George Rebane
‘America was born of dissent. It shall perish when dissent is forbidden.’ I used this anonymous aphorism as a tagline for a recent post, and upon reflection, it rings more true with each passing day. Today loud voices are heard mostly from the Left, but also some from the Right, exhorting us to set our beliefs aside and be compliantly silent. The underlying principle that is being hoisted like a banner in the public square is ‘politics has no place for violence.’
That is also the title of a piece by Rep Steve Scalise (R-LA) in the 13jan21 WSJ (here). Unfortunately, the congressman could not be more wrong, both historically and existentially. Going back to the days of historian Thucydides of ancient Greece, violence has always been one of the extremes and frequently practiced bookends of politics. The other extreme of political behavior is silent compliance, the rigidly enforced favorite of tyrants. To get a deeper understanding of this, I recommend to you Graham Allison’s Destined for War: Can America and China escape Thucydides’s Trap (2017). (Kissinger’s plaudit of the book included, “Thucydides’ Trap identifies the cardinal challenge to world order.”)
Allison and other historians have long made it clear that almost every military action, including partisan uprisings, were spawned for political reasons. Nevertheless, most of us believe that a social order succumbing to either of these extremes represents a failure of practicing prudent politics. An oft-accepted definition of politics is ‘the art of the possible’, which is still valid with its noted bookends withstanding.
In this light, I maintain that current arguments, exhortations, and platitudes from our national leaders do nothing to calm the angry sea that today defines social order. None of these politicians can point to a common ground where we may meet to forge a mutually acceptable future. What each offers in place of such a political meeting is simply another version of ‘my way or the highway’. And the diagnosis is appropriate to those of us minor ideologues making our voices heard on the grassroots hustings. For me as a conservetarian, the Left offers little to nothing that would give rise to a world in which I would want my progeny to live. And collectivists feel equally strong about their ideals.
Political peace has been achieved in the past mostly by both (all) sides stumbling into a de facto compromise that is to no one’s complete liking, and one that motivates everyone to continue working for their political goals with plausible hope in their hearts. And that is the important point. The discovered compromise must be such that neither side loses hope of still being able to push the policy peanuts in their desired direction. When that hope vanishes or is quashed, then one of the political bookends is all that remains, and the one chosen depends on the people’s means, culture, and their historical narrative.
Today President Trump was impeached again by the House, this time being accused of “encouraging a mob to storm Congress as part of an effort to overturn Joe Biden’s election win." For millions of us across the land this most certainly was the most scurrilous political act we have witnessed during our lifetime. There is no need to rehash all the ethical, constitutional, and simply principled criteria that were violated in performing probably the most vindictive act by Congress in its long history. There was no opportunity, nor desire by the Democrats, to permit a reasoned defense by the opposition; it was simply a hastily assembled and railroaded political lynching. What it underlined for all who pay attention is that this abortion on the floor of the House did nothing but cement in place an implacable division between polarized Americans that continues to grow in its scope and girth.
And we learned more about the stout political underpinnings of the ten so-called Republicans who decided to pile on to this judicial charade. All the while more Republicans quake in their boots as the Dems and their lamestream continue to broadcast accusations of ‘acts of sedition’ and ‘insurrection’, none of which was intended or took place. What did take place, as the record shows, is the President’s exhortation for his supporters to go to the Capitol and protest the scheduled proceedings to certify the electoral votes. There is nothing illegal about a call for such action by citizens who do feel aggrieved that the November election was fraught with irregularities and fraud. But today our liberties retreated another step as last Wednesday’s speech by the president was deemed both illegal and impeachable. Besides cementing our breach, this second impeachment has now put a serious rip into the fabric of what once were the normative affairs of governance.
[15jan21 update] 'Assault on the Capitol Has Let Loose the Electronic Octopus' argues Victor Davis Hanson in a convincing piece apropos to these dark days. And reader posts a link with a DoJ official declaring there is "no direct evidence" of plot to kill, kidnap lawmakers in Capitol assault (here).
AOC: Nation Can Only Heal Once ‘Oppressed’ Southern States are ‘Liberated’
During the stream, she said that Democrats’ U.S. Senate wins in Georgia were a result of “multi-racial” and “multi-cultural” grassroots organization and a sign that “southern states are not red states, they are suppressed states.”
“Which means the only way that our country’s going to heal is through the actual liberation of southern states,” she said. “The actual liberation of the poor, the actual liberation of working people from economic, social, and racial oppression. That’s the only way.”
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/aoc-nation-can-only-heal-once-oppressed-southern-states-are-liberated/
Just like Sherman’s march to the sea.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 13 January 2021 at 12:21 PM
re BillT 1221pm - another confirming example of the Dems' objective. Things will only be healed in the land, according to their lights, when America becomes a uniformly one-party nation - just like the Third Reich, USSR, China, Cuba, Vietnam, ... . And that is why a leftwinger doesn't give a big rat's ass for even looking for any compromise or middle ground.
