Have a plan to vote. And start planning to protect that vote. If we do not, we will slide into a fascist dictatorship which will require immense bloodshed to escape.

This election isn't about Joe Biden any longer. This election is about the survival of democracy. We can fix what is wrong with it when we secure our institutions. Without those, we have nothing. And that includes your 401K which will go into a freefall in a constitutional crisis, along with your job, the dollar and foreign investment.

 ⏩ Julie Brown is a US citizen. 

Shitshow

Julie Brown
➨ As someone who has been in three countries during a civil war, I don't say this lightly. There is no way Biden's team should give Trump another 90-minute infomercial for a civil war. 

There is no political gain for Biden. Trump will never abide by rules. Biden is not going to change the mind of anyone who watched that shitshow tonight and didn't conclude Trump is a dangerous man. There should not be any more debates. It is not about whether Trump will look strong or Biden will look weak. It is about the message Trump is sending to people in this country who are itching for armed conflict. No network should be giving him that platform again. 

 
In the coming weeks, Trump is going to send his Gestapo into Democratic cities to hunt undocumented immigrants. Erik Prince is going to send his shadow army into Democratic cities to threaten protestors. They are going to ignite a fire and bait protestors into conflict. The last thing this country needs is more Trump infomercials to throw gasoline on a fire. 

Nobody should pretend that we are living in normal times by going through normal election debates or rituals. People need to understand that getting back to normal is going to be a herculean task. They should not feel comfortable. They should not believe Trump is going to go quietly into the night if he loses. They should not even pretend that counting all the ballots will end this nightmare. It will only be the beginning of a new phase and people need to start preparing for that.

That does not mean everyone needs to go buy barbed wire or guns. It means that thoughtful discussions should already be taking place about organizing mass actions whether they are national strikes or mass sustained protests. That means you must prepare yourself to go to the street and refuse to leave if Trump attempts to steal an election.

What was on display tonight was a totally unhinged, trapped animal who knows he must keep the White House or go to jail. He is like every other fanatic without guardrails that you have learned about in history class. He will not go quietly. His cult will not go quietly. They will only go when people get off the couch and refuse to let them take over the public square and destroy our democratic institutions. This is not Democrat or Republican any longer. This is a fight for the survival of democracy.

Tonight, was not only a national disgrace, it was a national security disaster as well. America's enemies will double down on their plots against this country. Russia will fuck with our politics to the point we don't even know who we are any longer. They will continue to sow division on social media and other platforms. They will continue to pay rightwing militias and wannabe militias to stir up trouble. Russia will further radicalize people in this country with an endless stream of disinformation and lies. While we are distracted at home, they will act abroad. Our allies will continue to question what kind of country this has become. Our alliances will continue to weaken as our allies’ trust in our institutions is diminished by the day. We have one main security blanket left and that is us; the majority of the American people.

There is no secret sauce to fix this. There is no military or police agency to call upon to save us. There are fewer and fewer courts to work with for justice. Trump has packed the judiciary with unqualified judges and fanatics as he bragged about tonight. He will continue to triumphantly boast as he drives every independent prosecutor out of government. He will gloat as each institution dissolves into a shell of itself. We live in a country right now where the rule of law is being dismantled and replaced by the cult of personality. 

Americans have lived too long with the myths of exceptionalism. We are not exceptional. We are like every other country in the world that has faced a dangerous insurgency. We are not special or God's special project. It is time Americans faced up to this. Go vote. Get everyone you know to vote. Have a plan to vote. And start planning to protect that vote. If we do not, we will slide into a fascist dictatorship which will require immense bloodshed to escape.

This election isn't about Joe Biden any longer. This election is about the survival of democracy. We can fix what is wrong with it when we secure our institutions. Without those, we have nothing. And that includes your 401K which will go into a freefall in a constitutional crisis, along with your job, the dollar and foreign investment.

 ⏩ Julie Brown is a US citizen. 

32 comments:

  1. Donald Trump must be removed from office by evry available legal mdeans. If he, as everyone expects, does not go quietly afvter a dcefeat in the polls then as a last resoet the military must intervene to uphold the constitution of the US.

    I do not see this lightly but wee are looionjg at an incipient dictatorhsip in thde US which could very well be proceeded by a civil war with secession of liberal blue states from the regime of fred states.

    I hjope none of gthis comes to pass but the sworld cannot afford to avert its gaZE from the pogtential cataclysm unfolding in the US.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barry,

      I don't agree with you 90% of the time but you are taking away from your own argument when you don't use spell check or proof-read. No offense intended.

      Delete
    2. Steve - it made the above comment look farcical. It is not as if Barry can't sort the issue. His pieces are never saturated with that problem in the way that his comments can be. One or two misspelt words make little difference but when a comment is peppered with them, it takes on a different hue. Nor is it about offending Barry - it is simply asking him to be more attentive in order to get his message across.

