This is beyond outrageous. I should think that by now, any such call could be traced (esp. if coming via cell phone, right?). I'd like to see every one of these death threats responded to by a knock on the door from the police and all those who've issued them to face charges. Serious charges. If this were to occur, I wager we'd start seeing a lot fewer death threats made by asshats who are hiding behind presumed anonymity.
The Congresspeople who are responsible for trash talk (Boebert and Greene) have only their base to please, and by lowering themselves to that level they're proven themselves useless as politicians. Boebert has no real education past her GED, and Greene bought her way in (although that's not something unusual) but both are literally just thrown-in candidates that the GOP figured would be innocuous enough and pliable enough to control.
However, they're both Trumpers and we all know there's more than a few of those in Congress-and they're all the same. Trash talkers with the IQ of an ice cube, who don't care for the dignity of Congress and who should have been removed after Jan 6, because it's a pretty good guess they were cheering it on from the shadows, like most Republicans.
Too bad there's no such thing as a recall action for these people but there one other option: Censure and removal from committees they're on. Greene has already been removed. I don't even know if they trust Boebert to even know what one is or how it works.
I just know one thing: Donald Trump was the single most worst influence in American politics since Joe McCarthy and even then I'm willing to gauge he's worse than that.
His evil has spread all over Washington, and I wish he'd drop dead tomorrow.
That wasn't a death threat-just a very big karmic wish. Big difference.
Mary, all you have said as well as others is so true. Trump set the stage long ago by indirectly giving the hate groups some kind of legitimacy. Then by coincidence a good half dozen hateful angry not very bright members of Congress spouted their hateful rhetoric, like Gosar recently and MTG on several occasions, like urging constituents to shoot vax medical people if they came to their doors and recently vilifying GOP members who voted for the infrastructure bill, she published their names and phone numbers and called them RINO's as did Matt Gaetz. The honorable GOP voting officials that put integrity first got death threats as did school officials as Lucian says. The GOP world had become a sick society with no voices raised in protest, afraid of being called traitors. Yet they punish Liz Chaney who couldn't stomach Trump and his lies. They punish the good people and reward the bad people. Trump was all for an infrastructure bill when he was president, but walked out of a meeting with Pelosi after 3 minutes because of her previous criticism of him, Now he's mad that the GOP didn't pass it when he was president. Yet again, this bipartisan bill is now a bad thing? Nation wide deterioration of our bridges and roads tas occurred for many years and it is badly needed. Will those who voted against it refuse to take the money (billions) for their state? Oh no. instead they will brag about the money and jobs they brought to their communities.community.
So true. One of the most troubling is Paul Gosar’s anime of killing AOC and sparring with Biden. And mostly getting away with saying that it was only a meme, meant in jest. And telling that he imagines actually killing the woman of color, and yet but crossing swords with Biden. Imagine the same thing with him killing Biden and sparring with AOC. Can you smell the outcry? What does that tell us?
And the GOP congressional "leadership" won't distance themselves from it! It's appalling. I hope the Dems go through with the attempt to censure Gosar. The bottom of the pit our political discourse has fallen into keeps getting lower and lower. Time to at least try to slow the sinking.
We've had Gosar's number since a cohort of his siblings and other relatives bought ads to advise voting against him. OTOH, his number keeps getting lower. It's well in the negative range by now.
Love the way the NYT manages to do its both-sides thing by calling out "elements of the left" that "have contributed to the confrontational tenor of the country’s current politics." I remember "elements of the left" using this kind of rhetoric, but it was 50+ years ago and they were the fringe-iest of the fringe. Anyone else remember Progressive Labor and the Spartacist League?
Thank you, once again, Lucian. Your closing sentence, "Wars, cultural or otherwise, are not kind to those whose beliefs belie them, and hate, it seems, is more often than not the product of pathos", should be enshrined in the halls of Congress.
In 1919 the country was exhausted by war and pandemic, and there was a deep concern about how safe America was. The Red Scare lit up millions until a federal judge ruled the mass arrests violated the 1st amendment but also the equal protection clause in the 14th. By 1921 things quieted down. FDR received death threats by people who believed father Coughlin and other sensationalists. Joe McCarthy had a good run. What is different today is the internet is still wide open and fuels late night desperation. It is best to remember that most people ignore the crazies and vote for the other party in the next election. We don't yet know the extent of political backlash to January 6th 2021.The furies and fear caused by Trump and Covid will finally burn out. Lets hope no one, including Republicans are hurt.
I am empathetic with people who are the target of intimidation. I have been there. It was about 30 years ago following the publication of a letter to the editor of our local newspaper. There were no threats of violence, as I recall, but the fact the perpetrators had my phone number and address was unnerving.
Exactly. I've known members of HOAs who took unpopular positions and then found their car tires slashed in the night while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, windows broken by hurled stones, homes graffitied, and pets attacked.
This is beyond outrageous. I should think that by now, any such call could be traced (esp. if coming via cell phone, right?). I'd like to see every one of these death threats responded to by a knock on the door from the police and all those who've issued them to face charges. Serious charges. If this were to occur, I wager we'd start seeing a lot fewer death threats made by asshats who are hiding behind presumed anonymity.
The Congresspeople who are responsible for trash talk (Boebert and Greene) have only their base to please, and by lowering themselves to that level they're proven themselves useless as politicians. Boebert has no real education past her GED, and Greene bought her way in (although that's not something unusual) but both are literally just thrown-in candidates that the GOP figured would be innocuous enough and pliable enough to control.