Posted by: George Rebane | 13 January 2021 at 01:25 PM
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.” Abraham Lincoln
These words hold true once again as the communist Democrats take our most basic freedom (speech) away. Religion and guns will be next followed by the 4th and 5th amendment protections. Tyranny is not on the door step...it is in the living room.
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 13 January 2021 at 01:36 PM
re: [email protected]:21PM
Oh well, you can't make a revolution wearing white gloves.
Posted by: scenes | 13 January 2021 at 02:12 PM
And here comes the censorship
https://www.newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/1005477/18
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 13 January 2021 at 02:54 PM
'How Silicon Valley, in a Show of Monopolistic Force, Destroyed Parler'
In the last three months, tech giants have censored political speech and journalism to manipulate U.S. politics, while liberals, with virtual unanimity, have cheered.
https://greenwald.substack.com/p/how-silicon-valley-in-a-show-of-monopolistic
--------
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 13 January 2021 at 03:28 PM
Now ain't that special?? Change the rules to call Trump a "racist",, which we all know he's not.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/01/13/house-democrats-temporarily-changed-rules-to-allow-president-to-be-called-a-racist/
Posted by: Walt | 13 January 2021 at 05:50 PM
And to your point George. She is a symbol of the old Republican Party.
https://www.newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/1005514/1
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 13 January 2021 at 06:02 PM
If she is removed, it is a symbol to the masses that the old Republican Party is dead, and a completely new Republican Party is born. It is not about Trump. It is about the people. And these republicans have to convince 75 million people that they got the message.
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 13 January 2021 at 06:09 PM
Now I wonder how many sitting Repubs will survive the next election? Their turning on Trump like rabid dogs will be remembered.
Still waiting for one of the TROLLS to point out how Trump is racist.
Posted by: Walt | 13 January 2021 at 07:04 PM
The New Republican Party is going to eat it’s own, weaker members and solidify its base. It will take a couple weeks, but there is now no going back. The people have taken over finally.
https://www.newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/1005578/1
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 14 January 2021 at 06:28 AM
re: impeachment stuff
MCCONNELL’S STATEMENT
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/01/mcconnells-statement.php
Boy, is it just me or is 2021 making 2020 look less exciting.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 14 January 2021 at 08:40 AM
So a good sized crowd just wanted to talk to their "representatives" and it's called "inserection"?
The Left is going to make damned sure another American revolution won't happen.
Now wasn't it the radical LIBS that condemned the use of troops to bring peace to the streets when ANTIFA and BLM were burning cities? Yet bring in troops to guard their collective asses.
Posted by: Walt | 14 January 2021 at 08:55 AM
Anyone want to speculate what this memo is all about. It is weird to point out the obvious
https://news.usni.org/2021/01/12/message-from-joint-chiefs-on-u-s-capitol-riot
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 14 January 2021 at 09:46 AM
re: [email protected]:40AM
No problemo, they'll just have a Double Secret Impeachment next month sometime.
re: [email protected]:55AM
The insurrection was a near-run thing. Between the 100 person army of old ladies and over-hefty middle aged guys and the appearance of the Buffalo Horn Hat, Florida Man nearly made off with the magic lectern.
Luckily the plotters are being foiled by a 50 state and some territories manhunt. CNN is putting up their mugshots and the heinous crimes. Crimes as follows:
. making interstate threats to Speaker Nancy Pelosi
. knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority
. pushing an officer
. disorderly conduct (a fair charge)
. a few gun carry violations
Walt, there's no point bitching about unequal application of law or commercial force. You're dealing with Blue Mob Cultists. They lost any resemblance to a 1990's Democrat (pro national health plan, pro immigration enforcement, pro tax the rich) some time ago as economic issues were replaced by a secular religion.
Posted by: scenes | 14 January 2021 at 10:00 AM
"Anyone want to speculate what this memo is all about. It is weird to point out the obvious"
Sure. They want to keep their jobs, which are a rather sweet deal all told.
You'll probably see a more-thorough-than-usual Month of the Long Knives as they ferret out any trace of Trumpist thinking in the executive branch. Unlike Trump, who really couldn't bring in a turnkey staff, the friends and families list for fedgov appoints will be rather large.
You can imagine the background checks going on right now given our Surveillance State Lords 'n Masters. Any whiff of sulfur around a White House employee will result in expulsion. It's part of that great National Hug that Creepy Uncle Joe is all about.
What I'd like to watch is the behind the scenes Hunter Biden laptop cleanup crew. Anyone who leaks the rest of it will need an Icelandic citizenship in hand.