      Delete
  2. Barry use spell check - there is really no reason for this

    ReplyDelete
  3. Julie is right when she writes that "This election is about the survival of democracy", but not for the reasons she cites in the article.



    The sight of two old men shouting at each other and point scoring while offering no vision of a future demonstrates how staid and comfortable American politics has become. The fact that it descended into WWE style squabbling is a natural progression from the lofty heights of the 60's.



    What we are currently witnessing is the death of Reaganomics, as Mark Lilla has put it. It's last gasp is proving to be humiliating to watch, but maybe that's what is needed for the new era to make its mark.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Julie - welcome to The Quill. Interesting observations. I like the debates but probable more for entertainment value. But on the substantive issues there is not a lot there. Hopefully, we will have more from you in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Trump!, Fascist! Dictator! End of democracy! Russia! Get a grip of yourselves. Or at the very least explain, without using any of your buzz catchphrases, how a game show host is going to turn a constitutional Republic into a fascist dictatorship.
    Are the Democrats not the ones saying things like any means necessary? As far as every legal means to remove from office, is that not called an election?
    This is comedy gold watching people have hysterical meltdowns over a charlatan, latest in a long line, although this one wasn't club approved.
    The above article said nothing of substance.

    ReplyDelete
  6. While we're on this. What rights has this halfwit taken away from the American people? Did he pass a patriot act like bill? Did he use the espionage act a record nine times? Why is the outrage reserved for this idiot. why didn't you impeach Bush or Obama?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always find it massively hypocritical when U.S. citizens whine about foreign interference in their domestic elections, the U.S. has been doing that to others since at least the 40's!

      And what kind of Democracy has only two parties? Both of which are representitives of different corporate lobby interests in a bought Congress? This isn't something that's just happened under Trump.

      I for one found the debate highly entertaining, two pensioners trying to out-do each other in a geriatric televangelist wankfest.

      Julie I think your right, your very country is on the precipice of a frightening unknown and by it's very own hand.

      You reap what you sow.

      Delete
  7. David

    Where do we start?

    Trump refuses to guarantee that he will leave office if defeated in November. Unprecedented.

    He is activdely tryinmg to stop people voting by mail-in; an act of voter suppression aginst African Amdericans and other communites of colour.

    He is pushing through a nomination of right-wing Catholic judge Amy Corey-Barrett to ensure that there is a conservative majority of 6-3 on the Supreme Court which may well have to deliberate on the fnal outcome of the election.

    He defends and encourages far right militias to take the war to Antifa.

    He says there swere very fine people among the white supreamcists and neo-nazis at Charlottesville.

    Bush and Obama did not face impeachmwent because they did not solicit aid from foreign powere to dig up dirt on potenmtial election opponents as Trump did when he requested Ukraine to dig up dirt of Joe Biden in relation to the bnusiness interests of his son NHunter.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think that one of the major problems with Trump is that he simply doesn't understand his job. I mean that literally: he has basically no grasp of the office of POTUS, which is why he has not really done very much in the way of legislative change.

    The damage that he has done is much like Brexit in this country: it's hard to quantify and codify, but it's right there, and if people don't notice it, they are probably part of the malaise.

    It's a normalisation of demagoguery. It's division and hostility. It's angry people emboldened to last out at scapegoats in a myriad of ways. It's previously "untouchable" organs of statehood and society being considered "touchable" (BBC, judges, journalism). It's a relentless, nerve-jangling sense that the man in charge has no respect for the institutions that he is in charge of and is completely unpredictable.

    I don't think Trump would be able to describe what fascism actually is - but his talk of not transferring power is extremely worrying.

    The media, lazy as they are, bang on about Trump and Johnson's racism. As if either care about the accusations, or their base does. Much better would be for liberals and the "left" to concentrate on how utterly incompetent they are.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Barry,
    This is where my interests in the anti Trump brigade becomes comedic. Hillary Clinton and others are suggesting that if Trump wins they should protest on the street in the interest of the US bill of rights her words should face the same scrutiny, yet to see it.
    Voters suppression is outrageous, if that's the case. Mail in voting has been a contentious issue for years, maybe this will clarify it. Again though, with Bush in Florida I can't remember any end of democracy speeches
    It's his constitutional right to nominate a SCOTUS.
    Even from a traditional left wing perspective the different reporting on the same behaviour of antifa and right wing is laughable.
    The Charlottesville comment has been disproved so many times it's now a selling point for his base.
    Hunter Biden has been outed for his corruption.
    I'll finish with a question, do you think the constant advertising for the Trump show hinders him?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David

      Who disproved Trump's Charlogtesville comment.

