My Op-Ed on the coming Civil War ran in today’s Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
In my November Op-ed, I discussed a poll by The University of Virginia’s Center for Politics that found “the divide between Trump and Biden voters is deep, wide, and dangerous. The scope is unprecedented, and it will not be easily fixed.” A strong majority of Biden voters said there is no real difference between Republicans and fascists.
At an August press conference, Biden confirmed that sentiment, calling Maga-Republicans “semi-fascists” (whatever that is) and “a threat to democracy.”
Earlier this month Biden delivered his “soul of the nation” speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the birthplace of both the US Declaration of Independence and Constitution. He reiterated that the single greatest threat to America today is not Communist China nor Putin’s Russia but the 74 million Republicans who voted for Trump. Biden effectively declared civil war on half the country.
He crossed a significant line when he labeled anyone who disagrees with him as a threat to the country. If Republicans are fascists bent on overthrowing the government, then the President will take any measure to stamp out the threat, legal or otherwise. Maybe by having the FBI raid his chief opponent’s house? Or following Obama’s lead in using his 87,000 new IRS agents to target Maga-Republicans? Wouldn’t you audit any fascist? After all, the end justifies any means.
While saying “equality and democracy are under assault,” he was flanked by two uniformed Marines standing at modified parade rest. The backdrop was bathed in blood-red lighting making it look like an ominous hellscape. The entire atmosphere was deeply unsettling. I took it as a not-so-subtle threat of his using the military as necessary to shut down any political opposition. MSNBC said that “Biden aimed to showcase his faith in the military apparatus and its ability to back the democratic order,” which makes my point.
This coming October, it will be 100 years since Mussolini marched on Rome and established the first fascist state. I just reread Mussolini’s “The Doctrine of Fascism“ in which he praises the pragmatic value of violence and explicitly rejects individualism: “the Fascist conception of life stresses the importance of the State and accepts the individual only in so far as his interests coincide with those of the State.”
Fascism has recognizable elements, and they aren’t capitalism, individualism, small government, and peace. Fascists always use violence and coercion to achieve their statist goals. In an Op-Ed last month, I referred to such liberal fascism. I was scoffed in letters to the editor.
Yet conservatives watched in horror as blue states burned in the summer of 2020 during the BLM/Antifa riots, not understanding why politicians would not stop the looting, torching, mayhem, and murders. In fact, Covid lockdowns were put on hold so that the riots could continue.
Antifa rioters barricaded the federal courthouse in Portland with federal officers inside then set fire to the building. CNN was rightly mocked for a video caption that read “Fiery But Mostly Peaceful Protests After Police Shooting” in front of a building engulfed in flames in Kenosha, Wis. An MSNBC on-scene reporter said “protests in Minneapolis are not generally speaking, unruly” as buildings burn in the background behind him as well.
Fascists use violence to achieve statist goals. Jane’s Revenge is a liberal group that firebombs and vandalizes crisis pregnancy centers, churches, and Republican congressional offices. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy (now the Democrats’ candidate for governor) said that arson was a good thing: “Yes, America is burning. But that’s how forests grow.“ Imagine what she wants America to grow into.
The #1 goal in the summer of 2020 was ensuring Trump wouldn’t be reelected. If “Trump is literally Hitler,” then any means is justified to achieve that goal. And any means is justified to keep him from running again in 2024.
According to a YouGov/Economist survey, 43% of Americans think civil war is at least somewhat likely in the next decade. I agree with that sentiment. When half of Americans are identified as a clear and present danger to the nation, how can it not end in another civil war?