Where did Ronald Reagan's party go?
Where did Ronald Reagan's party go?
It has turned to terrorism to silence those that think differently. Just like AQ & the Taliban
Washington DC 29 July 2022
I wonder what Ronald Reagan would think about all the Putin lovers in his party? The apartment bombing genocidal Tzar who kills children. Would WWII veteran George HW Bush who deftly managed the end of the Cold War have a petty central European despot like Orban as a headliner at a GOP conference? Somehow I dont see Teddy Roosevelt sending an armed mob to murder Charles Fairbanks under the Capitol rotunda.
Senator John McCain was viciously tortured in North Vietnamese POW hellhole. He chose to spend many more years being tortured in company with his comrades in arms instead of accepting early release and becoming a propaganda prop for the communist regime. When a nice old lady parroted tea party propaganda about Obama being an “Arab” (aka terrorist) John said “He’s a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with. I have to tell you Sen. Obama is a decent person and a person you don’t have to be scared of as president of the United States”.
That is what normal politics looks like. Thats what America is all about
John McCain was a real man. He didn't need a masculinity prop in his campaign ads. He didn't buckle when someone disagreed. He argued with them! Robustly! Using facts, not Russian propaganda. TR treked jungles and didn't flinch when he got shot. He continued his campaign event until he physically could no longer. Reagan calmed those around him and the jittery world with wise cracks when he was shot. One of his best friends was his staunchest opponent, Tip O'Neil. Reagan didn't have tantrum and tried to have Tip killed when they disagreed.
Bill Clinton made HW Bush a one term president. That is considered a humiliation. There was genuine anger and resentment for years. Yet Bush senior and Bill became fast friends when they went on a road show together in Asia after the tsunami. ‘Clinton would later describe the opportunity to work with Bush Sr. as “one of the greatest gifts of my life.” ‘ That formed a bond between the two families who have become genuine friends.
W called Clinton humble, and respectful. He went further. He called the former president his “brother with a different mother” — not the first time he's used that term for the man who unseated his father, President George H.W. Bush, from the Oval Office
They see the world very differently but know how to be grown ups. W and Michelle Obama clearly have sincere affection for one another. Why is that so challenging? I think it is evidence of a healthy state of mind. In this picture Michelle is comforting W at his fathers memorial. That comes from empathy. America needs this. It can only come from a position of mutual respect. If you shout down those who disagree you’ll never get there.
How did the party of Reagan become a bunch of whiney pathetic wimps who need to brandish guns all the time and get scared when someone else has the temerity to see the world differently? Why do they want to silence or kill anyone who disagrees? Thats what the Taliban does. Not an American political party.
Homeland security professionals have a word for politically motivated violence - terrorism.
The following facts are >undisputed< by republicans:
"Trump sent a mob to the Capitol to stop confirmation of the election. When his VP did not do his bidding - by pushing the fake elector scheme - Trump incited the mob. Their response? The crowd became enraged and searched the halls chanting “hang Mike Pence”. When this immanent threat to the VP (who had a nuclear football and codes) was reported to Trump he responded “maybe Pence should be hung.” Later, Trump doubled down defending those who he sent to kill Pence saying their rage was a “common sense” reaction to Pence’s action to defend the constitution from Trump’s illegal coup.
They don't tell viewers on Fox 'news' about this act of terrorism.
I was roundly criticized for posting about Trumps plans to destroy the civil service on the LinkedIn homeland security page. I responded with the note you are reading now and ended with this
If you are interested in homeland security read this
Coda
The fact that this image is so shocking to people on the right and left is evidence of the real and immediate danger we are in an a nation. Regardless of whether you support W’s policies or those of Michelle’s husband, we need to be mature adults capable of talking to one another. Peaceful resolution of differences through negotiation and compromise between those with equal rights before the law is called politics. Any other alternative is what Clausewitz called politics by other means.