Posted by: scenes | 14 January 2021 at 10:08 AM
Barry
Your "new Republican Party" is a dream come true for the Dems. Trumpism will split the Rebub Party and will never represent a majority of people of this country. Also Impeaching Trump is, in my opinion, a strategic error on the part of the Dems. Letting him run again will be such a ruckus in the Repub Party that the Dems will glide to an easy victory. Same to be said if he starts a Third Party.
Trump is a loser of historic proportions. He's the only President since before Teddy Roosevelt that not only lost his re-election but also the House and Senate in his first term.
Posted by: paul emery | 14 January 2021 at 11:25 AM
Nope.. none of trumpler's people incited violence as these clips will show.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/daily-show-supercut-trump-insurrection_n_60000f8bc5b63642b7020d8e
Posted by: RXCross | 14 January 2021 at 11:34 AM
We get it Spongebob.. It's Just fine when you do it.
The attack on the White House last month was more than justified.. No "inserection" there.... Right?
Getting Trump to a safe place was just a publicity stunt.
Right Babs?
Posted by: Walt | 14 January 2021 at 12:03 PM
No comment from Emery?
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/biden-to-unveil-new-coronavirus-stimulus-plan
"The plan, which could carry a price tag of at least $1.5 trillion, is widely expected to include a commitment for $1,400 stimulus checks"
I'm sure Emery will call it money well spent.
Chanslor Biden will be signing spending bill after spending bill. The days of "billions" are gone. It's Trillions or nothing.
Posted by: Walt | 14 January 2021 at 12:09 PM
Yeah Walt, it's Trillions now. Trump put us over 7 Trillion in debt in only 4 years, all time record.
Posted by: Paul Emery | 14 January 2021 at 12:23 PM
PaulE 1223pm - How do you think that could have happened?
Posted by: George Rebane | 14 January 2021 at 12:28 PM
Paul. How would you define “Trumpism?”
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 14 January 2021 at 12:29 PM
Posted by: Paul Emery | 14 January 2021 at 12:23 PM
Yeah Walt, it's Trillions now. Trump put us over 7 Trillion in debt in only 4 years, all time record.
I'll say.....not like that lazy slacker Obama who took 8 years. How fast do you think "your" president will outspend Trump...18 months....2 years?
Now's the time to get your prediction on the record!
Posted by: fish | 14 January 2021 at 12:32 PM
LOL Emery,, who WROTE those spending bills? Most of if from the House when your Queen of the DAMNED and her flying monkeys took over. You know,, "power of the purse" and all that.
Funny, not ONCE did you agree with me that Trump should have shut down government till the spending was decreased...
WHY Emery,, WHY!!??????
Nope,, you shuffled off and waited for the subject change..
Posted by: Walt | 14 January 2021 at 12:37 PM
paul emery sez: "Your "new Republican Party" is a dream come true for the Dems."
It was always baked into the cake.
The last two elections were the last chances to escape the uniparty. You can see the violent reaction when an outsider won the Presidency for the first time in 100+ years.
Between an absolutely brilliant campaign of mass third world immigration and our new Google Archipelago running what the public sees and hears, I think of the US as lost. Hard to say what it'll be replaced by besides surveillance and thought police, but it was a good run while it lasted. There's no guarantee that Corporate Socialism in league with a street army will be quite as immoral as the Soviets, but the track record isn't good so far.
paul's good friend and ally R Cross sez: "Nope.. none of trumpler's people incited violence as these clips will show."
lol. Yes. It's just 'chilling'. You know darned well how many hundreds of hours of Democratic politicians at all levels + Leftist street violence a person could make a montage of, but honestly that doesn't matter.
The interesting thing is that for the very first time, some people from the Right got overly rambunctious, wore buffalo horns, swiped a podium. Realistically though you can feel the energy in the thing starting to ramp up a bit.
You easily could have real things to complain about in a year rather than all of the weeping about D. Trump the Twitter Meanie and some guys driving around in trucks with flags. It's a natural side effect of being pushed and pushed, especially when you consider the higher ability for kinetic activities by regular guys. There could easily be a difference in scale when compared to an army of looters led by transsexual generals. A real economic downturn could light quite a fuse.
Kind of a bummer for everybody, but these things have their own sort of rhythm.
Posted by: scenes | 14 January 2021 at 12:38 PM
BarryP: "Paul. How would you define “Trumpism?”"
lol. I doubt anyone much knows, I suspect it's mostly running in front of a crowd.
I think of him as an enemy of my enemies, and that's enough.
Posted by: scenes | 14 January 2021 at 12:43 PM
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 14 January 2021 at 12:29 PM
Paul. How would you define “Trumpism?”