However, they're both Trumpers and we all know there's more than a few of those in Congress-and they're all the same. Trash talkers with the IQ of an ice cube, who don't care for the dignity of Congress and who should have been removed after Jan 6, because it's a pretty good guess they were cheering it on from the shadows, like most Republicans.
Too bad there's no such thing as a recall action for these people but there one other option: Censure and removal from committees they're on. Greene has already been removed. I don't even know if they trust Boebert to even know what one is or how it works.
I just know one thing: Donald Trump was the single most worst influence in American politics since Joe McCarthy and even then I'm willing to gauge he's worse than that.
His evil has spread all over Washington, and I wish he'd drop dead tomorrow.
That wasn't a death threat-just a very big karmic wish. Big difference.
Mary, all you have said as well as others is so true. Trump set the stage long ago by indirectly giving the hate groups some kind of legitimacy. Then by coincidence a good half dozen hateful angry not very bright members of Congress spouted their hateful rhetoric, like Gosar recently and MTG on several occasions, like urging constituents to shoot vax medical people if they came to their doors and recently vilifying GOP members who voted for the infrastructure bill, she published their names and phone numbers and called them RINO's as did Matt Gaetz. The honorable GOP voting officials that put integrity first got death threats as did school officials as Lucian says. The GOP world had become a sick society with no voices raised in protest, afraid of being called traitors. Yet they punish Liz Chaney who couldn't stomach Trump and his lies. They punish the good people and reward the bad people. Trump was all for an infrastructure bill when he was president, but walked out of a meeting with Pelosi after 3 minutes because of her previous criticism of him, Now he's mad that the GOP didn't pass it when he was president. Yet again, this bipartisan bill is now a bad thing? Nation wide deterioration of our bridges and roads tas occurred for many years and it is badly needed. Will those who voted against it refuse to take the money (billions) for their state? Oh no. instead they will brag about the money and jobs they brought to their communities.community.
Well, finally maybe they are cracking down:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-arrested-death-threat-gop-185657300.html
So true. One of the most troubling is Paul Gosar’s anime of killing AOC and sparring with Biden. And mostly getting away with saying that it was only a meme, meant in jest. And telling that he imagines actually killing the woman of color, and yet but crossing swords with Biden. Imagine the same thing with him killing Biden and sparring with AOC. Can you smell the outcry? What does that tell us?
And the GOP congressional "leadership" won't distance themselves from it! It's appalling. I hope the Dems go through with the attempt to censure Gosar. The bottom of the pit our political discourse has fallen into keeps getting lower and lower. Time to at least try to slow the sinking.
We've had Gosar's number since a cohort of his siblings and other relatives bought ads to advise voting against him. OTOH, his number keeps getting lower. It's well in the negative range by now.
Yep. See this NYT story from 2018: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/22/us/politics/paul-gosar-arizona-family-siblings.html And as of earlier this year, they're still at it: they want him kicked out of Congress. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gosar-s-siblings-want-their-brother-kicked-out-congress-they-n1271023
Yeah, and see this Times story from this morning's front page. Astounding:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/us/politics/republican-violent-rhetoric.html
Love the way the NYT manages to do its both-sides thing by calling out "elements of the left" that "have contributed to the confrontational tenor of the country’s current politics." I remember "elements of the left" using this kind of rhetoric, but it was 50+ years ago and they were the fringe-iest of the fringe. Anyone else remember Progressive Labor and the Spartacist League?
Just when you think.....America reaches a new
depth
Thanks Lucien! More important than ever. Your work is appreciated!!!!
Terry Cox
Thank you once again, sir.
Things are getting weird. We need a new Springsteen song-- shot in in the USA...?
Thank you, once again, Lucian. Your closing sentence, "Wars, cultural or otherwise, are not kind to those whose beliefs belie them, and hate, it seems, is more often than not the product of pathos", should be enshrined in the halls of Congress.
In 1919 the country was exhausted by war and pandemic, and there was a deep concern about how safe America was. The Red Scare lit up millions until a federal judge ruled the mass arrests violated the 1st amendment but also the equal protection clause in the 14th. By 1921 things quieted down. FDR received death threats by people who believed father Coughlin and other sensationalists. Joe McCarthy had a good run. What is different today is the internet is still wide open and fuels late night desperation. It is best to remember that most people ignore the crazies and vote for the other party in the next election. We don't yet know the extent of political backlash to January 6th 2021.The furies and fear caused by Trump and Covid will finally burn out. Lets hope no one, including Republicans are hurt.
Great piece, Lucian! And the writing is off the top of the chart!
The line of no return is "actual death squads." Sounds like it is coming soon to a county near you. Or my county.
I am empathetic with people who are the target of intimidation. I have been there. It was about 30 years ago following the publication of a letter to the editor of our local newspaper. There were no threats of violence, as I recall, but the fact the perpetrators had my phone number and address was unnerving.
Exactly. I've known members of HOAs who took unpopular positions and then found their car tires slashed in the night while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, windows broken by hurled stones, homes graffitied, and pets attacked.
Like I said: the GOP operates like a crime syndicate of organized mobsters.
I suspect that a lot of this would not be happening if not for Fox News.
You always strike a nail directly on the head, I am proud of you.
I agree completely.