      I hold no brief for Antifa but far right nationalists and race supremacists have been respobsible for the vast majority of US domestic terrorism.

      The voter suppression and electoral malpractice that led to Bush's victory in Florida was an egragrious violation of the democratic process.

      Recall that when Obama nominated a SCPOTUS iu 2016 the Sdenate Republicna majority vetoed it as it was an election year.

      And I almost forgot - Civid 19. Nature's revenge on tyrants.

      Delete
  10. Steve R

    The foreign (Russian) interference was not just evident in the 2016 US poll but also in the Brexit referendum and in any EU member state with vocal far right, Europhobic partiues.

    That IS administrations in the Cold War era interferede in electionbs particularly in Latin America should never be used to minimise Putin's malevolent agendas. Subversion of the democratic process is just that no matter who the superpower perpetrator is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barry,

      And you think the U.S. and Brit Spooks didn't interfere in Brexit or any other Nation's elections that directly affected them?

      Delete
  11. Steve R

    What I do is that the Brexit referendum and the US Pres electin was subverted by a coming together of Big Data in the form of Cambridge Analytica, dark momey from the Koch brothers, FRichard Mercer and even the DUP; far right cobal featuring Steve Bannon, Nigle Farage and other Brdeitbart personal and Putin's St Petersburg troll factory.

    Tour rhetorical question is mdere supposition; spooks certainly have the capability to interfere in lections but you have not shown any e evidwdne that this ha;ppened in the EU Referendum.

    Mulotiple wrongs, real or imaginded, never make a right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And just like that, conspiracy theories were allowed now. Lol

      Delete
  12. Barry,
    His own words disproved it, it's been played at nausea.
    I agree right wing groups are more dangerous, right now though, BLM/antifa are the main aggressors. Denying it, only makes us look foolish.
    Agree about Bush. No hysteria though.
    Republicans used their privilege as those who controlled the Senate. Nothing illegal.
    The facts are he hasn't altered any fundamental rights of US citizens. Pretending he does only makes him stronger.
    You're last comment is ridiculous. Hopefully it's a joke. Otherwise what's the difference between environmental dogma and religious dogma.

    ReplyDelete
  13. David

    Trump has reaped what he has sowed since the Covid-19 outbreak alomg with the 200,000 American deaths that have resulted from his self-confesed deliberate refusal to act on the pandemic outbreak. I call that violation of US citizens' rights to life and health.

    Appointing Amy Cony-Bafrrett as a SCPOTUS is intencded to reverse Roe v Wade and to attack women's reproductive rights. It will also led to the abolition of the Afvfordable Health Care Act.

    So BLM are the main aggresors then; for protesting homicidally and instiutionally raciot policing?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mick O

    Tne nefarious behaviour of Cambridge Analytica afre not the stuff of consspiracy theories but of diloigent investigative journailsm by Carole Cadwalldr of the Guardian and by the insider Christopher Wylie in his book "Mindf*ck. Inside Cambridge Anallytica's Plot to Break the Wporld"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'Cambridge Analytica' has spooks and ex spooks(once a spook always a spook) fingerprints all over it. Anybody believing what spooks write is in need of a mental examination. Btw, the Guardian has long ago been compromised by Intelligence. P.s have you ever thought that 'mindf*ck' is exactly what they are doing? A wee in house joke upon those who read their rubbish.

      Delete
  15. Barry
    That's not a violation of US citizens rights and I think you know this. I think you're being deliberately obtuse.
    What his intentions with the SCOTUS is immaterial. The issue was whether he abused his authority. Which he has not.
    Again you're being deliberately obtuse, no BLM are not aggressive for protesting. They are being aggressive for rioting.
    I asked a question earlier as to whether pro establishment political activists like yourself think you're hurting Trump with the constant, mostly unfounded, allegations. I hope I'm wrong, to me it seems like you've breathed like into the corpse that was Trump 2020.

    ReplyDelete
  16. David

    BLM protestors are not rioting, it is far left, anmarchist hangers like yest Antifa who are. But it is white supreamcsits and neo-nazis who claim to haVE Trump's back who are responsible for vast majority of domestic US terrorism.

    By nominating a SCOTUS when Senate elections atre taking place is a gross violation of democratic norms.

    The faulure to protect US citizens from the impact of Covis-19 when he kndew of the serious impasct of the pandemic but deliberately held back from taking acgtion is the most gross violationj of US citizens' rightsd - the right to life and health.

    There is xsolid evidecne as to Trump's serial preying and assaults on women - 27 and maybe counting. I am personally prepatred to believe that Trump raped a 13 year old girl trafficked by his friend Epstein. And I am prepared to beleive that he received a golden shower frok Putin's call girls in that Moscow hotel bedroom.