Careful Barry.....you wouldn't want to fall into the trap of thinking and sounding like Punch.
This was entirely predictable.....
https://mobile.twitter.com/KatiePavlich/status/1349808049385594881
Posted by: fish | 14 January 2021 at 01:13 PM
OK Proggys,, Harris aided and abetted rioters. She helped set up bail funds to get the arrested out of jail so they could get back into the looting and burning game.
So DO tell us how aiding in a criminal activity isn't a crime?
And THAT while running for office!
Posted by: Walt | 14 January 2021 at 01:15 PM
The Scenes [email protected] 12:38 pm
“but it was a good run while it lasted. There's no guarantee that Corporate Socialism in league with a street army will be quite as immoral as the Soviets, but the track record isn't good so far.”
I never in my wildest dreams could imagine the day when Socialism was something that sounded good.....compared to what is evolving. There, I said it. Socialism might be better than the gulags in the short term.
———————
Oh my, Louie Gohmert gets cancelled for violence inciting speech and the mob is after him now. He really stepped in it big time. Face plant. He quoted The Botox Queen on the House floor!!
Donald Trump Jr.
@DonaldJTrumpJr
“Rep Louie Gohmert R-TX being cancelled by leftist media for inciting violence by literally quoting Nancy Pelosi verbatim is the most 2021 thing ever“
——————
‘Holy S**t!’: Critics Blast Louie Gohmert For ‘Encouraging More Uprisings,’ But He Was Quoting Pelosi‘
https://dailycaller.com/2021/01/13/critics-louie-gohmert-encouraging-more-uprisings-quoting-pelosi/
——————-
On the lighter side of these Dark Days Diaries, I was listening to a podcast from a couple dudes I have never heard of before. Not known names but funny conservatives. Think they are from Texas, blue jeans and tee shirt types, scraggly beards. Anyway, somebody gave them a pass to get into the Trump Towers Bar where all important folks were. Like a fish out of water. Laura Ingram walking around, media types, Congressmen, killer drinks and they looked over and ole Louie Gohmert all stretched out on a coach snoozing away, made himself comfortable. Nice place to pass out, lol. They said that two of those Trump cocktails should be the limit. I figured ole Louie’s limit is one Trump Tower drink. They are twice the normal size.
That Louie Louie is something else. What a character. One mo’ time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9OTSR4Qdbk
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 14 January 2021 at 03:14 PM
You know, this is really an interesting question, I need to think on it.
"Portland mayor @tedwheeler is offended when KATU reporter @GenevieveReaume asks the obvious: Did Portland's tolerance of months of riots help provide a new normal that political violence against government property is okay?"
https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1349406209883975680
---
In short, has Portland normalized political violence? It's a purely tactical issue, but I'm attracted to the idea.
Posted by: scenes | 14 January 2021 at 03:36 PM
See what the anti gun LIBS did? Brought in a bunch of them
to protect the ruling elite.
Posted by: Walt | 14 January 2021 at 03:56 PM
BillT: "I never in my wildest dreams could imagine the day when Socialism was something that sounded good.....compared to what is evolving. There, I said it. Socialism might be better than the gulags in the short term."
I think it boils down to the Blue Army jettisoning economics arguments in favor of quasi-religious ones.
It's one thing to be in favor of national health care or more progressive tax rates and quite another to demand that people all share a belief system. The ability to enforce belief systems has climbed by leaps and bounds in recent years of course.
Maybe they'll leave a spot for us dhimmis at some point.
Posted by: scenes | 14 January 2021 at 03:57 PM
BUT if it was BLM,, of course a permit would be given.
Sac RAG headline
"Newsom calls up National Guard, CHP denies permit for pro-Trump rally at California Capitol"
ANTIFA never got permits,,,,,.....
Posted by: Walt | 14 January 2021 at 03:59 PM
Posted by: Walt | 14 January 2021 at 03:59 PM
ANTIFA never got permits,,,,,.....
But Walt......they're just an idea.
Posted by: fish | 14 January 2021 at 04:30 PM
re update: Today President Trump was impeached again by the House,
Worth watching a couple minutes of Dan. “19 minutes after Trump was inaugurated on Friday, Jan 20, 2017 at noon the Wa Compost’s HEADLINE was ‘Campaign To Impeach Trump Has Begun’. 19 minutes.
https://fb.watch/30Yk_mR3jB/
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 14 January 2021 at 10:41 PM
Told ya so. (directed at the resident TROLLS)
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/01/15/leftist-activist-among-those-arrested-in-capitol-riot/
"John Sullivan, who is the founder of Insurgence USA — a social justice group he started after the death of George Floyd — was arrested and charged in federal court in Washington, DC, according to a report by Salt Lake Tribune."
Posted by: Walt | 15 January 2021 at 09:04 AM