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Nate McMurray (candidate for NY-27) : When can we start using the "H" word?
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1309193347215618048.html
Open letter: When can we start using the “H” word?
Donald Trump is not Hitler. But he is well down the road of authoritarianism.
I used to look at those pictures of people cheering Hitler as he screamed at them. I’d think to myself, “How did that happen?” I read about it in school. I understood the economic problems Germany faced.
I understood how Hitler manipulated national pride, victimhood, economic worry, and racism to deceive people. But still, Hitler was yelling at them. Screaming even. And he looked insane. Who would cheer?
Then I saw last night.
Trump, was elevated above the crowd on a stage like Xerxes or something, looking down at the packed, sweating, mostly maskless crowd. Air Force One loomed behind him like his personal chauffeur.
And he was screaming.
His muddled words and shaken logic served up the same disturbing cocktail of pride, victimhood, and fear, that yes, Hitler served. Oh, with more than a strong dash of racism.
He mocked an elected Congresswoman who came here as a child refugee by asking how “her country” is doing. This is her country Mr. President. And you should know that, as a man that’s married an immigrant himself—twice.
It was ugly. But they cheered.
In fact, about 40% of America cheers, including my opponent and the other cowards that lack the spine to challenge this man. Beware, when you see a sign of something, it’s often an indication of much worse—
think of a single cockroach in a kitchen, as thousands scurry behind the walls. These same cowards in Washington that defend Trump now, will break the law for him, maybe worse.
We all need to come to terms with what all this means—fast—because win or lose (and I think he will lose, but cheat to try and hold on to power) some of these people will remain committed to Trump.
Indeed, some of our neighbors, our colleagues, even our family members will remain committed to Trump, his alternative realty, his scam.
How can they cheer this ugliness? You might argue that it’s about the court system or their economic well being. But how many of those people cheering him at an aircraft hanger last night—putting their lives at risk—
are really benefitting from Trump’s tax cuts for the most wealthy and his defunding of Medicare and Social Security? So few of us have benefited from any of it.
But the idea that Trump is strong, and mean, and will protect them endures. They cheer, because they fear—fear being left out, left behind, that they’re small, that they need to be saved. But Trump doesn’t want to save anyone but himself.
We know that for certain now. We know he lied to us, to protect himself. And we know that destroyed our economy and thousands of lives.
In January there were 25 total cases. Today, there over 6 million and over 200,000 deaths. No other country in the world has even close to such a horrific record. Millions are out of work, having lost their health insurance.
Foreclosures are starting. Deeper chaos is looming, and Trump is up there on that stage, looking down, sweating, screaming.
Some would argue that Trump has broken America, because he has unleashed this 40%. You’ve seen the memes.”Make Racists Afraid Again” etc. But I believe his poisonous cultural cocktail was started long ago.
And years of corporate excess—when middle America and the middle class were ignored—made it worse.
There is a strong taboo agaisnt using the word Hitler (or the name of any authoritarian figure) when talking about an American political figure. It’s considered bad form, poor taste, reckless hyperbole. Again, I’m not equating Trump to Hitler.
But I think it is beyond bad taste at this point (cowardly and fearful) to ignore fact that we are far down the road to authoritarianism and losing our Democracy.
And they cheer.
This will not end November 3. Yes, we must defeat Trump. We can stop him. But then we need to heal America so we never expose our nation to this level of danger again.
We need to reach out to the 40%. Yes, it’s difficult, but if we fail, another—maybe more dangerous—person will eventually seize Trump’s stage.
Fresh courage take,
Nate
Open letter: When can we start using the “H” word?
Donald Trump is not Hitler. But he is well down the road of authoritarianism.
I used to look at those pictures of people cheering Hitler as he screamed at them. I’d think to myself, “How did that happen?” I read about it in school. I understood the economic problems Germany faced.
I understood how Hitler manipulated national pride, victimhood, economic worry, and racism to deceive people. But still, Hitler was yelling at them. Screaming even. And he looked insane. Who would cheer?
Then I saw last night.
Trump, was elevated above the crowd on a stage like Xerxes or something, looking down at the packed, sweating, mostly maskless crowd. Air Force One loomed behind him like his personal chauffeur.
And he was screaming.
His muddled words and shaken logic served up the same disturbing cocktail of pride, victimhood, and fear, that yes, Hitler served. Oh, with more than a strong dash of racism.
He mocked an elected Congresswoman who came here as a child refugee by asking how “her country” is doing. This is her country Mr. President. And you should know that, as a man that’s married an immigrant himself—twice.
It was ugly. But they cheered.
In fact, about 40% of America cheers, including my opponent and the other cowards that lack the spine to challenge this man. Beware, when you see a sign of something, it’s often an indication of much worse—
think of a single cockroach in a kitchen, as thousands scurry behind the walls. These same cowards in Washington that defend Trump now, will break the law for him, maybe worse.
We all need to come to terms with what all this means—fast—because win or lose (and I think he will lose, but cheat to try and hold on to power) some of these people will remain committed to Trump.
Indeed, some of our neighbors, our colleagues, even our family members will remain committed to Trump, his alternative realty, his scam.
How can they cheer this ugliness? You might argue that it’s about the court system or their economic well being. But how many of those people cheering him at an aircraft hanger last night—putting their lives at risk—
are really benefitting from Trump’s tax cuts for the most wealthy and his defunding of Medicare and Social Security? So few of us have benefited from any of it.
But the idea that Trump is strong, and mean, and will protect them endures. They cheer, because they fear—fear being left out, left behind, that they’re small, that they need to be saved. But Trump doesn’t want to save anyone but himself.
We know that for certain now. We know he lied to us, to protect himself. And we know that destroyed our economy and thousands of lives.
In January there were 25 total cases. Today, there over 6 million and over 200,000 deaths. No other country in the world has even close to such a horrific record. Millions are out of work, having lost their health insurance.
Foreclosures are starting. Deeper chaos is looming, and Trump is up there on that stage, looking down, sweating, screaming.
Some would argue that Trump has broken America, because he has unleashed this 40%. You’ve seen the memes.”Make Racists Afraid Again” etc. But I believe his poisonous cultural cocktail was started long ago.
And years of corporate excess—when middle America and the middle class were ignored—made it worse.
There is a strong taboo agaisnt using the word Hitler (or the name of any authoritarian figure) when talking about an American political figure. It’s considered bad form, poor taste, reckless hyperbole. Again, I’m not equating Trump to Hitler.
But I think it is beyond bad taste at this point (cowardly and fearful) to ignore fact that we are far down the road to authoritarianism and losing our Democracy.
And they cheer.
This will not end November 3. Yes, we must defeat Trump. We can stop him. But then we need to heal America so we never expose our nation to this level of danger again.
We need to reach out to the 40%. Yes, it’s difficult, but if we fail, another—maybe more dangerous—person will eventually seize Trump’s stage.
Fresh courage take,
Nate
Originating tweet:
Link to tweet
He's running for Chris Collins' old seat. Good dude. 
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
It's red, but it's working class. How many millionaires vacation in Buffalo? 