    Trump is on recxord of callinbg for and trhying to implement a ban on all Muslims entering the US. he has called countries like Haitil "shithole" countries. He is on record of calling Mexicans "rapists2 and "drug dealers". His amiration of dictators like Kim Young-Un, Erdogan Putin, Prince Salamn etc while his disparaging of the Western democracies that are nominally allies od the US like Chancellor Merkel are also all on the record.

    His minimal tax returns are also in the public domain.

    But you are surely aware of all that evidence and more to the malevolence that is Donald J. Trump; a malevolence that far from being a corpse but is very much alive as part of the virus that has spreasd across the world since 2015 bringing us Brexit, Erdogan, Orban, Bolonisario, Duerte Harry, Duda. But surely, David, you know all of that.

    ReplyDelete
  17. MickO

    Perhaps you could do a review of "Mindf*ck" after reading it and ;point out the thumbprints of spooks. For good measure you could look up Channle 4's exposes of Cambridge Analytica and point out the evidecne of spookdom there.

    And where is the evidecne that the Guardian has been compromised by intelligence?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol 'channel 4'? For god's sake where do you think the news gets their info from? Give your head a shake man.

      Delete
  18. Barry,
    The protests were organised by BLM, they carry no responsibility? Can't remember you this generous to us Republicans.
    Breaking democratic norms isn't denying rights and you know this, again I believe you're being deliberately obtuse.
    I've no doubt he's a rapist I don't see what relevance that has to what we're talking about. Unless it's to point out he's a wrong un, I'm aware of this but then the guy you want to replace him is also a rapist. You descend into conspiracy theory territory after that.
    The banning Muslims and apparent love of dictators is bad but not evidence of denying US citizens rights. Neither is the vague implication that he refused to take action on covid.
    Tax returns again irrelevant.
    You're back to the gallery of bad guys again which is fine but you've still to tell me what rights he's taken away or whether you're constant unproven allegations against him hinder or help him.

    ReplyDelete
  19. David

    Trump pushed ahead with the nominhation of Judge Amy Corey-Bafrrett against the explicit instuction of late SCOTUS Ruth Bader Ginnsburg not to do so.

    There is n o evidecne that Joe Biden is a rapist;guity of poor body languiage anmd movements towards wokmen perhaps but certainly not the serial sexual predator that Trump is.

    Far from being a vague implication, Trump's knowledge of the exgtent of the Covis-19 pandemic and deliberate refusal to act on it is on tape recordings made by the journaloist Bob Woodward and published in his book. There is an ethical issue as to why Bob Woodward did not release the inforamtiom at the time instead of waiting until the general electiion campaign I accept.

    Sending federal forces into Portland to deal with BLM protestors and the violent respoinse of same in Washingtom to bfrutally attack protestors. I would say thde right to peaceful proterst is an important right whiuch Triump is serioulsy chipping away at.

    The wsell documented and true allegations against Trump (substantiated by foufr books by former Trump staffers0 will have no effect on his deranged cult following but will hopefully galvanise as many African-Amderican, Latino and white liberal voters to cast their ballots in those key swing seats.

    ReplyDelete
  20. MickO

    Evidence, evidecne, evicdence ... but presumably you will be content to wallow in your paranoid state od ignorance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barry, you are one to be talking about the state of a person's mind I.e fragile to say the least.

      Delete
  21. Barry,
    We're talking about US constitutional rights and you imply an individual wishes takes precedent. You not see a problem?
    Poor body language? There's an active rape allegation against him.
    Specifically tell me what constitutional rights he violated with his covid response.
    The federal troops were to combat rioting it's winning him support.
    What true allegations?
    I'll ask for the last time do YOU think these UNPROVEN allegations hinder or help your enemy.

    ReplyDelete
  22. David

    If you read the last paragraph of my last post you will see my asnwer. Thn body of evidence on Trump's malfeasance will have no effect on his cult following; it will motivate all same Ameericans to vote to prevent the death of American democracy.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Barry,
    That wasn't an answer, so I'll leave it at that. Patronising the Black and Hispanic minority to vote against Trump because he's racist loses all meaning when his opponent wrote the 94 crime bill which is racist in it's actions not it's words. His running mate's record as a prosecutor on minorities is shameful.
    Hysterical comments like saving democracy and repeating worn out and unproven allegations, I believe, won't have the effect you hope. Your condescending comments about the Trump supporters being unable of critical thinking is part of the problem. You can talk about right wing conspiracy theories until you're blue in the face, but, the way I see it is your Labour party and the Democratic party are every bit as corporate as the Tories and Republicans so with nowhere else to go a lot of working class voted for Brexit and Trump. You reap what you sow.

    ReplyDelete