Page 14 The Sun Bay Paper August 9, 2024 Shed your self-righteousness Democrat attacks on Trump, and all republican and conservative policy makers and voters, is unsurpassed. I call on democrats and “never-Trumpers” to shed their self-righteousness. Their demonizing of political enemies has reached record levels and is still climbing. Following is a review of the dangerous incitement that’s been occurring for years. Congresswoman Maxine Waters was once so “inspired” that she shouted to a crowd, “I will go and take Trump out tonight.” CNN anchor Kaisie Hunt, in reference to Senator Paul getting beaten up by his neighbor rejoiced, “This might me one of my favorite stories.” Chris Mathews, expressing his anger about Rush Limbaugh, “Somebody’s going to jam a CO2 pellet in his head and he’s going to explode like a giant blimp. Senator Schumer, on a tirade after Roe v. Wade was overturned, shouted, “……I want to tell you Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you…..” Could this have inspired the California man who was charged with attempted murder after being arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home? Expressing a dystopian vision, NBC presidential historian Michael Beschloss speculated with Chris Hayes on MSNBC, “We could be six days away from losing our rule of law……if MAGA republicans win November 8, our children will be arrested and conceivably killed.” A similar prediction appeared in The Guardian, “the world’s leading liberal voice”: [When civil war develops] judges will be assassinated, democrats and moderate republicans will be jailed……black churches and synagogues bombed, pedestrians picked off by snipers……” The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian depiction in a book, movie and cable TV series. It intends to show what will happen if conservatives take control of our government. It’s the ultimate in demonizing of republicans. Often, pictures of bonnet-clad women are used as a visual representation of how women would be treated if republicans, conservatives, and fundamentalist Christians assumed power. “Handmaids” takes place in a fictitious country established by the overthrow of the U.S. by conservative forces. Fertile women are subjected to child-bearing slavery, serving barren ruling class women. Handmaids are subjected to cruel discipline and hideous punishment such as stoning, removing of an eye, and genital mutilation. Thedemlabs.org declared “Republican war on women & abortion [come] straight from “Handmaids Tale.” Many similar declarations are easy to find. Here is a selection of comments and depictions by celebrities: Robert DeNiro said, “I’d like to punch him [Trump] in the face”; Kathy Griffin posed with a decapitated Trump head; Snoop Dog video depicted shooting a Trump caricature; Madonna declared she had thought about blowing up the White House; Johnny Dep asked “when was the last time an actor assassinated a president?” The cover story of The New Republic, June 2024, is “American Fascism” – featuring Trump drawn as Adolf Hitler. ABC News, December 20, 2023, featured “Donald Trump’s history with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi writings” by Jonathan Karl. The Washington Post, December 20, 2023, featured “Yes, it’s okay to compare Trump to Hitler. Don’t let me stop you” by Mike Godwin. Nazi death camps are often shown along with anti-Trump messaging. The power of suggestion combined with constant repetition brings results. Trump is repeatedly depicted as Hitler, a rapist, and an existential threat to America’s democracy and way of life. After the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, a now now-former member of Rep. Bennie Thompson’s staff allegedly posted, “I don’t condone violence but please get you some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time……” Rep. Thompson led the January 6 investigation. These impressions of evil have nothing to do with reality. Pretending otherwise will bring tragic results. Nevertheless, we shouldn’t be surprised about the cynicism and reaction of the voting public. People listen to this, and the tragedy is that some could become frightened and desperate enough to take matters into their own hands. Steve Bakke Visit my website at myslantonthings.com Last issue’s puzzle solution to ‘Just A Sec’
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