UPDATE: Part 2 of this series is available here.
Today we will start a new series, which will continue periodically through the November elections.
We have all witnessed the relatively quick transformation of a political party from the ultra-conservative GOP, to a complete takeover by the white nationalist focused MAGA GOP. Anyone who doesn't fall in line with the MAGA philosophy is primaried, or in some cases even ejected from the party or their positions completely. This group no longer functions as a political party dedicated toward advancing certain ideals, or a party with a clearly defined policy agenda. There are no moderating voices remaining and no room for dissent.
No, the MAGA agenda, from the head of the cult himself, is about the complete roll-back of modern progress. Some wish to go backwards to the day when white men have all the privileges and get a solid head start in life. This is MAGA. This is also known as reactionary politics. It's the attempt to turn the progress backwards. Think of the America when women weren’t allowed to vote, blacks were completely segregated and discrimination was not only allowed but encouraged. The goal is the taking away of individual rights.
This had already been demonstrated by the test labs for fascism, best known as Iowa and Florida. It’s no accident that these two states have been on the cutting edge of the attempt to roll back progress.
These two states have followed the same path away from democracy and towards fascism. These states are test labs for fascism. They are practicing and noting which ways work best to roll back our rights incrementally with the least notice. But there are many other states catching up.
As The Guardian reported, The risk of a coup in the next US election is greater now than it ever was under Trump This article is more than 2 years old, Laurence H Tribe. The next US civil war is already here – we just refuse to see it, and Why US far-right groups are shifting their focus to local communities
And This plan has been discussed and named the “bloodless coup.” The goal is the end of democracy. This would be done through a combination of getting in local political positions first, for example schoolboards. Then they would work up through state level elected positions where they can position themselves to ratify the state presidential electoral college votes. Representative Gehlbach is an example of this in our state, though I don’t pretend to know his future votes. Another target is to get on local election boards, and volunteer to intimidate voters at their polling places. It could happen right in front of us before many even realize it occurred. The process has already begun with only a few of the examples noted below.
The Supreme Court has already been captured.
The right to make choices for our own families about books.
The right to reproductive freedom
The diminished ability of our families to get a good education.
Education with increasing focus on unquestioning patriotism, with classroom agendas beginning to be set by politicians instead of professional teachers.
The rollback of rights for LGBTQ Iowans and elsewhere.
State GOP leaders have shown by their past actions. They will continue to diminish rights of all Iowans as long as possible, until someone stops them. It’s no accident that the governor endorsed DeSantis.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian and expert in both fascism and authoritarianism has observed that DeSantis is every bit, or more, dangerous than Trump with his authoritarian goals. Nikki Haley was a part of the MAGA administration. Don’t fall for her act. She is Trumpism with a smile. Here’s one of Ms. Ben-Ghiat's recent statements.
2024 could be our last chance to change the MAGA GOP's intended trajectory away from democracy and toward fascism. We need maximum voter participation. We need to set ideology aside, for now, and form a voting coalition of voters who understand that America’s existence is in danger. Stamping out this cancer, now known as MAGA, is more important than anything else to the future of the America we know.
The MAGA cult’s overuse of patriotic themes, flags, and use of patriotic sounding words belie the true facts of what is really going on. The selling of state secrets perhaps? Election fraud? These are all unresolved questions about the person who will be asking once again for our vote. But they’re beyond merely unresolved questions. They’re now indictments.
We simply can’t afford the incredible risk of losing the America we know. We need everyone who has any doubts about future dictator Trump to band together in a voting block. We need to maximize anti-MAGA voting power and make it next to impossible to claim the vote is invalid.
If you care about the America we know and love, please join me. I will be a part of this movement and anything I can do to crush this MAGA cancer completely.
We will continue to discuss the latest developments in the upcoming primary season, and carefully track the future of this anti-democratic movement. It will take all of us working together. This is a call to action to all of us who love America and are the true patriots trying to save it from the grip of authoritarianism.
With this all considered together, we could consider this year the possible year of the death of America as we know it. Already plans are coming to light of a repeat attempt from 2020. There are some already beginning to “set the stage,” with a false narrative that the vote is insecure and shouldn't be trusted.
We need to see this for what it is—a refined, repeat attempt of the 2021 coup. This will take into account and modify the mistakes that caused them to fail last time. Think of January 6, 2021 as the test run for this year. Trump will not go back to following the election rules after what we collectively have already let him get away with. There were no consequences. What will stop him from trying this again?
We have had years to study, observe and by now there should be nobody who claims to be surprised when later this year the 91 times indicted, counter-revolutionary, admitted serial sex offender, ex-president Trump refuses again to concede, no matter what the final vote tally shows.
We should all be ready for this, and plan for contingencies. But the most important thing to realize is we are not powerless to stop it. Time is critical. The focus should be on coalition building. Setting our differences aside, and voting anti-MAGA all the way down the ticket. This dangerous man is long overdue to be completely stopped. The only power he has is the power we give him. After 2024 that could all change, and it may be up to us no longer. We are all needed to fight for democracy.
Here are a few highlights from the past week.
Republicans Against Trump
“Fundamentally a second Trump term could mean the end of American democracy as we know it. Even if it ends in electing a democrat?" Yes, we all need to work together. Democrats, Independents, moderate Republicans, never Trumpers. Anyone that is worried, concerned or disappointed at the prospect of an end to America as we know it. We should all be voting for Biden. Why? Because the future of America is more important than anything else. For Republicans, this even means electing a democrat. To consolidate power, we all would need to vote for Biden, no matter what. Biden at least continues to promise to listen to and represent ALL voters, not just democrats. And any protest vote for a 3rd party candidate should be seen as an intentional ruse to weaken Biden’s vote total just enough for Trump to win. The Trump campaign will throw everything at us, including lies. We must see through this, and look hard to find the truth. In the online age, the truth is very elusive and intentionally obfuscated. But it’s still there. We need to bring it back to front and center to begin righting this ship.