Steve Bannon has been telling folks that his driving goal is to become the Riefenstahl of the Republican Party. Leni Riefenstahl was a leading Nazi propagandist in the 1930s.
Burr Deming speculates that, if Bannon feels any revulsion at that Nazi support, it is overruled by his admiration for Riefenstahl’s successful techniques. Burr suggests that the ethic of tactics over morality has taken over the Republican party.
For all the faults of conservatism, the Republican Party was once known as the party of voting rights, the party of morality or at least of moralism, the party of National Security. The party of Fiscal Responsibility.
At some point, things changed. We now have a party of whatever works politically, whatever wins: the Party of What We Can get Away With.
Burr sees hopeful signs that this ethic is finally being noticed by an outraged voting public.
If Alabama, and New Jersey, and Virginia, and a scattering of state and local elections, form a meaningful pattern, a lasting reputation has, at last, taken hold.
Dave Dubya of Freedom Rants reacts:
Dave Dubya:
Once again you’ve kindly presented accurate history and facts; all of which shall fall on dead ears of conservatives. Their cult dictates what they are to believe.
The primary Big Lie is “liberal media” in their war on journalism. Journalism has always been seen as a threat to totalitarians and authoritarians.
The German Nazis used the term “Lügenpresse”, or lying press, in their campaign to destroy journalism. Now American fascists cry “liberal media” and “fake news” when the truth threatens their agenda.
These are the devoted authoritarian fanatics of the fascist Right that have risen to frightening levels of influence in their war on our Constitution’s regulation of commerce and provision for the general welfare. They actively suppress voter rights, democracy, a free press, science, education, unions and minorities.
Enough voters may at last have caught on to what is in the conservative heads of Republicans.
They are slowly catching on. What needs to be emphasized is their goal is nothing less than a one-party dictatorship.
Have a safe weekend, a happy holiday, and a much improved New Year.